Where Do We Go from Here

Chaos or Community?

By: Coretta Scott King - foreword, Vincent Harding - introduction, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Narrated by: J. D. Jackson

Length: 8 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's Summary

In 1967, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., isolated himself from the demands of the civil rights movement, rented a house in Jamaica with no telephone, and labored over his final manuscript. In this prophetic work, which was unavailable for more than 10 years, he lays out his thoughts, plans, and dreams for America's future, including the need for better jobs, higher wages, decent housing, and quality education. With a universal message of hope that continues to resonate, King demanded an end to global suffering, asserting that humankind - for the first time - has the resources and technology to eradicate poverty.

©1967 Estate of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (P)2018 Random House Audio

Dr. King Could Have Written this Book Today!

This book is as relevant today as it as was in the 1960's when it was written.

Sadly education, housing and social justice issues remain just about as intransigent today as they did 50 years ago.

If you're interested in education, housing, politics or criminal justice, this book is a must read.

Dr. King's foresight is amazing. We have the means to solve many of these problems. We need the will to do so.

The Words That Got King Assassinated

King lays out the blueprint to a world without violence, poverty, racism, and exploitation. Those who possess power feared the inevitable revolution King was promoting in these words...

Engaging, Brilliant, and Sad

While I was familiar with Dr. King’s most famous speeches and he read several of his essays, this is the first full length book I’ve read. It was engagingly written and brilliant in its clarity, wisdom, and simple pragmatism.

The first few chapters provide interesting historical context to the work and issues that MLK and other leaders of the civil rights movement were beginning to tackle in the late 60s, the central power of the book (from my perspective) comes from Dr. King’s analysis of the work left to do, and his proposed solutions seem reasonable, practical, and VERY modern.

Reading this in 2020, I was deeply struck by how much of his analysis of the issues facing the black community, in addition to America and the larger world, still ring true today. I’m at a loss whether to describe this as prescience and genius on Dr. King’s part or a tragedy and failure on our part, as inheritors of his legacy.

How is it possible that over 50 years after this book was written, we are still spending more on the machinery war than on social programs and education?! How can we, in good conscience, celebrate record high GDP, while seemingly ignoring the Great Disparities of opportunity and wealth among our People?! Why have the amazing advances of technology and automation failed to generate widely shared wellbeing and collective harmony?!

If you care about American ideals of liberty and justice for all, then this book is a must read. It’s not too late to choose community over chaos.

Well worth the read and still very relevant.

Living in 2018 and reading this book there are several surprises as MLK talks about well known issues like racism and other issues I hadn't expect him to touch on like the effect of automation.

As tensions between the US and North Korea grow his comments on how we invest in was are still relevant.

Amazing

King did it again. He articulated crucial ideas for the betterment of human society in marvelous manners. His arguments are sound and clear, simple and logical. If only more people in the world would see things as King did our lives would have much less suffering.

Still relevant

I liked how many of the ills addressed in the book are still incredibly relevant today, although some of the solutions cited may be less so. It's unfortunate that women are seldom addressed - JD Jackson acknowledges that in the beginning. Would absolutely recommend.

Mandatory reading for all ADOS!

Great information and introspective work by the late great MLK. ADOS have picked up this torch and are pushing forward to finish his work of reparations for ADOS.

A Must Read/Listen

The timeless and sadly still needed writings of one of the greatest men of history. The words are powerful and the narrator is wonderful to listen to.

Still Relevant

Dr. King was a brilliant man with ideas and ideals ahead of his time. This book has relevance to things going on today.

Relevant Today (2019)

Anyone interested in human rights should absolutely read this book. The discussions of non-violence, community organizing, effective boycotts, unionization, and integrated direct action, etc. are extremely relevant today. This book made me view history not in decades, but in centuries. It feels as though Ferguson, Baltimore, "Black Lives Matter" and various other movements are all a part of the same historical arc as the Civil Rights era of MLK.

10/10 would recommend.