Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

I picked this up as required reading for school. I was expecting an old, dry, politically driven book, but I was pleasantly surprised. While much of the book was about a heavy topic, it was well-written and a fairly easy read. It gave the reader time to think about what was going on at the time it took place and didn't distract the reader by having to go look up old-fashioned words.

I don't know that this book needs any praise from me to bolster its reputation or anything, but I'll just say that it's beautifully written and even more beautifully direct in its assessments and depictions of life under slavery--and of the hypocrisy which buttressed the institution. It should also go without saying that this is a timeless piece, as relevant today as it ever was, but I'll say it anyway.

A new favorite. An amazingly well-written memoir that brings the history of America to life. This should be required reading for every American high school student (preferably September of their freshman year) for how it elucidates the importance of education, human rights, and history. In this work, Douglass is also a powerful and moving religious leader that abides no hypocrisy.