Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult Summary
Overview of Small Great Things
When a Black nurse is forbidden from caring for a white baby, America's racial tensions explode into a courtroom battle. Jodi Picoult's #1 NYT bestseller - soon starring Viola Davis - sparked tears from readers who finally saw themselves represented in literature.
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Key takeaways
When a Single Moment Exposes Everything We Pretend Not to See
What happens when doing your job becomes a crime? Ruth Jefferson, a Black labor and delivery nurse with twenty years of flawless service, faces this impossible reality when a white supremacist father demands she never touch his newborn son. The hospital complies without hesitation, placing a Post-it note on the chart: "NO AFRICAN AMERICAN PERSONNEL TO CARE FOR THIS PATIENT." Days later, when that same infant stops breathing while Ruth stands alone in the nursery, she freezes-caught between her medical oath and an explicit order not to touch him. Those seconds of hesitation will destroy her life. Despite her immediate CPR and the arrival of the full medical team, baby Davis dies. The grieving parents accuse Ruth of murder. At 3 AM, police shatter her front door, drag her out in her nightgown, and tackle her teenage son to the ground while neighbors watch in silence. This isn't just a story about one nurse's nightmare-it's about the racism we've learned to ignore, the privilege we refuse to acknowledge, and the uncomfortable conversations America desperately needs to have.
Three Women, Three Worlds, One Collision
The Machinery of Hate
The Courtroom Where Truth Goes Silent
Motherhood as Mirror and Metaphor
The Invisible Knapsack We Refuse to Acknowledge
Small Things Done in Great Ways
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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