Here for It

Or, How to Save Your Soul in America: Essays

By: R. Eric Thomas

Narrated by: R. Eric Thomas

Length: 7 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's Summary

National Best Seller

Read with Jenna Book Club Pick as Featured on Today

From the creator of Elle’s “Eric Reads the News", a heartfelt and hilarious memoir-in-essays about growing up seeing the world differently, finding unexpected hope, and experiencing every awkward, extraordinary stumble along the way.

“Pop culture-obsessed, Sedaris-level laugh-out-loud funny...[R. Eric Thomas] is one of my favorite writers.” (Lin-Manuel Miranda, Entertainment Weekly)

Named One of the 10 Best Books of the Year by Teen Vogue and One of the Best Books of the Year by O: The Oprah Magazine • NPR • Marie Claire • Men’s Health

R. Eric Thomas didn’t know he was different until the world told him so. Everywhere he went - whether it was his rich, mostly white, suburban high school, his conservative black church, or his Ivy League college in a big city - he found himself on the outside looking in.

In essays by turns hysterical and heartfelt, Thomas reexamines what it means to be an “other” through the lens of his own life experience. He explores the two worlds of his childhood: the barren urban landscape where his parents’ house was an anomalous bright spot and the Eden-like school they sent him to in white suburbia. He writes about struggling to reconcile his Christian identity with his sexuality, the exhaustion of code-switching in college, accidentally getting famous on the internet (for the wrong reason), and the surreal experience of covering the 2016 election for Elle online, and the seismic changes that came thereafter. Ultimately, Thomas seeks the answer to these ever more relevant questions: Is the future worth it? Why do we bother when everything seems to be getting worse? As the world continues to shift in unpredictable ways, Thomas finds the answers to these questions by reenvisioning what “normal” means and in the powerful alchemy that occurs when you at last place yourself at the center of your own story.

Here for It will resonate deeply and joyfully with everyone who has ever felt pushed to the margins, struggled with self-acceptance, or wished to shine more brightly in a dark world. Stay here for it- the future may surprise you.

©2020 R. Eric Thomas (P)2020 Random House Audio

Critic Reviews

"This book was a lovely gift of hope and hysterical wit that kept me warm during the apocalypse. I laughed. I cried. I wish I would have written it myself." (Jenny Lawson, New York Times best-selling author of You Are Here and Furiously Happy)

"Here for It is Thomas at his finest: funny, clever, thoughtful, and compelling. I’m glad the world will not only get to experience more of Thomas’s talent, but another much-needed story from another gay Black man in America." (Michael Arceneaux, New York Times best-selling author of I Can’t Date Jesus: Love, Sex, Family, Race, and Other Reasons I’ve Put My Faith in Beyoncé)

"A laugh-out-loud memoir that is strongly recommended for everyone." (Library Journal starred review)

Love in the Time of Coronavirus, Fabulous edition!

Drop whatever book you're in and listen to this gem. You will SQUEEEEEEEEE for joy and sweet relief. You'll giggle and weep and be blessedly distracted from your own four walls of curve-flattening. It's THAT GREAT ❤️

r. eric thomas is a national treasure

genuine and hilarious satire at its finest sent me down a mr. rogers rabbit hole soaked with glorious pop culture references and wrapped in great story telling r. eric thomas - i will read all you write

I’m 100% Here for It!

I've spent the last few days listening to R. Eric Thomas's book #HereforIt. And it is not only completely delightful, hilarious, and well written, all of which I'm here for, but I have now decided that Eric will accompany me everywhere. Like Jiminy Cricket he is now the voice of my conscience. I have full conversations with a tiny Eric angel and a tiny Eric devil now in my head, which used to be crowded with others, but now there is only one! All the other, especially evil voices- BE GONE! My Mother... OUT! That one teacher that said that one thing that one time... AWAY WITH YOU! All those people who said I wasn’t good enough... GO TO HELL! Eric is the fairy Godmother I've always needed. He is raw, vulnerable, and fierce! I don't want the book to end, but even if it does, I'll be talking to him on Monday for Pub Theology, as Eric Theologizes the News. Buy the book and read it, but if you really love yourself, as you love your neighbor, you'll purchase the audiobook. Trust me, soon he'll be your Jiminy too.

A perspective needed to be read/heard

This was an amazing, well-written and deep account containing references (mentioned and unmentioned) hidden with double meanings, parallels and contemporary references. This book is not merely about mental health and well-being or a normal auto biography but is instead an honest and entertaining perspective that is only gained through an extensive account. Usually I don’t love this kind of voice (more young-audience driven) but this was so relevant to many of generations and referenced and related to many years of life. Overall, I’m surprised I loved it so much.

Wonderful!

This was fabulous! I loved R. Eric's storytelling and humor mixed in with words of wisdom. By far, my favorite audible book of the year.

I am HERE FOR IT!!

What a wonderful journey through your life. So many similarities and differences. I can’t wait to read your next book. Of course, you will keep writing. Continue to be yourself. The internet is that much more fun with your contributions to it.

More storytelling thn reading makes an easy listen

I usually find books read by their authors frustrating but this was a rare exception. It didn't sound like reading. it sounded as if R. Eric Thomas was sitting beside me in the car just telling stories. He tells stories about high school, university, race, hair, gayness, his family, his husband, and everybody's Auntie Maxine. After listening, I feel grateful that there are parents like his out there who sacrifice to get their children the best educations, that Eric has found love and is joyously married, and that he has shared so much of his life with his readers on the internet and in this book.

A book we didn't need

Basically this was a book we didn't need. it could have been half the length and would have sufficed. I'm glad he had a story to tell, but it was just too much.

Snarky. Lots of words. Not that entertaining Barely 2 stars. I stopped

As above. I wouldn’t bother. Pet peeve of mine. To start this end have been o stop.

Such a fun listen

I really enjoyed listening to this audible. The story was funny; sometimes laugh out loud funny. It was also educational for me to hear how tough it is for many gays to find acceptance, especially when you are black. I listen when I walk in the mornings (thank you covid-19). I had a few funny stares from others as I laughed during my walks in the early morning. When I would get home, I would often take out my earbuds and stash the phone in my pocket so that I could hear more while I sorted laundry or cleaned up at home. R Eric Thomas is a great narrator.