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Biography & Memoir· United States

Between the World and Me

by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Aggregate Editorial Score19/100
Goodreads Choice Award
Published 2015English
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About This Book

Published in 2015, Between the World and Me established Ta-Nehisi Coates as one of the defining voices in biography & memoir. Written as a letter to his teenage son, Coates explores what it means to inhabit a Black body in America—its history of fear, destruction, and resilience. Winner of the National Book Award and widely considered the most important work of African American non-fiction since James Baldwin. Themes of race, Black America, police violence run through the work. The book has received recognition from Goodreads Choice Award 2015.

Book Details

AuthorTa-Nehisi Coates
Published2015
Country of Origin🇺🇸 United States
LanguageEnglish
Category✍️ Biography & Memoir
ISBN9780812993547
Editorial Score19/100
About the Category

✍️ Biography & Memoir

True accounts of real lives, told by the subject or a biographer.

Explore all Biography & Memoir books →
Country of Origin

🇺🇸 United States

This book is part of United States's rich literary tradition.

Explore books from United States →

Editorial Assessment

First published in 2015, Ta-Nehisi Coates's Between the World and Me is a work of biography & memoir that has drawn sustained interest from critics and prize committees alike. Its engagement with race, Black America, police violence, history gives the book a depth that extends well beyond its genre. Among its recognitions: Goodreads Choice Award 2015. With an editorial score of 19/100 drawn from 1 independent sources, the book occupies a well-documented position in the critical literature. Its recognition spans international prizes, "best of" lists, and academic surveys. What distinguishes Between the World and Me is how it handles its central concerns — race, Black America, police violence, history — without reducing them to neat conclusions. The book invites close reading and holds up well to it. Between the World and Me reflects Ta-Nehisi Coates's place in a wider literary tradition. The book's concerns resonate with United States's broader cultural preoccupations, even as they reach beyond any single national context.
About this assessment: Editorial scores are aggregated from 1 independent sources including major literary prizes, critical surveys, and leading publications. Our editorial team reviews and contextualises this data. Rankings reflect critical consensus, not personal opinion or popularity metrics. Learn about our methodology.

Awards & Recognition

Goodreads Choice Award
notable · global
201519
✍️
About the Author
Ta-Nehisi Coates
United States
View Author →

Ta-Nehisi Coates is a celebrated author from United States known for influential works of biography memoir.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Between the World and Me about?

Written as a letter to his teenage son, Coates explores what it means to inhabit a Black body in America—its history of fear, destruction, and resilience. Winner of the National Book Award and widely considered the most important work of African American non-fiction since James Baldwin.

Who wrote Between the World and Me?

Between the World and Me was written by Ta-Nehisi Coates, from United States. First published in 2015.

What awards has Between the World and Me won?

Between the World and Me has received the following awards and honours: Goodreads Choice Award 2015.

Is Between the World and Me worth reading?

Between the World and Me is a book that has earned critical recognition, with an aggregate editorial score of 19/100 on 50 Best Books, based on mentions across 1 editorial source. It is particularly recommended for readers interested in race, Black America, police violence.

Where can I buy Between the World and Me?

You can buy Between the World and Me on Amazon. Click the Buy on Amazon button above to find the best edition.

What category is Between the World and Me?

Between the World and Me is classified as Biography & Memoir. True accounts of real lives, told by the subject or a biographer.

What country is Between the World and Me from?

Between the World and Me originates from United States's literary tradition. Explore more books from United States on our country page.

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