#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER OPRAH’S BOOK CLUB PICK “An instant American classic and almost certainly the keynote nonfiction book of the American century thus far.”—Dwight Garner, The New York Times The Pulitzer Prize-winning, bestselling author of The Warmth of Other Suns examines the unspoken caste system that has shaped America and shows how our lives today are still defined by a hierarchy of human divisions—now with a new Afterword by the author. #1 NONFICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR: Time ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The Washington Post, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, O: The Oprah Magazine, NPR, Bloomberg, The Christian Science Monitor, New York Post, The New York Public Library, Fortune, Smithsonian Magazine, Marie Claire, Slate, Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews Winner of the Carl Sandberg Literary Award Winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize National Book Award Longlist National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist Dayton Literary Peace Prize Finalist PEN/John Kenneth Galbraith Award for Nonfiction Finalist PEN/Jean Stein Book Award Longlist Kirkus Prize Finalist “As we go about our daily lives, caste is the wordless usher in a darkened theater, flashlight cast down in the aisles, guiding us to our assigned seats for a performance. The hierarchy of caste is not about feelings or morality.

It is about power—which groups have it and which do not.” In this brilliant book, Isabel Wilkerson gives us a masterful portrait of an unseen phenomenon in America as she explores, through an immersive, deeply researched, and beautifully written narrative and stories about real people, how America today and throughout its history has been shaped by a hidden caste system, a rigid hierarchy of human rankings. Beyond race, class, or other factors, there is a powerful caste system that influences people’s lives and behavior and the nation’s fate. Linking the caste systems of America, India, and Nazi Germany, Wilkerson explores eight pillars that underlie caste systems across civilizations, including divine will, bloodlines, stigma, and more.

Using riveting stories about people—including Martin Luther King, Jr., baseball’s Satchel Paige, a single father and his toddler son, Wilkerson herself, and many others—she shows the ways that the insidious undertow of caste is experienced every day. She documents how the Nazis studied the racial systems in America to plan their outcasting of the Jews; she discusses why the cruel logic of caste requires that there be a bottom rung for those in the middle to measure themselves against; she writes about the surprising health costs of caste, in depression and life expectancy, and the effects of this hierarchy on our culture and politics. Finally, she points forward to ways America can move beyond the artificial and destructive separations of human divisions, toward hope in our common humanity.

Original and revealing, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents is an eye-opening story of people and history, and a reexamination of what lies under the surface of ordinary lives and of American life today.

In this groundbreaking book, acclaimed author Isabel Wilkerson delves into the hidden hierarchy of American society, uncovering the deep-seated caste system that influences aspects of everyday life. Wilkerson draws from history and human stories to illustrate how this unspoken hierarchy has shaped America for centuries. Her analysis offers a new perspective, providing readers with profound insights into the nation's enduring social struggles and inviting them to envision a more equitable future.

Caste defines social divides that persist beneath the surface of modern American life. Understanding the historical roots of caste is crucial to addressing today's inequities. Transformation requires acknowledging and dismantling these entrenched societal structures.

Isabel Wilkerson's 'Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents' reveals how an unseen hierarchy continues to shape American society likened to the rigid caste systems of India and Nazi Germany. Drawing on extensive research Wilkerson examines how these systems subtly dictate people's lives through inherited positions of power and privilege. By weaving together real stories historical examples and sociopolitical theories Wilkerson illustrates how America's caste system is often normalized or disguised.

Through personal narratives and historical accounts the book sheds light on the enduring power of caste within the United States. Wilkerson argues that this often-unexamined facet of society underpins many of the nation's ongoing social and racial tensions. Her work challenges readers to confront uncomfortable truths about inequality and ingrained bias demonstrating how these divides impede collective progress.

The book spotlights individuals whose experiences reveal the pernicious effects of living in a caste-defined society. Wilkerson's compelling storytelling paints a vivid picture of the human cost of prejudice and exclusion urging readers to question their assumptions and roles within the system. Ultimately Wilkerson offers a hopeful outlook by advocating for empathy and understanding which she believes are key to healing and transforming society.

Isabel Wilkerson's narrative prowess brings historical insights to life allowing readers to connect with complex ideas through compelling stories By integrating personal experiences with broader sociopolitical analysis the book offers a holistic perspective on America's caste system Wilkerson employs a unique interdisciplinary approach merging sociology history and emotional storytelling providing readers with both an intellectual and visceral understanding of caste Her emphasis on empathy and human connection reinforces the book's powerful message of potential transformation The book is distinguished by its focus on hope and healing as Wilkerson encourages readers to envision a more inclusive future Her persuasive arguments for empathy and action inspire audiences to become part of the change needed to dismantle these societal constructs Through empathy Wilkerson offers a path to transcend the division and create a more equitable world.