The Autobiography of Malcolm X (As Told to Alex Haley)

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • ONE OF TIME’S TEN MOST IMPORTANT NONFICTION BOOKS OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

The “extraordinary” (The New York Times) autobiography of the legendary civil rights leader once called the most dangerous man in America—essential reading for anyone who wants to understand this nation’s history

In the searing pages of this classic biography, Malcolm X, the Muslim leader, firebrand, and activist, tells the remarkable story of his life and the growth of the Black Muslim movement to veteran writer and journalist Alex Haley. Haley worked with Malcolm X for nearly two years; all the while, Malcolm did “not expect to live long enough to read this book in its finished form.” As clear-eyed about his own fate as he was about the plight of his community, Malcolm saw his truth-telling as a gift that would live beyond his own mortality.

Raised in Lansing, Michigan, Malcolm Little journeyed on a road to fame as astonishing as it was unpredictable. Drifting from childhood poverty to petty crime, Malcolm found himself in jail. It was there that he encountered the teachings of the Black Muslim leader Elijah Muhammad. The newly renamed Malcolm X devoted himself body and soul to Islam, quickly becoming the Nation’s foremost spokesman. When his conscience forced him to leave the group, Malcolm founded the Organization of Afro-American Unity to spread an inspiring message of pride, power, and self-determination across the country.

The Autobiography of Malcolm X stands as the definitive statement of a movement and a man whose work was never completed but whose message is timeless. This commemorative edition, published on the 100th anniversary of Malcolm X’s birth, is both a celebration of the lasting impact of his story and a chance to interrogate how far we’ve collectively come. In revisiting his incisive perspective on the lies and limitations of the American Dream, we gain extraordinary insight into the most urgent issues of our own time.

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Published Jan 15, 1992

527 pages

Average rating: 8.91

74 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

amber.nix
Feb 05, 2024
8/10 stars
one of the most dense books i've ever read but worth it.
AfroTurbanGuy
Jan 24, 2023
9/10 stars
Very thorough read, learned a lot I didn’t know about brother Malcom
The Wise Fool
Jun 03, 2022
10/10 stars
My review may be a bit biased because Malcolm X is one of my heroes, but this is one of the most insightful books I’ve come across. The audiobook, narrated by Laurence Fishburn is really special. At times I forgot it was a narration and felt that I was actually listening to Malcolm X talk about his life and the many, many influential moments in his life that lead him to become the man he became. Who he was to many was controversial, but that’s only because they don’t know his story, including what lead him to become more inclusive in his approach in his years before his assassination. Any intelligent, truth loving person will thoroughly enjoy this book!

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