Cover Image: King: A Life

King: A Life

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King is a thorough and detailed profile of Martin Luther King Jr. Jonathan Eig’s level of research is truly impressive and I learned a lot about MLK from this biography that I didn’t know before.

From the epilogue of King, Jonathan Eig shares the following in closing and I’ve been thinking about this since I finished the book:

“Our simplified celebration of King comes at a cost. It saps the strength of his philosophical and intellectual contributions. It undercuts his power to inspire change. Even after Americans elected a Black man as president and after that president, Barack Obama, placed a bust of King in the Oval Office, the nation remains racked with racism, ethno-nationalism, cultural division, residential and educational segregation, economic inequality, violence, and a fading sense of hope that government, or anyone, will ever fix those problems.

Where do we go from here? In spite of the way America treated him, King still had faith when he asked that question. Today, his words might help us make our way through these troubled times, but only if we actually read them; only if we embrace the complicated King, the flawed King, the human King, the radical King; only if we see and hear him clearly again, as America saw and heard him once before.

“Our very survival," he wrote, "depends on our ability to stay awake, to adjust to new ideas, to remain vigilant and to face the challenge of change.”

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An amazing book that taught me so many things about MLK, things that I would've never guessed about this influential and flawed human being. Because I think that's the funny thing about learning of the accomplishments of certain historical figures your whole life, is that you forget, in those lessons, that they were human to begin with. This book was a great reminder of that lesson and I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone out there.

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In his foreword to King: A Life, a comprehensive biography on Martin Luther King, Jr., the famed Sixties civil rights activist, Jonathan Eig comments that his book is no hagiography – the narrative account of a saint – thereby establishing Eig’s stance on his subject. While many deify King, placing him on a pedestal, reducing him to an “I have a dream” soundbite, Eig paints a marvelous, complex, and absolutely riveting portrait of a gifted, charismatic, yet also flawed human, contextualizing King through his detailing of King’s family and upbringing, his educational background, ethical foibles. While this is admittedly a thick tome, it’s by no means ponderous. Eig’s fresh, well-paced, engaging writing, his ability to trace patterns of character, and serious research into little-known details of King’s life kept me completely engrossed: scholarly work at its best and most brilliant! HIghly recommended! Thanks to NetGalley for kindly providing an ARC of this book.

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Jonathan Eig's "King: A Life" gives an intimate look at the life of one of the most revered, yet misunderstood figures of our time, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I appreciated the ways in which Eig walks readers through what happens before Martin Luther King Jr. was the leader that we know. We learn about his family, his hometown, racial politics of the early 20th century, social and political influences etc. This book exceeds expectations in the sense that it goes beyond the same old stories that we already know.

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While I didn't write about this for DailyMail.com I have previously written a number of features about MLK biographies, and this one was arguably the most intense and in-depth so far. Really, really impressive book which is deeply researched and contains many new revelations.

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A fascinating book about an incredible, yet human, man. It's long, but for good reason. The author wrote that "in hallowing King, we have hollowed him," and the length of the book allowed the author to give a fleshed out view of an American icon. It was well researched and well written. I highly recommend it.

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In his captivating biography, "King: A Life," Jonathan Eig offers readers an intimate and comprehensive exploration of the legendary figure, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This meticulously researched and beautifully written book delves deep into the complexities of King's life, shedding light on both the public persona and the private struggles of the iconic civil rights leader.

Eig's approach to King's story is refreshingly honest and balanced. While he pays homage to King's immense contributions to the civil rights movement and his enduring legacy, he also presents a candid portrayal of the man behind the movement. By humanizing King, Eig allows readers to connect with him on a personal level, unveiling his flaws, doubts, and internal conflicts.

One of the greatest strengths of this biography is Eig's ability to capture the socio-political climate of the time, providing crucial context for King's activism. He vividly depicts the racial tensions, political maneuverings, and the immense challenges faced by African Americans during the turbulent 1950s and 1960s. Through meticulous research and skillful storytelling, Eig weaves together a narrative that not only showcases King's individual journey but also highlights the collective struggle for racial equality.

Eig's writing style is both engaging and accessible, making the book highly readable for both history enthusiasts and those unfamiliar with the subject matter. He effortlessly transitions between the grand historical events and the intimate moments of King's life, creating a seamless narrative that keeps readers captivated from beginning to end. The author's attention to detail and commitment to presenting an unbiased account of King's life make this biography a truly compelling read.

