We All Want to Change the World: My Journey Through Social Justice Movements from the 1960s to Today

by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Raymond Obstfeld

A sweeping look back at the protest movements that changed America from activist and NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, with personal and historical insights into lessons they can teach us today.

For many, it can feel like change takes too long, and it might seem that we have not moved very far. But political activist Kareem Abdul-Jabbar believes that public protest is a vital part of affecting change, even if that change doesn’t come “right now.”

In We All Want to Change the World, he examines the activism of people of all ages, ethnicities, and socio-economic backgrounds that helped change America, documenting events from the Free Speech Movement through the movement for civil rights, the fight for women’s and LGBTQ rights, and, of course, the protests against the Vietnam War. At a time in our history when we are witnessing protests across campuses, within the labor movement, and following the killing of George Floyd, Abdul-Jabbar reminds us that protests are a lifeblood of our history:

“Protest movements, even peaceful ones, are never popular at first... But there is a reason protest gatherings have been so frequent throughout history: They are effective. The United States exists because of them.”

Part history lesson and part personal reminiscences of his own activism, We All Want to Change the World will resonate with anyone who recognizes the need for social change and is willing to do the work to make it happen.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Memoir, Sports, Politics, Biography Memoir, Inspirational

320 pages, Hardcover

First published May 13, 2025

About the author

As a center for the Los Angeles Lakers from 1975 to 1989, American basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, originally Lew Alcindor, led the all-time scores in history of national basketball association in 1984.

This former professional player current serves as assistant coach. Typically referred to as Lew Alcindor in his younger days, he changed his name when he converted to Islam.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kareem_...

Reviews

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you grew up during many social justice movements or were always an activist, this will most likely be review for you. But for others, like me, who did not learn about most social justice issues in school or at home, so much of this was new and enlightening. It reminds me again why it is so important as adults to continue to educate ourselves and why we need more robust and inclusive history taught in school.

Abdul-Jabbar inserts his own experience with activism throughout the book and how certain issues shaped him. I appreciated this making it more personal.

I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was so curious to read Kareem's journey through history... a history that I lived through as well... yet I still have so much to learn. His perspective is a good reminder of how much work there is yet to be done for equality.

The writing is eloquent and his stories are so compelling.

I highly recommend!

I would like to thank Netgalley and Crown Publishing for the digital copy of this book. It was published on May13, 2025.

[Nina Keller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s book is part memoir, part crash course in American protest. He traces how the civil rights movement, anti-war protests, women’s liberation, and gay rights shaped his beliefs, spotlighting icons like MLK, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Harvey Milk as guideposts on his path. His refusal to play in the 1968 Olympics stands out as a bold act of conscience. Abdul-Jabbar argues that protest isn’t just woven into America’s history-it IS the history, from the Boston Tea Party to today’s protests for Palestinian rights. In his view, protest isn’t optional. It’s the heartbeat of democracy and must be protected.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very educational and organized, but I wanted a few more personal stories from Kareem. Five different chapters: 1) free speech; 2) civil rights; 3) anti-war; 4) women’s liberation movement; 5) gay liberation movement. What about protests for environmental justice? Protests against Wall Street abuses? I guess I could keep going. Perhaps he wrote what he knew about or what concerned him. I did notice some editing mistakes. Maybe there will be a new expanded edition with some more personal anecdotes.

[Craig Strang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kareem, one of my childhood (and adulthood) heroes, spins out a straightforward history of the Free Speech Movement, the Civil Rights Movement, the Anti War Movement, the Women’s Movement and the LGBTQ+ Movement, interweaving some autobiography and memoir about his own role in and relationship to each one. He shines a particularly bright light on sports, music, art, TV and movies, and how essential the culture change they bring about is to the political and social change that follows. This isn’t a celebration of progress as much as it is a description of the fierce and relentless pushback against the advances of every form of social justice by the rich and powerful.

