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Booker T. Washington
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Up from Slavery (AmazonClassics Edition) Audio CD – MP3 Audio, August 4, 2020

by Booker T. Washington (Author), Mirron Willis (Reader)
4.7 out of 5 stars 2,593 ratings

Born and raised a slave, Booker T. Washington rose from subjugation to become the voice of post-Reconstruction black America.

In his 1901 autobiography, Washington chronicles more than forty years of his life, from his childhood on a Virginia plantation to founding an Alabama school for freedmen and minorities. At the heart of Washington’s teachings were the inspiring qualities he himself possessed in order to climb: self-reliance, hard work, perseverance, and a passion for education.

Up from Slavery is critical, insightful reading for understanding the African American experience at the turn of the twentieth century.

Revised edition: Previously published as Up from Slavery, this edition of Up from Slavery (AmazonClassics Edition) includes editorial revisions.

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  1. Language
    English
  2. Publisher
    Brilliance Audio
  3. Publication date
    August 4, 2020
  4. ISBN-10
    1713543826
  5. ISBN-13
    978-1713543824
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Booker Taliaferro Washington (1856–1915) was an African American author, educator, civil rights pioneer, and presidential advisor.

Booker T. Washington was moved by his mother to West Virginia following emancipation. Washington worked as a manual laborer to pay for his studies at Hampton Institute, a school for freedmen and their descendants. From there, Washington received honorary degrees from Harvard and Dartmouth and, in 1881, was recruited to build and lead a new school for blacks in Tuskegee, Alabama. He remained there for the next thirty years, establishing himself as the most vocal and prominent educator of the post-Reconstruction era.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Brilliance Audio
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 4, 2020
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ Unabridged
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1713543826
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1713543824
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.2 ounces
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 out of 5 stars 2,593 ratings

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Booker T. Washington

Booker T. Washington

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4.7 out of 5 stars
2,593 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this autobiography insightful and well-written, with one noting it's a great read for history enthusiasts. The book provides valuable insights into Booker T. Washington's life, emphasizing the importance of hard work and the inherent nobility of labor. They appreciate the story's optimistic tone and the author's character development, highlighting his kindness and deep sense of responsibility towards his community. The book is factual and takes readers back to historical truths.

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ReadabilityInsightWriting qualityValue for moneyStory qualityCharacter developmentStrength of characterAuthenticity
238 customers mention "Readability"238 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable and insightful, with one customer noting it's particularly valuable for those interested in history.

"This is an excellent primary source, and I have learned a great deal. Mr. Washington worked so very hard and remained so hopeful." Read more

"...Up From Slavery” is a powerful testimony of courage. The author was born a slave in Virginia in 1856...." Read more

"...What struck me about this biography was the incredible drive for betterment after being sett free from slavery, you might say; and this surprises you..." Read more

"...I think many of his time would think much the same. This is such a great book, and it really delves into issues on both sides of the race situation,..." Read more

75 customers mention "Insight"75 positive0 negative

Customers find the book insightful, with one customer noting it provides a thoughtful perspective, while another mentions it shows how to take charge of life.

"...slave who propelled himself, through sheer determination, will, and hard work, to become the most prominent man of his race, who founded what is now..." Read more

"...The passion, the devotion, the hardship the daunting of a dream that at times seemed impossible to be fulfilled...." Read more

"...Everyone should read this book. It is eye-opening and inspirational...." Read more

"Booker T. Washington was a remarkable individual who demonstrated unwavering dedication in his pursuit to uplift his community...." Read more

54 customers mention "Writing quality"41 positive13 negative

Customers find the book well written and readable, with a concise style.

"...This book is the humble words of a very humble man. Read it...." Read more

"...I listened to the CD and the guy who reads the book is fantastic. Everyone should read this book...." Read more

"...This is an easy reading fairly quick book that was for me compelling and unforgettable...." Read more

"...No, not at all, but imagine being a slave and being sett free, unable read, few if any skills to move you out from the shadows of human suffering...." Read more

39 customers mention "Value for money"36 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the book's emphasis on the value and inherent nobility of hard work.

