When I think of my long struggle to "try and be a writer", my confidence is shattered upon reading such a poetic, insightful, heartfelt piece as this. This is writing — the naked intimacy of it. Even if I cannot fully grasp the primordial fear documented in this book, Coates's excellent writing gives me a peek into a world I cannot — by definition of my class and race — ever truly know.

I cannot know the fear, but I can understand it. And it can move me.

Full review here: chadkohalyk.com/2016/08/28/listening-in-a-short-review-of-between-the-world-and-me/