I can’t say I’ve read it cover-to-cover a dozen times, but the one book I return to more than any other is The Autobiography of Malcolm X. As of today, it is, without question, my all-time favorite book.
The Living Document
The first time I read it, I devoured it. I didn’t just read it; I engaged with it. I highlighted important facts and clever, cutting lines. I have used this book as a source of wisdom during times of confusion, much the same way many people look to the Bible for guidance. I don’t say that to sound blasphemous—certainly not on a Sunday—but it is the truth. My original copy is severely dog-eared, the corners of the covers long gone. I’ve even started snatching up extra copies just to have them on hand.
Rising from Rock Bottom
Malcolm’s story is a masterclass in hitting rock bottom and rising. Born poor in a deeply segregated 20th-century America, he lived a life of crime before discovering a form of spirituality in prison that provided the foundation for his entire transformation. He essentially learned to read in a cell. Once he started, like Frederick Douglass, he became ravenous for facts, philosophy, and ethics. He realized how starved his brain had been.
I’ve often thought, if Malcolm could get his shit together, maybe I could too. I wasn’t in a prison cell, but I was trapped by my own habits, my own anger, and the weight of being the guy who didn’t know how to say “no.”
The Power of Discipline
I look at myself as a white suburban guy. I grew up with opportunities Malcolm could never have dreamed of, yet I’ve often felt I’ve accomplished less in my 52 years than he did in his 39. That perspective is sobering. It reminds me that intellect isn’t about the degree on your wall or the school you attended; it’s about what you’re willing to open your mind to.
One line that has stuck with me for years is his observation that “in-laws, in my opinion, should be considered outlaws.” He argued that many marriages are sabotaged by outside interference. It’s a sharp, witty line, but it also reflects the man: someone who saw things clearly and wasn’t afraid to say what he saw.
What I am trying to take from him now, as I navigate my own life, is the ability to cut through the noise. Malcolm lived with a sense of urgency because he knew his time would end violently. He was right. While I hope for a different path, I want to keep that same urgency in the back of my mind. I only have so many days left. I need to stay true to my vision and be willing to speak truth to power, regardless of popularity.
I remember teaching in Hamtramck and seeing one of my students carrying a copy of the book. Seeing her devour it—knowing I had introduced her to something that sparked her own intellectual fire—was one of the most fulfilling moments of my teaching career.
I think it’s time I sit down and read the book cover-to-cover one more time. I am a different man than I was when I first picked it up, and I know that this time, the pages will speak to me in an entirely new way.
No Glitz, Just the Work
Ultimately, if there is one truth I’m taking from Malcolm’s life into my own “empire-building,” it’s this: the obsession with perception is the enemy of the work. Malcolm knew the world viewed him as a monster, an outsider, or an inferior. He didn’t waste his time trying to convince them otherwise or managing their opinions. He simply did the work. He studied, he spoke, he led, and he stayed true to his vision.
Too many of us are paralyzed by the “glitz” or the fear of what others think—things we have zero control over anyway. Malcolm taught me that the only thing you truly own is your own discipline. So, my philosophy moving forward is simple: No glitz. Just the work. Shut up, stop the distraction, and do what has to be done.
Rebuilding a life takes grit, consistency, and a lot of ‘Option C’ thinking. Having crossed the 1,000-day milestone, I’m now charting the territory beyond. The mission remains the same: No glitz. Just the work. New to the blog? Start your journey here to see the blueprint and the ‘Tricorder’ perspective behind the rebuild.
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The article “The Autobiography of Malcolm X: My Personal ‘Bible’” first appeared on Rebuilding Rob.
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