"...However, what I do get a sense of, is a very humble, extremely intelligent clever man. With deep sense of responsibility towards his community...." Read more

"...up from that, but he goes on to become highly educated, to value the work of his hands, to rarely rest, and to seek the help of all..." Read more

"Mr. Washington was indeed a great man. I loved to read how he advanced from slavery to a renown speaker of the times...." Read more

"...for the simple fact that more whites than blacks could read, and afford a book...." Read more

38 customers mention "Story quality"31 positive7 negative

Customers find the book's story wonderful and optimistic, with one customer noting how the author deftly maintained a positive tone throughout.

"...This man is a role model for all time, and his story is interesting and inspiring...." Read more

"...and by default a racial ambassador, he also nobly and deftly kept the book positive and heaped plenty of praise onto many...." Read more

"...It involves sweat, perseverance, not complaining, and analyzing results...." Read more

"What an amazing story. It’s not how you start, this man worked his way to the top to help his fellow humans." Read more

19 customers mention "Character development"19 positive0 negative

Customers praise Booker T. Washington's character, describing him as an amazing human being who was kind and selfless, with one customer noting his deep sense of responsibility towards his community.

"...enemies, he sees them as allies to succeed with his dream, he feels no hate (admirable, it’s not a way to success) he seeks no revenge, it’s almost..." Read more

"...from door to door, the tenacity he endured to not give up and fight with honesty , with respect and dignity of living up to other people's money he..." Read more

"I could hardly put this book down. What an amazing selfless man, always considerate of achievements to help both black people and white!..." Read more

"...even knowing his birthday and place, to become a great man in history regardless of race...." Read more

15 customers mention "Strength of character"15 positive0 negative

Customers praise Booker T. Washington's strength of character, highlighting his perseverance and dedication, with one customer noting how hard work can overcome barriers.

"I loved it from beginning to end! The passion, the devotion, the hardship the daunting of a dream that at times seemed impossible to be fulfilled...." Read more

"...It involves sweat, perseverance, not complaining, and analyzing results...." Read more

"...He humbly displayed genius, dignity, and perseverance. I loved the book." Read more

"...The building of Tuskegee was tough. Professor Booker T Washington was a brilliant leader. He is amazing." Read more

8 customers mention "Authenticity"8 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's authenticity, describing it as factual and a great universal truth that takes readers back to the truth.

"...This book takes us back to the truth. His life is one worth studying. To rise above adversity is the American way. BTW did just that...." Read more

"This is one of the best books I have ever read it is a firsthand account of what it was like to be a slave during the time of the Civil War and the..." Read more

"...This book covers the great universal truth, that making yourself useful to society by providing goods and services that the society through skills..." Read more

"I found this book to be a very accurate account. Oh how I wish people today both black and white would have such a good and honorable outlook...." Read more

5 Stars for the Contents, 1 Star for the Format
3 out of 5 stars
5 Stars for the Contents, 1 Star for the Format
It really bothers me when an excellent book is marred by bad formatting. Still a fantastic addition to the bookshelf but I'll likely buy better copies of both Mr. Washington's and Mr. Douglas' autobiographies. Their words deserve more than this miserable format.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Anonymous
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating
    Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    This is an excellent primary source, and I have learned a great deal. Mr. Washington worked so very hard and remained so hopeful.
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  • Daniel R. Pinto
    5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful, moving, instructive, humbling
    Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    It is common to compare Booker T. Washington unfavorably to other African American leaders or thinkers of his time or even of our own. I believe this book will help correct this. Washington, a former slave, was trying to redeem a poorly educated community and to free it from the mindset resulting from centuries of slavery and mistreatment. He wanted above all to inculcate a sense of self-reliance and a new work ethic in former slaves understandably averse to work. To this effect, he founded the Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University), which provided vocational training, rather than intellectual training. Washington was severely criticized for this, and for the "Atlanta Compromise" speech to a white audience in 1895 (With an open hand: "In all matters that are purely social, we can be as separate as the fingers." With a clenched fist: "Yet one as a hand when it comes to mutual progress.") .