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book should be a must read for everyone - covers all the things they didn't teach in high school history / civics classes (at least when I was in high school). It documents "events from the Free Speech Movement through the movement for civil rights, the fight for women’s and LGBTQ rights, and, of course, the protests against the Vietnam War." A quote from Martin Luther King Jr sums up the underlying theme of this book perfectly: "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere", Definitely worth a read / listen - 6 out of 10.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unfortunately, conservatives have brandished Aesop’s words whenever they’ve wanted to accuse those who disagreed with them as being unpatriotic. But being divisive is not the insult they think it is. It’s the starter that creates sourdough bread. It’s the acorn that spawns the mighty oak.

Rating: 4/5

Well, you know We all want to change the world —The Beatles, “Revolution”

Conservatives’ unflinching defense of the past happens when they see change as diminishing their own importance in the future. They’ve got no rizz.

As history has proven, these efforts will ultimately be futile. The small victories conservatives have along the way in this regard will only humiliate them and shame their descendants. Those who fight these kinds of changes will be vilified for it in much the same way proponents of slavery and opponents of women’s suffrage have been. All because they fear change.

Bob Dylan’s bold 1964 protest song “The Times They Are A-Changin’ ” expressed the revolutionary mood of defiance: There’s a battle outside and it is ragin’ It’ll soon shake your windows and rattle your walls For the times they are a-changin’

Everyone Wants Change, but No One Wants to Change

The challenge is to recognize which changes are good, so we can encourage them, and which are bad, so we can prevent them, or at least mitigate the damage. “It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change,” said Professor Leon C. Megginson, summarizing Charles Darwin. Survival depends on adapting to the inevitability of change. Nevertheless, not everyone is receptive to change, nor do we all mean the same thing by the word change.

The Boomers had something else that previous generations didn’t have—television. While social critics complained that Boomers were a generation with a TV for a babysitter, the by-product of that exposure was more awareness of the news. Boomers had a variety of sources of information, not just their parents’ newspaper. Television also made the news more urgent, more personal. Seeing bombings in Vietnam, the caskets of dead soldiers, the police beating protestors; hearing the arrogant and paternalistic speeches of clueless politicians—all these motivated many in this young generation to join the fight for social justice.

Appeal to youth. Young people have the energy, time, and passion to follow through. Also, youth involvement sets off an important commercial chain reaction that affects the larger culture. Songs, movies, TV shows, books, T-shirts, and rock concerts can emerge from youth involvement because there is money to be made from young people’s commitment. That’s not cynical thinking; it’s just a bonus. Because once these artifacts of a cause start to trend, they become embraced by the general public, too, which makes it easier to persuade older people to support the cause to which they are attached. When the counter-culture musical Hair opened on Broadway in 1968, extolling the virtues of the hippie lifestyle as well as strong anti-war sentiment, it was criticized for its vulgar language (tame by today’s standards), nudity, and progressive politics. But it ran on Broadway for 1,750 performances, was produced across the country and around the world, and featured several hit songs and an original cast album that sold 3 million copies. Hair became like a missionary spreading the good news to the uninformed—except the message was anti-establishment.

Arrive in great numbers. Large numbers of people means a better chance of getting covered by the news media, especially television. Signs help. So do messages on T-shirts. Street theater—from burning flags to wearing red paint to simulate blood—also gets attention. Attention changes minds.

Target your audience. The mathematics of protest is simple: One-third of the country is left of center; another third is right of center. Two-thirds of the population is intractable—their minds cannot be changed—therefore, protests are about convincing that final third.

Darwin made it clear that strength and intelligence aren’t enough to ensure a species’s survival; we also need to adapt to change. And sometimes survival means instigating that change. As civil rights leader and congressman John Lewis said, “When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, it’s my philosophy that you have a moral obligation to get in trouble, to make some noise, to point people in a different direction.”

Is there ever a time that does not require making noise, when protest is not needed to inspire change that betters lives? That does not require getting into “good trouble,” as Lewis called it? No. Not as long as there is injustice that causes suffering. Not as long as we have the power to end that suffering.

The dim embers of dissent were starting to be fanned. Those embers, however, didn’t start on that California campus. They started in Mississippi several months earlier, at the beginning of what was known as Freedom Summer. Volunteers from the Freedom Summer Project, many of them college students, traveled through Mississippi registering Black voters, establishing Freedom Schools, and creating gathering centers and libraries for Black communities. The local white populace expressed anger at the volunteers, and there were open threats of violence. FBI director J. Edgar Hoover chose not to intervene, explaining, “We will not wet-nurse troublemakers.”

