"The Source of Self-Regard speaks to today's social and political moment as directly as this morning's headlines...a call to action.... Morrison tackles headfirst the weighty issues that have long troubled America's conscience...profoundly insightful.... Is it a collection worth reading? Undoubtedly.... Throughout the collection she calls on us to do what she knows, what we should all know, is possible: "To lessen suffering, to know the truth and tell it, to raise the bar of humane expectation." (NPR)

"Clearly we do not deserve Morrison, and clearly we need her badly.... In this collection of nonfiction written over the past four decades, the revered (and sometimes controversial) author reinforces her status as a piercing and visionary analyst of history, society, literature, language, and, always, race.... [T]he book explodes into pure brilliance...despite its overflowing content, the book still inspires the desire for more.... The Source of Self-Regard is the definitive statement that Morrison, who has thought as much as anyone about the ways countries, cultures, and people fail and hurt each other and themselves, still believes that we can be better." (The Boston Globe)

"Morrison turns a critical eye on race, social politics, money, feminism, culture, and the press, with the essential mandate that each of us bears the responsibility for reaching beyond our superficial identities and circumstances for a closer look at what it means to be human." (Booklist, starred review)

"Brilliantly incisive essays, speeches, and meditations considering race, power, identity, and art.... Powerful, highly compelling pieces from one of our greatest writers." (Kirkus, starred review)