Reddit reviews The First Rasta: Leonard Howell and the Rise of Rastafarianism

I haven't read it, but reading about it makes me want to. Steffens is probably the definitive author on Marley. I d love to see his narrative in one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. Especially if it broadens the perspective from the usual hagiography, and puts the person in context and perspective.

I'd definitely recommend ["a brief history of seven killings" by Marlon James](
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/dec/10/brief-history-of-seven-killings-marlon-james-review) for a brutal account of the Jamaican context of the era. It's fiction.

And while we're on the topic of books, Helen Lee's "the first Rasta" is a must-read if you're interested in how Rasta comes into play

Thanks for initiating a conversation on here, OP!