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The Mother of Black Hollywood: A Memoir Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Jenifer Lewis (Author, Narrator), HarperAudio (Publisher)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 4,408 ratings
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AudioFile Magazine Earphones Award Winner

The "Mega Diva" and legendary star of Black-ish looks back on her memorable journey to fame and the unforgettable life lessons she learned along the way.

Jenifer Lewis keeps it real in this provocative and touching memoir by a Midwestern girl with a dream whose journey from poverty to Hollywood will move, shock, and inspire listeners.

Told in the audacious voice her fans adore, Jenifer describes a road to fame made treacherous by dysfunction and undiagnosed mental illness, including a sex addiction. Yet, supported by loving friends and strengthened by "inner soldiers", Jenifer never stopped entertaining and creating.

We watch as Jenifer develops icon status stemming from a series of legendary screen roles as the sassy yet loveable mama or auntie. And we watch as her emotional disturbances, culminating in a breakdown while filming The Temptations movie, launch her on a continuing search for answers, love, and healing.

Written with no-holds-barred honesty, this gripping memoir is filled with insights gained through a unique life that offers a universal message: "Love yourself so that love will not be a stranger when it comes."

From her first taste of applause at five years old to landing on Broadway within 11 days of graduation and ultimately achieving success in movies, television, and global concert halls, Jenifer reveals her outrageous life story with lots of humor, a few regrets, and, most importantly, unbridled joy. Candid, warm, and wonderfully inspiring, The Mother of Black Hollywood intimately reveals the heart of a woman who lives life to the fullest.

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  1. Listening Length
    10 hours and 47 minutes
  2. Author
    Jenifer Lewis
  3. Narrator
    Jenifer Lewis
  4. Audible release date
    November 14, 2017
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    HarperAudio
  7. ASIN
    B075KM28JF
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
Next slide of product details

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Product details

Listening Length 10 hours and 47 minutes
Author Jenifer Lewis
Narrator Jenifer Lewis
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date November 14, 2017
Publisher HarperAudio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B075KM28JF
Best Sellers Rank #9,065 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#99 in Rich & Famous Biographies
#184 in Biographies of Celebrities & Entertainment Professionals
#198 in Actor & Entertainer Biographies

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4,408 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the tone honest, heartfelt, and full of spirit. They also find the humor hilarious, thought-provoking, and strong. Readers praise the writing style as excellent, brave, and transparent. They find the book enlightening and relatable. Customers also describe the author as amazing and very real. They describe the scope as open and honest about her life and struggles.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more
ToneHumorWriting styleEducational valueCandorActressAuthenticityScope
169 customers mention "Tone"169 positive0 negative

Customers find the tone of the book honest, captivating, and outrageous. They also say the memoir is an amazing journey of the author's life thus far. Readers describe the author as compassionate, brilliant, and cool.

"This is truly a heart filled read. I loved the truth and unapologetic life experiences shared...." Read more

"Writing Style is Choppy, Passionate. The Pacing is Fast.Like Jenifer Lewis’s love life, I found “lots of moving parts” to this story...." Read more

"...This book is a true inspiration!" Read more

"EXCELLENT!!!!!! Jennifer is compassionate, brilliant and cool. LOVE THE BOOK!!!!!" Read more

145 customers mention "Humor"145 positive0 negative

Customers find the humor in the book fabulous, entertaining, and thought-provoking. They also say the author makes them laugh, cry, and think with her wit and candor. Customers also appreciate the brutal honesty, and strength of character. They say the book is heartfelt, true, and amazing on her struggles.

"...Wow--for her narration, her brutal honesty, and her strength of character. This is an amazing book by a phenomenal woman...." Read more

"...She writes with honesty, lots of cussing and bald humor while laying out some of her deepest heartaches...." Read more

"Gritty, brutally honest, Raw, Funny, and sometimes reads like a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle...." Read more

"...Jenifer is a good actress and she is very funny as well as outspoken; Jenifer even discussed about her mental illness of bipolar disorder which..." Read more

121 customers mention "Writing style"116 positive5 negative

Customers find the writing style excellent, bold, truthful, and healing. They also say the book is an easy read that's both funny and touching. Readers also mention the author is down to earth and sincere. They appreciate the author's honesty and bravery in telling her story.

