Every now and than I’ll find a great book and read it. There are some books that interests me and some just don’t. While my favorite hobbies are movies, painting, and drawing but there are times when I go to the library and pick up a good book, and read it. If the book becomes the topic of discussion, or a recommendation I’ll buy the book as well. So. here is my choice of the five best books I’ve read.
- **The Autobiography of Malcom X**
by Alex Haley
Published 1969
ISBN: 0-394-17122-5
In this book Alex Hally does an intense review and depiction of the life of this black nationalist, Malcom X and leader of the Nation of Islam . The book opens with a reflection of Malcom’s childhood. I found the meeting between Malcom and his white teacher heart-breaking. Malcom is a boy about 9 years of age he is asked by his teacher of his career goals when he grows up. When Malcom tells his teacher he wants to become a lawyer his teacher tells him he is a n*gger, and the best occupation for him is to become a carpenter. Author, Alex Haley takes us further into the life of this leader’s marriage, and entrance into the nation of Islam after his release from jail. His unique abilities when teaching himself to read while in jail. We see the raise of power from this young leader and the transformations of his beliefs of the white man’s image of being the devil after his pilgrimage to Maca. Later we see the events that follows this voyage and his death.
- **The Spook Who Sat by the Door**
by Sam Greenlee
Published 1959
ISBN:0-814-32246-8
In this story an African American man joins the CIA he is recruited to the CIA because the Government is forced to hire more blacks into the CIA. Well, as this story goes on the exitance of this CIA agent is an expected failure by his white counter parts, but that doesn’t happen. Dan Freeman, the black CIA agent becomes successful and after five years with the CIA he decides to leave after making many grim discoveries and conclusions of America’s racism and hatred of African Americans. Dan Freeman developes a plan that will shake the fabric of America. You’ll find out what this plan is when you purchase this intense novel.
- **Thomas Hart Benton An American Original**,
by Henry Adams.
Published 1989
ISBN:0-394-57153-3
ISBN:0-394-75958-3(pbk)
This is another outstanding book that outlines the life of an American painter, and his experiences as an acclaimed American Artist. I consider this book a treasure because while I was in art school I studied this man’s work. I enjoyed his bold use of earth colors, and distorted drawings which projects character, motion, and strong emotions of a most sadden time in American history and that was the depression. This big book of 347 pages gives an in-dept review of this painter’s works of art, his drawings, prints, and paintings all reproduced on large pages that coincides with each chapter in this book. This is definitely a book for artists to cherish.
- **King Remembered**
by Flip Schulke, and Penelope Ortner McPhee.
Published 1986
ISBN:0-393-02256-0
This outstanding biography outlines the life of America’s most hated, and beloved civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. These two authors do an excellent job with this book as they do intense interviews with the citizens of Alabama as they tell their stories of segregation, and the horrors of racism in the south. There are recounts of Ms. Rosa Park’s land mark decision when refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus to a white man.
The book further outlines the events that followed Ms. Park’s decision, and the rise of the civil rights movement. The book further outlines Dr. Martin Luther King’s trip to India and his meetings with Mahatma Ghandi as Martin Luther King would adapt Ghandi’s doctrine of civil disobedience, and non-violence. The book also outlines Dr. King’s beginnings, and the events that lead up to his death. The intervention of President John F. Kennedy and his death, the signing of the civil rights bill by President Johnson. The black and white photographs that coincides with each chapter is excellent in its authenticity.
- **Say Jesus and Come to Me**
by Allen Shockley
Published 1987
ASIN 0-930-04498-3
While I do not support the subject matter of this book because of its focus of lesbianism. This is a well-written book with an excellent story, and plot. In this strange, and interesting story two women meet and ultimately find love through their occupations. One woman is a Pastor who travels she mets her mate at a concert; her mate is a singer. The events in this story that leads up to the final meeting, and confession of this Pastor, and her congregation will send you on a road of laughter. This well-written book is like a twisted soap opera with a great plot.
And there you have it folks this is my choice of the five best books I’ve ever read. I enjoyed these books because they offered me enrichment through education, history, and just having a good laugh.
Thanks for reading.