Loved this book. What a powerful story of growing up black in the South. Shocking how little progress we've made. ( )

Compelling stories well told prove moving and influential. Esau McCaulley tells his story in such a way in How Far to the Promised Land: One Black Family’s Story of Hope and Survival in the American South (galley received as part of early review program).

The memoir is framed around the author’s experience when confronted with the death of his father and the eulogy he would have to present. The author then set forth his story: raised in northern Alabama by a hard working, engaged, yet medically disabled mother; a father out more than in and on drugs; in an environment in which everything and everyone seemed to work against any real material advancement.

The author explained well how being a decent football player gave him the ability and motivation to try to succeed, even though injury would compromise that career. He would be able to graduate and go to college, and he speaks well regarding his experience in a mostly white college.

Throughout it all is a story of faith: the faith of his mother, the faith he developed, the preachers in his background, and his journey to his current position as a major Black theologian and author. He takes solace in his father’s work toward sobriety and rekindling of faith.

It is always challenging to review a memoir or autobiography, since who is the reader or reviewer to cast aspersions or judgments upon a person’s reflections on their lived story? I can easily imagine how the memoir could be weaponized as an indictment of the kind of culture in which the author grew up while lionizing the author as one who was able to advance himself by his own skills. Such a reading would be unfortunate and an attempt to reinforce one’s ideological priors. Instead, the memoir is compellingly written to explain both how his community was marginalized and systemically discriminated against and how such fed into a host of poor decisions.

McCaulley already established himself as a profound and must-read Black theologian with his Reading While Black, and How Far to the Promised Land goes a long way to help explain why. A highly compelling read and very much recommended. ( )

“A riveting book that invites you into the personal journey of one of the finest writers alive today.'" (Beth Moore, New York Times bestselling author of All My Knotted-Up Life)

“Powerful . . . McCaulley uses examples of his own family’s stories of survival over time to remind readers that some paths to the promised land have detours along the way. "The Root, Books by Black Authors We Can’t Wait to Read)

“Esau McCaulley’s riveting memoir holds together tensions that many of us pry apart: systemic injustice and personal responsibility, accountability and forgiveness, honesty and sympathy. This book is prophetic without being preachy, and heartwarming without being cloying. . . . A triumph of storytelling. "Tish Harrison Warren, author of Liturgy of the Ordinary"

“In these pages are words that redeem time and refresh the human spirit. . . . The timeliness of McCaulley’s honest, hope-filled story—told with depth, precision, and purpose—feels like a balm for the weary soul.” (Charlie Dates, senior pastor of Salem Baptist and Progressive Baptist)

“With uncompromising honesty and deep introspection, McCaulley complicates the narrative of ‘overcoming racism and poverty as a hero.’ . . . Powerful and necessary.(Publishers Weekly starred review)

“As soon as I finished, I wanted to reread. McCaulley is already recognized as a great scholar and essayist, but this is his best writing yet. The storytelling here is both poetic and prophetic, free of both superficiality and cynicism. Read this book and the words will linger with you.(Russell Moore, editor in chief of Christianity Today)

nonfiction/memoir - Black Christian academic writer reflects on the lives of his grandparents, his father (who struggled with addiction) and how they and their circumstances may have impacted the lives of himself, his siblings, cousins, family and children.

very readable, with a positive outlook (also not overly preachy if you're not into that). Would recommend. ( )