Vernon Can Read!

By Vernon Jordan Jr., Annette Gordon-Reed,

Book cover of Vernon Can Read!: A Memoir

Book description

As a young college student in Atlanta, Vernon E. Jordan, Jr. had a summer job driving a white banker around town. During the man's post-luncheon siestas, Jordan passed the time reading books, a fact that astounded his boss."Vernon can read!" the man exclaimed to his relatives. Nearly fifty years later,…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked Vernon Can Read! as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Like Andrew Young, Vernon Jordan was another generous, legendary person who I treasured interviewing for Nine Days. Sadly, he passed away this year, but left us a captivating account of his life, from childhood in Georgia to being a young lawyer under Donald Hollowell facing life and death stakes to surviving an assassination attempt. Jordan was a masterful orchestrator of change who appreciated his mentors and taught us all through this book.

Want books like Vernon Can Read!?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Vernon Can Read!.

Browse books like Vernon Can Read!

Book cover of Walking with the Wind: A Memoir of the Movement
Book cover of An Easy Burden: The Civil Rights Movement and the Transformation of America
Book cover of Coretta: My Life, My Love, My Legacy

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,527

readers submitted
so far, will you?

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in civil rights, Atlanta, and lawyers?

Civil Rights 113 books
Atlanta 52 books
Lawyers 89 books