Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents

Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson is a #1 New York Times bestseller that examines the hidden caste system shaping America. Wilkerson argues that beyond race or class, a rigid hierarchy determines power, opportunity, and social roles. Comparing America’s system to those in India and Nazi Germany, she identifies eight pillars—like divine will, bloodlines, and stigma—that maintain inequality. Through stories of figures such as Martin Luther King Jr., Satchel Paige, and ordinary people, the book shows how caste subtly governs daily life and society. It concludes with ways America can overcome these divisions and embrace shared humanity.