Super Short Summary

In Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, Isabel Wilkerson explores the roots and impact of caste systems in the United States, India, and Nazi Germany, arguing that America's inequality is fundamentally anchored in a racial caste system. She documents the historical construction of race, describes the universal principles of caste systems, and illustrates the ongoing consequences of these hierarchies through personal anecdotes and analysis. Topics include racial violence, discrimination, and systemic inequality.