He expressed the frustration they’d all been through for the past months while negotiating with the university, which refused to support their right to free speech: There is a time when the operation of the machine becomes so odious, makes you so sick at heart, that you can’t take part; you can’t even tacitly take part, and you’ve got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels, upon the levers, upon all the apparatus and you’ve got to make it stop. And you’ve got to indicate to the people who run it, to the people who own it, that unless you’re free, the machines will be prevented from working at all.

A journalist from Ramparts described the arrests: Months of civil rights demonstrations have taught metropolitan police officers everywhere to handle “limp” demonstrators; it requires two officers per demonstrator, and it can be efficient and painless. In Sproul Hall, however, police chose to drag the students, male and female, by twisting their arms into hammer locks, bending their wrists cruelly backward, and hauling them so that the pressure was on their sockets. One girl was pushed into the elevator on her face from several feet away.

The free speech movement is unlike all the other protest movements in our history because free speech is so difficult to define. Can a server wear a Christian crucifix while working in a Muslim diner? Or a swastika while working at a Jewish deli? Can a white person publicly sing the N-word in a song written by a Black person? Can a ticket taker at a movie theater wear a button promoting a political candidate? Can a school force children to recite the Pledge of Allegiance? Can a pharmacist refuse to sell birth control pills if they are contrary to his religious beliefs? These are the kinds of questions we struggle to answer when defining the boundaries of free speech.

This is how the limitations of free speech evolve. One decade’s deep personal offense is another decade’s profitable commerce.

This didn’t end divisiveness, of course; nor was it meant to. Democracy thrives when differing ideas and opinions are presented for the public to discuss, argue about, examine, and finally reach decisions on. Divisiveness is a part of our process; it’s not a weakness, but our strength. Sixth-century Greek fabulist Aesop is credited with the phrase “United we stand, divided we fall,” which was adapted by John Dickinson in 1768 in his song, “The Liberty Song,” to rouse colonists to support independence. Americans have embraced the saying ever since, reminded that our common political principles surpass our differences.

Jackie Goldberg, a spokesperson for the protesting groups, responded to Towle with “We’re allowed to say why we think something is good or bad, but we’re not allowed to distribute information as to what to do about it. Inaction is the rule, rather than the exception, in our society and on this campus. And education is and should be more than academics.”

In 1968, Attorney General Ramsey Clark warned against the same issues we still face, regardless of how many protests, how many marches, how many outspoken celebrities and professional athletes there are: “Of all violence, police violence in excess of authority is the most dangerous. For who will protect the public when the police violate the law?”

Up to 1967, the prevailing view of Black lives was of Sidney Poitier as Porgy in 1959’s film adaptation of Porgy and Bess, singing, “Oh, I got plenty of nothing and nothing’s plenty for me.” Then going on about how he’s “got heaven the whole day long” and he’s just “glad I’m alive.” Porgy is the symbol of the content Negro, happy with whatever he has, certainly not demanding anything more.

Society is a lot like a city aquarium where you watch a diver swim among a bunch of sharks. “Don’t worry,” the tour guide assures everyone with a confident smile, “the sharks are well fed, so they have no interest in our Jimmy there.” If the sharks ever figure out that Jimmy is part of the power structure that keeps them imprisoned for others to gawk at, their being well fed might not be enough to protect him.

Afterward, we decided to hold a press conference to announce our unanimous support. Bill Russell summed it up for all of us: “I envy Muhammad Ali…. He has something I have never been able to attain and something very few people possess. He has absolute and sincere faith.”

For example, when I was young, a popular joke was “Q: Why do women have vaginas? A: So men will talk to them.” At the time, I thought this punch line was funny because it endorsed a belief held by society, but it also perpetuated the idea that women weren’t worth talking to because they weren’t as smart or interesting as men. Their value lay in their sexuality.

