Mama's Boy

The Art of Building Bridges

By: Dustin Lance Black

Narrated by: Dustin Lance Black

Length: 14 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

'To outsiders, my mom and I should have been enemies. Our house should have been divided -North vs South, red vs blue, conservative vs progressive, or however you want to put it. Instead, my mom and I fuelled each other. Her oil lit my lamp, and eventually mine lit hers. The tools I'd learned to wield growing up in her conservative, Christian, southern, military home were the same I'd used to wage battles that had taken me from a broken-down welfare apartment where gunfire sang me to sleep, to the biggest stages in the world, and to the front row of the United States Supreme Court to fight for LGBTQ equality.'

Dustin Lance Black wrote the Oscar-winning screenplay for Milk and helped overturn California's anti-gay marriage Proposition 8, but he grew up in a conservative Mormon household outside San Antonio, Texas. His mother, Anne, was raised in rural Louisiana and contracted polio when she was two years old. She endured brutal surgeries as well as braces and crutches for life and was told that she would never have children or a family. Willfully defying expectations, she found salvation in an unlikely faith, raised three sons, and escaped the abuse and violence of two questionably devised Mormon marriages before finding love and an improbable career in the US civil service.

When Lance came out to his mother at 21, he was already studying the arts instead of going on his Mormon mission. She derided his sexuality as a sinful choice and was terrified for his future. Mama's Boy explores what it took to remain a family despite such division - a journey that stretched from the steps of the US Supreme Court to the woodsheds of East Texas. In the end, the rifts that have split a nation couldn't end this relationship that defined and inspired their remarkable lives.

Mama's Boy is their story. It's a story of the noble quest for a plane higher than politics - one of family, foundations, turmoil, tragedy, elation, and love. It is a story needed now more than ever.

©2019 Dustin Lance Black (P)2019 Penguin Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"A magnificent achievement...I cannot remember a book where I cried so often. Brave, insightful, unflinching, funny, sad, triumphant...everything. And both a warning and a hope for the times to come." (Stephen Fry)

"A beautifully written, utterly compelling account of growing up poor and gay with a thrice married, physically disabled, deeply religious Mormon mother, and the imprint this irrepressible woman made on the character of Dustin Lance Black. Their extraordinary bond left me exhilarated - it actually gave me hope for the future." (Jon Krakauer, author of Into Thin Air)

Excellent story

This is one of my favourite books ever, and the fact that it was narrated by Lance made it all the more meaningful. An extremely and beautiful story about two very different people.

Have tissues at the ready

From start to finish this is an emotional roller coaster. Hearing Dustin Lance Black's voice quiver as he narrates his story bring tears to your eyes. The love that he has for his family shines through his story. One of the best autobiographies I have 'read' in a long time. Do yourself a favour and get Mama's Boy.

Smiles and tears, Truth and self belief.

I started by reading this book as it was a gift and loved it, But I travel and love listening to Audio books, I wanted to hear how his voice changed as the topics became funny or sad and it is beautifully done, It touches your heart that pain of many kinds, can build such strong foundations that drive a person onward to fight for the rights of so many. Inspiring and touching.

You may not always see the whole road ahead, but if your brave enough, you can bring great change, by taking a single step in the right direction and believe in your heart it is the right thing to do.

I wish Lance,Tom and Robbie Ray the very best in this life. Thank you for sharing so much.

Well worth the listen!

Totally absorbing, a book of sheer determination, encouragement and motivation proving all is possible.
Full of emotion that packed a punch and pulled on heart strings, there were so many times I felt like I wanted to reach into the book and give the characters a hug.