How to Lose Your Mother

A Daughter's Memoir

By: Molly Jong-Fast

Narrated by: Molly Jong-Fast

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER · A Washington Post Notable Nonfiction Book of 2025

“With propulsive humor and perspective on her annus horribilis, Jong-Fast achieves the memoir’s transformative work of alchemy, arming us all with lines so good you won’t just want to underline them, you will want to cut them out to share.” —The Washington Post

“This raw, intimate memoir is a stunning portrait of difficult relationships and how we survive them.” —People

“Molly Jong-Fast’s memoir is mesmerizing, intimate, wise, unputdownable, crazily honest, heartbreaking, funny, illuminating—beautiful and painful at the same time, just like real life.” —Anne Lamott

From the political writer and podcaster, a ferociously honest and disarmingly funny memoir about her elusive mother’s encroaching dementia and a reckoning with her complicated childhood

Molly Jong-Fast is the only child of a famous woman, writer Erica Jong, whose sensational book Fear of Flying launched her into second-wave feminist stardom. She grew up yearning for a connection with her dreamy, glamorous, just out of reach mother, who always seemed to be heading somewhere that wasn’t with Molly. When, in 2023, Erica was diagnosed with dementia just as Molly’s husband discovered he had a rare cancer, Jong-Fast was catapulted into a transformative year.

How to Lose Your Mother is a compulsively readable memoir about an intense mother–daughter relationship, a sometimes chaotic upbringing with a fame-hungry parent, and the upheavals that challenge our hard-won adulthood. A pitch-perfect balance of acceptance and rage, humor and heart, How to Lose Your Mother tells a universal story of loss alongside a singular story of a literary life. This is a memoir that will stand alongside the classics of the genre.

At times painful listening but good story

The authors voice is REALLY annoying and weird and she reads in a stilted odd way - but when you get past it this is a captivating story and very interesting.

Beautiful, Sad

A fascinating look at one terrible year in the life of Molly Jong-Fast. Sick husband, again by parents, death on the doorstep and a lifetime of pain, loneliness and personal triumph. No punches are pulled when it comes to writing about her famous writer mother Erika Jong. But she also gives herself a rough treatment. Recommended. Note- you’re either going to think Jong-Fast’s narration adds to the funny/sad story. Or you’re going to absolutely hate it. Listen to the sample first.

Reflective

A Daughters Memoir was an Excellent reflection and insight. It was meaningful and thoughtful . Thank you for sharing.

Riveted

I thoroughly enjoyed Molly’s narration. It felt as if she were speaking to the listener as a friend, with the same emotions and inflections one would use to tell a story.

Molly’s voice and cadence are unique, I enjoyed her performance.

I wonder how many of those complaining about her narration are men? I’m sick of the constant nitpicking of women’s voices.

Listen to the sample, if it’s not to your taste, read this remarkable book in its written format, but know that the issue is yours, not hers.

Authenticity!

One word: Authenticity! I love listening to & respect Molly on MSNBC - her book was mentioned on The Beat & I immediately downloaded it - she reads it (loved that) & I had no idea of her background- TOTALLY intrigued & I recommend!