A 2023 controversy around a joke by comedian Matt Rife revealed similar misogyny. In his Netflix special, Rife opens with a joke about dining at a restaurant with a friend where they were greeted by a woman with a black eye. The friend wondered why the woman wasn’t working in the kitchen “so nobody has to see her face.” To which Rife responded, “I feel like if she could cook, she wouldn’t have that black eye.” A clip of this joke was viewed on social media more than 2 million times, and Rife has more than 18 million followers. The issue is that the joke celebrates, rather than condemns, the idea of hitting a woman because she doesn’t adequately fulfill the traditional female role; it therefore perpetuates violence against women as not only acceptable but hilarious. Sixty years after the founding of NOW, and we’re still making jokes about violence against women and their role in the kitchen.

At the same time, organizers wanted to protest the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Bowers v. Hardwick (1986), in which they upheld a Georgia law criminalizing oral and anal sex between consenting adults, men or women, though this case focused on sex between men. They finally settled on nine key demands for the march: the legal recognition of lesbian and gay relationships the repeal of all laws that make sodomy between consenting adults a crime a presidential order banning discrimination by the federal government passage of a congressional lesbian and gay civil rights bill an end to discrimination against people with AIDS, AIDS-related complex (ARC), AIDS-related conditions, and HIV-positive status, and those perceived to have AIDS massive increases in funding for AIDS education, research, and patient care money for AIDS, not for war reproductive freedom, the right to control our own bodies, and an end to sexist oppression an end to racism in this country and apartheid in South Africa

March organizers issued seven demands: We demand passage of a lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender civil rights bill and an end to discrimination by state and federal governments including the military; repeal of all sodomy laws and other laws that criminalize private sexual expression between consenting adults. We demand massive increase in funding for AIDS education, research, and patient care; universal access to health care including alternative therapies; and an end to sexism in medical research and health care. We demand legislation to prevent discrimination against lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people in the areas of family diversity, custody, adoption and foster care and that the definition of family includes the full diversity of all family structures. We demand full and equal inclusion of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people in the educational system, and inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender studies in multicultural curricula. We demand the right to reproductive freedom and choice, to control our own bodies, and an end to sexist discrimination. We demand an end to racial and ethnic discrimination in all forms. We demand an end to discrimination and violent oppression based on actual or perceived sexual orientation, identification, race, religion, identity, sex…

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been reading Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s Substack posts for a little over a year now and am amazed weekly about how each is pertinent, articulate, and meaningful. So, when I learned he had a new book out I knew I had to immediately read it.

The subtitle of this book is “My journey thorough social justice movements from the 1060s to today.” Being in my seventh decade reading this book was, for me, a trip down memory lane. Unfortunately, as Abdul-Jabbar mentions often, protests have not put an end to the problems. They have produced changes, many of them significant, but it is always a process of a step forward followed by a slow backslide.

Martin Luther King, a significant force in Abdul-Jabbar’s life, often proclaimed that “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” This book highlights significant injustices in American society. From free speech to civil rights to anti-war to women’s liberation to gay liberation, Abdul-Jabbar highlights both the injustices as well as the movements that sprang up to address them.

What I admire most about Abdul-Jabbar is his willingness to present himself “warts and all.” As a black man he did not jump right into the women’s liberation movement. As a male athlete he shied away from gay rights. As a youth he had to keep his nose clean and focused on basketball to make his way in the world. Yet, somewhere along the way, he saw that he needed to focus on social change and he not only talks (and writes) the talk but definitely walks the walk.

Abdul-Jabbar points out that “we’re all raised with prejudices against other groups.” Numerous psychologists, sociologists, and anthropologists speak to our innate fear of the other. Someone who is of a different race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation often elicits a negative emotional response in us. Through familiarity, education, and experience we can look at this more logically and work to change our behavior but, underneath the emotions still have a large influence.

I mention this because marches, loud protests, and public discourse work to hold up a mirror so that we can see this in ourselves. In this book Abdul-Jabbar traces the history and effects of many of the more significant social protests. Progress is slow and definitely not steady but change is possible.

What makes this book so important is that our country is currently in a time of backsliding. Fear and anger seems to be taking over and many social gains are being pushed back decades. Reading this book will remind you of the hard work that has been done, what has succeeded in the past, and what more needs to be done in the future.

