John Lewis

“The perfect book, at the right time.”—Michael Henry Adams, The Guardian

“Deeply researched and accessible. . . . A substantial entry in Yale’s Black Lives series.”—Matthew F. Delmont, New York Times Book Review

“If you liked King: A Life, by Jonathan Eig, read John Lewis: In Search of the Beloved Community, by Raymond Arsenault.”—Washington Post

“This sweeping biography represents the first effort at a comprehensive account of the life of the civil-rights icon John Lewis.”—New Yorker, “Best Books of 2024”

“John Lewis: In Search of the Beloved Community examines a rare journey from protest leader to career politician, buffeted by the winds of Black nationalism, debates over the acceptability of violence and perennial tensions between purity and pragmatism.”—David Smith, The Guardian

“Now, less than four years after his death, we have the first full-length biography of this remarkable citizen. John Lewis: In Search of the Beloved Community . . . tells the story of Lewis’s tireless work as a Freedom Rider, as an ally to oppressed people in every corner of America, as a defender of voting rights, and as the conscience of Congress.”—Ron Charles, CBS Sunday Morning

Named a New Yorker “Best Book We Read This Week”

“Deeply researched and profoundly insightful.”—Steve Nathans-Kelly, Chicago Review of Books

“The first comprehensive biography of the icon, an inspiring portrait of a man whose vision and moral courage propelled him to share his belief in the Beloved Community and inspire generations.”—Henry L. Carrigan, Jr., BookPage (starred review)

“Well-researched. . . . An illuminating account of the differences among civil rights activists over goals, tactics, and strategy.”—Glenn C. Altschuler, Florida Courier

“To its last page, John Lewis: In Search of the Beloved Community presents not only the definitive history of an admirable American, but a gripping account of an American struggle for freedom that continues today.”—Michael Ray Taylor, Chapter 16 and Nashville Scene

“Required reading for understanding Lewis, the Black freedom movement, and his unending quest for human dignity and rights. . . . Arsenault provides the best large-scale treatment of John Lewis.”—Michael Honey, Peace & Change

“How to capture the full humanity of such a legendary figure [as John Lewis], whose life was intertwined with some of America’s lowest lows and highest highs? Civil rights historian Raymond Arsenault does just that in his new biography.”—Bookstack (podcast)

Recommended by San Francisco Bay Times in “Top of Your Stack”

“Arsenault provides a guiding principle to help anchor Lewis’s life and career.”—Jason Sokol, Arc

Goldmedal winner in the 2024 Florida Book Awards General Nonfiction category

“Beautifully written and deeply researched, Arsenault’s biography of John Lewis captures his indomitable courage and steadfast moral clarity.”—Mia Bay, author of Traveling Black: A Story of Race and Resistance

“Arsenault’s highly readable book presents us not just with an indispensable chronicle of a transformative era, but with the portrait of a remarkable human being whose character and vision challenge us all to live up to both his ideals and his sacrifices.”—Drew Gilpin Faust, Arthur Kingsley Porter University Professor and President Emerita, Harvard University

“This is a lovely, honest, and thorough book about an American hero who should be better known.”—Thomas E. Ricks, author of Waging a Good War: How the Civil Rights Movement Won Its Battles, 1954–1968

“An inspiring and movingly drawn portrait of a true American hero who, armed only with raw moral courage, managed to leave his beloved nation better than he found it.”—Obery M. Hendricks, Jr., author of Christians Against Christianity: How Right-Wing Evangelicals Are Destroying Our Nation and Our Faith