This is a much needed collection that deconstructs and then rebuilds Alex Haley's epic. Its contributors are all historians who offer their perspective on historical times from slavery to the Civil Rights movement as well as social constructs such as race and gender. It is an enlightening read that will appeal to history buffs, people who believe in social equality, and fans of the TV series alike.

This book is very good. The chapters are small enough that you can finish them in a sitting. This book was very in-depth and I found one needed to read this and digest what they had read. The chapters are various peoples thoughts on the Roots mini-series. Some remind you of scenes before they give their thoughts on them. It is not a book to be read fast but like a fine wine, savored. I could see this book being used in classes in high school. It is a great addition for anyone who viewed the mini-series "Roots". Very good book and one that I am glad I took the time to read. Thanks to NetGalley, authors and publisher for the fantastic opportunity to read the advanced copy of this book in return for my honest review.

In chapters particularly convenient for use in a class, Ball has assembled 21st century reappraisals of the landmark series Roots, and its source material. With a remake that had to recalibrate for a non-network viewing event and four decades of racial and social change (not all progress), this vantage point is useful to address 1977 critiques that weighed the value of mainstream exposure of the Middle Passage against the message of survival instead of revolution (interesting now in an age of Django Unchained and Parker's problematic Birth of a Nation), the Roots sequel's portrayal of African-American experience in WWI in the shadow of Vietnam, and the unexplored effect of the series as it aired in Britain, Apartheid South Africa and Taiwan.