Abdul-Jabbar quotes many singers and songwriters in his book. Let me end by quoting the great Bob Marley, “Get up, stand up Stand up for your right Get up, stand up Don't give up the fight”

[Beyond the Pages with Eva K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick Summary: A call to consciousness resource

My Review: We All Want to Change the World: My Journey Through Social Justice Movements from the 1960s to Today by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Raymond Obstfeld is a 2025 non-fiction release. It is classified under "Biographies & Memoirs | History."

About the Book: "A sweeping look back at the protest movements that changed America from activist and NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, with personal and historical insights into lessons they can teach us today"

In My Own Words: A riveting walk through history, as it relates to social justice movements, actions and inactions, and more

My Favorite Quotes:

- "I've come to realize that both those emotions - hope and fear - are necessary to motivate real change."

- "...we have to be constantly reminded of all that we have to lose if we are going to dare, like Dr. King, to dream of a better future."

- "Survival depends on adapting to the inevitability of change. Nevertheless, not everyone is receptive to change, nor do we all mean the same thing by the word change."

- "Most people fear anything radical...because it implies taking a risk that could destroy comfortable stability."

- "...sometimes survival means we need to instigate change."

- "Protesting is a long-term strategy, like building a major bridge. There might be some short-term discomfort and inconvenience, but eventually everyone's lives will be better off for it."

- "I am at an age where I no longer try to imagine the perfect world of racial harmony somewhere down the road just around the bend. I try to concentrate on the road in front of my feet, on what I can do right now, right here to alleviate suffering and promote joy. For me, that means doing whatever is in my power to make sure everyone has the equal opportunity to choose the life they want, not just the life forced upon them."

My Final Say: There are so many things that I want to say and could say about this book. Most importantly, I will sum it up by declaring that this book is a reality check for a conflicted America. It is timely, it is outstanding, and it is oh so needed.

As I have learned more and more about Abdul-Jabbar, I have been impressed by his words and his actions. Through this book, he sheds light on that which needs to be seen and not forgotten. It is both hauntingly reflective and inspired. From the thoughtful quotes, to the well thought out positions, to the featured studies and cases, to the personal experiences and insights, I was completely moved.

Other: This book should be read by all. It has heart and depth. I highly recommend it. I would go so far as to say that it should be included in high school and college level curriculum. It would be ideal as a book club read and as a community discussion feature.

Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Re-read: Yes
Keeper: Yes
Favorites Shelf: Yes
Besties Shelf: Yes
Status: Bio, History, Education
Level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Heartfelt appreciation is extended to the authors, to the publisher (Crown Publishing | Crown), and to NetGalley. I cannot thank you enough for granting access to a digital ARC of this remarkable work in exchange for an honest critique. It was a tremendous privilege to review, and I am grateful for the opportunity.

[Indra · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚 Book Review: We All Want to Change the World: My Journey Through Social Justice Movements from the 1960s to Today
✊ By Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Raymond Obstfeld
🗓 2025 Release | Genre: Nonfiction • Memoir • History • Politics
📖 Thank you to Crown Publishing & GoodReads Giveaways for the ARC!

💬 In My Own Words:
A riveting walk through the major waves of American protest—from civil rights to modern-day justice movements—told through the lens of an icon who lived it. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar uses his powerful voice not to lecture, but to educate, inspire, and remember.

This book is a reality check, a history lesson, and a call to action, all in one. And it’s so needed.
It hit me in the heart and the head—and it’ll stay with me for a long time.

🗣️ Powerful Quotes That Shook Me:

• "I've come to realize that both those emotions — hope and fear — are necessary to motivate real change."

• "Survival depends on adapting to the inevitability of change."

• "Most people fear anything radical... because it implies taking a risk that could destroy comfortable stability."

• "Protesting is a long-term strategy, like building a major bridge..."

• "I try to concentrate on the road in front of my feet, on what I can do right now, right here to alleviate suffering and promote joy."

📚 What Makes This Book So Important:
🧠 Insightful History
Kareem walks us through key movements with a clear-eyed lens—from the Free Speech movement to George Floyd, LGBTQ rights to Vietnam, Civil Rights to Black Lives Matter.

💥 Personal & Political
It’s not just facts—it’s Abdul-Jabbar’s life. His observations, experiences, and regrets blend seamlessly with broader social justice commentary.

