I usually try and strive away from books like this for it makes me have a feeling of disdain and sadness at the reality of such moments. But reading Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass was much like A Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl where one is inspired by the occurrences and events of other peoples lives allowing us to appreciate the situation were in now. No one will ever know the true experiences of an American slave and it is enlightening to read about Douglass' thoughts and courage to free himself and eventually as he says become his own master. 

I think that this work is vital in understanding not only the grim realities of slavery but also understanding that contrary to popular belief slaves had their own agency and it was through enslavement practices that many of them became disillusioned by the prospect of their escape. Like Douglass mentions many times most slaves were kept in the "darkness" and their enslavers did all they could to diffuse any sense of humanity in their slaves. One example of course is when Mrs Auld still unaware and untapped by slavery's horrors tries to teach Fredrick how to read and begins to teach him the alphabet, but when Mr. Auld finds out he scolds her for trying to teach a slave (a crime at the time) how to read.

I think that its writing is very accessible as well. Having been written in 1840s it doesn't contain many hard words apart from the usual colloquial words and a writing style that is both smooth and at times poetic. 

I enjoy learning about the history on the book upon it's publication and like to ponder on all of the people that it made mad. Shortly after Douglass leaves America partly to escape slave hunters due to having revealed his identity in book and also to spread word on abolitionism over seas.