Listens on the identity, history, and future of the American South

Few people have captured the complex identity of the South like Imani Perry. Originally from Alabama, Perry went on to attend Ivy League universities and become one of the top academics in her field. In South to America, Perry argues that the South is the heart of the United States, and for the rest of the country to use the South as a scapegoat for America’s “national sins” ignores the widespread impact of systemic racism and colonialism across our entire nation. She posits that the South is the most accurate measure of what our country was like in the past, where it is now, and where America is going. Her performance brings an added layer of understanding and emotional depth, especially as she bolsters her points with personal anecdotes throughout the audiobook.

In this contemporary classic, John Berendt gives listeners a portrait of Savannah, Georgia, one of the most historic cities in the South. Part travelogue, part true crime, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil offers glimpses of the people who call Savannah home. This listen is built on a cast of fascinating Georgians—among them, a host of well-to-do women who compare their husbands’ deaths by suicide, a male sex worker who leaves behind a string of broken hearts, and a Black trans woman who gives Berendt a glimpse into her world. With his Lowcountry drawl, Jeff Woodman’s performance moves with the richness of good molasses. His voice evokes images of wrap-around front porches painted in bright colors and ancient oak trees holding Spanish moss as it wafts in the warm Southern breeze.

This spare, haunting audio dispenses with fancy sound effects and a long run time to let its incredible story—told in unvarnished detail and raw candor by the father and son who lived it—speak for itself. Mississippi native Roger Stringer was a devoted hunter and dad when an unfathomable tragedy took the life of his young son. Elder brother Zac held the gun, but did he pull the trigger? A mix of memoir, crime, and call to action, this hidden gem unites listeners in near-universal acclaim. To quote one deeply moved listener, "It is a story we all need to hear."

For listeners searching for a more academic approach to the history of the South, look no further than A New History of the American South, which is part of The Great Courses collection. In one of the most thorough lectures about the American South available, Professor Edward L. Ayers breaks down the South’s complex history into 24 bite-sized lessons. Listeners will learn about the history and economy of slavery in the South, the lead up to the Civil War, the course of the war itself, Reconstruction, and the establishment of Jim Crow laws. A New History of the American South gives listeners a foundation for understanding the complex history of the region and its impact on the entire country.

Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Rick Bragg has a renowned gift for capturing Southern culture in his writing, and the author-narrated My Southern Journey might just be Southern storytelling at its best. Bragg brings warmth and heart as he writes about everything from his love affair with a wide range of Southern foods to the regional football culture that seemingly everyone is deeply invested in. He also shares quiet moments enjoying the great outdoors, appreciating the natural world around him. Bragg’s deadpan humor is enhanced by his talent for perfect comedic timing, making these essays a joy to listen to, regardless of where you hail from.

Sarah M. Broom grew up in what her family called “the Yellow House,” a small, single-story dwelling in New Orleans East. Her mother, Ivory Mae, bought the house in 1961 and raised her 12 children there. The Yellow House stood the test of time, surviving many storms—social, political, and literal—and changes in the city. But when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, the Yellow House was destroyed. Broom discusses her family’s connection to the Yellow House, and the wider New Orleans area, describing their deep sense of love for one of the South’s greatest cities. Tender and gorgeously rendered, it’s truly no wonder that Broom’s memoir won the 2019 National Book Award for Nonfiction. Bahni Turpin performs this listen with her incredibly rich voice and brilliant sense of pacing, capturing the many voices of Broom’s family members and bringing listeners into her world.

Since the release of OxyContin in 1996, opioid addiction has ravaged the country. In Dopesick, Beth Macy chronicles the history of the opioid crisis, focusing on distressed small communities in Central Appalachia. She shares the stories of everyday people who closely followed their doctor’s directions and still found themselves addicted, adding another layer of emotional depth to these personal accounts by performing her own work. Along with capturing the complex realities of living with opioid addiction, she reports on what the region is doing to help people achieve long-term recovery. Since Dopesick’s publication in 2018, Macy released Raising Lazarus, which reported the latest updates in the on-going opioid crisis in the region, offering a glimmer of hope.

In this classic memoir, Richard Wright tells the story of his life growing up in the Jim Crow South. First published in 1948, Black Boy made huge waves in the literary scene immediately upon its release. In the years following its publication, it was met with censorship and banned by white supremacists seeking to further silence Black voices. Nevertheless, Wright’s account of his boyhood in Mississippi and his eventual migration to Chicago in search of a better life has persevered, standing the test of time and moving generations of readers and listeners. Peter Francis James is a brilliant performer, perfectly capturing Richard Wright’s narrative voice. With every observation and sharp insight as we follow Wright’s journey from boy to man, James’s narration carries appropriate weight and sincerity.

Reese Witherspoon’s grandmother, Dorothea, always said that Southern women possess unique qualities of both strength and beauty, making them like “whiskey in a teacup.” Witherspoon is one of the most famous Southern women in Hollywood, and she brings that unique perspective and an air of Southern charm to everything she does, including the performance of her own audiobook. Reese shares stories from her childhood, her favorite Southern traditions (including midnight barn parties), Dorothea's trusted recipes (including fried chicken), and the importance of remembering where she came from. Insightful, funny, and heartwarming, this listen is made for a summer evening sitting on the front porch and sipping a glass of sweet tea.