🎯 Clear, Calm, and Unflinching
His writing isn’t angry or chaotic. It’s honest, reflective, and driven by wisdom and purpose.

🧵 TROPES / THEMES:
• Protest as Patriotism 🇺🇸

• History Repeats 📜

• Generational Responsibility 🧓👶

• Resistance and Resilience ✊

• Speaking Truth to Power 📢

• Sports Meets Activism 🏀

• Long-Term Justice Strategy 💡

• Real Change is Slow—and Worth It 🕰️

💡 My Takeaways:
I feel more informed about American protest history than any textbook has ever made me feel.

I now understand the depth of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s activism far beyond his basketball legacy.

This is the kind of book that should be in classrooms, book clubs, and public libraries nationwide.

📦 In Summary:
🧱 Deep, well-researched foundations

💬 Beautifully quotable

🧭 Personal and political reflections

📖 Accessible, yet rich in detail

🎓 Educational, but never dry

🫶 Compassionate and clear

🌍 We all want to change the world... and Abdul-Jabbar just showed us how.

[Shana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a national treasure! He organizes these social movements by theme and does an excellent job of historical research. The title indicates a book that might have more personal anecdotes in it than it does. This is a reflection on his journey throughout his life is both an observer and sometimes participant in social movements. however he is far from the center of the story, so if you're coming for his personal memoir please read this book but also that's not what this is.
he has everything factual except some earned but snarky comments on those who were participating in the incidence of January 6 2020 distinguishing them let's say from social movement activists or civil rights protesters that are discussed throughout the rest of the book. the lens is primarily American, but he does know where movements are internationalized and in the section on freedom of speech he discusses Vietnam at length including International viewpoints.

I'm not sure why I'm laying this a lot this is an excellent history book! I do think it's clear that Kareem is an intellectual, he has a gift in particular for citing a quote that he may love from a different context and applying it to the social movement a hand. one small anecdote that sticks out is how he relates that the quote commonly used to inspire patriotic fervor in its complete form IS inciting the true patriot to stand up and IMPROVE upon our country to be true patriots .

The phrase 'My Country, Right or Wrong!' was popularized by Stephen Decatur to show patriotic zeal.
Od course a random website I found contends the original quote is indeed
“Our country! In her intercourse with foreign nations may she always be in the right; but our country, right or wrong!"

To which when Decatur qas quoted 50 years later in the US Senate.. a Senator Carl Schurz replied
My country, right or wrong; if right, to be kept right; and if wrong, to be set right.”

which I think is far more in the spirit of taking action towards being the best we can be.
for my two friends who I know like to read history I think you'll enjoy this but I'm not sure how much is new information, it's a great introduction and overview with added nuance by naming names of the people who are influences. from Muhammad Ali to Abby Hoffman, from Dr Martin Luther King Jr to his daughter ...
it's good to feel good about progress in our country. the needle is very difficult to move even slightly.
my vote for most depressing chapter is the one on women's rights...
I think this was excellent, but I am a removing a star for its seriousness, because I think it's a mismatch with the title. I do hope the title draws people in now for a five

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. Abdul-Jabbar is a true gift to our society, an eloquent, reflective, empathetic individual who also happened to be a sports legend. It’s that latter asset that allows him to amplify the voices who lack the celebrity to do so, and he does it incredibly well in this book.

To clarify why I’m not rating this a full 5 stars, it reads a bit like a history book. Granted, it’s a wonderful history book, but there’s not as much tie-in to Abdul-Jabbar’s own story as I’d expected. This is likely because he seems to be incredibly humble…but it does at times make it a slow read with a very academic feel to it. When he does chime in regarding his personal experiences - particularly as a civil rights advocate within the early days of his basketball career - there is a welcome shift to feeling that the book does add something new to the historical record rather than simply compiling details from other sources.

I’ve read so many books that delve more deeply into the various subjects covered in We All Want To Change the World, so there were certainly sections that felt very shallowly explored. There are definitely better options to learn more about a specific subject (for example, John Lewis’s Freedom Riders or the brilliant community-driven alternative transportation networks established during the bus boycotts were relatively glaring omissions in the civil rights section). But this was nonetheless a fabulous overview of major protest movements since approximately the 1960s, allowing exploration of striking underlying similarities but putting them all together in one book.

