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Uncensored: My Life and Uncomfortable Conversations at the Intersection of Black and White America Hardcover – June 19, 2018

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 167 ratings

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Drawing upon his own powerful personal story, Zachary Wood shares his perspective on free speech, race, and dissenting opinions--in a world that sorely needs to learn to listen.

As the former president of the student group Uncomfortable Learning at his alma mater, Williams College, Zachary Wood knows from experience about intellectual controversy. At school and beyond, there's no one Zach refuses to engage with simply because he disagrees with their beliefs--sometimes vehemently so--and this view has given him a unique platform in the media.

But Zach has never shared the details of his own personal story. In 
Uncensored, he reveals for the first time how he grew up poor and black in Washington, DC, where the only way to survive was resisting the urge to write people off because of their backgrounds and perspectives. By sharing his troubled upbringing--from a difficult early childhood to the struggles of code-switching between his home and his elite private school--Zach makes a compelling argument for a new way of interacting with others and presents a new outlook on society's most difficult conversations.
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“In this remarkably honest memoir, Zachary R. Wood has written a veritable bildungsroman, tracing his journey from high school scholarship student from a poor black neighborhood in Washington, DC, to leader of the free speech movement at Williams College. This work provides a timely view of both political life on elite college campuses and the struggles of the working poor against the backdrop of institutional racism. It also explores, with bracing candor, Wood’s growth as a young writer and intellectual, whose mistakes are as formative as his successes. Wood’s memoir is a must-read for anyone concerned about the American promise of social mobility.”—Henry Louis Gates Jr., Alphonse Fletcher University Professor at Harvard University and author of Life Upon These Shores
 
“I met Zachary Wood when he was nineteen. After an hour of talking with him, I was volunteering for his (future) U.S. presidential campaign. (I have my fingers crossed that he’ll decide to run someday, because we need him.) Zachary Wood represents everyone, and he does so with dignity, clarity, kindness, and great courage, which comes across loud and clear in this phenomenal book,
Uncensored. Zachary’s story of resilience, compassion, and conviction will be read by millions, and I’ll be pushing for it to be a book that’s assigned in high school classrooms everywhere. He teaches—and shows—us how to resolve and heal some of our deepest conflict—with true curiosity, empathy, and openness.”—Amy Cuddy, New York Times bestselling author of Presence

“An intensely personal memoir about a childhood that trained [Wood] to be nimble and empathetic.”—
Chicago Tribune

“Wood is a cerebral analyst . . . an effective translator of the two worlds he navigates—four worlds, really, rich and poor as notable as black and white.”—
The Christian Science Monitor

"[Wood] writes frankly—and with unfiltered language—of challenges both at home and at elite private schools in Michigan and DC."—
World 

"One cannot help but root for Wood while reading his life story . . . [and] conservatives would do well to emulate how Wood approaches the issues: listening, reflecting, and debating."
—The College Fix

“Wood elevates the approach to difficult conversations and dialogue, succeeding in helping people overcome indifference. A must-read for young social activists, free speech crusaders, and fans of inspirational memoirs.”—
Library Journal

“Wood writes movingly about the debilitating effects of racism and poverty. . . . A singular voice that, as Wood would say, you may not agree with but to which you at least have to listen.”—
Booklist

Uncensored is inspired. Zachary Wood is an American hero for standing up on the front line of the fight for free speech on college campuses. This young, black man who has overcome so much in his life, tells an incredible story of crossing political lines in search of honest debate.”
—Juan Williams, author of Eyes on the Prize and political analyst for Fox News
 
“It is difficult to know what is more amazing, the fact that a twenty-one-year-old is publishing a memoir of his life, the fact that he indeed has a life and a complicated one to narrate, or the fact that out of hardscrabble beginnings he has fashioned a present full of accomplishment and promises a future that the reader soon comes to believe in. He thinks he will be president of the United States. I wouldn’t bet against him.”
—Stanley Fish, New York Times bestselling author of How to Write a Sentence

“A spectacular debut from an impressive individual who has already been and will continue to be a force for the good and for the Republic. Republicans and Democrats alike can learn something from Zachary Wood’s story, and it may not be what you expect to learn. Mr. Wood, I suspect, would be more than happy with that.”
—Allison Stanger, Russell J. Leng ’60 Professor of International Politics and Economics at Middlebury College
 
"Candid, passionate, disturbing, and judicious, Zachary Wood’s
Uncensored traces a young man’s odyssey through the challenges and affirmations of family life, academic institutions, and campus controversies.  Ambitious and altruistic, admired and maligned, driven yet self-reflective, Wood examines and celebrates the sense of calling that informs his prodigious energy and talent.  Uncensored is an honest, compelling, and unforgettable book."
David Lionel Smith, John W. Chandler Professor of English at Williams College

