Uncensored

January 1, 2018

A Robert L. Bartley Fellow at the Wall Street Journal, Wood will graduate from Williams College in 2018, having served as president of Uncomfortable Learning, a student group drawing national attention with its provocative speakers--with whom Wood sometimes strongly disagrees. Here he relates growing up poor and black in Washington, DC, learning to live between his tough neighborhood and elite school. My vote for one of the most important books of 2018.

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 12, 2018
In this thought-provoking memoir, Wood, a fellow at the Wall Street Journal, writes about his troubled life growing up and controversial position as president of a college speaker series. Wood recalls his impoverished youth in Detroit with his emotionally troubled mother, who enrolled him in a series of private schools where he thrived academically but withered socially under his mother’s emotional abuse. Officials with Child Protective Services took Wood away as a teenager after several abuse allegations against his schizophrenic mother (who also had a gambling addiction), and returned him to his estranged father in Washington, D.C. He attended private school while living in a poor neighborhood, and in straddling two cultures, he came to realize the importance learning how to understand and engage with others, no matter their differences. He attended Williams College and became president of a student speaker series called Uncomfortable Learning that advocated free speech and open dialogue. Wood himself became a controversial figure on campus by inviting such speakers as antifeminist writer Suzanne Venker, National Review columnist John Derbyshire, and Bell Curve author Charles Murray. Wood’s thought-provoking memoir is a fierce call for honest intellectual debate and social interaction.

April 15, 2018
Still in his early 20s, Wood chronicles his arduous upbringing as a black male, including his 15 minutes of fame (so far) while a college student.Growing up, the author developed impressive intelligence and a dedicated character, but he had to battle a controlling, abusive mother suffering from bipolar disorder, his parents' divorce, and struggles to pay for an elite education. The detailed accounting of his upbringing comprises more than three-quarters of the narrative; the renown does not arrive until Page 200. Wood was a student at Williams College in rural Massachusetts. Upset at the closed-minded nature of college students when given the opportunity to hear campus speakers sometimes labeled racist, sexist, homophobic, or politically extremist, the author became involved in the initiative Uncomfortable Learning. Some of the speakers he wanted to invite faced a veto from the Williams administration. Others, such as Charles Murray, were able to deliver their presentations and then engage in dialogue with the students. Wood received widespread national media attention as a result, and he is currently Robert L. Bartley fellow at the Wall Street Journal. The early part of the book, a mostly chronological account of Wood's challenging life, offers pointed insight into the struggles of growing up black among often wealthy whites. However, the circumstances of Wood's daily existence don't engage with enough universal truths about race, financial struggles, and other similar topics. The author, who writes well, is a sympathetic narrator, and he has unquestionably displayed an impressive work ethic and devotion to free speech. But after the insight offered through his personal history, the analysis tails off, and his father, one of the most intriguing characters in the story, is somewhat of a spectral presence. As he continues to mature, expect Wood to grow as a writer and further the dialogues he sketches here.A memoir that would have radiated greater power as a long-form magazine article.

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May 15, 2018

In his memoir, Wood shares his evolution as an activist for free speech and open dialog on college campuses. Wood is bold and brave in tackling issues he has experienced firsthand, such as racism, classism, and poverty. Having grown up in Washington, DC, and Detroit under challenging circumstances, Wood felt inspired to engage people with a "spirit of diversity." As president of the student group Uncomfortable Learning at Williams College, MA, Woods encourages members of the campus community to engage in open and honest debate with those whose perspectives may differ from their own. Wood uses his platform to speak at other institutions and invites controversial speakers such as John Derbyshire and Charles Murray to Williams. This debut traces his journey and provides insight into how his poor upbringing and unstable home connected to his experience of unfair judgment and a lack of compassion from the outside world. His words are compelling in sharing how he chose to set higher standards for himself while encouraging others to do the same. VERDICT Wood elevates the approach to difficult conversations and dialog, succeeding in helping people overcome indifference. A must-read for young social activists, free speech crusaders, and fans of inspirational memoirs.--Cassandra Ifie, Itawamba Community Coll., Tupelo, MS

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.