"King: A Life" also provides valuable insights into King's personal relationships, particularly his marriage to Coretta Scott King. Eig delves into the complexities of their relationship, exploring the strains and challenges they faced amidst the pressures of King's activism. By delving into the emotional and personal aspects of King's life, Eig paints a multidimensional portrait of a man who was not only a visionary leader but also a husband, father, and friend.

While Eig does not shy away from King's controversial aspects, such as his extramarital affairs, he handles these topics with sensitivity and nuance. Rather than diminishing King's legacy, these revelations serve to illustrate the complexity of the man and the struggles he faced in his personal life while maintaining his commitment to the civil rights cause.

In "King: A Life," Jonathan Eig delivers an extraordinary biography that transcends the mere retelling of historical events. Through meticulous research, powerful storytelling, and a balanced approach, Eig offers readers an intimate and insightful look into the life of one of the most influential figures of the 20th century. This book is an essential read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., his impact on American society, and the ongoing struggle for racial equality.

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~Everyone can be great because everyone can serve.~

I received an eARC of this book for review from Farrar, Straus and Giroux via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
• The Brief: King: A Life is a detailed and comprehensive biography of Martin Luther King, Jr. that begins with his parents’ childhood and ends in the reproductions of April 4, 1968. Eig relies on interviews, public records, and declassified FBI reports and tapes for this fascinating and well written new release.
• This is a good fit for at readers who are familiar with the basics of American’s 20th century Civil Rights struggle, and want a more nuanced and thorough understanding of the movement’s (male) leaders.

Overall, I found this well written, thought-provoking, and informative. The author appears to have gathered various primary and secondary sources and created a compelling portrait of a flawed man passionate about improving the lives of all Americans.

I do have two criticisms. Firstly, the e-ARC I received listed did have endnotes, however the in-text citations and index were not included. I hope that was fixed in the final publication. Finally, I am disappointed that women’s contribution to the Civil Rights Movement had been highlighted with the same care and depth as King’s male advisors. I would like to believe that this was a deliberate decision by Eig to reflect King’s attitudes toward women’s role in public and privet spheres… That isn’t clear though, and so I’m left wondering.

4.5 Stars

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This is a well written, thoroughly researched, page-turning biography of one of the most significant leaders of the 20th century. I learned so much that I didn't know, was totally absorbed by the dramatic prose, and enthralled by the fast pace of the narrative, This is the MLK story that needed to be told. Using newly discovered personal letters, FBI transcripts and personal interviews, this is. a look at MLK with his strengths and flaws laid out for the reader. Highly recommended

Thanks to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for an advanced reader copy.

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King by Jonathan Eig is a thoroughly researched and well written biography of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Using previously unpublished sources, including recent declassified FBI files, King gives us a fuller glimpse into both the man and the movement. Highly recommend- four stars.

*I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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When many of us think of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we think of the fight for civil rights in the South and I Have A Dream. While both of these things are a great legacy in their own right, they only touch the surface of this complex, often misunderstood man. Although MLK’s father came from Southern Sharecroppers, King actually enjoyed a middle class life style because his father was the head of the Ebenezer Church; the same church MLK would evidential call home for his own preaching. MLK was the middle of 3 kids and relatively sheltered from the harsh realities of the Jim Crow South for people of color; until he started going out into the world more as he grew. It is really sad to hear of a black child being told he can no longer be friends with his white friend just because of the color of his skin. These experiences shaped what will go down in history as one of the great movements and man in history.
One of things I really enjoy about this book is that it shares with us the man, warts and all. Although he had a PhD in theology, he was by no means perfect. He was a womanizer and often put the cause before his family. Coretta spent a lot the time as a defacto single mother and often was the one that held both the church and her husband together. However, no one can ever deny that King elevated Jim Crow Laws and racism into front page news and made us start facing some harsh realities of what were as a nation. And, you have got respect his unwavering commitment to nonviolence, even as enemies look toward violence to try to stop both King and his cause. Sadly when he died at just 39, he could have never guessed that his dream is nowhere near a reality, now, more than 50 years since his murder.
“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."- me, too, MLK, me, too…

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I could not put this book down! I have read several books on the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., but this book was the best one I have read and includes areas of his life that I had not seen included in other books. I highly recommend this to anyone who is interested in the life and movement of this great man. Special thanks for NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

