The Writers That Changed the World series (6 titles) focuses on writers who've impacted their time and place. Walker's works about gender and race certainly do that, and while this captures Walker's importance, the disjointed, occasionally repetitive format can be problematic. Part of the book's pluses and minuses is that it focuses not only on Walker's life but also on the plot and characters of The Color Purple, her award-winning novel, along with the history of the civil rights movement. This ambitious choice adds context, though a format that didn't switch back-and-forth between topics would have been cleaner. The book rightly doesn't shy away from controversy, explaining the book (and movie's) mixed reception, but more about Walker's controversial life would have added depth. The book's colorful design with many photos gives an accessible look.