The Souls of Black Folk (AmazonClassics Edition)

By: W. E. B. Du Bois

Narrated by: Prentice Onayemi

Length: 7 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

First published in 1903, this groundbreaking work is a cornerstone of African American literary history and a foundational text in the field of sociology. In these fourteen essays, W. E. B. Du Bois introduces and explores the concept of “double-consciousness”—a term he uses to describe the experience of living as an African American and having a “sense of always looking at one’s self through the eyes of others.”

Though an examination of Black life in post-Civil War America, The Souls of Black Folk has had a lasting impact on civil rights and the discussion of race in the United States.

Revised edition: Previously published as The Souls of Black Folk, this edition of The Souls of Black Folk (AmazonClassics Edition) includes editorial revisions.

Public Domain (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Informative and Personal Collection of Essays

Well written, soulfully performed. I can almost imagine the author himself read it to me.

EVERYONE Should Listen!

The prose is magnificent and this audiobook makes learning history easy, though the subject of slavery and the subjugation of an entire group of people based on skin color is definitely shameful.
A better narrator could not have been found!His voice is truly mellifluous, even with such a terrible subject. The author wrote the words, and the narrator’s voice painted the pictures superbly.
I will listen again and again for the sake of educating myself more. So glad Audible included this title in its offerings.

Outstanding! Great narration

loved it. Dr. Du Bois argument hold true and very revelent today. This is a must read for all!

Beautifully written

I love this book. It's beautifully written and very easy to get lost in. Usually, I'm not one for poetry but the poems in here are wonderful. The narrator did an amazing job.

Beautifully written and narrated

I have long wanted to read this book, buy never found the time. I was absolutely delighted to find this gorgeous narration through Audible. Listening to this book, albeit in short 20 min stints, became the highlight of my day. Highly recommend.

As relevant as ever.

Du Bois was a powerful social critic. It is particularly moving and impressive to read this collection of essays now, in July 2020, as the murder of George Floyd has once again pushed the Black Lives Matter movement to the forefront of American consciousness. This book brings a powerful historical context to our present concerns.
At the same time, it is somewhat dispiriting to see the very close resemblance between Du Bois' concerns and our concerns now. One might have expected or hoped that the USA would have seen more progress in the 117 years since this collection of essays was published.
Du Bois is a much more powerful critic than his contemporary, Booker T. Washington. My experience was also enhanced by my own simultaneous reading of essays by James Baldwin and Ralph Ellison.
Very high praise also for the narrator. He makes excellent use of a range of voices, and was a pleasure to listen to.

A book for every American

Although written in the early 1900s this book timely
This book belongs in every classroom in America!

Amazing performance.

This book is an important piece of American history made better by an amazing performance. I would listen to Prentice Onayemi read the phone book.

Great book of African-American classics.

A great audio book. Well read and flowed with ease. I highly recommend it. Mr. Dubois wrote this ahead of his time.

Essays the World Needs to Read

Just writing this, my breath quickens. The essays/stories in here, told perfectly, were from the late 1800's and early 1900's, yet resonate as if they were written last week. How black lives have not changed except within the retelling of stories by white people is stunning. What I love most about the book is its lack of 100 years of an editing of prejudice, its lack of introspective history behind it like we have now in race discussions. It's like when you look at oil paintings or statues and wonder, "Did they really look like that? Or is it an artist's rendering." This book is a snapshot, the reality without any manipulation of commentary or a century of hate and anger... or justification... overlaid to make the colors of paint any different. The stories are raw, not marinated by time or opinions. It is in this clarity, my reality about the races is forever changed. I will always be grateful for that change. This book should be mandatory reading in school, but in this sad day and age, we who KNOW, must require the reading in our own homes to our families, especially, tp the children.