Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents

“Featured on Obama's 2020 year-end list. Wilkerson's second major project argues that American race relations are best understood through the concept of caste — a fixed hierarchy maintained through eight pillars — and draws comparisons to India's caste system and Nazi Germany's racial laws.”

“Isabel Wilkerson's 2020 structural analysis of American racial hierarchy was selected shortly after publication. Oprah praised it for giving her a new vocabulary — arguing that 'caste' was a more precise frame than 'race' for understanding inherited hierarchy.”

“Described it as "devastating and important and regrettably timely," saying it was on his nightstand.”