First published 2022
Hannah Gadsby opens her story in Tasmania, where being gay was still illegal when she came of age. She traces her path from early open mic nights through years of struggling with comedy that demanded she mock herself. Gadsby reveals how she built a career on self-deprecation while hiding her true experiences of trauma and discrimination. The book follows her evolution as she grapples with late diagnoses of autism and ADHD, reshaping her understanding of herself. She describes the creative process behind Nanette, the show that would make her famous while announcing her departure from traditional stand-up. Gadsby explains her decision to abandon comedy's typical structure and instead tell hard truths about misogyny and violence. The memoir captures her transformation from someone who used humor to deflect pain into an artist willing to confront audiences with uncomfortable realities. At its heart, this is about finding the courage to stop hiding behind jokes and speak directly about what matters most.
Genres: autobiography, memoir, non-fiction, biography-memoir, comedy
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, found-family, personal-transformation
Setting: Tasmania
Period: when-being-gay-was-illegal
480 pages · Paperback · Columna CAT
Content warnings: abuse, anxiety, depression, mental-illness