Heather Andrea Williams

Of the ones I have read so far, this book is the ideal representative of a Very Short introduction. It focuses on a wide ranging though specific topic. The author makes no assumptions about reader’s prior knowledge of the subject. The narrative is both comprehensive yet always compelling and highly informative. You come away wanting to know more.

Moreover, though the topic is highly emotional, the author avoids propaganda, overly emotional or harsh language. She herself avoids the words show more “evil” or “horror” in describing slavery although her narrative makes it unequivocally clear that slavery was an evil institution and black slaves lived a life filled with horror and torment. She presents the thinking of white slave holders with only minimal commentary, letting their own words condemn them.

This book is a must read for anyone who wants to begin to understand the awful institution that was US slavery and how and why it resonates in US society nearly one hundred sixty years after it was abolished. show less

A great introduction to a horrifying subject. Indeed, after reading this I have both a long list of other things to read, and a new appreciation for the scarred underpinnings of some aspects of American politics that had previously been entirely opaque.

As an African-American woman, I am aware that my slave ancestors were sold and separated at will. This book shares slaves' narratives about separation and the perspective of their owners and other whites about how they believed the black sale did not care or even have the capacity to grieve. I was unable to make it to the end of the book as I got the point. I was sad. The other did a could job with the historical accounts.

Oxford University series of very short introductions to big topics.