How We Fight for Our Lives

By: Saeed Jones

Narrated by: Saeed Jones

Length: 5 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's Summary

From award-winning poet Saeed Jones, How We Fight for Our Lives is a stunning coming-of-age memoir written at the crossroads of sex, race, and power.

“People don’t just happen,” writes Saeed Jones. “We sacrifice former versions of ourselves. We sacrifice the people who dared to raise us. The ‘I’ it seems doesn’t exist until we are able to say, ‘I am no longer yours.’”

Haunted and haunting, Jones’ memoir tells the story of a young, black, gay man from the South as he fights to carve out a place for himself, within his family, within his country, within his own hopes, desires, and fears. Through a series of vignettes that chart a course across the American landscape, Jones draws listeners into his boyhood and adolescence - into tumultuous relationships with his mother and grandmother, into passing flings with lovers, friends and strangers. Each piece builds into a larger examination of race and queerness, power and vulnerability, love and grief: a portrait of what we all do for one another - and to one another - as we fight to become ourselves.

Blending poetry and prose, Jones has developed a style that is equal parts sensual, beautiful, and powerful - a voice that’s by turns a river, a blues, and a nightscape set ablaze. How We Fight for Our Lives is a one-of-a-kind memoir and an audiobook that cements Saeed Jones as an essential writer for our time.

©2019 Saeed Jones (P)2019 Simon & Schuster Audio

Critic Reviews

"Listeners gain an intimate sense of Saeed Jones's life through vignettes he presents with grace, compassion, and ferocity.... Jones narrates unflinchingly through early curiosity about his sexuality, homophobia from family and community, and damaging sexual encounters. While he's skilled at creating voices for everyone in his audiobook, certain voices - taunting slurs, crazed declarations of violence - are particularly chilling. Through his dynamic narration, listeners will feel as though they are sharing intense confidences and moments of joy with a close friend." (AudioFile Magazine)

This guy can write (and read)

Very nice flow and the narration carries you along. I hope that Mr. Jones keeps fighting for his life because I'm pretty sure that he will have a lot more to say.

Readers who have a 'do I really want to be reading about this?' moment at any point in the book... should persevere. Well worth it.

1 person found this helpful

Beautiful story and narration

I loved this! It’s lyrical and wonderfully honest. I appreciate the vulnerability displayed by the author.

1 person found this helpful

Very Enjoyable

I really loved the story. The author's prospective was open and honest. I wanted the story to continue. Like, what happened with Emma!

1 person found this helpful

A Great Reality Check

I heard about this memoir from an interview on NPR with Saeed Jones. After listening to it, it really hit home. As a minority and part of the LGBTQ community, I knew exactly where the author was coming from. I highly recommend for everyone because it gives you a glimpse of how many minority groups feel in our society. Great listen!

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Visceral, stunning

I loved this book and Saeed's reading of it. Beautiful writing and structure. Highly recommend!

Incredible story!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Saeed’s journey. He was completely open and honest. It meant so much more to hear it in his voice. The last line had me calling out for my mother. Great ending!

Important story

Brave and honest. Pinpoints and tackles so much about race, religion, sexuality, and toxic masculinity. Particularly moving is the author’s navigation of his relationship with his mother as it relates to his sense of self, his family system, and society, on the whole.

I wish it was longer.

I wish it was longer, so I am looking forward to the next book. great listen.

Powerful and Haunting

I continue to consciously marvel at how we as African Americans have to blaze paths for ourselves in an alternate reality in every aspect of life that the dominant culture refuses to see but still actively participates in making it a requirement. Saeed Jones skillfully pulls back the curtain to expose the extreme heights and near devasting depths of the non-stop rollercoaster ride that African Americans endure daily while we exist above ground in our coats of non-white skin. Our ancestors--mothers, fathers, and grandparents--are why we are able to endure and fight and thrive every day.

Beautiful and Honest

A beutiful and honest memoir. I love memoirs and this one did not disappoint.