by Luvvie Ajayi
First published 2021
Luvvie Ajayi Jones tackles the universal enemy that stops people from living fully: fear. The bestselling author and truth-teller admits she once hesitated to call herself a writer and almost skipped the TED talk that transformed her career because of imposter syndrome. Jones argues that everyone fears rejection, being different, or leaving comfort zones behind. She draws inspiration from her Nigerian grandmother, Funmilayo Faloyin, a professional troublemaker who refused to let fear dictate her choices. Jones outlines what people must understand about themselves before taking scary action, how to speak up for important causes, and how to stop silencing their own voices. She treats truth-telling as a skill that grows stronger with practice. The goal is not eliminating fear but moving forward despite it, recognizing that meaningful actions matter more than anxious feelings. Jones combines humor with practical guidance to show readers how to live boldly when everything inside them wants to hide.
Genres: business, african-american, biography-memoir, 21st-century, personal-development, activism
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, overcoming-adversity
Setting: Nigeria
Period: 21st-century
336 pages · Paperback · Penguin Life