In the history of the American South, Appalachia has played a pivotal role. Professor Ronald D. Eller, whose academic background is in Appalachian studies, explores the identity of the region in this listen, one of the best books on contemporary Appalachian history. Eller explores the politics and the policies the federal government implemented in Appalachia in the name of progress. These policies changed Appalachia—and by extension, the South—forever. Neil Holmes skillfully narrates Uneven Ground, grabbing listeners’ attention from the start and holding it until the very end.

The founding director of the Southern Foodways Alliance, John T. Edge is no stranger to the world of Southern cuisine. In The Potlikker Papers, Edge takes listeners on a culinary tour of the history of the American South, investigating and detailing how food and culture intersect. This fascinating listen also delves into the intersection of food and race, and how the region’s food has played an instrumental role in the political events that have formed the region. Edge performs the audiobook, his Southern drawl a perfect pairing to his prose.

The late Randall Kenan was a true treasure of Southern literature. In this listen, Kenan writes about his childhood surrounded by farmland, raised by his extended family in North Carolina. He watches the world around him, observing common events on the farm—hog killing, seed planting, harvesting—that would stay with him for the rest of his life. When he begins to read, he falls in love with books, discovering a world beyond the South, sparking his interest in the humanities and exploring the wider world. Kenan’s essays also delve into his identity as a gay Black man making his way through the world during the AIDS crisis and into late adulthood. Jaime Lincoln Smith performs this collection with just the right pacing and tone, capturing the depth and humanity of Kenan’s essays.

Chef Mashama Bailey and aspiring restaurateur John O. Morisano joined up as business partners, starting the restaurant The Grey, located in a renovated bus terminal in Savannah, Georgia. Neither of them had previously owned, launched, and run a restaurant, and both of them had a lot to learn along the way. In this gem of a memoir, Bailey and Morisano each write different sections in their own narrative voice, and fittingly, each read their own contributions, making the audiobook feel like a conversation between the two of them. Together, they share the story of The Grey, its innovative approach to food, and its place in the culture of the New South.

There’s something truly special about an essayist who can capture the heart of a time and place. Margaret Renkl has written dozens and dozens of essays about life in the American South, and each and every one is a beautifully crafted discussion. Whether she’s writing about nature or hot-button political headlines, Renkl offers incredible insight and understanding of life in the South. Joyce Bean’s performance of Graceland, at Last is perfection, her narration a seamless extension of Renkl’s storytelling.

Zora Neale Hurston returned to her hometown of Eatonville, Florida, to record the oral histories of the people who first told her these stories growing up. Hurston collected songs, fables, and folklore, creating a lush work of Black cultural storytelling, all presented in a single volume, Mules and Men. Iconic actor Ruby Dee’s performance captures the spirit of Hurston’s work, giving voice to these stories and sharing them in a way honoring the age-old tradition of oral storytelling.

Set in the Mississippi Delta before, during, and after Hurricane Katrina, Salvage the Bones tells the story of Esch, a teenage girl living with her family in a ramshackle house. Her mother died several years before, making her the only mother figure her younger siblings know. But Esch has a secret—she might be carrying a child of her own. Acclaimed narrator January LaVoy performs the audiobook, bringing Esch to life in such a complex yet delicate way and making this one an absolute must-listen.

In this modern classic set in Greenville, South Carolina, Dorothy Allison tells the story of Ruth Anne Boatwright, better known as “Bone,” a young girl born into a rough-and-tumble family plagued by poverty. As she grows older, Bone shares observations and insights from her often difficult life, one marred by violence. When her abusive stepfather becomes increasingly vicious towards her, Bone must decide if she still believes her mother will protect her or if she needs to protect herself. Elizabeth Evans performs Bone’s story, capturing the simple beauty and raw understanding of life from a child’s perspective.

Set during World War II, Even as We Breathe is an evocative coming-of-age story. It follows 19-year-old Cowney Sequoyah, who eagerly leaves his stifling hometown of Cherokee, North Carolina, for a summer job as groundskeeper for the historic Grove Park Inn and Resort. But the inn is hosting more than the usual guests—the US government is holding dignitaries from enemy countries there. When a young Japanese girl, the daughter of one of these captives, goes missing, Cowney suddenly finds himself accused of a terrible crime. Narrator Kaipo Schwab brings to life Cowney’s worldview, and the horrors of racial profiling and injustice, while unfolding the mystery at this listen's center.

It’s 1976, and Dana, a Black woman living in California with her white husband, is abruptly transported back in time to antebellum Maryland. There, she saves a young white boy, but soon discovers he’s the son of a wealthy plantation owner. Then, just as she's about to be taken captive or killed, she suddenly arrives back in her home in California, shaken but safe. Sci-fi great Octavia E. Butler wields the genre to unfold Dana’s story with skill and insight, capturing the complexities of Dana’s position as she travels back and forth in time, place, and status. Kim Staunton performs Kindred with meticulous care, truly getting to the core of this essential classic.