Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents

In Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, Isabel Wilkerson brilliantly distills the invisible yet pervasive forces that shape social hierarchies, much like the water in David Foster Wallace’s famous parable about fish. Wilkerson argues that caste systems, rather than overt racism alone, are at the root of much of the inequality we see today, both in America and around the world. The book has transformed my thinking about how deeply embedded these structures are within society and myself. It reveals how, beyond conscious thought, many of us accept a world where certain groups are deemed lesser, justifying their exploitation and the environmental devastation of marginalized communities. Wilkerson’s powerful narrative forces the reader to confront uncomfortable truths, making it impossible to view our nation's history or our place within it in the same way again. I am left with deep questions and a need for soul-searching.

I first saw the movie 'Origin' based on this book and was so moved that I purchased the book immediately after. Isabel is absolutely a master in her own right. I've never read a book so thoroughly and perfectly explained that no doubt remains of the truth. Nothing is left unexamined. You are forever changed by what you read as you realize, so profoundly, that you had absolutely no clue of what others, not in your caste, have lived through. She makes you get it, and you can't forget it.

We need to understand... andvthis opens up a pandoras box many prefer to keep closed.