• The House of Hidden Meanings

  • A Memoir
  • By: RuPaul
  • Narrated by: RuPaul
  • Length: 7 hrs and 7 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (684 ratings)

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The House of Hidden Meanings  By  cover art

The House of Hidden Meanings

By: RuPaul
Narrated by: RuPaul
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Publisher's summary

Read by Ru Paul

***An Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller!***

From international drag superstar and pop culture icon RuPaul, comes his most revealing and personal work to date—a brutally honest, surprisingly poignant, and deeply intimate memoir of growing up Black, poor, and queer in a broken home to discovering the power of performance, found family, and self-acceptance. A profound introspection of his life, relationships, and identity, The House of Hidden Meanings is a self-portrait of the legendary icon on the road to global fame and changing the way the world thinks about drag.

Central to RuPaul’s success has been his chameleonic adaptability. From drag icon to powerhouse producer of one of the world’s largest television franchises, RuPaul’s ever-shifting nature has always been part of his brand as both supermodel and supermogul. Yet that adaptability has made him enigmatic to the public. In this memoir, his most intimate and detailed book yet, RuPaul makes himself truly known.

In The House of Hidden Meanings, RuPaul strips away all artifice and recounts the story of his life with breathtaking clarity and tenderness, bringing his signature wisdom and wit to his own biography. From his early years growing up as a queer Black kid in San Diego navigating complex relationships with his absent father and temperamental mother, to forging an identity in the punk and drag scenes of Atlanta and New York, to finding enduring love with his husband Georges LeBar and self-acceptance in sobriety, RuPaul excavates his own biography life-story, uncovering new truths and insights in his personal history.

Here in RuPaul’s singular and extraordinary story is a manual for living—a personal philosophy that testifies to the value of chosen family, the importance of harnessing what makes you different, and the transformational power of facing yourself fearlessly.

A profound introspection of his life, relationships, and identity, The House of Hidden Meanings is a self-portrait of the legendary icon on the road to global fame and changing the way the world thinks about drag. “I've always loved to view the world with analytical eyes, examining what lies beneath the surface. Here, the focus is on my own life—as RuPaul Andre Charles,” says RuPaul.

If we’re all born naked and the rest is drag, then this is RuPaul totally out of drag. This is RuPaul stripped bare.

©2024 RuPaul Charles (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers

What listeners say about The House of Hidden Meanings

Average customer ratings
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We are all born naked…

This was a great listen, especially if you are a Ru Paul fan wanting to get a glimpse into where they came from. Highly recommend!!!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Much more than I anticipated

Bravo! RuPaul kept me rivited to every chapter. Keep an open mind and you will gleen the heart of a highly sensitive human that overflows with kindness and is disappointed to find that everyone does not share that gift. So many nuggets of wisdom. I am so glad that I have this in my library.

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Masterpiece

Thank you Ru for taking me through all parts of your life💛 through all the struggles you’ve faced you now sit comfortably exuding your love to us all

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Looking forward to reading it again!!!

I've been a fan since 1995 and am so grateful to experience RuPaul's vulnerability and part of his back story.

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I loved his vulnerability! That really takes courage.

I have always been a RuPaul fan and have read all his books. His ability to relate to people is amazing. He has changed society for the better. And to share his amazing journey with everyone takes Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve, and Talent! 10 stars!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Beautiful

Loved it. Funny, sad, brave, tender. So grateful for such a share - thank u Ru

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🙌🙌🥰

What an honest and insight memoir. What a fascinating person. That k you for sharing your story. 👏👏👏

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RuPaul yess

I love it I just love it the way he narrates the whole thing omg and he is a sweet soul I don’t know him but I feel as if I do just wow this is an amazing book

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The love ❤️

It's Rupauls honesty, humor and love. Everything I didn't know I needed. I hope there is another memoir to come because I hope to hear about so much more.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Ru’s struggle with Love and Finding it

It isn’t a crazy story. Not as dramatic as one would think. But it was told beautifully but Ru himself. I loved the raw openness he has about his struggles with himself and love. My favorite part of the book is when he talks about finding, owning, and taking back his power. Enjoyable to listen to

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