"...Wow--for her narration, her brutal honesty, and her strength of character. This is an amazing book by a phenomenal woman...." Read more

"...I read her book in about 3 sittings and admired her grit. This is a courageous and very funny book. You will laugh hard and also feel her sorrow...." Read more

"...onto Broadway, back-bending, nice big singing voice, vocal, no breaks in her career, and many recognizing her and she knowing everybody...something..." Read more

"...She has an honest and straight-up voice that holds no punches or cards as she describes her transition from a country girl to an actress in Hollywood..." Read more

115 customers mention "Educational value"111 positive4 negative

Customers find the book enlightening, saying it includes great pieces of advice and is therapeutic. They also say the self-examination is stellar, smart, and an important piece to the culture. Readers also say Lewis is inspiring, brave, and hilarious.

"...Thank you Jennifer Lewis for such a profound book with so many understanding lessons that many can learn where they maybe in life and what help they..." Read more

"Love me some Jennifer Lewis. This book was entertaining and educational. Glad she wrote it, and yes she is the mother of Black Hollywood!" Read more

"...I love how she outlines her process of healing, a process that was far from perfect...." Read more

"...The self examination was stellar...." Read more

105 customers mention "Candor"105 positive0 negative

Customers find the book amazingly honest, brutally honest, and transparent about her mental health. They also say it contains frank discussions about real life and relives her moments with their eyes watching.

"This is truly a heart filled read. I loved the truth and unapologetic life experiences shared...." Read more

"...Wow--for her narration, her brutal honesty, and her strength of character. This is an amazing book by a phenomenal woman...." Read more

"Gritty, brutally honest, Raw, Funny, and sometimes reads like a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle...." Read more

"...She has an honest and straight-up voice that holds no punches or cards as she describes her transition from a country girl to an actress in Hollywood..." Read more

38 customers mention "Actress"38 positive0 negative

Customers find the actress in the book amazing, talented, and a black queen.

"...This is an amazing book by a phenomenal woman...." Read more

"...I look forward to what’s coming next for this amazing and talented woman." Read more

"...Ms. Jennifer Lewis is outstanding, I love her accomplishments as an actress and thank her for telling her story." Read more

"...I hope a lot of people read this book. Jenifer Lewis is an amazing performer and an incredible human being...." Read more

38 customers mention "Authenticity"38 positive0 negative

Customers find the book very real, raw, and inspiring. They also say the author is real.

"Gritty, brutally honest, Raw, Funny, and sometimes reads like a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle...." Read more

"...between the pages is very much who we’ve believed her to be all along—raw, vulnerable, larger than life, sad, introspective, powerful And most of..." Read more

"...Ms. Lewis keeps it so real. This memoir is roadmap and receipts, tell-all and testimony...." Read more

"...The book is raw, funny and heart-renchjng. I laughed and cried and saw parallels with her relationship with her mom and my own mama drama...." Read more

19 customers mention "Scope"19 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's scope open and honest. They also love the openness and honesty of Ms. Lewis.

"...Jenifer is so open and honest. I would highly recommend the book to others...." Read more

"...It was a pleasure to read her story, and I really admire her willingness to be so open...." Read more

"...What I loved about this memoir was that Jenifer Lewis was so open, funny, and impactful...." Read more

"...Jenifer Lewis is so open and honest about her life and struggles with mental illness...." Read more

True inspiration
5 out of 5 stars
True inspiration
Where do I start. I really enjoyed this book start to finish. I enjoy the way Ms. Lewis tells the story of her life, and how she can paint a vivid picture of the things she’s gone through; whether it’s dealing with her acting failures and successes, her sexual escapades, her bipolar disorder, her new found parenthood, or how she dealt with her relationship with her mother and siblings. When I read her memoir, I felt like I knew her personally and didn’t just see her as a character on a tv screen. I like how honest and brave she was in telling her story; good and bad. This book is a true inspiration!
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Top reviews from the United States

Marcia
5.0 out of 5 stars Strength of a born Queen
Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2024
Verified Purchase
This is truly a heart filled read. I loved the truth and unapologetic life experiences shared. The relationship between you and your mum I felt it was me. I did not stop reading till the end. Thank you greatly. Continued love and strength to you born Queen.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Deeply Moving and Authentic
Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2020
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I'm so glad I purchased the audiobook instead of another format. Having Ms. Lewis narrate her own memoir was a true treat for the ears and soul. Wow--for her narration, her brutal honesty, and her strength of character. This is an amazing book by a phenomenal woman. When I finished the audiobook, Ms. Lewis concluded her memoir with a letter to her readers, I had to take a very long pause for the emotional journey Ms. Lewis had taken me on for the last week.

