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The Butler: A Witness to History Hardcover – July 30, 2013

by Wil Haygood (Author)
3.6 3.6 out of 5 stars 973 ratings
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From Guggenheim and National Endowment for the Humanities fellow Wil Haygood comes a mesmerizing inquiry into the life of Eugene Allen, the butler who ignited a nation's imagination and inspired a major motion picture: Lee Daniels' The Butler, the highly anticipated film that stars six Oscar winners, including Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey (honorary and nominee), Jane Fonda, Cuba Gooding Jr., Vanessa Redgrave, and Robin Williams; as well as Oscar nominee Terrence Howard, Mariah Carey, John Cusack, Lenny Kravitz, James Marsden, David Oyelowo, Alex Pettyfer, Alan Rickman, and Liev Schreiber.

With a foreword by the Academy Award nominated director Lee Daniels, The Butler not only explores Allen's life and service to eight American Presidents, from Truman to Reagan, but also includes an essay, in the vein of James Baldwin’s jewel The Devil Finds Work, that explores the history of black images on celluloid and in Hollywood, and fifty-seven pictures of Eugene Allen, his family, the presidents he served, and the remarkable cast of the movie.
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  1. Print length
    112 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    37 Ink
  4. Publication date
    July 30, 2013
  5. Dimensions
    6.25 x 0.75 x 8 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1476752990
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1476752990
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Wil Haygood blends the political with the personal in this portrait of White House butler Eugene Allen. Allen, an African-American, served eight US presidents (from Harry Truman to Ronald Reagan) for 34 years – a span of time that included remarkable gains in civil rights." (The Christian Science Monitor)

"The Butler: A Witness to History should get just as much, if not more, attention than the film which uses its story for thematic foundation. Wil Haygood adds Eugene Allen’s chronicle to his impressive list of essential works on great figures in black and American history." (ArtsNash)

About the Author

A Guggenheim and National Endowment for the Humanities fellow and a writer for the Washington Post, Wil Haygood has been described as a cultural historian. He is the author of a trio of iconic biographies. His King of the Cats: The Life and Times of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., told the story of the enigmatic New York congressman and was named a New York Times Notable Book of the Year. That was followed—after publication of a family memoir—by In Black and White: The Life of Sammy Davis, Jr., which was awarded the ASCAP Deems Taylor Music Biography Award, the Zora Neale Hurston-Richard Wright Legacy Award, and the Nonfiction Book of the Year Award from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association. In 2009, he wrote Sweet Thunder: The Life and Times of Sugar Ray Robinson, which told the story of the famed New York pugilist known as much for his prowess in the ring as his elegant style outside of it. Haygood is an associate producer of Lee Daniels’ The Butler.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ 37 Ink; First Edition (July 30, 2013)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 112 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1476752990
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1476752990
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.25 x 0.75 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.6 3.6 out of 5 stars 973 ratings

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Wil Haygood

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Customer reviews

3.6 out of 5 stars
3.6 out of 5
973 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the information in the book enlightening and a good read for young adults. They also appreciate the nice pictures and fascinating couple. However, some find the content lacking in depth, plot, and length. Opinions are mixed on the writing style, pacing, and family life. Some find it well-written and enjoyable throughout, while others say it's poorly written and misrepresented. Readers also disagree on the paciness, saying it're fast moving and others slow moving.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

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ContentVisualsWriting stylePacingFamily lifeDepth of contentPlotLength
95 customers mention "Content"73 positive22 negative

Customers find the book's content interesting, enlightening, inspiring, and factual. They also say it's a good read for young adults and teens who want to understand the turmoil of the 21st century.

"...'s history did inspire an uplifting film, and this book does provide a good insight into the financing and making of a movie, the story of the..." Read more

"...Second, it's a good review of the history, roles and successes of African-Americans in the last sixty or so years, but the sections seemed cobbled..." Read more

"...It is a good read for 21st century young adults and teens who want to understand the turmoil of their parents lives in the latter half of the 20th..." Read more

"...I was disappointed in the lack of the true history of Eugene Allen's life...." Read more

22 customers mention "Visuals"22 positive0 negative

Customers find the visuals in the book very nice, wonderful, and eye opening. They also say the book is well-done and a page-turner.

"...Very disappointing; the pictures are pretty good...." Read more

"...The only plus I found to purchasing the book was the high gloss photos located in the middle of the book...." Read more

"...This book gives a very positive look into the life of a very gracious man...." Read more

"...Very nice pictures though." Read more

36 customers mention "Writing style"23 positive13 negative

Customers are mixed about the writing style. Some find the book well written and easy to read, while others say it's poorly written and superficial.