    Yes, we feel uncomfortable when we think about any limitation in the path of African Americans to economic progress and leading an unrestricted life. But Booker T. Washington was above all realistic, and this memoir shows the kind of obstacles he had to overcome. Thanks to his efforts, supported by such philanthropists as Julius Rosenwald (of Sears Roebuck) and others, a very large number of African Americans had access to a dignified livelihood. As a result of such initiatives, African Americans managed, just a few decades after the end of slavery, in spite of the Jim Crow legislation in place, in spite of lynchings, in spite of a whole system rigged against them, to move little by little up the social ladder, take advantage of manpower needs in fast-growing Northern industries, and enrich American culture in the arts, music, literature and other areas beyond all expectations.

    Even the Tuskegee Institute evolved over the years and decades. George Washington Carver, one of the greatest scientists in the history of the United States (and also a former slave) taught there for almost half a century.

    Even as he tried to improve the lot of African Americans, even as he tried to push them hard to do their best at all times, Washington never failed to remind white America of the enormous difficulties his "coloured brethren" had to overcome. A short excerpt from this book should prove the point:

    "The world should not pass judgment upon the Negro, and especially the Negro youth, too quickly or too harshly. The Negro boy has obstacles, discouragements, and temptations to battle with that are little known to those not situated as he is. When a white boy undertakes a task, it is taken for granted that he will succeed. On the other hand, people are usually surprised if the Negro boy does not fail. In a word, the Negro youth starts out with the presumption against him.

    "The influence of ancestry, however, is important in helping forward any individual or race, if too much reliance is not placed upon it. Those who constantly direct attention to the Negro youth's moral weaknesses, and compare his advancement with that of white youths, do not consider the influence of the memories which cling about the old family homesteads. I have no idea, as I have stated elsewhere, who my grandmother was. I have, or have had, uncles and aunts and cousins, but I have no knowledge as to where most of them are. My case will illustrate that of hundreds of thousands of black people in every part of our country. The very fact that the white boy is conscious that, if he fails in life, he will disgrace the whole family record, extending back through many generations, is of tremendous value in helping him to resist temptations. The fact that the individual has behind and surrounding him proud family history and connection serves as a stimulus to help him to overcome obstacles when striving for success."

    In the long view of history, we tend to agree more with W. E. B. Du Bois (a giant in his own right), who thought African Americans had every right to study in classical academic courses instead of vocational, agriculture-oriented programs. But history is made (or takes place, if you will) step by step, and there should be no doubt today that Booker T. Washington made a major, perhaps an unparalleled contribution to the advancement of his race. And for this, we should all, African Americans or not, Americans or not, be profoundly grateful and motivated.

    I hope only that the excerpt quoted above, one of the most moving I have ever read about the entire African American experience, will inspire everyone to read this book and learn from Booker T. Washington's own words.
    40 people found this helpful
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  • Frank Shults
    5.0 out of 5 stars Must reading
    Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Of several people in American history, I would like to have met Booker T. Washington. This book introduced me anew to a familiar group – Black Americans – as seen through the eyes of a former slave, a slave who propelled himself, through sheer determination, will, and hard work, to become the most prominent man of his race, who founded what is now the Tuskegee Institute, and who advised two US Presidents (Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft) on race relations in America. This book should be required reading for all high school students. It should especially be in the personal library of every Black American and everyone who thinks the world, or at least this country, owes him or her an entitlement of riches.

    “Up From Slavery” is a powerful testimony of courage. The author was born a slave in Virginia in 1856. As a child he witnessed the end of the Civil War (1865) and came to realize the importance of education and hard work. He attended the Hampton Institute which was an industrial school for blacks in Hampton, Virginia.

    Washington’s description of life as a slave and then as a free man is both vivid and compelling. Through his words we learn what it was like to live in a “home” with a dirt floor; to have no expectation of daily food; no clothing except what was being worn. Slaves at the time had only one name - their given name with no surname. In fact, after the Civil War and the new found freedom, one of the first things they did was to take a surname. What could this large group of oppressed and uneducated people, now freed from the bonds of slavery, do with their lives? Freedom meant they would be on their own and no longer living on the property of another. For the first time in their lives, they were able to exercise their God-given free will. But they were not prepared for this and many suffered as a result.

