Preview
  • Roots

  • The Saga of an American Family
  • By: Alex Haley
  • Narrated by: Prentice Onayemi
  • Length: 27 hrs and 36 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (254 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Roots

By: Alex Haley
Narrated by: Prentice Onayemi
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $49.95

Buy for $49.95

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Publisher's summary

Roots is a groundbreaking story of history and family that spanned continents and touched generations. One of the most important books and television series ever to appear, Roots galvanized the nation and created an extraordinary political, racial, social, and cultural dialogue that hadn’t been seen since the publication of Uncle Tom’s Cabin. The book sold over one million copies in the first year, and the miniseries was watched by an astonishing 130 million people. It also won both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. Roots opened up the minds of Americans of all colors and faiths to one of the darkest and most painful parts of America’s past, and we continue to feel its reverberations today.

©1974 Alex Haley. Copyright renewed 2004 by Myran Haley, Cynthia Haley, Lydia Haley and William Haley (P)2023 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about Roots

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    234
  • 4 Stars
    16
  • 3 Stars
    2
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    215
  • 4 Stars
    8
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    213
  • 4 Stars
    9
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Favorite

Everyone human being across this planet should hear this book. By far my all time favorite.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I was too young in 1976-77 to watch the mini-series

but I was aware that it was likely the most important show broadcast in the decade. I was 9 or 10 when this aired and I wouldn’t have appreciated the significance. I chose to read and view the mini-series as part of an assignment in my Public History course on popular public history and I’ll write a paper. This is the best book I’ve read/listened to this year. The story will linger in the back of my mind for a very long time. It is genius.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Worthwhile.

A saga for the ages. A must read, without which no education can be complete.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing story, excellently read!

I watched the movie as a kid. Always wanted to read/listen to the book. What an amazing story with beautiful writing. The narration was superb. Sad, poignant and vivid. Moved me to tears.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A masterpiece

The book is so thrilling it’s very difficult to put it down. The narrator was simply amazing.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Stunning

Probably the best audiobook I’ve ever listened to. When I wasn’t listening, I was thinking about the characters. Haley’s essay at the end is equally powerful. Also, the reader was very good.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Blow away the cobwebs- it is a great read

The best audiobook I have ever listened to taking me on a rollacoaster of emotions and learning about mankind and greed. But all is not still not lost ; there is joy , kindness & love seen everywhere in the book which conveys the message of hope…

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Could not stop listening

Narrator does a great job with dialect and moderate voice changes for dialogue. I enjoyed this book immensely.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Absolutely incredible

Everything about this is absolutely perfect. His voice, his characters, accents, the emotion in every word is like nothing I’ve ever heard. This story is one of a kind, I don’t even know what to say. It’s heartbreaking and beautiful and infuriating and wonderful. I just finished and am speechless.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

classic!!!

better than the mini series. worth the time. it was a real treat to introduce roots to my children in thus format.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!