Having admired the philosophical career and writings of George Yancy for some time, this reviewer can confidently assert that Until Our Lungs Give Out is another significant contribution to a long series of important texts on race and inclusion. Yancy's works are never easy, nor are they designed to pacify readers, even those who agree with their premises. His works are designed to open dialogues in an honest, vulnerable, and productive manner. This collected volume portrays individuals speaking honestly about their experiences, academic studies, and community involvement in a way that demonstrates how difficult conversations on topics such as the innocence of whiteness, body perceptions, and local and global racial discrimination can be meaningfully conducted. While emotion is honestly portrayed and acknowledged, the discussions are critical and philosophical. The speakers adhere to reasoned discussion and philosophical standards of argumentation. Indeed, when contextualized, each conversation represents a cogent response to the situations examined. In following philosophical rules of engagement, the book challenges readers to recognize and own their reactions to what is said and to engage in an active rather than passive reading experience…. Reading this book is both emotionally and intellectually challenging. However, it offers a way of undertaking difficult conversations that go beyond the binary entrenchment currently affecting politics, society, and education. Highly recommended. General readers through faculty; professionals.

Choice Reviews

Until Our Lungs Give Out is an important book on race and anti-Black racism that will command attention and reflection because it looks at the fundamental needs of humankind: equality, justice, and peace.University students, scholars, journalists, social activists and readers will find the book thought-provoking and an extensive research tool.

Library Thing

Award-winning Yancy presents this collection of interviews that are replete with ideas and insights about all that the pursuit of justice, equality, and peace entails. The author brings together leading intellectuals and philosophers-Noam Chomsky, Judith Butler, Cornel West, and Eric Foner, for example-to discuss the topic in raw, searing honesty. Author/scholar/activist Frank B. Wilderson III describes the impact of unrelenting oppression against Black people, and there are powerful chapters such as the one called, "To Be Black in the U.S. Is To Have a Knee Against Your Neck Every Day." The book also includes observations by somewhat lesser-known people: author Chelsea Watego; British-based political sociologist Akwugo Emejulu, and Brian Burkhart, and more. Explicitly addressed is the preposterous suggestion that everyone just "move on" from thinking about racism. This book's contributors say that the only way society can do that is if white people go through some type of kenosis about their prejudices and notions that people do not deserve the same rights. All readers stand to learn something from this compelling book.

Library Journal, Starred Review

George Yancy's new book Until Our Lungs Give Out: Conversations on Race, Justice, and the Future is not for the faint of heart. The volume, a collection of interviews with leading intellectuals, explores the historical trajectory of whiteness and anti-Blackness and their manifestation in education, healthcare, politics, and religion. The book's range is as geographically broad as it is intellectually all-encompassing, yet despite what might seem an unwieldy range of topics, there are certain structuring themes-in particular, the persistence of anti-Black racism-that give the volume a coherence of vision and purpose. Perhaps the most impressive characteristic of the text is the diversity-racial, gender, cultural, national, and religious-of its participants. The volume is not dominated by one disciplinary perspective, and as a result, the interviews/dialogues never become one-dimensional or myopic….I highly recommend Until Our Lungs Give Out for anyone who desires to obtain an informative and insightful understanding of a range of urgent issues. The careful reader will enjoy a truly rewarding intellectual experience. Moreover, open-minded white readers need not be offended or made to feel guilty by the powerful critique of American society the book mounts. Following Yancy, I believe that the courageous reader will experience an initially traumatic but ultimately invaluable kenosis.

Los Angeles Review of Books

These stimulating and wide-ranging engagements-from Noam Chomsky and Judith Butler, to Robin Kelley, Mari Matsuda, and Cornel West-remind us of the range and depth of philosophical knowledge that underscores George Yancy's work as a public intellectual as well as a scholar. This collection of conversations is a must-read for those of us seeking deeper understandings of the complex interactions of race, class, gender, and justice.

Henry Louis Gates Jr, the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor, Harvard University

Until Our Lungs Give Out is a painfully relevant and indispensable book that brings together world-renowned scholars to collectively demonstrate what it looks like to face the horrors and deep conflicts of the world head on and to speak against them despite the dangers of doing so. As one of our nation's most searingly insightful philosophers, Yancy has prophetically modeled speaking truth in love and has steadfastly refused to sugarcoat the truth no matter the personal cost to him. This collection of critical conversations underscores the hard truth that we have neither been good stewards of the earth nor have we been good neighbors toward each other. We have failed to give the abundance of care that each one of us deserves. Until Our Lungs Give Out bears witness to a cadre of renowned peacemakers (not peacekeepers) who will fight for national and global justice, humanity and peace until their lungs give out.

Kirsten Powers, CNN senior political analyst, New York Times bestselling author