Member Reviews
My mistake. I thought it was the book. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this. I'm sure this guide will be useful to many book clubs.
“As we go about our daily lives, caste is the wordless usher in a darkened theater, flashlight cast down in the aisles, guiding us to our assigned seats for a performance. The hierarchy of caste is not about feelings or morality. It is about power—which groups have it and which do not.”
I think this would be a heavy book to read, especially as a POC or person from a marginalized group or community. Having this kit would be helpful to navigate the aftermath of this important and eye-opening body of work.
Wilkerson's 8 Pillars of Caste:
1) Divine Will and The Laws of Nature
2) Heritability
3) Endogamy and the control of marriage and mating
4) Purity vs pollution
5) Occupational hierarchy
6) Dehumanization and Stigma
7) Terror as enforcement, cruelty as a means of control
8) Inherent superiority vs inherent inferiority
This is a solid resource for anyone looking to have an depth discussion of Wilkerson's work. It poses a full list of in depth questions clearly designed to probe the reader to think about the material on a significant level. However, to call it a "Guide" feels like a bit of a stretch. It doesn't present the questions in a clearly structured manner. I think it would have been better to present the questions in groups that all relate to broader discussion points, with each of those points clearly structured to help guide the conversation. That kind of approach is still possible, it will just require more prep beyond this guide.
Caste by Isabel Wilkerson was such a powerful read for me. The book club kit just gave me even more appreciation for the book. The kit includes 25 really thought-provoking questions, that I think are essential for any book club discussion. I'd love if an author interview was included.
A very thought provoking book that details out in great length the world we are in, and the sad realities of race and social hierarchy in US. When we speak about caste system, I would think of India, perhaps Nazi Germany, but the author has rightly pointed out that racism is not about one person hating the other, but rather, a systematic abuse. An upper-caste wanting to maintain privilege and being oblivious to sufferings of a lower-caste. The book has a great detail both from history perspective and also of recent events (e.g. the Obama presidency), to illustrate her perspective.
This is not a simple book to read, and some of the content or perspective may be controversial to particular groups of people, the book remains true to the author's story, her point of view. HIghly recommended, and also recommending people to keep an open mind reading this book.
These book club question are great for analyzing the book. They are great for guiding a book club discussion to make sure you get everything you need from the book. It is also good that the questions are long to create profound discussion, instead of superficial conversation.
I really loved the book Caste. It is a very informative book which calls for a lot of discussions. But what questions can you ask? With this Book Club Kit, you will have 2 pages of discussion questions on hand. 25 questions to pick up and have conversations about the book and the deeper going content itself. I can definitely recommend this kit.
Excited to have read the book club kit as I can use for my book club. It was useful to have this kit while discussing the complex topics discussed in Caste.
Caste is a very important book for understanding not only the caste-oriented American system but also the genesis and perpetuation of current class-based elites. This Book Club Kit includes 25 questions pertinently covering the most important topics included in the book. It helps at a great extent to discuss and analyse the book, through its main concepts and ideas. I haven´t been to a nonfiction book club until now, but when there is such a list of questions the discussion may be organised much better. If you are a teacher struggling to introducing the book to your class, this book club kit can be useful too.
Here is my review of the book: https://myacademicadventure.blogspot.com/2021/11/abour-caste-in-america.html
I LOVED Caste. The discussion questions, of which this review is written, were well thought out and provoke meaningful discussion. Depending on the size of the book group, the questions will fill the allotted meeting time for a book club discussion and may need to be split into a series of discussions or the group can pick which questions they deem most important.
Isabel Wilkerson's Caste is an important book, popular among book clubs (HOORAY!) and this guide will definitely enhance any discussions of this timely subject. I appreciate having the opportunity to receive this prior to my. February Book Club meeting!
Loved this book so much!! Have been wanting to read it for some time so, thank you, Net Galley! Highly recommend this book!!
I am not sure why I received this Book Club Kit: Caste by Isabel Wilkerson, as I am not familiar with it and did not request it. I appreciate you sending me this copy but I haven't read the book that this kit relates too. Kind Regards
Thank you for this Book Club Kit! I found it to be very interesting and it would be a great resource for any clubs reading and discussing Caste.
This book club kit for the novel “Caste” was extremely beneficial! The novel was long and complex, and this kit helped immensely to aid our discussion.
Isabel Wilkerson's book, Caste, was very interesting and informative. I highly recommend it, and my teens even used it as part of the curriculum for high school history classes. We have also participated in live Q&A sessions with the author. I expected more from the Book Club Kit, though. Two pages of questions is something I would expect to be posted on an author page for free.
This was such a fabulous resource to dive into the book Caste. While Caste is an incredible book, it can be difficult to size it down in small accessible discussions. This kit assists us as leaders, in doing this important work.
I used this to guide a discussion of this book for a local organization. While I ended up not using the majority of the questions, it helped me to organize my thoughts, and build flexibility into the direction of the discussion. In retrospect, it might have been useful to read this book first, as it highlights the important themes and stories in the book itself.
Isabel Wilkerson's work debunks the myth that a caste system only operates in modern day India. Through exploring India, Germany, and the United States, Wilkerson paints a grim picture of the reality that most aren't fully aware of. The comparing and contrasting of "caste" and "race" allows the reader to understand how divisive the world we live in is. One of the most sticking things in the inclusion of real stories and experiences; the weight is truly felt.
I participate in a very modest book club that focuses on diversifying our reading through different perspectives (racial, religious, etc). I picked up Caste after devouring The Warmth of Other Suns and this was the perfect companion to our discussion and for my own edification.