"There is nothing predictable or even familiar about this astonishing memoir by Zachary Wood, despite its components of race and class. It's a work alternately harrowing and exhilarating in its unflinching detail of survival—its picture of a child waking in daily fear wondering what the day with his mentally ill mother will bring. The exhilaration comes with Mr. Wood's sterling command of his narrative, which is impossible to put down once begun. Its author began reading at a very early age and never stopped. His story is, in addition to all else, profound and eloquent testimony to books and reading and their power to make a life."
—Dorothy Rabinowitz, author of No Crueler Tyrannies

About the Author

Zachary R. Wood is an Assistant Curator at TED, as well as a former Columnist and Assistant Opinion Editor at The Guardian, a former Robert L. Bartley Fellow at The Wall Street Journal, and a class of 2018 graduate of Williams College. His recent work has appeared in The New York TimesThe Wall Street JournalThe Washington PostHuffPostThe NationThe Weekly StandardTimes Higher Education, and Inside Higher Ed. A Washington, DC, native, Wood currently resides in New York City.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Dutton; First Edition (June 19, 2018)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1524742449
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1524742447
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 1040L
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.75 x 0.94 x 8.55 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 167 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
167 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the memoir insightful and honest. They describe it as a good, exceptional read that is worth finishing. The story is inspiring and riveting, chronicling the author's journey from childhood to adulthood. Readers praise the writing quality as well-written and easy to understand. The book also highlights the author's resilience, integrity, and bravery.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

13 customers mention "Insight"13 positive0 negative

Customers find the memoir insightful and honest. They describe it as a guide to difficult conversations and an important memoir that sparks intellectual engagement. Readers also mention it's interesting and inspiring.

"...Zach tells his story with vulnerable honesty and has a rare non-judgemental perspective that is so refreshing and admirable especially in the world..." Read more

"...With challenging intellectual engagement and family matters being the threads tying the book together, Mr. Wood is able to tell a story of modern..." Read more

"...Though a self-described progressive liberal, he loves spirited, informed debate...." Read more

"...Worth the read for anyone who wants to be entertained, educated, and instructed how to meaningfully engage others who don't have the same values..." Read more

11 customers mention "Readability"11 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable and enjoyable from start to finish.

"Mr. Wood's memoir is a remarkable piece on the true and gritty nature of life...." Read more

"...However, I devoured this book in 24 hours. Worth the read for anyone who wants to be entertained, educated, and instructed how to meaningfully..." Read more

"Excellent book. The story is inspiring for anyone who faced/faces challenges in childhood...." Read more

"Zach this book was very well done, should be a mandatory reading for dinner city school where they can see that you can achieve at a high level no..." Read more

10 customers mention "Inspiration"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book inspiring and gripping. They describe it as an engaging memoir that chronicles the author's journey from childhood to adulthood. Readers appreciate the author's heartfelt insight and maturity.

"...He cohesively and entertainingly chronicles his journeys from childhood to adulthood...." Read more

"This book is storytelling genius...." Read more

"...I’m sure he is a brilliant young man who will benefit society with his life. But he seems ambitious and driven almost to excess...." Read more

"Excellent book. The story is inspiring for anyone who faced/faces challenges in childhood...." Read more

4 customers mention "Writing quality"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing quality good. They say the memoir is well-written and easy to read.

"...It’s also written as a level that makes for a pretty quick read." Read more

"Very well written memoir; amazing insight and wisdom from such a young man. I am impressed with his sensitivity and work ethic...." Read more

"I enjoyed this well written, interesting memoir very much." Read more

"Extremely well written and readable...." Read more

3 customers mention "Resiliency"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's resiliency, integrity, and bravery. They find it worthwhile to read about the author's vulnerability, truth, and maturity beyond physical appearances.

"...my son (Williams '18), I was very interested in reading about this brave, forward-thinking and risk taking student's life...." Read more

"...younger generation is capable and filled with not only ambition, but integrity and maturity beyond physical years of age." Read more

"The vulnerability, truth, and resilience expressed makes it worthwhile from start to finish. Mr. Wood has captured all succinctly and successfully." Read more

