60 pages 2 hours read

Jonathan Eig

King: A Life

Nonfiction | Biography | Adult | Published in 2023

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

King: A Life by Jonathan Eig chronicles the life of Martin Luther King Jr., starting from his early years in a stable home in Atlanta, through his education and rise as a civil rights leader in Montgomery, Alabama. The biography details King's significant civil rights campaigns, including the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the March on Washington, his struggles against systemic injustice, and his tragic assassination in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1968. The book includes accounts of racism and racial violence.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Jonathan Eig’s King: A Life offers a detailed and nuanced biography of Martin Luther King Jr., blending thorough research with engaging narrative. Critics praise its comprehensive insights and balanced portrayal. However, some note its dense prose might challenge casual readers. Overall, a compelling but demanding read about a pivotal figure in American history.

Who should read this

Who Should Read King: A Life?

A reader who would enjoy King: A Life by Jonathan Eig is likely to be an avid history buff, especially with an interest in civil rights, biographies, or American history. Comparable to readers of Taylor Branch's Parting the Waters and David Garrow's Bearing the Cross, this audience values detailed, well-researched accounts of pivotal figures and moments in history.

Recommended

Reading Age

18+years

Book Details

Topics

Politics / Government

Race / Racism

History: U.S.

Themes

Identity: Race

Values/Ideas: Equality

Society: Nation

Genre

Biography