"...I read it in 2 sittings because of the great visual writing. Felt like I was there through it all." Read more

"...is a scandalously brief book, very superficial, and with more emphasis on the writer than on Eugene Allen, the real butler...." Read more

"...Haygood's writing is always engaging, and that's especially true of the Allen story, but to charge book prices for this publication is, well,..." Read more

"...I think Will Haygood made perfect use of poetic license as he created tension between the father and the one son...." Read more

15 customers mention "Pacing"9 positive6 negative

Customers are mixed about the pacing. Some find the book very fast, while others say it's slow moving and doesn't follow a good flow.

"...However, overall it was a quick and enjoyable read." Read more

"Very factual. I thought the book read rather slowly. The story is an excellent reminder of how our country still has a long way to go!" Read more

"...It was a quick read and interesting but after reading it decided not to bother seeing the movie." Read more

"I found the movie making section a bit slow. But on the whole it was very interesting. Those times must not be forgotten. A good read. Jogs my memory." Read more

12 customers mention "Family life"4 positive8 negative

Customers are mixed about the family life. Some find the book wonderful and insightful about an American Butler and the workings of the White House. However, others say it's not a story about the butler, but a history book that mentions Obama every chance possible.

"...It is NOT about the butler's experience in the White House except to say how long he was there...." Read more

"...However, the cast for "The Butler" has so many great names, I think I will enjoy that version as well. I SO enjoy reading about our great..." Read more

"I am very, very disappointed in this book. There is not much information about the butler, Eugene Allen...." Read more

"...Instead it is snippets of general history about the presidents that you can read anywhere...." Read more

52 customers mention "Depth of content"9 positive43 negative

Customers find the book has no depth, does not provide any real inside information about the several presidents, and has little specific story. They also say it's boring in parts and incredibly general. Readers also mention that the book is very short and just a step above being superficial.

"...Kept thinking it would get better...it didn't. No story, just tidbits of news items. I couldn't wait to read it then was sorely disappointed...." Read more

"...The Butler is a scandalously brief book, very superficial, and with more emphasis on the writer than on Eugene Allen, the real butler...." Read more

"...I was disappointed in it because it provides too little information on the subject matter...." Read more

"...At best, this was a lost opportunity to get the truth out, and at it's worst, a "cheesy" money maker on the coat-tails of a fantastic story..." Read more

10 customers mention "Plot"0 positive10 negative

Customers find the plot of the book boring and short. They also say the book has no stories about the White House and is more like a long interview session.

"...Nothing like I expected...could barely finish it. It is a lot of facts that have nothing to do with the white house or the butler...." Read more

"...We started on our journey and found that it was only about 2+ hours long...." Read more

"...Got more of civil rights book towards end in my opinion. Does not tell the story, like I thought , of the movie." Read more

"...Instead it was more like a long interview session. Interesting, I just prefer a different format...." Read more

9 customers mention "Length"0 positive9 negative

Customers find the book very short and not what they expected.

"...That being said, this is still a great book. But it's just too short...." Read more

"...Too short of a book. NOT WORTH the money I spent...." Read more

"...It appears to be a shortened version of the book...." Read more

"...The author expanded the original magazine article. The book was very short and just a step above being superficial." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

teols2016
5.0 out of 5 stars So Much More Could Be Done With This...
Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2014
Verified Purchase
I can see three, no...four great ideas for non-fiction books in this one book. One could be about the reporter Wil Haygood's conception of his idea for the article that started all this and his quest to find Eugene Allen. The second could be Eugene Allen's story itself. The third could be about the history of African Americans in cinema (I'm sure books like this already exist, but let Mr. Haygood have a go at it...he's got some promising stuff in this book here.) And finally, the fourth book could b about the making of "The Butler" and all the film-making challenges that came with it. All of these are fascinating stories that I'd like to know more about. That being said, this is still a great book. But it's just too short. I have a hunch that this audio book is abridged, but regardless, I feel that Mr. Haygood has so much more material which could be put to good use...I mean, how much could they have cut out for this abridgement? One final thing I must comment on is this book's forward, written by Lee Daniels, the director of the film adaptation of Eugene Allen's life. Normally I do not like forwards. This is an exception. Mr. Daniels explains to the reading audience why he made the changes he did that caused  Lee Daniels' The Butler  to deviate so much from Eugene Allen's life. Knowing what his mindset was and the story he wanted to tell, I can respect his directing decisions in that film much more and I make an exception and appreciate this forward. But as for the book itself, it's an amazing story told by a great writer. Mr. Eugene Allen is an unsung figure in American history and I thank Mr. Wil Haygood for sharing his story with the world. This is a must-read. It's just too short. But nevertheless, enjoy.
4 people found this helpful
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D. J. Roberts
3.0 out of 5 stars He Merited More
Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2015
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Whilst the original article on this man's history did inspire an uplifting film, and this book does provide a good insight into the financing and making of a movie, the story of the historic events as presented in this book is little more than a brief scan across one remarkable man's story and quick glimpses at some of the key moments in his life. This reader would like to have a view of the sweep of history that was a little richer than that presented here, and (had it been possible) a sampling of the central character's personal views on significant events and people. Sadly, a man who made history by quietly living his life and applying his talents, is remembered by a book that feels like no more than a teaser.
5 people found this helpful
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Leslie N. Patino
4.0 out of 5 stars Overall, an educational and inspirational read
Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2013
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There's no doubt Wil Haygood is an experienced journalist and writer who can craft a fine story. He certainly does so in telling the story of Eugene Allen, the exceptional man who served as a White House butler for thirty-four years under eight presidents. In the first section of the book (Allen's story), I was cheering on both Allen and Haygood. The final section of photos showing Allen with family members and dignitaries adds to the appeal of the book. Reading about the years of work to get "The Butler" filmed got me pumped to see movie when it's released in a few weeks.

