From one of the most brilliant writers and thinkers of the twentieth century comes a collection of passionate, probing, controversial essays (The Atlantic) on topics ranging from race relations in the United States to the role of the writer in society.
Told with Baldwin's characteristically unflinching honesty, this “splendid book” (The New York Times) offers illuminating, deeply felt essays along with personal accounts of Richard Wright, Norman Mailer and other writers. 
“James Baldwin is a skillful writer, a man of fine intelligence and a true companion in the desire to make life human. To take a cue from his title, we had better learn his name.” —The New York TimesIntroduction
PART ONE:  Sitting in the House . . . 1.   The Discovery of What It Means to Be an American 2.   Princes and Powers 3.   Fifth Avenue, Uptown: a Letter from Harlem 4.   East River, Downtown:  Postscript to a Letter from Harlem 5.   A Fly in Buttermilk 6.   Nobody Knows My Name: a Letter from the South 7.   Faulkner and Desegregation 8.   In Search of a Majority
PART TWO:  . . . With Everything on My Mind 9.   Notes from a Hypothetical Novel 10. The Male Prison 11. The Northern Protestant 12. Alas, Poor Richard i.  Eight Men ii. The Exile iii. Alas, Poor Richard 13.  The Black Boy Looks at the White Boy A passionate, probing, controversial book which is outstandingly well written.  —The Atlantl