So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
Last updated: 3 October 2026
So You Want to Talk About Race is Ijeoma Oluo's guide to talking about racism honestly, with each chapter built around a question people actually ask, from privilege to what to say when your boss tells a racist joke. It is written about the United States, and it became a New York Times bestseller. On 3 October 2026 Amazon UK had the 272-page Seal Press paperback at £7.43, down from an RRP of £8.99, with 12 left and more on the way.
The Amazon links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through one, I earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
What So You Want to Talk About Race covers
Every chapter title is a question. Oluo works through affirmative action, cultural appropriation, intersectionality, microaggressions, police brutality and the school-to-prison pipeline, which is the way school discipline pushes Black children towards the criminal justice system. She also covers the model minority myth and how to explain white privilege to a friend who has it.
Oluo writes for readers of any race. The aim throughout is an honest conversation about racism with the people around you, so the chapters stay close to everyday situations rather than theory.
Who Ijeoma Oluo is
Oluo is a Seattle-based writer and speaker whose work on race has appeared in the New York Times and the Washington Post. She was named to the Time 100 Next list in 2021 and received the Harvard Humanist of the Year award. Her second book, Mediocre, looks at white male power in America. Her full biography is on the publisher's page for the book.
Why it went back on the bestseller lists
Seal Press first published the book in January 2018. After the murder of George Floyd in May 2020, it returned to the New York Times bestseller list that June. Amazon UK shoppers have given it 4.6 out of 5 from 14,208 ratings.
Key facts
- Author: Ijeoma Oluo
- Publisher: Seal Press, part of Hachette
- First published: January 2018
- This edition: paperback, 30 April 2020, 272 pages
- Other formats: hardback, Kindle and audiobook
- ISBN: 9781541647435
- Price: £7.43 on Amazon UK on 3 October 2026, RRP £8.99
Who it suits
- Readers starting out: the question-and-answer chapters make it easy to read one topic at a time.
- Book groups and workplaces: each chapter is a self-contained discussion, so it works well for a reading group.
- Anyone who wants more after it: Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall looks at which women mainstream feminism leaves out.
The limits
The book is about race in America. The police, the school system and the laws it describes are American, so UK readers will need to map the arguments onto British institutions themselves. For a British account, Reni Eddo-Lodge's Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race covers similar ground in a UK setting.
Where to buy it in the UK
Amazon UK had the paperback at £7.43 on 3 October 2026. The Kindle edition was £8.49 and the audiobook £7.49.
So You Want to Talk About Race on Amazon UK
FAQs
What is So You Want to Talk About Race about?
It explains how to talk about racism, chapter by chapter, through questions such as what privilege is and why cultural appropriation matters.
Who is Ijeoma Oluo?
A writer and speaker based in Seattle. She also wrote Mediocre and was named to the Time 100 Next list in 2021.
Is So You Want to Talk About Race relevant in the UK?
Partly. The ideas about privilege and conversation apply anywhere, but the examples and institutions are American.
How much does it cost in the UK?
Amazon UK had the paperback at £7.43 on 3 October 2026, against an RRP of £8.99.
How long is the book?
The paperback runs to 272 pages.
More from CoolCuration
- Book lovers gift guide: presents for people who already own too many books.
- Poor by Caleb Femi: poems and photographs from a south London estate, and a Forward Prize winner.
- Book of the Month: every monthly pick so far, newest first.
- Audible UK: the plans, the prices and how the free trial works.
- Gifts that give back: presents where part of the money goes to a good cause.
Prices and availability change. The affiliate links on this page earn a commission at no extra cost to you, and brands do not choose what we feature.
Image: publisher's cover
More things like this:
Please note that only published projects are visible in the portfolio grid.
Follow us: Instagram
Copyright 2026 CoolCuration | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Affiliate Disclosure | Cool Factor
-----------
We are proud supporters of a safer more private internet via encouraging people to use Brave browser and are actively taking on Spammers as part of ProjectHoneypot. This site is hosted on servers that run on 100% renewable energy in the UK thanks to GreenWebHosting.
This site contains affiliate links, including to Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase or sign up for a service via these links, at no extra cost to you. All offers and promotions are accurate at the time of publication but are subject to change or withdrawal by the businesses featured. We cannot guarantee their continued availability. Read our full affiliate disclosure.
Reviews and opinions on CoolCuration reflect the personal experience of our writers at the time of publication. They are not professional endorsements and your experience may differ. Scores use our Cool Factor rating system and are given independently of any commercial relationship.
All content on CoolCuration is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice, investment recommendations or an endorsement of any product or service. We are not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority and do not offer personalised financial guidance. You should always do your own research or consult a qualified financial advisor before making any financial decisions.