There were a couple of things about the book that I didn't care for so much. First, it seemed like a long PR roll-out for the movie. Second, it's a good review of the history, roles and successes of African-Americans in the last sixty or so years, but the sections seemed cobbled together to make this 112-page book. The first part is Allen's story. The second part is the movie's story. The third has one-and-a-half-page summaries of the five presidents Allen's fictional version serves in the movie. I can only guess that this part is meant as a primer for movie-goers to read beforehand.

Overall, "The Butler: A Witness to History," is an educational and inspirational read on a subject that we Americans--regardless of color--frequently don't handle well.
81 people found this helpful
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MJ
5.0 out of 5 stars A captivating look at what it took to bring a previously untold story to print and screen.
Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2013
Verified Purchase
No White House butler ever told his story before Wil Haygood wrote about Eugene Allen in the Washington Post on November 7, 2008. The much-anticipated movie isn't based on a book, it was inspired by this article (still available free online). Eugene Allen was 89 when this story was reprinted around the world. He gave us a generous glimpse into what it was like to have a front-row seat to civil rights history. This is an important book for anyone who wants to understand what it takes for a reporter to doggedly pursue a story that illuminates our collective history, the courage it takes to tell that story, and how Hollywood translates the story in a way that makes history come alive, especially for young people who only see a few paragraphs in history books. Yes, I wish Eugene Allen had been young enough (and perhaps brave enough to break the White House code) to give us the juicy details on 8 presidents. But he never would have done that. Instead we have this wonderful book as a companion to the movie that educates us on Mr Allen's perspective and on the challenges of making a film on the civil rights experience. The many photos in the book of Mr Allen in the White House juxtaposed with photos from the movie are illustrative. This small book delivers huge dividends in helping us appreciate both the story and the story teller. If you want to understand civil rights in this era, old-fashioned journalism, or the challenges of Hollywood bringing decades of history in a compelling way, this book is a great investment.
15 people found this helpful
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Mary Margaret
1.0 out of 5 stars Wish I had read the reviews before I wasted my money
Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2014
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It had very little to do with the butler at the white house,. It was all about civil rights. Wish I had read the reviews before I wasted my money. Nothing like I expected...could barely finish it. It is a lot of facts that have nothing to do with the white house or the butler. Kept thinking it would get better...it didn't. No story, just tidbits of news items. I couldn't wait to read it then was sorely disappointed. Should have been called "The History of Civil Rights" at least that was an honest title.
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Top reviews from other countries

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two
5.0 out of 5 stars Understanding the movie through this book
Reviewed in Canada on March 21, 2014
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This is a great book about the inspiration of the movie. While many historical books are written after the event this one makes you part of the event as if you were interviewing the butler himself & understanding time through his eyes. It will help the reader understand & appreciate the movie even more.
One person found this helpful
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Arvind S
1.0 out of 5 stars No politics and not much else
Reviewed in India on July 23, 2014
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I bought the book because it was in a list of the 11 best political books of all time recommended by the staff at Politics & Prose Bookstore. As far as politics goes it is a zero. (Not much of anything meaningful either) Makes me wonder how it got on the list. Got 1 star because Amazon doesn't allow anything lower.

Read the other 1 star reviews on amazon.com.
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Jean London
5.0 out of 5 stars The Real 'Butler'.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 17, 2014
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What a very interesting story. I would have loved to be able to meet Mr E Allen and his wife. A man with strong ethics and such grace and humility.
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Josiane
3.0 out of 5 stars mitigé
Reviewed in France on December 5, 2013
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Beaucoup de différences entre le film que j'ai vu avant et le livre. Le livre est très léger: on apprend peu de choses,le vrai nom du majordome, qu'il n'avait qu'un fils et qu'il n'est pas mort au Vietnam; le vrai butler était plus souriant et moins effacé à la Maison Blanche...Pas indispensable.
Un bref historique des acteurs noirs dans le cinéma américain.
One person found this helpful
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Jerry Morgan
3.0 out of 5 stars My feelings regarding the book "The Butler"
Reviewed in Canada on October 4, 2013
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I knew a movie was being made of this. As I don't go to movies anymore, (can't sit still that long) , I thought this would Be
as good. I found it did drag on and seemed long telling the story. Maybe I should make an effort and go to the movie.
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