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Nonviolent: A Memoir of Resistance, Agitation, and Love
The posthumous memoir of Rev. James Lawson Jr., peer of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., mentor to Congressman John Lewis and the Freedom Riders, and a principal architect of a nonviolent resistance movement that changed the world.
Rev. Lawson was one of the most influential yet unheralded heroes of the civil rights era. He rose as a strategist, teacher, and organizer in pivotal campaigns on the national stage against racial and economic injustice.
Lawson’s memoir spans 95 years, but it begins far from the spotlight in a large, working-class Ohio family. The son and grandson of Methodist ministers, he was licensed to preach before graduating from high school.
Lawson goes on to serve time in prison for refusing the Korean War draft, and learns from independence movements during three years in India and Africa. He then fortifies the principles of a new American Revolution when he teaches nonviolent direct action centered in love and moral clarity to the Little Rock Nine, the Mississippi Freedom Summer volunteers, and countless others. He also becomes a leader in the 1960 Nashville sit-ins, the 1963 Birmingham campaign, the 1966 Meredith March Against Fear, and the 1968 Memphis sanitation workers' strike.
Nonviolent delivers an intimate self-portrait of Lawson as a man who recognized the inherent dignity of everyone, and challenged all forms of violence, including police brutality, enforced poverty, and what he called plantation capitalism. It shows his quest for justice continuing in Los Angeles well into the 21st century, as he helped foster a more inclusive labor movement and an enduring immigrant rights movement.
Nonviolent is a riveting historical narrative from a central figure in global liberation and a testament to compelling a nation to live up to its founding ideals of liberty and justice for all.
Rev. Lawson was one of the most influential yet unheralded heroes of the civil rights era. He rose as a strategist, teacher, and organizer in pivotal campaigns on the national stage against racial and economic injustice.
Lawson’s memoir spans 95 years, but it begins far from the spotlight in a large, working-class Ohio family. The son and grandson of Methodist ministers, he was licensed to preach before graduating from high school.
Lawson goes on to serve time in prison for refusing the Korean War draft, and learns from independence movements during three years in India and Africa. He then fortifies the principles of a new American Revolution when he teaches nonviolent direct action centered in love and moral clarity to the Little Rock Nine, the Mississippi Freedom Summer volunteers, and countless others. He also becomes a leader in the 1960 Nashville sit-ins, the 1963 Birmingham campaign, the 1966 Meredith March Against Fear, and the 1968 Memphis sanitation workers' strike.
Nonviolent delivers an intimate self-portrait of Lawson as a man who recognized the inherent dignity of everyone, and challenged all forms of violence, including police brutality, enforced poverty, and what he called plantation capitalism. It shows his quest for justice continuing in Los Angeles well into the 21st century, as he helped foster a more inclusive labor movement and an enduring immigrant rights movement.
Nonviolent is a riveting historical narrative from a central figure in global liberation and a testament to compelling a nation to live up to its founding ideals of liberty and justice for all.
671 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 17, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I couldn't have known when I began reading Reverend James Lawson Jr.'s posthumous memoir "Nonviolent: A Memoir of Resistance, Agitation, and Love" that alongside this literary journey I would experience the closure of my alma mater, Indiana's only predominantly Black college Martin University.
I studied under Martin University's founder, Father Boniface Hardin, a remarkable man with an uncanny resemblance to Frederick Douglass.
I had this in my mind and heart as I read "Nonviolent," a book I'm already proclaiming will be one of 2026's best memoirs.
Rev. Lawson was a peer of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a mentor to the late Congressman John Lewis and the Freedom Riders, and a principal architect of a nonviolent resistance movement that changed the world.
For those most familiar with the civil rights era, Rev. Lawson is likely a known name. For many others, however, he's perhaps lesser known.
Written by Lawson alongside Emily Yellin over the course of 20+ years, "Nonviolent" spans the entirety of Lawson's 95 years of life from growing up the son and grandson of Methodist ministers in a large, working class family to his recent reflections on the Trump presidency. Lawson, who passed away on June 9, 2024 leaving a legacy that barely fits inside the pages of this nearly 700-page memoir.
Lawson was licensed to preach before high school. "Nonviolent" captures the birth of nonviolence in Lawson's life and throughout his life. He served time in prison for refusing to serve during the Korean War. He would subsequently teach nonviolent direct action to the Little Rock Nine, the Mississippi Freedom Summer volunteers and others. For every moment in the civil rights era, Lawson was seemingly present as leader, mentor, teacher, and so much more.
There's a remarkable intimacy to "Nonviolent," owing partly to the natural, steady vocal stylings evident throughout the book. It feels as if we're having a conversation ourselves with Lawson. Kudos to Yellin, in particular, for ensuring this powerful yet tender memoir would come forth told very much through Lawson's own lens and dialogue. There's never a moment, it seems, when Lawson isn't recognizing the inherent dignity of everyone. There's never a moment when he's not standing firmly that violence is not the answer from Martin Luther King to Rodney King and beyond.
