The author of Between the World and Me journeys to three resonant sites of conflict to explore how the stories we tell—and the ones we don't—shape our realities.
Charts Coates’s re-entry as a public intellectual; it also marks a shift in his approach. Instead of focusing mainly on the American experience, most of the book takes place abroad ... Instead of being the singular voice or the incomparable expert, Coates offers himself as an ally.
A generous reading might interpret Coates’s self-exposure as a lure for drawing readers into communion with his narrative of intellectual and emotional discovery ... He doesn’t engage with Senegalese writing or music at all ... Coates is equally disappointing in the Middle East ... This isn’t a takedown. Coates’s missed opportunities don’t suggest diminished talent or cultural significance. He’s taken important risks here even though they haven’t all played out profitably ... Takes a half step toward task fulfillment. Perhaps Coates’s future projects will hit full stride.
