Up from Slavery is one of the most influential biographies ever written. On one level it is the life story of Booker T. Washington and his rise from slavery to accomplished educator and activist. On another level it the story of how an entire race strove to better itself. Washington makes it clear just how far race relations in America have come and to some extent just how much further they have to go. Written with wit and clarity.
Our bookshelves are the subconscious windows to the soul. Often unintentional, what we read is a direct reflection of where our thoughts lie, which subjects we are exploring, emotional or physical struggles we are trying to address, and the solace we seek in familiar books or authors. Rarely is our collection static, though there are certain books to which we cling for a lifetime.