Let the Trumpet Sound: A Life of Martin Luther King, Jr. (P.S.) Paperback – December 31, 2013

I first read this book in 1982, shortly after the book's release. It is an excellent, indepth and well researched biography of one of the greatest men of out times.

This book is truly comprehensive with substantial insight into Dr. Kings spiritual calling, philosophic and theological beliefs, political and economic theories, and the power of non-violent protest and love. Those wishing to know intimate details of his personal life may find this book lacking information on his family life albeit his love for his parents, wife, and close associates is obvious. There is a frank assessment of his emotional makeup, leadership skills, and commitment to making the world a better and all inclusive place. The many excerpts from his sermons, speeches, letters, and books were especially meaningful and some to take seriously in th e current political and social upheaval we are currently faced with. A reincarnation of Dr. King would certainly be welcome. Highly recommended reading!

Incredibly powerful book. After watching "Selma" recently I realised I really didn't know much about Dr King. This book is an excellent biography - readable, balanced, intelligent. Unlike many dry biographies, this can be a tear jerker at times, especially when recounting some of King's fine speeches, and with the way in which it builds to the fateful climax.My only disappointment is the abrupt ending. As a new to the subject non-American, I was really wanting an epilogue - something to summarise the future of the civil rights movement and King's legacy. To not include that was a huge let-down for an otherwise virtually faultless book. Now I know how he died but nothing about what happened after his funeral.Despite that single flaw, I would heartily recommend this book as a fantastic introduction to the life of Martin Luther King.

Good biography of a great man,f lol flaws and all

I searched high and low for a good biography , which was surprising for one of a greatest leaders. This is more a detail of his civil rights work, and a smattering of his early days which fill it out. It seems that for the more modern people, it is hard to get accurate details, since much is still sealed, but this one is great background. If you wish toi know what he did and how, this is the book to get. To listen to one paragraph opinions, read books like these with their annotated sources and the REAL data. Their are too many falsehoods "on the air" and by so called experts who never even bothered to review what he actual did and what he believed and stood fore. Highly recommended.

This book is a very thorough accounting of a very productive life. I have read several books about M. L. K., and this is the best. Very well-written and was a page-turner. God bless him. He's in my to five people's list.

But, the more I read the sadder I became because I knew what was going to happen. Growing up in Southern California I had very little experience with segregation or real poverty. This book was a real eye-opener.

This should be required reading for all Americans. The power of love and non violent confrontation shows how one man can change the world. Martin Luther King was truly a gift of God and a voice crying in the wilderness. He wasn't perfect but neither was David, Peter, Paul and many other prophets of Old and New Testaments. He was honest and had a vision that is included all into forging a better nation. Stephen Oakes truly captures the pain, struggle, triumph and sadness of the 60's.

There is a gap in knowledge about Martin Luther King in the UK. Yes, we know the headlines but his speeches were not broadcast here and, in my view, otherwise well-read people can have a lucana about the broader facts of his lief — for instance, his heroic stance on the Vietnam War, his anti-poverty work and his beautiful personality. I don't think I've ever read such a moving story. In fact, odd as it might sound, I think I became a better person by reading this book — because I learnt more about what it means to love and to do everything you can to help other human beings. If you flick through the opening pages, do not let yourself be put off at all by a (slightly pompous-sounding) author's essay at the start: the book itself is very well researched and written. Martin Luther King achieved in seven years what could have taken seven decades — the successful challenges against various forms of segregation. But, the last couple of years of his life were deeply painful because he tried to tackle informal and economic serration. And 50 years after he died, we still haven't got near to solving that. But, we shall overcome one day. And, as he said: "Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”

This is an excellent and readable biography of Martin Luther King. Here is portrayed one of the most outstanding people of the twentieth century, and done with both sensitivity and realism. Stephen Oates must have reflected very carefully over his sources: his own preoccupations stay carefully in the background while he ensures that his subject stays centre stage through turbulent times. Oates deferentially ends the story so quickly that some matters are not tied up. It would be helpful to know, for instance, what happened to the plans for the Washington march and what happened to King's family in the following years. His family righly merited some mentions while he was alive, and his death must have left them facing empty shoes even more than Ralph Abernathy. I wonder if we might ever see a post-Obama postscript in a new edition.