Read Until You Understand

The Profound Wisdom of Black Life and Literature

By: Farah Jasmine Griffin

Narrated by: Farah Jasmine Griffin

Length: 7 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

Farah Jasmine Griffin’s beloved father died when she was nine, bequeathing her an unparalleled inheritance in closets full of remarkable books and other records of Black genius. In Read Until You Understand - a line from a note he wrote to her - she shares a lifetime of discoveries: the ideas that framed the US Constitution and that inspired Malcolm X’s fervent speeches, the soulful music of Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder, the daring literature of Phillis Wheatley and Toni Morrison, the artistry of Romare Bearden, and many others. 

Having taught a popular Columbia University survey course of Black literature, she explores themes such as grace, justice, rage, self-determination, beauty, and mercy to help listeners grapple with the ongoing project that is American democracy. Joining her experiences in Black communities with her immersion in the glorious works of Black artists, Read Until You Understand is a powerful testament to the enduring wisdom of Black culture and history.

©2021 Farah Jasmine Griffin (P)2021 Recorded Books, Inc.

Brilliant!!!

I absolutely loved this text, part memoir part historical reference, Professor Griffin weaves the words of some of our most beloved authors, Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, James Baldwin into this collection of essays. She discusses topics as varied as mercy, justice and the "transformative potential of love " with an engaging and easily understandable method. I highly recommend this book.

Love it beautiful

Love this book very well done will tell friends and family to buy this book

Yes, I know

This is unlistenable.

Not because it’s “wrong”, but because it’s not something to listen to in this form. The author is right in everything she states. It’s just that the content she presents in this compressed form of a book, and probably more specifically an audio book, is impossible to ingest, work with. At least I couldn’t.

The holocaust was an inhumane atrocity. I’ve read quite a number of books on the subject. But: Would I listen to a multi-hour monotone read-out of those atrocities? No, sorry. The suppression of blacks in the United States is continuing on for hundreds of years, and certainly has killed as many humans in that same time span. Do I want to listen to a monotone read-out of those atrocities? No, really sorry. I know this cannot, inherently, be “entertaining”, but I still have to be able to live with it.

Love this book

I don’t usually read/listen to books more than once but this is definitely a book I’d re-listen to. This book takes place in the area my family lived in and areas I’ve travelled in South Philly. Recently, on a walk down Bainbridge street I discovered blue heritage markers that informed me of how vast the African American community was in SP. I saw the heritage marker for where Cheyney University originally sat. The markers for Billie Holiday and another musical group. I’ve visited Gamble and Huff and met both personally. Long story short this book was interesting and factual. I truly enjoyed listening to the author.

needs to take lots of time

struggled to finish - in fact fast forward after 2 hours more statistical than I wanted seemed to drone on and on

Takes one back to simplier times when we lived.

Often times I cried and got angry listening to the terrible injustice that befalled us as a people, but hope sprung up in me seeing community love and support here. We were strong in this then. What happened to us? Will we ever regain it? One can only hope.

A National Treasure

Listening to this wonderful book made my heart sing. I could literally see everything through the authors words. The Performance was soothing and engaging. I hated for the Storytelling to end.

A Touching and Relatable Book

This book touched my soul. The family stories the author shares are so relatable given my own Black Southern roots. And how she thoughtfully weaves literary analyses of books I had previously read into her family stories makes for quite an interesting read. I loved how Professor Griffin ends the book reflecting on beauty and flowers and gardening and grace. All of that lifted me!

I would have liked a booklist.

In Read Until You Understand, Farah Jasmine Griffin sets her Black literature discussion against her life, most notably her father. When Griffin's father died when she was nine years old, he left a large library of Black literature, both older works and more current items. He used the phrase "Read until you understand," which Griffin takes to heart.

I expected an overview of the literature so that I, too, could read until I understood. That is not what I got. Instead, I received a family history with sprinklings from many works, some on the history of Black literature in the United States, some on the movements of the 60s and 70s, and some as it related to her life.

I listened to an Audible version of this book, and while I listened, I wondered if there was a list of sources covered. I ended up bringing home the physical book from the library. There were a number of references and indices, but no reading list. Since I had only read two of the many books she discusses (only briefly), I was disappointed.

As the narrator, Griffin was superb, and if this book had been what I had expected, I would have been able to give it another star. I feel the book's description was very much lacking.

I read a lot and was shocked that the only titles with which I had familiarity were BELOVED and A RAISIN IN THE SUN. I have so many on my reading list, I had hoped to be better guided.

So Much to Read

This truly made me realize all that I have to explore in black literature. As well as exposing my children NOW! Thank you for sparking my curiosity and hunger for more!

An Inspiring Listen

Beautiful story telling; felt like going back to English seminars in college in the best possible way. I grew up in Philadelphia and attended the same high school as Ms Griffin. It was wonderful to reflect on so much of my own childhood in the city as well as many of the books I was lucky to read in school. Ms Griffin has a beautiful voice, making this a joy to listen to. I am so inspired to go back to reread (or read for the first time) many of the books highlighted here.