- Paperback: 192 pages
- Publisher: HarperPerennial; 1st HarperPerennial Ed edition (Sep 1991)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 006097415X
- ISBN-13: 978-0060974152
- Product Dimensions: 20.1 x 13.2 x 1.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,371,794 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Synopsis
Essays argue that Blacks are more oppressed by doubt than racism, looks at the origins of racial conflict in America, and assess the failures of social policies designed to lessen racial differences.
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First Sentence
"It is a warm, windless California evening, and the dying light that covers the redbrick patio is tinted pale orange by the day's smog." Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
"It is a warm, windless California evening, and the dying light that covers the redbrick patio is tinted pale orange by the day's smog." Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Like many concerned Americans, I have spent decades discussing and reflecting on the racial troubles in our past and present, and have read numerous books that explore the topic. When published, this book was a long-needed tonic, notable not only for its fresh perspective and searching, reasoned tone, but for the personal honesty of its author, an honesty which even critics admitted. How sadly ironic therefore that one reader above is reduced to defaming the author as "dishonest," "obscure," "second-rate,", without "consequence, " seeking only "fame," a "charlatan" engaged in a "hustle." Would you like a better understanding of the state of a reader who, driven to disagreement with this author, can do no better than sputter insults and defamations, who CANNOT COME TO TERMS with the content of "Content of our Character?" To you I recommend the book.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I found Shelby Steele's essays to be even handed, thoughtful, and enlightening. This is my first reading of a race relations text as such. My insights have been shaped by personal experiences, history books, television, and newspaper accounts of the events of the 1960's, 70's, 80's, and now 90's. The insight provided by Steele's personal life events, the discussion of Bill Cosby's bargaining, Jesse Jackon's power trips, Ronald Regan's ingratiating, and quotes from Ralph Ellison have broadened my perspective regarding race in the United States. To paraphrase, he believes blacks need to shift from wartime to a peacetime identity, from fighting for opportunity to seizing it, to prosper based on your own initiative, and use the means at hand to succeed. Included is a discussion of affirmative action and the notion that its time has passed. If affirmative action's time has passed, then the need to support or provide developmental skills has not. This work has stirred me to read more African American authors and to continue broadening my persoectives.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
In this age of politically-correct hyper-sensitivity, Shelby Steele has the backbone to cut to the core of race relations in America: what we've been doing just does not work. This small volume is wise, erudite and bold. What's more, it dares to tell the truth. Upon finishing Mr. Steele's book, I was reassured and encouraged by the hope that at last, a single beam of light had found a forum in this artificial atmosphere of heat. Mr. Steele's calm, reasoned voice is the voice of the future for race relations -- and anything at all considered "pc" in this country. "Content of our Character" is our blueprint for finally moving forward and making real progress.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Crystal-clear insight ...
This book helped me to understand myself as few books written by human authors have. But its insights also throw light on major developments within 'western' society.
Published on 23 April 2008 by Midasin
Very good
Good book on the why of the problems facing the african american community but it still conflicts with the day in day out discrimination that african americans faces regardless of... Read more
Published on 8 Mar 1999
Enlightening about the African American experience today.
As a white woman I found the book facinating and eye opening. I have stuggled to understand the race dynamic in this country and I believe it is extrememly complex and that I... Read more
Published on 7 Dec 1998
A Place for Grounding
As a 47 year old white male that has spent many years and significant personal resources to assist the Afro-American community to gain political and economic power, I found this... Read more
Published on 2 Nov 1998
A must-read book on race relations
This is the single most important and relevant book I've ever read on race relations, and even human relations, and one of the most extraordinary books I've ever read in my life. Read more
Published on 31 Jan 1998
Kicking the victim, again
This is a book whose dishonest premise, filtered through the author's self-referential arguments, does nothing to advance the discussion at hand. Read more
Published on 30 Dec 1997
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