53 pages • 1 hour read
John Lewis, Mike D'OrsoWalking with the Wind
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1998A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Walking with the Wind by John Lewis and Mike D'Orso, is a memoir charting Lewis's journey from a child of sharecroppers in segregated Pike County, Alabama, to becoming a key leader in the US Civil Rights Movement. Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Lewis became involved in nonviolent protests, Freedom Rides, and eventually chaired the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. His activism culminated in the historic Selma marches and a lifelong political career, emphasizing the enduring power of nonviolence and justice. The memoir discusses racial violence and the assassination of key figures in the movement.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Walking with the Wind by John Lewis and Mike D'Orso receives widespread acclaim for its poignant and inspiring recounting of the Civil Rights Movement, capturing both personal and collective struggle. Readers admire Lewis’s compelling narrative and moral integrity, though some find the detailed historical context dense. It's an illuminating read on social justice. MLA
Who Should Read Walking with the Wind?
Ideal for those captivated by autobiographies, civil rights history, and social justice, readers of Walking with the Wind by John Lewis and Mike D'Orso will appreciate its depth and firsthand insights. Fans of The Autobiography of Malcolm X or Parting the Waters by Taylor Branch will find this work similarly compelling.