Ahead of the 250th anniversary of the United States , we asked 25 literary luminaries to each pick one book that they believe reflects where American life is headed or speaks to the present in a meaningful way. Their answers bring together poetry, nonfiction, and fiction from across the nation's history, within and beyond its borders. Here are their responses—a reading list to match this moment. Caste by Isabel Wilkerson Selected by Oprah Winfrey The book Caste by Isabel Wilkerson explains why we’re so racially divided without focusing on the word “race.” It changes the lens through which we see the world. Caste explains the why and how about who automatically holds human value, who has to earn it, and who is denied it all together. Winfrey is the CEO of Harpo Entertainment and host of The Oprah Podcast . Buy Now: Caste on Bookshop | Amazon Black Reconstruction in America by W.E.B.…