How long did it take alex Haley to write the book ROOTS?

It's impossible to give an exact number of years for how long Alex Haley worked on "Roots." He researched and wrote the book for over a decade, with several breaks in between.

Here's a breakdown of the timeline:

* 1959: Haley starts interviewing his grandmother, Cynthia, about his family's history.

* 1965: He begins extensive research, including trips to Africa and the Caribbean.

* 1967: He is forced to put the project on hold due to financial constraints.

* 1970: He renews his efforts and completes the first draft.

* 1976: The book is published.

So, while the book itself might have been written in a few years, the research and overall process spanned over 17 years.