Jessica Haider's Reviews > Toni at Random: The Iconic Writer’s Legendary Editorship

If you’ve ever wondered what Toni Morrison was cooking up behind the scenes before hitting “publish,” this book serves up the perfect literary dish. Dana A. Williams digs deep into Morrison’s journey as a senior editor at Random House, where she quietly shifted the publishing world’s path—championing voices like Angela Davis, Muhammad Ali, and Toni Cade Bambara.

What makes it shine (and occasionally stumble)? Williams is impeccably thorough—rich interviews, correspondence, behind-the-desk shenanigans included—which makes it feel like a lovingly crafted academic dossier that sometimes veers into repetition. Toni hits the same issues repeatedly while trying to get Black authors published.

So whether you're an aspiring editor, a Toni Morrison fan curious about her behind-the-scenes brilliance, or just love well-researched literary deep dives—this one’s a satisfying read.