The Black Jacobins

This book is a classic, and reading it, it's obvious why. The raw power of the writing is matched with the author's passion for the subject, and it illuminates an all-too-forgotten period of history. Reading this book will completely change how you look at colonialism, the Enlightenment, and the birth of modern western politics, because all are deeply tied into the Haitian Revolution. This part of history is often ignored and overlooked, and that's a travesty. To understand the French Revolution, you must learn about the Haitian Revolution. To understand colonialism, you must understand the Haitian Revolution. To understand the birth of America, you must understand the Haitian Revolution. This book is essential.