Book review: Pulitzer Prize winner by bestselling author Jonathan Eig
King: A Life by Jonathan Eig is a vivid account of American civil rights icon Martin Luther King Junior (MLK).
It is the first major King biography in decades and draws on recently declassified Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) files.
The bestselling Macmillan Publishers biography has won countless awards including being named the Pulitzer Prize Winner in Biography.
So keep scrolling to find out more about this non-violence activist and suggestions for your own life-story creating…
Related article – Best life stories of 2024: Settle in with an award-winning book
What is King about?
This 688-page biography starts with Eig detailing King growing up in Atlanta with a preacher father and a mother who was a preacher’s daughter.
From this sheltered upbringing he moves to Boston University to complete a PhD and meets his wife Coretta Scott, who teaches him much about civil rights.
Soon after the pair head to Montgomery, Alabama, where King starts as pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church and plays a key role in the 1955 bus boycott.
Following this success he is thrust into activist life and leads movements in the south and north of the country until his assassination in 1968 age 39.
“Like an earthquake, World War II had shaken and destabilized the nation’s racial system. After Black men had fought and died to save democracy and freedom, the hypocrisy of their treatment became more difficult for some white people to ignore, especially as Black people organized to do something about it.”
Related article – Politics On the Edge: Sharp, witty bestseller by ex-UK minister Rory Stewart
Highlights from Eig’s book
King: A Life is an interesting read for a number of reasons.
Firstly, we learn how King was doggedly pursued by FBI agents who wire tapped his phones, monitored his movements, discredited his motives and even hinted to take his own life.
Furthermore, it is revealing to see up close how courageous King was despite threats, intimidation, abuse and attacks on his life.
However, the most notable idea for me was his conviction of agape, which encourages love of everyone because God loves everyone.
“We’ve mistaken King’s nonviolence for passivity. We’ve forgotten that his approach was more aggressive than anything the country had seen – that he used peaceful protest as a lever to force those in power to give up many of the privileges they’d hoarded.”
Lessons in biography writing from King: A Life
Eig is an experienced bestselling author and former senior writer for The Wall Street Journal whose work can teach us much.
For example, in King: A Life he does not shy away from detailing King’s admirable qualities as well as his flaws such as adultery.
In addition Eig is able to put the reader right into key historical moments using the recollections of those who were there.
Notably, Gordon ‘Gunny’ Gundrum, a National Park Service ranger who was standing next to King during his 1963 I Have a Dream speech.
Finally, we learn a life-story ending doesn’t have to be drawn out over chapters.
In this instance, it is precise, short and sharp following King’s death.
“I choose to give my life for the hungry… This is the way I am going. If it means suffering a little bit, I’m going that way. If it means sacrificing, I’m going that way. If it means dying for them, I’m going that way, because I heard a voice saying, ‘Do something for others’.”
Related article – Visual writing: Become a visual storyteller with visual writing techniques
Related article – 6 things to remember before you hold a family stories interview
Read article – Finish a life story: How to know when your project is finished
Final say: King
King: A Life by Jonathan Eig is a Pulitzer Prize winning biography of preacher and activist Martin Luther King Jr who dreamt of changing the world.
Indeed the Nobel Prize awardee inspired generations to stand up peacefully for freedom and dignity.
Certainly read this life story if you want to appreciate the depth of King’s courage and commitment.
But also if you want to understand a man who suffered and sacrificed his life for others.
“I have a dream this afternoon that the brotherhood of man will become a reality in this day. And with this faith I will go out and carve a tunnel of hope through the mountain of despair.”
Free gift!
I’ve packed my decades of journalism experience into a simple system of templates, video lessons and live support to help you record your legacy. Join the Forever Young Autobiographies Membership today for free to get your fast-track bonuses and join the next community call. Join the membership for free!
Your say
Who has inspired you to think differently during your life? I always love hearing from different people. Drop me an email or leave a reply in the comments section at the end of this article.
Get in touch
Got a question about the four life-story project steps or an idea for a future article? Let me know!
Don’t miss an article
Know when new material is published. Sign up.