Up from Slavery vs What It Was: Which Should You Read?
Both live on shelves: Washington, African Americans
Up from Slavery
“I WAS born a slave on a plantation in Franklin County, Virginia.”
More
Booker T. Washington, the most recognized national leader, orator and educator, emerged from slavery in the deep south, to work for the betterment of African Americans in the post Reconstruction period. "Up From…
What It Was
More
In this hard-boiled noir, former police officer turned private investigator Derek Strange's search for a lost ring leads him down a twisted path of crime and corruption—and on the chase for a dangerous killer. …
Side by side
The verdict
- Readers rate Up from Slavery highest: Up from Slavery 4.1 · What It Was 3.7.
- Up from Slavery has the widest readership — 36852 ratings behind its score.
Affiliate links: we may earn a commission on purchases.
How to choose
Scores by source
| Up from Slavery | What It Was | |
|---|---|---|
| Goodreads | 4.1 (36852) | 3.8 (2418) |
| Hardcover | 5.0 (1) | 4.0 (3) |
| Apple Books | 4.5 (750) | 3.5 (265) |
| Check price → | Check price → |
Reception
| Up from Slavery | What It Was | |
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | 36852 | 2418 |
| Editions | 430 | 4 |
| Citations | 17 | — |
| Film adaptations | 1 | 1 |
| Want to read | 38259 | 1020 |
| Reading it now | 3344 | 129 |
| Written reviews | 2627 | 289 |
| Wikipedia attention | 1399 | 12 |
| Pages | 168 | — |
| Check price → | Check price → |
Questions readers ask
Which is rated higher: Up from Slavery or What It Was?
Up from Slavery has the higher combined reader rating across sources (Up from Slavery 4.1/5, What It Was 3.7/5).
Which is harder to read: Up from Slavery or What It Was?
Estimated difficulty, based on era, reader shelves and length — Up from Slavery: Challenging; What It Was: Moderate.