Even in one of the book's more climactic chapters recounting the assassination of King and its aftermath, there's a naturalism here that makes the entire account seem remarkably profound. We know this story. We've heard it so many times. Yet, Lawson brings it to life in a way that is remarkably moving.
All the civil rights era familiar figures are here - King, Bayard Rustin, James Bevel, Marion Barry, Diane Nash, John Lewis, C.T. Vivian (whom I had the good fortune to be mentored by during a weekend of social justice) and many more.
A remarkable memoir from a remarkable man, "Nonviolent" is, indeed, a memoir of resistance, agitation, and love. Destined to be a book that ends up in a place of honor on my bookshelf, "Nonviolent" is ,and I'm calling it now, one of the very best memoirs of 2026.
I studied under Martin University's founder, Father Boniface Hardin, a remarkable man with an uncanny resemblance to Frederick Douglass.
I had this in my mind and heart as I read "Nonviolent," a book I'm already proclaiming will be one of 2026's best memoirs.
Rev. Lawson was a peer of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a mentor to the late Congressman John Lewis and the Freedom Riders, and a principal architect of a nonviolent resistance movement that changed the world.
For those most familiar with the civil rights era, Rev. Lawson is likely a known name. For many others, however, he's perhaps lesser known.
Written by Lawson alongside Emily Yellin over the course of 20+ years, "Nonviolent" spans the entirety of Lawson's 95 years of life from growing up the son and grandson of Methodist ministers in a large, working class family to his recent reflections on the Trump presidency. Lawson, who passed away on June 9, 2024 leaving a legacy that barely fits inside the pages of this nearly 700-page memoir.
Lawson was licensed to preach before high school. "Nonviolent" captures the birth of nonviolence in Lawson's life and throughout his life. He served time in prison for refusing to serve during the Korean War. He would subsequently teach nonviolent direct action to the Little Rock Nine, the Mississippi Freedom Summer volunteers and others. For every moment in the civil rights era, Lawson was seemingly present as leader, mentor, teacher, and so much more.
There's a remarkable intimacy to "Nonviolent," owing partly to the natural, steady vocal stylings evident throughout the book. It feels as if we're having a conversation ourselves with Lawson. Kudos to Yellin, in particular, for ensuring this powerful yet tender memoir would come forth told very much through Lawson's own lens and dialogue. There's never a moment, it seems, when Lawson isn't recognizing the inherent dignity of everyone. There's never a moment when he's not standing firmly that violence is not the answer from Martin Luther King to Rodney King and beyond.
Even in one of the book's more climactic chapters recounting the assassination of King and its aftermath, there's a naturalism here that makes the entire account seem remarkably profound. We know this story. We've heard it so many times. Yet, Lawson brings it to life in a way that is remarkably moving.
All the civil rights era familiar figures are here - King, Bayard Rustin, James Bevel, Marion Barry, Diane Nash, John Lewis, C.T. Vivian (whom I had the good fortune to be mentored by during a weekend of social justice) and many more.
A remarkable memoir from a remarkable man, "Nonviolent" is, indeed, a memoir of resistance, agitation, and love. Destined to be a book that ends up in a place of honor on my bookshelf, "Nonviolent" is ,and I'm calling it now, one of the very best memoirs of 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"Nonviolent" the posthumous memoir of Reverend James Lawson Jr. had me in tears from start to finish. Good tears. This book should be read by everyone. It allows us to become conscious and feel the heart of the warrior. Becoming a Reverend before graduating high school, the Reverend James Lawson Jr continually burned in his heart for all to see "Liberty and justice for all" Always unwavering in his faith to even refusing to serve in the military to show "NONVIOLENCE" Is the answer!!!! The Reverend James Lawson Jr was a man of inexhaustible courage. He became the mentor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, who picked up the torch and as he did, we must do also. This message: is for the world. We have to and MUST continue what he started. I can't stress this enough....READ THIS BOOK!!!!!!
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. No positive review was required. All opinions are my own.
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. No positive review was required. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
This is a truly important book - I'm so glad his story won't be lost to history. I loved reading about his story and his strong belief in nonviolence, which something I'm trying to learn more about. Despite him being a reverend, I will say that there was more Christianity than I was expecting. However, that aside, it's clear how much impact Lawson had on the world and those around him.
This is a truly important book - I'm so glad his story won't be lost to history. I loved reading about his story and his strong belief in nonviolence, which something I'm trying to learn more about. Despite him being a reverend, I will say that there was more Christianity than I was expecting. However, that aside, it's clear how much impact Lawson had on the world and those around him.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
fantastic memoir. the Reverend Lawson, an incredibly important civil rights activist, tells his story in this posthumous work, and includes his life from his youth to his death in 2024. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews