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Heavy: An American Memoir
by Kiese Laymon
Introduction
Book Overview
Heavy is Kiese Laymon’s searing and vulnerable memoir about growing up Black and male in Mississippi, navigating family, weight, violence, trust, and the pursuit of love and truth. Written as a letter to his mother, the book unpacks the burdens of generational trauma, body image, addiction, and survival—while also celebrating beauty, resilience, and the radical act of telling the truth. Laymon’s storytelling is emotionally raw, lyrical, and transformative.
I wanted to write a lie. You wanted to read a lie. But we needed the truth.
Kiese Laymon
Why This Book Matters
- Offers a deeply honest exploration of trauma, body image, family, and what it means to carry emotional and physical weight.
- Challenges readers to confront the ways love, harm, and survival interconnect within Black families and communities.
- A groundbreaking memoir that expands what Black storytelling—and truth-telling—can look like.
Book Details
- Kiese Laymon
- Scribner
- 2018
- Love, Healing & Self Discovery
Face the Weight. Find the Truth.
Experience one of the most powerful memoirs of our time—raw, intimate, and unflinchingly honest. Get your copy today and step into Laymon’s unforgettable journey toward healing.
