The first half was a solid 5 stars; the idea of shifting your perspective on America's racial hierarchy to categorize it as a caste system similar to India or Nazi Germany is something that seems simple on the surface (many times the author explains something and I went ??? DUH why didn't I see that before), but Isabel Wilkerson really digs deep into research to show the complexities of her argument. Surely it should shift the way you view America as a whole, as well as the details of every interaction, from public political events to everyday conversations.

Though it was relevant at the time of its writing, referencing 2016, the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Black Lives Matter protests, etc., it is still just as important in 2025, almost sickeningly so. The threads that Wilkerson draws are at times hard to swallow but will definitely shift the way you view the country.

The last half of the book devolves a bit from the main point, though I understand why Wilkerson included the stories/facts she did. It serves to bolster her argument that she sets up in the first half, but I think that those who already have experience reading about systemic racism in America won't find much new information. Because of this, the second half begins to feel repetitive. Though I can see it being incredibly enlightening for those who have the least experience with the material. 

Definitely a must-read to anyone trying to study anti-racism.