Stakes is High: Life After the American Dream
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Book Brief
208
Book • Nonfiction
2020s
•
Social Class•
Justice•
Social Justice•
Politics & Government2020
Bold Type Books
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
In Stakes is High, Mychal Denzel Smith critiques the notion of the American Dream, proposing instead a society free from systemic racism and constant policing. The collection, split into four parts, examines topics such as capitalism, economic and social justice, and the American legal system, culminating in a call for a new narrative that acknowledges and dismantles oppressive systems. The book includes discussions of sexual assault, racial violence, and systemic oppression.
Informative
Challenging
Emotional
Contemplative
Reviews & Readership
860 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Mychal Denzel Smith's Stakes Is High is praised for its incisive analysis of systemic racism and insightful personal narratives. Critics appreciate Smith's candid, thought-provoking style and advocacy for radical change. However, some readers find the tone overly pessimistic and the arguments occasionally repetitive. Overall, it's a compelling, imperative read on social justice.
Who Should Read Stakes Is High?
A reader who would enjoy Stakes Is High by Mychal Denzel Smith is passionate about social justice, systemic inequality, and racial issues. This book will resonate with fans of Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates and The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin, blending personal narrative with incisive cultural critique.
860 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
The 45th president of the United States, portrayed as embodying negative traits and serving as a focal point of discussion for racial and societal issues.
The first Black woman to run for the presidential nomination in 1972, celebrated as a figure of political progress and symbolic representation.
A historical figure whose legacy Smith examines to critique the narrative of racial equality in America and the co-opting of his ideals.
Smith's great-great-great-grandfather, whose life as a slave highlights enduring systemic issues and the mythology of the American Dream.
A hip-hop trio whose song "Stakes is High" inspires the book's title and serves as a metaphor for envisioning a fairer society.
208
Book • Nonfiction
2020s
•
Social Class•
Justice•
Social Justice•
Politics & Government2020
Bold Type Books
Adult
18+ years
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