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Brian Lyman's Top Book Recommendations

Want to know what books Brian Lyman recommends on their reading list? We've researched interviews, social media posts, podcasts, and articles to build a comprehensive list of Brian Lyman's favorite book recommendations of all time.

1

Dividing Lines

Municipal Politics and the Struggle for Civil Rights in Montgomery, Birmingham, and Selma

J. Mills Thornton III | 4.22

A landmark book on the struggle for racial equality in America.
 
With this bold offering from two decades of research, J. Mills Thornton III presents the story of the civil rights movement from the perspective of community-municipal history at the grassroots level. Thornton demonstrates that the movement had powerful local sources in its three birth cities--Montgomery, Birmingham, and Selma.  There, the arcane mechanisms of state and city governance and the missteps of municipal politicians and civic leaders--independent of emerging national trends in racial...
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Recommended by Brian Lyman, and 1 others.

Brian Lyman@MrDrew_Taylor I’ve got Thornton’s book. Great read. (Source)

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2

Frederick Douglass

Prophet of Freedom

David W. Blight | 4.46

As a young man, Frederick Douglass (1818–1895) escaped from slavery in Baltimore, Maryland. He was fortunate to have been taught to read by his slave owner mistress, and he would go on to become one of the major literary figures of his time. His very existence gave the lie to slave owners: with dignity and great intelligence he bore witness to the brutality of slavery.

Initially mentored by William Lloyd Garrison, Douglass spoke widely, using his own story to condemn slavery. By the Civil War, Douglass had become the most famed and widely travelled orator in the nation. In his... more
Recommended by Barack Obama, Eddie S. Glaude Jr., Brian Lyman, and 3 others.

Barack ObamaAs 2018 draws to a close, I’m continuing a favorite tradition of mine and sharing my year-end lists. It gives me a moment to pause and reflect on the year through the books I found most thought-provoking, inspiring, or just plain loved. It also gives me a chance to highlight talented authors – some who are household names and others who you may not have heard of before. Here’s my best of 2018... (Source)

Eddie S. Glaude Jr.I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation. David Blight is brilliant and his new book is absolutely amazing. Check it out. https://t.co/kRbrlHKQrN (Source)

Brian LymanSo yeah, that book is superb. Douglass has been an Admirable Icon for so long that the human being is often lost. I appreciated Bright showing the great achievements next to his daily pleasures and struggles. Also, I didn’t know how funny Douglass could be. (Source)

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