Perhaps the best part of this book, however, was Abdul-Jabbar’s repeated emphasis on the imperfection of key moments in protest history. He convincingly and memorably argued that a crucial component of maintaining momentum and achieving future victories lies in a conscious effort to avoid romanticizing the protest journeys of the past. Without this critical perspective, it is far too easy to throw up our hands in defeat when massive efforts seem to go nowhere and change takes an agonizingly long time to achieve.

I would absolutely recommend this book. In particular, it’s a perfect introduction for those new to reading about social change movements in recent decades. And for those who have a bit more background context already, it’s a wonderful way to step back for a moment to reflect on some of the broader lessons that we must not lose sight of.

[Jason M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been trying to steer clear of political books since November 2024. I find it too depressing to follow the slow-drip torture of the news and prefer to use books as an escape. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's Substack is one of many political newsletters from which I unsubscribed the day after Election Day. However, this book called to me from the library's New & Noteworthy table. Kareem writes in a lively style with liberal use of pop culture allusions. I was not expecting a "Doctor Who" reference on page 5, for example.

The book is not a linear biography of Kareem, but he discusses five prominent post-1950s civil rights movements in the context of how he encountered them (and, in some cases, how he joined them). There's a credited co-author who presumably did a lot of the research and fact-gathering. Kareem discusses the free speech movements, anti-war protests, civil rights movement, women's lib marches, and LGBTQ+ equality, mostly by describing the major marches and gatherings that marked those eras. In a world where corporate media has made a sharp right turn and either embraced or enabled fascism, Kareem reminds us that no civil rights or expansions of democracy occurred without organization and years of struggle. America has more such struggles to endure, especially after the massive erosion of civil rights and democratic norms just over the past six months, and Kareem tries to give us comfort that we can do this. "We All Want to Change the World" is an easy and informative read, although at times the narrative urgency gets lost in recitations of places and dates.

[Kelly Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-researched look at various social justice movements throughout America's history. One group I felt was sorely missing from the conversation is, ironically, one of the oldest: the plight of the Indigenous people of America. (It is even overlooked in the epilogue when discussion of the Boston Tea Party neglects to mention that the colonists dressed as Mohawks.)

The fact that much of the progress toward legal remedies has been undone by our current fascist regime can be VERY disheartening, but this book helps me take courage and hope that we can learn from the past, regain lost ground, and push forward for what is truly right. Isn't it strange how the Far Right is doing so much wrong toward mankind, wildlife and Mother Earth, while the Left are left by the wayside, waiting for our fellow citizens to snap out of their cult behavior of hate and discrimination that we believed was abandoned decades ago.

[Dylan Janu · Rating 4 out of 5]

"We all want to change the world" has a compelling message and is communicated well through civil rights stories old and new, but suffers from a lack of understanding it's audience. Some of the metaphors used feel a little forced, especially in the prologue. The vernacular used in this book seems to be meant to relate new fangled ideas to older readers, while also diving into events those same readers would have lived through.

I think Kareem and Obstfeld do a good enough job connecting the through lines of the civil rights movement to book banning and political action underway today. My main nitpick is they undersell the impact of deteriorating material living conditions of the working class, instead blaming a shift to Trump on a cultural reaction against radicalism. This neglects wealth inequality as a massive cause of destabilization and radicalization.

All of that being said, the book still shines. It is important to always understand the perspective of the story you are being told, and hearing first hand what a civil rights icon felt about movements at the time is invaluable.

[Nan · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you only know Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as one of the world's greatest basketball players, then you hardly know him at all. Throughout his life he has been a champion for equality, and since his retirement he has carved out a career as a brilliant and astute social critic. (Read his twice-weekly Substack column for a sample of his excellent work.).
In this volume, Abdul-Jabbar takes an historical look at various recent U.S. protest movements: free speech, women's liberation, LGBTQ+, anti-war, and civil rights. The final two are his longest and strongest sections since they had his most personal involvement, but all demonstrate impressive research and exposition. His proposition that all change is rooted in both fear and hope is a lesson all of us need at this time. Actual rating: 4.75

[That’s Controversial · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is advertised as Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s journey through social justice movements. It is, roughly 5% of the time. 95% of this book is just KAJ playing the role of a historian and offering commentary. I was expecting more stories of his actual life, like a memoir, but those moments are few and far between.

