King audiobook cover - A Life

King

A Life

Jonathan Eig

★ 4.6 / 5(154 ratings)
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Categories:
Biography & MemoirPoliticsHistory

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King
Character & Philosophy+
Early Life & Education+
Rise to Leadership+
Major Campaigns+
Later Years & Expanding Focus+
Assassination & Legacy+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 7
According to the text, how is Martin Luther King Jr. characterized in his pursuit of civil rights?
  • A. As an unblemished saint who perfectly embodied the moral ideals he preached.
  • B. As a complex and flawed individual who remained deeply committed to God's call and nonviolent protest.
  • C. As a radical militant who believed that violence was eventually necessary to achieve equality.
  • D. As a political opportunist who prioritized his personal fame over the success of the movement.
Question 2 of 7
What event prompted Martin Luther King Jr.'s father to change both his own name and his son's name?
  • A. A spiritual awakening during a revival meeting in Atlanta.
  • B. The mentorship of Morehouse College president Benjamin Mays.
  • C. A trip to Germany where he learned about the Protestant reformer Martin Luther.
  • D. The successful conclusion of the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
Question 3 of 7
Where did King significantly deepen his knowledge of peaceful protest theories from thinkers like Gandhi and Thoreau?
  • A. Crozer Theological Seminary
  • B. Morehouse College
  • C. Boston University
  • D. Ebenezer Baptist Church
Question 4 of 7
How did King's involvement in the Montgomery Bus Boycott shape his role in the civil rights movement?
  • A. It marked his departure from religious ministry to pursue a purely political career.
  • B. It established him as a national civil rights leader and solidified his Gandhian model of civil disobedience.
  • C. It caused a permanent rift between him and other civil rights organizations like the NAACP.
  • D. It led him to abandon nonviolent protest after his home was repeatedly bombed.
Question 5 of 7
What significant event occurred to King during a book signing in Harlem in 1958?
  • A. He was arrested by the FBI for alleged communist ties.
  • B. He officially launched the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC).
  • C. He was stabbed in the chest with a letter opener by a mentally ill woman.
  • D. He delivered his famous 'I Have a Dream' speech to a crowd of 6,000 people.
Question 6 of 7
In 1966 and 1967, King faced criticism from some of his own supporters for expanding his activism to include which of the following issues?
  • A. Voting rights protections in the Deep South.
  • B. Desegregation of public transportation and schools.
  • C. Women's rights and gender equality in the workplace.
  • D. Economic exploitation in northern cities and opposition to the Vietnam War.
Question 7 of 7
What specific cause brought Martin Luther King Jr. to Memphis in early 1968, just before his assassination?
  • A. To lead a march protesting the Vietnam War.
  • B. To support a strike by Black sanitation workers protesting dangerous conditions and poverty wages.
  • C. To organize the Poor People's Campaign occupation of the National Mall.
  • D. To deliver a sermon at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church.

King — Full Chapter Overview

King Summary & Overview

King (2023) is a compelling biography of Martin Luther King. It tells the story of a man, not a saint, who had a remarkable career. His life was cut short at the age of 39, but in his 13-year career King’s vision of a United States based on equality and justice for all, lives on.

Who Should Listen to King?

  • History lovers particularly interested in the history of social justice movements
  • Civil rights activists and advocates inspired by King’s life and strategies
  • Inspiration seekers wanting to learn from a story of struggle, resilience, and monumental impact

About the Author: Jonathan Eig

Jonathan Eig has authored six books, four of which are New York Times best sellers. Prior to writing King, Eig wrote a biography of Mohammed Ali, which many consider to be one of the best sports biographies of all time. His other books include Luckiest Man and The Birth of the Pill.

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