Satisfied with Nothin

By Ernest Hill

Book Overview

This is the story of Jamie Ray Griffin, a young black man who, by virtue of his talent on the football field, finds himself suddenly thrust into a white world full of privilege, temptation, and never-before-imagined possibility. Encouraged by the facade of acceptance from the white community, Jamie strives to succeed, but finds himself thwarted at every turn -- by whites and blacks alike. Satisfied with Nothin' chronicles Jamie's development from a naive, unsophisticated teen to a hard-driving, cynical adult determined to succeed despite the opposition of whites, the complacency of blacks, and his own tragic fate. In doing so, it provides a powerful and important portrait of the black experience in post-segregation America.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1416556982
• ISBN13: 9781416556985
• Release Date: August 2008
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 2.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.2" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Loved It!

This is a wonderful book. I read this book while attending the University of New Orleans. I was very honored to meet Mr. Hill who visited our classroom to discuss this amazing book. This book has a powerful message and I will make sure that my children when old enough will read this book also.

One Not Soon To Forget

I read this book several years back. I am a 32 year old white man who grew up in the same community as Ernest Hill. I still live here, too. I am very proud of our community. Sure there are advances to be made socially, economically and spititually-but is there a perfect place? No. But, I believe we are much farther down the road than most communities. I can certainly identify with the racism that Ernest refers to. I saw much of it. And still see some of it. Also the plight of the young black man in our town is still uphill but this is one of the most economically depressed areas of the country. Ernest's book is a very honest account of the life and times in our community in the '70's. Hopefully, we have made progress. I recommend this book very highly. Thanks Ernest, you have made us all proud! Keep up the good work.

An excellent book about choices for a young Black Man.

3/24/99 I met Mr. Hill as a guest lecturer at Southern University, Baton Rouge, LA, yesterday and discussed his book in depth. His book can be used as a navigating tool for young black boys who are sometimes thrown into the spotlight and then unexpectedly jerked out again. Jamie Ray could be so many of the athletes here in Baton Rouge that are being primed for the Big Leagues and taught that they should focus only on that dream. Jamie Ray is one our sons, brothers, or cousins who hears but doesn't listen. I suggest we pass this book along through the commuity to help our future youth realize if they control their own thinking then they control their actions. Split second decisions can change your life forever. Mr. Hill's book is an example of having goals and making choices to reach them. His ending wasn't the fairy tale of everything worked out fine. It was the reality that so many of us face. La Malta Robins

Deep reading

Personally, there were a couple of strong racial scenes in the book that really made me mad and want to throw the book at the wall - hard! Mr. Hill is a writer who is good at making the reader feel as if they are actually in the scene observing everything firsthand. I had no problems with the book or Mr. Hill's writing style. The ending was sad but at the same time inspirational. I can't wait for Ernest Hill's next one.

Simply Marvelous!

Finally a male author who's writing something positive and whos next work you can definitely look forward to. Earnest Hill is surely here to stay. With his first novel Satisfied with Nothing, this book gives such an insight to a culture that is often forgotten and misunderstood. A "Think Peace" in it self. There is a message within a message in each paragraph. A must read! Captivating from the beginning. When's the next book? 10 all the way!