Charles M. Blow Non-Fiction books in order

Q: "How many books are in the Charles M. Blow Non-Fiction series?"

"There are two books in the Charles M. Blow Non-Fiction series, published between 2014 and 2021."

Q: "What is the first book in the Charles M. Blow Non-Fiction series?"

"The first book in the Charles M. Blow Non-Fiction series is Fire Shut Up in My Bones, published in 2014."

Q: "Was Fire Shut Up in My Bones adapted into any other form?"

"Yes. Composer Terence Blanchard and librettist Kasi Lemmons adapted Fire Shut Up in My Bones into an opera that premiered at the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis in 2019. In 2021, it became the first opera by a Black composer to be performed at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. The production received widespread critical praise and helped introduce Blow's story to a new audience."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	Fire Shut Up in My Bones	2014	Charles M. Blow	Buy
2	The Devil You Know: A Black Power Manifesto	2021	Charles M. Blow	Buy

Charles M. Blow’s two books cover very different ground but share his commitment to honest examination of the Black American experience. Fire Shut Up in My Bones (2014) is a personal memoir about his childhood in Gibsland, Louisiana, where he grew up in poverty, survived abuse, and struggled with questions of identity and sexuality. The title comes from the Book of Jeremiah, and the book earned wide critical praise for its candor and emotional directness.

The Devil You Know: A Black Power Manifesto (2021) shifts from the personal to the political. Blow argues that Black Americans who left the South during the Great Migration should consider returning, and that concentrating Black populations in Southern states could translate into real political power through the electoral system. The book challenges conventional thinking about where and how progress for Black Americans can be achieved.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Charles M. Blow Non-Fiction series?

There are two books in the Charles M. Blow Non-Fiction series, published between 2014 and 2021.

What is the first book in the Charles M. Blow Non-Fiction series?

The first book in the Charles M. Blow Non-Fiction series is Fire Shut Up in My Bones, published in 2014.

Was Fire Shut Up in My Bones adapted into any other form?

Yes. Composer Terence Blanchard and librettist Kasi Lemmons adapted Fire Shut Up in My Bones into an opera that premiered at the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis in 2019. In 2021, it became the first opera by a Black composer to be performed at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. The production received widespread critical praise and helped introduce Blow’s story to a new audience.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order