Dana A. Williams captures Toni Morrison’s time at Random with precision and clarity. The opening chapter alone offers a masterclass in biographical storytelling. Any scholar of Black Literary Studies needs to have this book on their bookshelves. Undergraduate and graduate students alike will find the insight into Morrison’s life a delight. Superb work!

As a longtime reader and student of Toni Morrison’s work, Toni at Random felt like a long-overdue tribute to a side of Morrison often overlooked: her groundbreaking editorial career at Random House. Dana A. Williams delivers a deeply researched, emotionally captivating narrative of Morrison’s time as an editor, revealing just how much she endured and accomplished as a Black woman shaping the literary canon from behind the scenes.

What stood out most was the nuanced exploration of Morrison’s dual commitment both to her role within a major publishing house and to the Black writers and communities she championed. Williams doesn’t shy away from the tensions Morrison navigated, and the inclusion of letters and firsthand accounts added richness and depth to this portrait.

The chapters detailing her collaboration with Angela Davis, particularly the making of Davis’s genre-defying autobiography, were a highlight for me personally. It was inspiring to see how Morrison helped shape the voices and narratives of Black icons—not just with literary precision, but with care, courage, and political intention. This book exceeded all my expectations and further deepened my admiration for Morrison’s legacy, not just as a writer but as a visionary editor who reshaped American literature from the inside out. Bravo.

This is so inspiring. I had heard about the work that Toni did for budding young Black authors but to read it all laid out? Breathtaking. She was something. I miss her wisdom and her fervor and spirit as each day passes. Something I’ll take away from this is that she’s right, we cannot really rely on the publishers to make sure that Black authors are seen, heard, and supported. I highly recommend.