    Rather than bend to the harsh reality of his life as a freed slave, Washington focused on the value he offered to others. For example, he wrote: “I had rather be what I am, a member of the Negro race, than be able to claim membership with the most favored of any other race.” And “…mere connection with what is known as a superior race will not permanently carry an individual forward unless he has individual worth, and mere connection with what is regarded as an inferior race will not finally hold an individual back if he possesses intrinsic, individual merit.” This basic drive and his passion for education, training and hard work kept him grounded and focused throughout his life. As he stated it: “I think that the whole future of my race hinges on the question as to whether or not it can make itself of such indispensable value that the people in the town and the state where we reside will feel that our presence is necessary to the happiness and well-being of the community.”

    Washington died in 1915. He left an indelible mark on America, our society and on race relations. If Black American leaders decades later in American history, had taken lessons from him, our country and our racial relations would be better than they are today.
    8 people found this helpful
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  • Tuna
    3.0 out of 5 stars Kalitesi düşük
    Reviewed in Turkey on January 17, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Genel olarak bir dandiklik hissiyatı var kitabın, ancak içeriğini beğendim okunması gereken bir kitap olduğunu düşünüyorum
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  • Joao Matos
    5.0 out of 5 stars J'ai pas reçue mon book
    Reviewed in France on August 10, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    Pourquoi ça prend aussi temps pour recevoir mon livre Up tfrom he Slavery?

    Normalement c'est plus rapide. Je n'ai pas encore d'expérience avec le livre raison pour laquelle je suis anxieux pour pouvoir lire mon lore qui prend du temps à arriver. Quand même je vousdonne 5 étoiles avec l'exectatove de recevoir demain mn livre.
    cordialement
    jmatos
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  • David
    5.0 out of 5 stars The blessing of work.
    Reviewed in Germany on December 14, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I have to say I was pleasantly surprised at how refreshing it was to hear a larger-than-life story about a man who simply worked his way into the upper eschalances of society. The humility that Booker had was second to none. The vision and faith he had was second to none when you look at where he came from. Truly a miraculous story I realize that anything is possible in life when you have humility and no fear to work hard and put yourself in a situation where you could fail. A fantastic story and a must read for anyone looking for the secret to happiness and success in life.
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  • Retroprosa
    5.0 out of 5 stars Hard work and a desire to do good in this world
    Reviewed in India on October 29, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Booker T. Washington: once a slave, beat down and told he could do nothing, accomplish nothing; now an example to all men, white and colored, raised above others. Why? Hard work and a desire to do good in this world. He accomplished more than a lot, from getting into a school by sweeping and cleaning a room, to teaching at a night school, to starting Tuskegee, to speaking at huge events at which no black man had ever spoken. He met great men, did great things, built a great community, and loved greatly.

    He wrote this autobiography about his truly great life. He wrote it simply, giving facts in a very interesting way (one thing that he felt was important while giving speeches). I had a hard time staying interested because I was very busy while reading it and felt like I had to rush to get it done. However, I liked it enough to know that I’ll read it again in a less-busy time and really immerse myself in it. There’s so much to learn, so much to discover in a life like Washington’s. While reading it I couldn’t help but be thankful for everything in my life. I was born with many luxuries given to me. Booker T. Washington started out with the clothes on his back and a dirt floor to sleep on. Education was a piece of paradise to him; food was a luxury beyond all comparison. I have always had both of those, in abundance.

    One word to describe this book would be thankful. Not the word I would normally use to describe a book, but really, it is. Booker T. Washington’s thanks resonates throughout the whole story. Even when he was hungry and on the streets – I could almost taste his thanks whenever he’d receive a meal or a warm place to stay.

    Wonderful. Recommended to all who love a good autobiography, and even to those who don’t.
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars It’s all about desire!
    Reviewed in Canada on September 17, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Mankind, for the most part, has the innate ability to succeed in any endeavour. Some, for example, Booker T. Washington, are blessed with the desire and, therefore, the motivation to succeed. I will read this book again
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