The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr.

by Clayborne Carson and Martin Luther King Jr.

Book Overview

A professor of history and the noted author and editor of several books on the civil rights struggle, Dr. Clayborne Carson was selected by the estate of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to edit and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0446676500
• Release Date: January 2001
• Publisher: Warner Books
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 1.07 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 1.3" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

Disappointed again...

Very disappointed when I see a book for sale WITH DUST COVER...and I received it WITH OUT IT.

One of the best autobiographys I have ever read!

Some of his best speeches and the thoughts behind those speeches can be found in this book. Definitely, one of the best autobiographys I ever read. I know that it should not matter, but as a white man in America, I believe that it should be required ready for everyone today. Maybe we would treat each other better. Only love can take us to the promise land.

Moving and Vital

When every child turns 16 in this country they should be required to read this book. I can't think of any other book that hit me so hard in the gut. Each page was a revelation, a call to humanity. MLK wasn't a saint but he was such a deeply focused, powerful person that his influence will be felt as long as this species roams this earth. Every chapter is perfectly put together, cohesive and augmented by personal papers, speeches, etc. the Editor knows his subject and it shows in the way the book, the story is organized. Simply inspirational.

Brilliantly conceived life of a brilliant man

Dr. King has become such an American icon that it's easy to forget what a brilliant, passionate man he was. This "autobiography" will remind you. Clayborne Carson does a masterful job of weaving King's writings and speeches together into what serves as a credible autobiography but more importantly, as a chronicle of King's powerful oratory.I found the book an endless source of inspiration for me as a pacifist and believer in justice and equality for all. Here are the unforgettable words, not only of the "I Have A Dream Speech" and "The Letter From a Birmingham Jail" but other speeches and writings as well and the stories behind them. We are constantly reminded that King was both a determined and eloquent leader, who was the focal point of America's most succesful social movement.This is not only unique as an autobiography because it wasn't really written as such, but because it is such a rich source of wisdom and passion.It's a book to be read and kept handy. I'll be referring to it often and reading it again.

The Manifestation of a great Man

The autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr. is a manifestation of his thoughts, words, philosophies, and his way of life, reborn and written by Clayborne Carson. Carson has done a great job re-writing Kings life, and combining his letters, and speeches, and notes with his words to create the world of Martin Luther King again for us. The book gives us good insight on MLK's life, and his impact on the civil rights movement. You get to know his standpoints well, and how the man worked things out. Sadly you mostly can read about MLK's life inside the civil rights movement, and less about him at home, or his relationship with his family. This is a good one to help you gain insight on the civil rights movement of that time, and all in all, is a great and interesting book to read even if the civil rights is not your main interest.

Wonderful insight into Dr. King's philosophy

Clayborne Carson has done a great job of combining MLK's writings and speeches into a single narrative that tells the story of King's life and the amazing impact he had on the U.S. civil rights movement. This is not Mr. Carson writing from the perspective of Dr. King; it's King's words almost verbatim, with relatively minor editorial changes to allow disparate writings to flow together into an autobiography that otherwise simply would not exist. Of course, as any autobiography would, this book only tells the story of the civil rights movement from a single perspective -- but in this case, that perspective gives truly unique insight into the philosophy that drove King every day of his life. And it's impossible not to be moved by King's last sermon, which ends with an inspiring, heart-wrenching foreshadowing of the fate that awaited him the very next day.