This book was the personal experience of Booker T Washington, who fought to make something of himself after slavery. I have not read a lot of personal accounts from former slaves, and that is something that I would like to change. I have read and heard plenty about slavery in my life, but never really any first hand accounts from those who suffered the actual experience. It is truly heartbreaking to hear about the suffering inflicted upon so many people for the sake of profit. Truly inhumane.