"Brothers and Keepers" is a profound exploration of the divergent paths taken by two siblings, narrated through the contrasting lives of the author and his younger brother. While the author achieves success as an academic and writer, his brother becomes entangled in the criminal justice system, ultimately serving a life sentence for his involvement in a robbery and murder. The memoir delves into themes of family, societal expectations, racial inequality, and the bonds of brotherhood, as the author seeks to understand how two brothers raised in the same environment could end up leading such drastically different lives. Through personal reflection and poignant narrative, the book examines the complex interplay of identity, choice, and fate.

The 7133rd greatest book of all time