Poetry Books
The Leroi Jones/Amiri Baraka Reader
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You Save: $ 16.95 ( 100% )
Manufacturer: Thunder's Mouth Pr
Author: Imamu Amiri Baraka, Amiri Baraka, William J. Harris
Publisher: Thunder's Mouth Pr
Average Customer Rating:
Our Price:
You Save: $ 16.95 ( 100% )
Manufacturer: Thunder's Mouth Pr
Author: Imamu Amiri Baraka, Amiri Baraka, William J. Harris
Publisher: Thunder's Mouth Pr
Average Customer Rating:
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The Leroi Jones/Amiri Baraka Reader Description
Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 818.5409
EAN: 9781560250074
ISBN: 1560250070
Label: Thunder's Mouth Pr
Manufacturer: Thunder's Mouth Pr
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 498
Publication Date: 1991-04
Publisher: Thunder's Mouth Pr
Studio: Thunder's Mouth Pr
Dewey Decimal Number: 818.5409
EAN: 9781560250074
ISBN: 1560250070
Label: Thunder's Mouth Pr
Manufacturer: Thunder's Mouth Pr
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 498
Publication Date: 1991-04
Publisher: Thunder's Mouth Pr
Studio: Thunder's Mouth Pr
Editorial Review of The Leroi Jones/Amiri Baraka Reader
Amiri Baraka - dramatist, poet, essayist, orator, and fiction writer - is one of the preeminent African-American literary figures of our time. The Leroi Jones/Amiri Baraka Reader provides the most comprehensive selection of Baraka's work to date, spanning almost 40 years of a brilliant, prolific, and controversial career, in which he has produced more than 12 books of poetry, 26 plays, eight collections of essays and speeches, and two books of fiction. This updated edition contains over 50 pages of previously unpublished work, as well as a chronology and full bibliography.
Customer Reviews of The Leroi Jones/Amiri Baraka Reader
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: An Awesome Artist and Philosopher
Review: I would not take anyone's word uncritically or unexamined about anything really important. Amiri Baraka is a flawed man. At times he has sounded anti-semitic and other times in his life he has sounded homophobic.
There is plenty in his life to contradict those seemingly mean spirited expressions. However, he was friends to the end with both Allen Ginsberg and James Baldwin among others and had children with Hattie (Cohen?)Jones. And I still don't get the "20 Volume Suicide Note"...musings of somebody not really ready to go quietly into that night?
All that being said, I also find Baraka to be vigorous, rigorous, intellectually and spiritually adventuresome and brave of heart. I have learned MUCH from him. If you don't get it, maybe he isn't talking you or you are not willing to listen...
He has written some beautiful, brilliant poetry that functions through many channels of communication. His essays about African based music are seminal, required, necessary.
Baraka deserves criticism. None of the criticism here so far expresses anything of substance that I can discern.
Personally, I experienced one of my rebirths though the Black Arts Movement. Baraka was one of the leading "midwives". I am VERY thankful for his presence in this crazy, cruel, wonderous world. If you really want to know the truth of what we call "America", the stench and the free-for-all wildflowers, you need to pass by his way.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Reviewing THE BOOK, Not The Controversy Surrounding Its Author
Review: As a native of Newark, N.J., I grew up taking Amiri Baraka for granted. It wasn't until I moved to Maryland and finally read this book that I understood who I had met all those times.
This is an EXTRAORDINARY work that details the growth and development of a significant American artist. Its editor takes much care in selecting samples that allow us to see divergent aspects of Baraka.
Especially significant among the many gems within is the text of his eulogy for James Baldwin and his essay on Jesse Jackson. Those works are required reading for those needing to understand the 20th century African-American experience, particularly those who wish to do so as writers.
This book has guided my view of the (African-)American writer's role.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: A worthless book
Review: I read this book and all I know is that Leroi Jones changed his name to Amiri Baraka.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: not deserving much attention
Review: I think this book took me five minutes to read--a lot of talking, no ideas. Original ones, anyway.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: An amazing man!
Review: Buy this book. It's that simple. This book provides the reader with a developmental history of one of the greatest LIVING revolutionary minds this country has ever produced. He hits you in the heart without bashing you over the head. You may not agree with everything he says, or how he may have lived portions of his life, but you will be affected (in some capacity) by his wit, intelligence and the fierceness of his conventions. A must for anyone who thinks that they are " a radical" or "an activist."
Review Summary: An Awesome Artist and Philosopher
Review: I would not take anyone's word uncritically or unexamined about anything really important. Amiri Baraka is a flawed man. At times he has sounded anti-semitic and other times in his life he has sounded homophobic.
There is plenty in his life to contradict those seemingly mean spirited expressions. However, he was friends to the end with both Allen Ginsberg and James Baldwin among others and had children with Hattie (Cohen?)Jones. And I still don't get the "20 Volume Suicide Note"...musings of somebody not really ready to go quietly into that night?
All that being said, I also find Baraka to be vigorous, rigorous, intellectually and spiritually adventuresome and brave of heart. I have learned MUCH from him. If you don't get it, maybe he isn't talking you or you are not willing to listen...
He has written some beautiful, brilliant poetry that functions through many channels of communication. His essays about African based music are seminal, required, necessary.
Baraka deserves criticism. None of the criticism here so far expresses anything of substance that I can discern.
Personally, I experienced one of my rebirths though the Black Arts Movement. Baraka was one of the leading "midwives". I am VERY thankful for his presence in this crazy, cruel, wonderous world. If you really want to know the truth of what we call "America", the stench and the free-for-all wildflowers, you need to pass by his way.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Reviewing THE BOOK, Not The Controversy Surrounding Its Author
Review: As a native of Newark, N.J., I grew up taking Amiri Baraka for granted. It wasn't until I moved to Maryland and finally read this book that I understood who I had met all those times.
This is an EXTRAORDINARY work that details the growth and development of a significant American artist. Its editor takes much care in selecting samples that allow us to see divergent aspects of Baraka.
Especially significant among the many gems within is the text of his eulogy for James Baldwin and his essay on Jesse Jackson. Those works are required reading for those needing to understand the 20th century African-American experience, particularly those who wish to do so as writers.
This book has guided my view of the (African-)American writer's role.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: A worthless book
Review: I read this book and all I know is that Leroi Jones changed his name to Amiri Baraka.
But all he is... is a frustrated angry man. Full of hate and spite.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: not deserving much attention
Review: I think this book took me five minutes to read--a lot of talking, no ideas. Original ones, anyway.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: An amazing man!
Review: Buy this book. It's that simple. This book provides the reader with a developmental history of one of the greatest LIVING revolutionary minds this country has ever produced. He hits you in the heart without bashing you over the head. You may not agree with everything he says, or how he may have lived portions of his life, but you will be affected (in some capacity) by his wit, intelligence and the fierceness of his conventions. A must for anyone who thinks that they are " a radical" or "an activist."
This book is rated UR and may not be suitable for un-realistic audiences.