I've been a fan of Coates' writing for a few years now and was happy to see this book so well-received. It's truly a stand-out piece of personal writing that conveys so much about life in America today. It's heartbreaking--from the very first word, 'Son,' which means that this work is like a letter to his son--and I found myself choked up at times. Coates writes eloquently about even the worst atrocities of modern life. His fears are on display, and there's not much hope, but this type of writing is necessary (especially now, especially this year) so that more people might understand this point of view and empathize. There is hope in that. It's short, articulate, and important.