This book also drags on for a lot longer than it should. Towards the end, it struggled to hold my attention, because it just droned on and on repeating common sense points on social justice.

I agree with KAJ on mostly everything in this book (honestly, can’t think of a single point we disagree on), which is why it’s unfortunate that this book felt like such a chore to complete. I really wanted to like this book.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great look at social justice from the 1960 to present day by an author who has been very involved. I feel I have gained a lot of insight into the events that have occurred and ones I was not familiar. The author also discusses the role protest lay in helping to advance the strides that are made in our country. The author, besides being one of my favorite NBA players, gives a deep look at his life and the issues that are important to him. A very impressive book. I won this book in a GoodReads Giveaway.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

We All Want to Change the World will appeal in differing ways depending on whether you lived through the same social justice movements, or you are reading to learn about the movements as experienced by Kareem Abdul Jabar. Either way the book is valuable and timely. His writing is from first hand experience, and additionally is well-researched, very thorough. I was reading closely as though a knowledgeable professor were teaching, so having no index was frustrating. The author’s many popular culture references lightened the heaviness of the topic while being pertinent.

[Jeff Wait · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an important book from a trusted firsthand source. It’s cool to see Kareem mix his research and personal experience. This is a wonderful culmination of his activism, Substack and life. It’s also extensive (and seemingly exhaustive) as a nonfiction book about the history and power of protesting. Change is possible and this book outlines how it has been done through civil rights, war, women’s rights and LGBTQ+ protests. Really worth checking out, especially in the world we live in.

[Damian Maldonado · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kareem Abdul Jabbar discusses the path of social justice and its un-seen bend towards good. He has a history of long term activism, adding to the books authenticity. Kareem is a very entertaining reader but entertainment alone did not shift my view on his weaker chapters. With how strong some chapters were, the weaker ones felt just so out of place. Overall a solid read, if you want an introduction into the discussion on social justice this is a great place to start!

[Kori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abdul-Jabbar's passion and eloquence is on full display here and makes this a must-read in a time when it is all still as relevant today as it was when the idea of protests and social justice were born.

*I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fine history of protest movements, particularly civil rights movement. I was very familiar with much of this, but it was good to see all of it together. Bottom line, especially for these times, protest, protest, protest! That is where change comes from, voices raised together. Please use your voice, too. Thank you.

[Linda Albert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a deeply researched yet easy to read history of protests and the reasons for them through American history. As I was reading it, I kept thinking how it would be a great read for high school or college students in government and political science classes. The author does sprinkle in stories of his own life, but it is sparcely autobiographical.

[Sandeep · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent writer but felt like I was in a college history lecture. Definitely learned new facts about the various the civil rights movements but very little of Kareem’s personal journey. Could’ve used a lot more of the personal touch. For example would’ve been interesting to read about his journey to Islam and how he reconciled things like gay rights with his religious views.

[Colin K-D · Rating 4 out of 5]

I so appreciative Kareem’s common sense approach (though maybe sadly not very common) to seeing this whole range of protests as connected by universal values. He’s so refreshingly matter of fact about not tolerating injustice and why. Plus, a good moment to be reminded of the long, unworldly history of protest movements in the US

[David Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kareem does an excellent job giving his take on the social justice movement from the 1960s on. I wish there had been even more of his personal takes and experiences as an activist, but his summaries of the various movements were enlightening as well.

[Billie Walden · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent summary of cultural changes and political protests in the US, focused primarily on 1950-2023. A bit dry at times (I really wish he’d included more personal stories), but well worth the time to read!

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to audio version. Excellent history of social justice from beginning of times to this year! And Kareem Abdul-Jabbars own awakening and growth. He has always been one of my heroes since UCLA days playing for John Wooden. Even as a high schooler I knew how to admire the good guys :)

[M Dubielak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jabbar does a great job of explaining his own interest and journey through social justice movements in the USA, while also sharing FACTS - not alternative "facts" (lies) - regarding those same issues. Well-written and accessible!