About this item
One of NPRs Best Books of 2020 One of Times 100 Must-Read Books of 2020 From the New York Times bestselling author of I Cant Date Jesus, which Vogue called "a piece of personal and cultural storytelling that is as fun as it is illuminating," comes a wry and insightful essay collection that explores the financial and emotional cost of chasing your dreams. Ever since Oprah Winfrey told the 2007 graduating class of Howard University, "Dont be afraid," Michael Arceneaux has been scared to death. You should never do the opposite of what Oprah instructs you to do, but when you dont have her pocket change, how can you not be terrified of the consequences of pursuing your dreams? Michael has never shied away from discussing his struggles with debt, but in I Dont Want to Die Poor, he reveals the extent to which it has an impact on every facet of his life - how he dates; how he seeks medical care (or in some cases, is unable to) ; how he wrestles with the question of whether or not he should have chosen a more financially secure path; and finally, how he has dealt with his "dream" turning into an ongoing nightmare as he realizes one bad decision could unravel all that hes earned. You know, actual "economic anxiety." I Dont Want to Die Poor is an unforgettable and relatable examination about what its like leading a life that often feels out of your control. But in Michaels voice thats "as joyful as he is shrewd" (BuzzFeed) , these razor-sharp essays will still manage to make you laugh and remind you that youre not alone in this often intimidating journey.
About the Author
Michael is the New York Times bestselling author of I Can't Date Jesus: Love, Sex, Family, Race, and Other Reasons I've Put My Faith in Beyoncé. Additionally, he is a regular contributor to Esquire, Elle, Essence, NBC News' THINK, MTV News, among others. He's also written for the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Houston Chronicle, Complex, Rolling Stone, Teen Vogue, Wired, BuzzFeed, The Guardian, them. , Time Ideas, New York magazine's Vulture, Salon, The Atlantic, NPR, Comedy Central Online, and numerous additional outlets. In the past, you could find Michael in his most natural state on The Cynical Ones, a humor blog filled with commentary on politics, pop culture, and personal anecdotes. The Root once named Michael named one of the Best Black Bloggers to Know . ESSENCE magazine named him one of the top #BlackTwitter voices to follow. His work has been referenced everywhere from The Weekly Standard to Jezebel to MSNBC and even been deemed required reading for courses at Harvard University. Michael has also been featured on MSNBC, NPR, BET, VH1, CBS News, Viceland, SiriusXM Radio, in addition to various radio interviews on nationally syndicated programs. He is currently working on his second book I Don't Want To Die Poor, which chronicles his struggles with private student loans and actual economic anxiety.
