QS36501005909John Lewis: A Life

Explore the comprehensive and compelling (Jon Meacham) biography of civil rights leader John Lewis, celebrated as the conscience of Congress, through a narrative that weaves together exclusive interviews, never-before-seen FBI files, and documents, offering profound insights into his significant role in American history and the civil rights movement.

Born into poverty in rural Alabama, John Lewis rose to prominence in the civil rights movement, becoming second only to Martin Luther King, Jr. in his contributions. As a Freedom Rider, he played a crucial role in integrating bus stations across the South. Lewis was a prominent leader in the Nashville sit-in movement and delivered a historic speech at the 1963 March on Washington. As the youngest speaker and chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), he transformed it into a major civil rights organization. His legacy endures through the harrowing events at the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, where he survived a brutal beating on Bloody Sunday.

David Greenbergs authoritativedefinitive biography (David J. Garrow, Pulitzer Prizewinning author) follows Lewiss journey beyond the civil rights era, highlighting his leadership in the Voter Education Project, where he helped enroll millions of African American voters across the South. This book uncovers the little-known story of his ascent in politics, first locally in Atlanta and then as a respected member of Congress. As part of the Democratic leadership, Lewis was admired on both sides of the aisle for his unwavering dedication to nonviolent integration and justice.

Rich with new insights, Greenbergs work captures John Lewiss influential career through documents from numerous archives, interviews with 275 people who knew him, and rare footage of Lewis speaking from his hospital bed after Selma.John Lewisoffers unparalleled details about his personal and professional relationships and stands as the definitive biography of a man whose heroism during the civil rights movement paved the way for a new era of freedom in America.

David Greenberg is a professor of historyand of journalism and media studiesat Rutgers University and a frequent commentator on historical and political affairs. He is the author or editor of several books on American history and politics includingNixons Shadow: The History of an ImageandRepublic of Spin: An Inside History of the American Presidency. Formerly acting editor ofThe New Republicand then a columnist forSlate,Greenberg now writes regularly forPolitico,Liberties,The New York Times,andThe Washington Post.His work has also been featured inThe New Yorker,The Atlantic,Foreign Affairs,The Wall Street Journal,and numerous academic journals. In support of this book, Greenberg won awards from the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Cullman Center of the New York Public Library, and the Leon Levy Center for Biography. He holds a PhD in history from Columbia University and a BA from Yale and lives with his family in Manhattan.

• Paperback: 704pages
• Publisher:Simon & Schuster (October 7, 2025)
• Language:English
• ISBN-13:9781982143008
• UNSPSC Code:55101500
• Product Dimensions:6 x 1.4 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight:1.3 pounds