Brother West : living and loving out loud : a memoir

New York Times­ best-selling author Cornel West is one of America's most provocative and admired public intellectuals. Whether in the classroom, the streets, the prisons, or the church, Dr. West's penetrating brilliance has been a bright beacon shining through the darkness for decades. Yet, as he points out in this new memoir,'I've never taken the time to focus on the inner dynamics of the dark precincts of my soul.'That is, until now. Brother West is like its author: brilliant, unapologetic, full of passion, yet cool. This poignant memoir traces West's transformation from a schoolyard Robin Hood into a progressive cultural icon. From his youthful investigation of the'death shudder'to why he embraced his calling of teaching over preaching, from his three marriages and his two precious children to his near-fatal bout with prostate cancer, West illuminates what it means to live as'an aspiring bluesman in a world of ideas and a jazzman in the life of the mind.'Woven together with the fibers of his lifelong commitment to the prophetic Christian tradition that began in Sacramento's Shiloh Baptist Church, Brother West is a tale of a man courageous enough to be fully human, living and loving out loud. 'brother West' Is Like Its Author: Brillant, Unapologetic, Full Of Passion, Yet Cool. This Poignant Memoir Traces West's Transformation From A Schoolyard Robin Hood Into A Progressive Cultural Icon. From His Youthful Investigation Of The Death Shudder To Why Em Embraced His Calling Of Teaching Over Preaching, From His Three Marriages And His Two Precious Children To His Near-fatal Bout With Prostate Cancer. West Illuminates What It Means To Live As An Aspiring Bluesman In A World Of Ideas And A Jazzman In The Life Of The Mind. -- Inside Cover. On The Move -- January 1, 1961 -- My Change -- The Bridge -- Curve Balls -- Negative Capability -- Albert Einstein And Malcolm X -- R.e.s.p.e.c.t -- What's Going On : Ludwig Wittgenstein And/or Al Green? -- David Hume And Arthur Schopenhauer In The Brooklyn Navy Yard -- The Big Block -- Brother Wash -- Moonlight Over Manhattan -- Think -- Trane -- Make Up To Break Up -- Elleni -- Prophetic Fragments -- The Way You Do The Things You Do -- African Dreams -- Race Matters -- The Dream Team -- What Matter Of Man? -- What Happened To The Squeegee Folk? -- Loss -- Just To Keep You Satisfied -- The Most Passionate Love -- Messin' With The Wrong Brother -- Womb To Tomb -- Death, Taxes, And Love -- Teachable Moments -- You Are Loved -- Going Away Blues. Cornel West With David Ritz. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. New York Times best-selling author Cornel West is one of Americas most provocative and admired public intellectuals. Whether in the classroom, the streets, the prisons, or the church, Dr. Wests penetrating brilliance has been a bright beacon shining through the darkness for decades. Yet, as he points out in this new memoir, Ive never taken the time to focus on the inner dynamics of the dark precincts of my soul. That is, until now. Brother West is like its author: brilliant, unapologetic, full of passion yet cool. This poignant memoir traces Wests transformation from a schoolyard Robin Hood into a progressive cultural icon. From his youthful investigation of the death shudder to why he embraced his calling of teaching over preaching, from his three marriages and his two precious children to his near-fatal bout with prostate cancer, West illuminates what it means to live as an aspiring bluesman in a world of ideas and a jazzman in the life of the mind. Woven together with the fibers of his lifelong commitment to the prophetic Christian tradition that began in Sacramentos Shiloh Baptist Church, Brother West is a tale of a man courageous enough to be fully human, living and loving out loud. Introduction January 1, 1961 My change The bridge Curve balls Negative capability Albert Einstein and Malcolm X R.E.S.P.E.C.T What's going on : Ludvig Wittgenstein and/or Al Green? David Hume and Arthur Schopenhauer in the Brooklyn navy yard The big block Brother Wash Moonlight over Manhattan "Think." Trane Make up to break up Elleni Prophetic fragments "The way you do the things you do" Race matters The dream team What a matter of man What happened to the squeegee folk? Loss Just to keep you satisfied The most passionate love Messing with the wrong brother Womb to tomb Death, taxes, and love Brother Tavis Going away blues. "'Brother West' is like its author: brillant, unapologetic, full of passion, yet cool. This poignant memoir traces West's transformation from a schoolyard Robin Hood into a progressive cultural icon. From his youthful investigation of the "death shudder" to why he embraced his calling of teaching over preaching, from his three marriages and his two precious children to his near-fatal bout with prostate cancer, West illuminates what it means to live as "an aspiring bluesman in a world of ideas and a jazzman in the life of the mind"."--Inside cover