41 pages • 1 hour read
Toni MorrisonThe Origin of Others
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2016A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In The Origin of Others, Toni Morrison explores America's obsession with skin color through a blend of literary criticism, historical analysis, and memoir, revealing how the process of Othering shapes society's understanding of race and belonging. She delves into slave narratives, her own experiences, and the influences of white American writers, discussing the fluidity of racial constructs and the psychological need for acceptance and exclusion. Morrison also addresses the impact of globalization on these dynamics. Sensitive topics in the book include racial violence and trauma.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Toni Morrison's The Origin of Others provides a profound exploration of race, identity, and the concept of 'Otherness' through a rich tapestry of personal insights and literary analysis. Critics praise Morrison's eloquence and depth, though some feel her arguments occasionally lack cohesion. Overall, it's an enlightening and thought-provoking read that resonates with contemporary social issues.
Who Should Read The Origin of Others?
A reader who engages deeply with issues of race, identity, and literature would appreciate The Origin of Others by Toni Morrison. Fans of Michelle Alexander’s The New Jim Crow and Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Between the World and Me, which also scrutinize societal constructs and systemic racism, will find Morrison's essays intellectually stimulating.
RecommendedReading Age
18+yearsBook Details
Race / Racism
Politics / Government
Gender / Feminism
Values/Ideas: Literature
Identity: Race
Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos
Philosophy