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WINNER OF THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR PRIZE 2021
WINNER OF THE SUNDAY TIMES SPORTS BOOK AWARDS BOOK OF THE YEAR
THE TIMES AND SUNDAY TIMES SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR
THE HIGHLY ACCLAIMED SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

Through the prism of sport and conversations with its legends, including Usain Bolt, Adam Goodes, Thierry Henry, Michael Johnson, Ibtihaj Muhammad, Makhaya Ntini, Naomi Osaka and Hope Powell, Michael Holding explains how racism dehumanises people; how it works to achieve that end; how it has been ignored by history and historians; and what it is like to be treated differently just because of the colour of your skin.

Rarely can a rain delay in a cricket match have led to anything like the moment when Holding spoke out in the wake of the #BlackLivesMatter protests about the racism he has suffered and has seen all around him throughout his life. But as he spoke, he sought not only to educate but to propose a way forward that inspired so many. Within minutes, he was receiving calls from famous sports stars from around the world offering to help him to spread the message further.

Now, in Why We Kneel, How We Rise, Holding shares his story together with those of some of the most iconic athletes in the world. He delivers a powerful and inspiring message of hope for the future and a vision for change, and takes you through history to understand the racism of today. He adds: ‘To say I was surprised at the volume of positive feedback I received from around the world after my comments on Sky Sports is an understatement. I came to realise I couldn’t just stop there; I had to take it forward – hence the book, as I believe education is the way forward.’

‘The best book about racism I’ve ever read’ Piers Morgan

Publisher Review

'The best book about racism I've ever read. Powerful, passionate, challenging, and, like the author's fast bowling, at times very uncomfortable. I learned a lot & it made me think a lot.' -- Piers Morgan, TV presenter and journalist 'One of the most important [books] of the year, and certainly among the most powerful... If anything will change the way we see the world it is this - the sports book of the year.' -- Roger Alton * Daily Mail, Sports Books of the Year * 'This powerful book...recounts unsparing stories of prejudice and injustice, but the best passages are when Holding writes from the heart.' -- Matt Dickinson * The Times, Sports Book of the Year * 'Holding writes of his personal guilt at rolling with the racist punches throughout his career... The language is raw, his observations unsparing, but there is no more important sports book this year.' -- Ben Taylor * Sunday Times, Sport Books of the Year * 'This amazing book' -- Chris Evans * Virgin Radio * 'The outstanding book by a mile' -- Danny Kelly * Talksport * 'The most important book by a sportsperson you may ever read. But calling it a sports book would not remotely do it justice... Why We Kneel, How We Rise is powerful precisely because, even after confronting the horror on a scale that makes your blood boil, it tells us that there is still, and always will be, hope.' -- Nakul Pande * The Cricketer * '[A] meticulously researched jeremiad, which details centuries of prejudice.' -- Simon Kuper and Murad Ahmed * Financial Times, Sports Books of the Year * 'Shocking and at times difficult to read... The relentless accrual of detail tracks a process of dehumanisation of the black race...and it presents an inarguable case. Holding and his co-writer Ed Hawkins have taken a vast and complex subject and made it human.' -- Jon Hotten * Wisden Cricket Monthly * 'There's a good reason this offering from the legendary West Indies cricketer claimed the prestigious [William Hill] award this year. It looks at the root cause of racism and offers an unsettling, eye-opening read for those lucky enough to avoid it in our daily lives. But it's not simply a story of how bad things are; it's a powerful call for change and is infused with optimism for a better tomorrow.' -- Cathal Dennehy * Irish Independent * 'An incredible book. This tome straddles sport, sociology, anthropology and global politics, and holds a mirror to humanity, warts and all... It is remarkable to know that he achieved all that he aspired to do. This conscience-stirrer of a book will defy time. This book is a classic, one that will make you aware that inequality is a horrific reality and it is time to change that.' -- K.C.Vijaya Kumar * The Hindu * 'A sober, densely researched account of racial discrimination' * Morning Star *