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This book is an absolute must-read! If you think you already know all there is to know about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., this book proves us wrong! As with Eig's other biographies, such as Ali: A Life - which I also highly recommend, this book is about Martin the Man - he was human, he was flawed, and he had deep compassion and humility. This book is meticulously researched and Eig had the benefit of being able to review recently released surveillance transcripts and tapes to really dive into what was happening in conversations and behind-the-scenes of key events. It also sheds light on the incredible harassment J. Edgar Hoover unleashed on King which only added to his incredible stress. As in all politics, LBJ leveraged his relationship with MLK Jr. as long as it was convenient for pushing his agenda (of course, he was pushing Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act -- so not bad things!) but as soon as MLK Jr. became more outspoken about the war in Vietnam, LBJ distanced himself from him. There is information about his extra-marital affairs but because Eig clearly centers this book on him as a human, we get to fully see his life, warts and all. This is what I appreciate about this book. The other lesson for us is we need to keep fighting because there are still incredible inequities and a covert and overt push to interfere with voting rights of BIPOC citizens in many states. We as humans need to take up the mantle of MLK Jr. and others who came before. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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I felt like I knew the story of Martin Luther King, Jr. but quickly realized I didn't know the half of it when I started reading this book. It does such a good job of showing all sides of MLK whether it's the good, the bad, or the ugly. It shows how hard it was for him to try to maintain the nonviolence approach when things were so hard from the other side. I couldn't believe the government surveillance that was happening with hime & apparently other people throughout this time period. Definitely seemed like an unhealthy obsession. I didn't realize MLK was trying to be involved in the antiwar sentiment at this time. This was a very interesting and seemingly well researched book into MLK, & I would highly recommend reading it.

Thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

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King: A Life was an up close and personal look at Dr. King's life. His leadership throughout the civil rights movement was monumental. He was a great man whose life was cut way too short. He was a human being: He made mistakes, he had extramarital affairs, he spoke out against the Vietnam war. Even so, no one has done more for civil rights than he did. I bow at the altar of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I sing praises for his accomplishments. I have the utmost respect for the man. And for the record, I hate what the FBI did to him. J. Edgar Hoover should have been stoned.

This book was well written, and it left no stone unturned. It gave a very personal glimpse into the life of a hero whose life was taken in his prime. It brought Dr. King to life for me. And thanks to this book, I have new found respect for the man, And I grieve his loss. If I could give this book 10 stars, I would.

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Dr. King was an admiration of a man. A man taken too soon. A man whose life work is to admire, to understand that he wished for a change that we are still fighting for today. This memoir was written to perfection, no details left untouched, in my opinion, the best one of Dr. King to exist. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me the privilege to read an ARC of this amazing book.

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This is an engrossing, extremely thorough biography of Martin Luther King, Jr. It would be an excellent hardcover to have on hand when you’re in the mood for some inspirational non-fiction. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

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Jonathan Eig, who has previously written about Muhammad Ali and Jackie Robinson, has written an almost 700 page Biography on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Most of my knowledge of Martin Luther King’s life comes from the basic historical outtakes taught by the Indiana public school system. This is an expansive and compulsively readable book, that begins with King’s grandfather, follows his civil rights leadership, continues through the FBI’s obsessive and perverse surveillance and ends with his assassination. Eig doesn’t turn away from King’s faults but I never felt that it was salacious. I now have a really good understanding of King’s motivations and appreciation of the fact that he never veered from his moral obligation to nonviolence even as those around him began to disagree. The problems that King grappled with, segregation, racism, poverty, and violence are still issues today and King’s words are just as relevant today as they were over fifty years ago. I think that this will be one of those books that will be on shelves for decade to come.

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This is one of the most readable bios. Actually, it reads like fiction, interesting and flowing. A true picture of a great man. A well-resourced story of a great man. A man with flaws and troubles, and yet a man destined for greatness.

Sometimes a book like this can have what I call a dry academia tone. Eig’s book makes it readable while giving you much information and background. His writing is almost like journalism, to the point, clean, and clear. His book also made me want to read more about Martin Luther King. I am very grateful to have come across this book and hope I can read more of his work

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So many thanks to NetGaley and the publisher for the chance to read this new work at Dr. King. This was a joy to read! So compelling! This was my work by this author but it will not be my last. I learned so much about the Dr. King's story. This was so good that you feel as though everyone should read this. This is an important work of American History. Highly recommended!

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