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Compiled chronologically, the interviews here offer an evolving glimpse into Amiri Baraka himself, but also into topics ranging from race and race relations in America on to politics, American and global history, and--of course--music, poetry, and drama. Ever smart and thoughtful, Baraka's voice and style make for an enjoyable and sometimes humorous move through time, but it's the thinking and willingness to be in the process of rethinking that stand out here as much as anything. To see a powerful civil rights activist and writer evolve their thought through the course of decades is a special thing, and to learn from that learning and growth is a powerful experience for readers, whether in the midst of conversations on theater, poverty, or politics. I never doubted, coming into this work, that it would be full of learning on writing, poetry, politics, and civil rights, but there's also an undeniable power to the way in which Baraka describes situations as he sees them and offers understanding, even when confronted with less-than-understanding interviewers. To read these interviews decades later is also a bit mind-bending, it has to be admitted, as it feels like Baraka was seeing and predicting how society was working to move in this direction in America. Sadly, I doubt he'd be surprised at where we are today.
I'd absolutely recommend reading this work, and more than that, I'd recommend reading it from cover to cover. Be warned: You'll be amazed at how timely much of the material is timely.