Refreshingly honest and enlightening
5 out of 5 stars
Refreshingly honest and enlightening
Having heard about the Uncomfortable Learning Club from my son (Williams '18), I was very interested in reading about this brave, forward-thinking and risk taking student's life. Zach tells his story with vulnerable honesty and has a rare non-judgemental perspective that is so refreshing and admirable especially in the world we live in right now. To be in his 20's and exhibit maturity and understanding that many people never achieve in a lifetime, is a unique gift. The world needs more people like Zach who are unafraid and willing to make their voices heard to make a difference.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2018
    Having heard about the Uncomfortable Learning Club from my son (Williams '18), I was very interested in reading about this brave, forward-thinking and risk taking student's life. Zach tells his story with vulnerable honesty and has a rare non-judgemental perspective that is so refreshing and admirable especially in the world we live in right now. To be in his 20's and exhibit maturity and understanding that many people never achieve in a lifetime, is a unique gift. The world needs more people like Zach who are unafraid and willing to make their voices heard to make a difference.
    Customer image
    5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshingly honest and enlightening
    Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2018
    Having heard about the Uncomfortable Learning Club from my son (Williams '18), I was very interested in reading about this brave, forward-thinking and risk taking student's life. Zach tells his story with vulnerable honesty and has a rare non-judgemental perspective that is so refreshing and admirable especially in the world we live in right now. To be in his 20's and exhibit maturity and understanding that many people never achieve in a lifetime, is a unique gift. The world needs more people like Zach who are unafraid and willing to make their voices heard to make a difference.
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    10 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2019
    Mr. Wood's memoir is a remarkable piece on the true and gritty nature of life. He cohesively and entertainingly chronicles his journeys from childhood to adulthood. With challenging intellectual engagement and family matters being the threads tying the book together, Mr. Wood is able to tell a story of modern America from the perspective of a young American leader. His book is an act of leadership, as he speaks for a generation not yet publishing novels.

    If you are on the fence, I 100% recommend picking up Zach's book. For me, in the meantime, I will be waiting for Mr. Wood's next piece!
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2018
    Mr. Wood graduated from elite Williams college this year, and now writes for the Wall Street Journal.
    His black parents divorced when he was very young, and he describes in frank detail his mother's mood swings and the mental and physical abuse he suffered.
    His grandparents encouraged his love of learning, and books were his everyday (and late night) escape from the grim economic poverty of his home.
    He managed to attend an elite private middle school in suburban Detroit, then escaped his mother (via Child Protective Services) to live with his father. He completed three years at an elite private high school that required a 4 hour daily commute from the barely-habitable small home that his father, other grandmother, uncle, and younger half-sister shared.
    He sent emails to several classmates, impersonating college professors, and had to withdraw before his senior year. He found an online high school to complete his diploma, visited several colleges, applied early-decision to Williams, and enrolled in the fall.of 2014. Though a self-described progressive liberal, he loves spirited, informed debate. He took over the reins of the student group Uncomfortable Learning in his sophomore year, and sought to bring speakers with alternative views on sex and race to Williams. One speaker's visit was cancelled by the President of Williams, which brought Mr. Wood national attention.
    He wraps up his story at the end of his sophomore year (5/2016), and I assume spent his junior year writing his autobiography, as it was published in the spring of 2018.
    Mr. Wood is at his best describing the harrowing personal experiences with his mother, the challenges of "code-switching" between black "hood" culture and the homes and schools of his rich white private school classmates, and his hunger for knowledge and hard work.
    I wish he had described more details of his interactions with friends, teachers, professors, and mentors -- most often, he instead describe these individuals with a handful of nice adjectives.
    I also didn't understand how his family circumstances were so impoverished -- his dad was working 3 jobs for years -- but he manages to find money to jet around the country for summer schools and college visits.
    I thought it was appropriate that Mr. Wood leaves the reader unsure of what Mr. Wood truly believes. Without saying so directly, we know that his search for truth and understanding is a journey, and the destination is uncertain.
    I rate the book 5 stars for fearless bravery, but I deducted 1 star because I wanted more gritty details and insights on his interactions during college.
    18 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2018
    This book is storytelling genius. Wood masterfully navigated me through his formative experiences as a means to add context to the means to have difficult conversations. While I do consider myself a book worm, I typically move slowly through books. However, I devoured this book in 24 hours. Worth the read for anyone who wants to be entertained, educated, and instructed how to meaningfully engage others who don't have the same values that you do.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2018
    Really wanted to like this book and parts of it delivered. The story of his harrowing youth and how it impacted his life was riveting. But from the title of the book I thought there would be much more discussion about what it’s like being black in America. I thought he might discuss more deeply his feelings on police interactions with Blacks, cultural appropriation and the discrimination he’s faced etc. I’m sure he is a brilliant young man who will benefit society with his life. But he seems ambitious and driven almost to excess. I hope this young man will learn to enjoy and appreciate the beauty of the natural world he lives in.
    9 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2020
    Excellent book. The story is inspiring for anyone who faced/faces challenges in childhood.
    It’s also written as a level that makes for a pretty quick read.
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2018
    This book was refreshing -- honest, forthright, and engaging. It gives hope that our younger generation is capable and filled with not only ambition, but integrity and maturity beyond physical years of age.
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2018
    Very well written memoir; amazing insight and wisdom from such a young man. I am impressed with his sensitivity and work ethic. Makes me want to know him. Affirms confidence in the future.
    One person found this helpful
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