Caste - Isabel Wilkerson

Paperback | Random House | February 14, 2023

The Gist

The source of America’s discontent is due to the long- and deep-reaching effects of a caste system.

Read If You Like

• The Warmth of Summer Suns also by Isabella Wilkerson

• White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo

• The Color Law by Richard Rothstein

Verdict: Buy It, Read It, Spread the Word About It (It’s important)

Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents aims to reach an understanding of how we got here. “Here,” being a United States that is divided and disfigured. Wilkerson argues that while it is seeded in race and class, the reason for our discontent goes deeper than this. Through thorough research, she argues that the reason for the current social upheaval is due to one of the most “powerful” caste systems in history. Over the course of 400 pages and eight pillars, Wilkerson breaks down what creates and solidifies a caste system and uses countless examples from America, India, and Nazi Germany she shines a light on how castes can quietly influence individuals, countries, and cultures. Wilkerson’s writing is smooth and engaging. Her decision to avoid terms like racism, white, black, and more is a brilliant move. No matter how brutal or comfortable some of the examples are to read, her narration keeps you wanting to go deeper and understand.

Caste is gorgeous, brutal, and, for many, will be frustrating and uncomfortable. Wrestling with race, class, and caste always is. How can it not? But while it may be hard to face our history and current circumstances, the reason to finish this book is best summed up in Chapter 27:

“We were not here. We did not do this. But we do feel that, as the younger generation, we should acknowledge and accept the responsibility. And for the generations that come after us, we should be the guardians of the truth.”