As someone from Europe, I was very curious to find out more about Harlem and the black culture, the transformations harlemites had to go through in the 20th century. The book boasts a history of three generations of Harlem, told by a person who grew up there and saw it all. Devout Muslim believers, mink wearing divas living in a slum, pimps and dealers and college professors, and just plain simple people – the picture is so vast and colorful.

But I couldn’t say the book was quite what I expected. Perhaps it’s because it was written by a sociology professor, or perhaps because I had the advance reader digital copy, which couldn’t pride itself on good formatting, and perhaps final editing. But still, I feel like the writer couldn’t quite figure out what he wanted to say. What was the book about? His family? Or a detached history of Harlem? At times it reads like a memoir, at times – a history book. Sometimes things lapse, aren’t connected enough or are repeated as if they haven’t been said yet. So the overall experience of reading wasn’t too exhilarating, especially as I’ve read some pretty good nonfiction this year.

But I will admit that the subject matter is good – therefore I give it 3 stars. It was interesting to her certain stories of Harlem, and to gather more background about some of the bigger names in black people’s culture that, to use their own words – “advanced the race”. I loved reading about what they believed in, and despite how mistreated they were, how they still persisted. I honestly didn’t know New York was such a bad place to live in the 1970s, especially if you were PoC. So as an educational experience, it was good.

In the end, I figured out why it’s called Down the Up Staircase. Ultimately, this is a story of a family’s downfall, with the backdrop of Harlem history. And although the author didn’t really make it quite clear what the story was about, it does do it’s job and give you quite a lot of insight about the place and the day.

I thank Columbia University Press and NetGalley for giving me access to an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a very interesting book by a man who grew up as a third generation African-American in Harlem. His family is a powerful and unique key in the history of African-American after slavery. They had owned land in the south. His grandfather was a protege of W. E. B. Du Bois. This is the story of a family as they fight for their civil rights while keeping their own identity and strength during some of the most troubling times during the twentieth century. This was a very powerful book and I highly recommend it. I literally could not put it down until I had finished it.

Very enjoyable and fascinating. A great look at society.

I read this over the MLK weekend. What a good book. This is a story of family which had strong values, determination and notables. You live this family's struggles and triumphs via this wonderful worded book. The book begins with a venture from Sugar Hill which is in Harlem to Milford, Connecticut. And there are many colorful and warm stories from here to the end. This book is a legacy to family and perserverance. What a awesome read. I could not put it down. This book should be part of reading in our schools during Black History Month. Much to be learned from these pages.Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy in return for my honest review.