She is inspirational in a way that all humans are who've gone to the edge, fallen over, climbed back up and dusted themselves off tend to be. Excellent. Excellent. Excellent.

Consider this my standing ovation Ms. Jenifer Lewis.
One person found this helpful
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DELORES GREENE
5.0 out of 5 stars Jennifer: This was an awesome amazing book.
Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2024
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This book was a good read that helps you understand the dysfunctional dynamics of the family and the many secrets/skeletons that can have a mental effect of the upbringing of one’s youth that carry into their adult hood with tremendous consequences. After reading this book it challenges one to realize that they may need to seek therapy that can be serious help for their mental stability. Thank you Jennifer Lewis for such a profound book with so many understanding lessons that many can learn where they maybe in life and what help they get to be a better them/me.
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Lennie
5.0 out of 5 stars I love it
Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2024
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Great and very enjoyable book from start to finish. Keep up the good work, Miss Jenifer.
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars review
Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2024
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Love me some Jennifer Lewis. This book was entertaining and educational. Glad she wrote it, and yes she is the mother of Black Hollywood!
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Alretha Thomas
5.0 out of 5 stars The Mother of all Memoirs - A Great Read
Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2018
Verified Purchase
In Jenifer Lewis’s memoir, The Mother of Black Hollywood, she says that Black-ish has made her a household name. But for me, the name Jenifer Lewis was looming large in my household twenty-five years ago when I learned I had been nominated for a NAACP theater award for best actress along with Jenifer and three other actresses. I remember vividly wondering who she was when it was announced that she had won. Little did I know that in 1993, she already had an impressive number of theater credits and awards under her belt. Little did I know that she would go on to have an illustrious film and tv career and if I had known that after auditioning for John Singleton’s film Poetic Justice, she would look at him and say, “Little boy, just give me the f***ing part, will ya?” I would have dismissed all thoughts about nabbing that NAACP award because Jenifer is a woman who is unstoppable, who is determined to win, and her page-turning memoir speaks volumes to the aforementioned.

If you’re looking for a tell-all about Hollywood—a book revealing dirty secrets about Hollywood’s A-list stars, this is not the book for you. If you’re looking for a book that will give you an unabashed, in your face, take no prisoners, birds-eye view of the life of one of Hollywood’s most beloved actresses, get this book. Jenifer holds nothing back, as she takes us on a rollercoaster journey of her life starting in St. Louis where she was born. If you’ve ever wondered if the loud-mouthed and brassy characters, she’s known for are anything like her in real life, the answer is no—according to her, these characters are tone-downed compared to the real Jenifer Lewis.

After years of striking out at the people she loved, causing scenes, bullying others and being miserable even after achieving a great deal, she reveals that she finally acquiesced to getting therapy and it was there she found a name for what ailed her—she was bipolar. It was also in therapy that she came to realize that her promiscuity was a result of being molested by her pastor as a young girl and her need to medicate her feelings of depression. Sex had become an addiction, like alcohol, drugs, and gambling for others. And Jenifer leaves no stone unturned as she lists all of her dalliances. She even writes a poem about them.

I love how the book unfolds and moves with fire and energy, much like the actress herself. I love how she outlines her process of healing, a process that was far from perfect. I admire her for having the courage to face her demons and to not give up. In spite of losing countless friends to AIDS, she never gave up, but put her money and notoriety to work to help fight this insidious disease. Jenifer says that she hopes her book will help others who suffer from depression and I believe it will.

Now, 61, Jennifer is comfortable in her own skin and no longer needs to medicate with destructive behavior. She’s truly happy and living her best life—a life where she pays it forward, a life that truly has not been lived in vain. I look forward to what’s coming next for this amazing and talented woman.
13 people found this helpful
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GatorGirl
5.0 out of 5 stars Unvarnished truth about life from Jenifer Lewis
Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2018
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Jenifer Lewis' book takes you on a difficult and painful journey of first denying then facing addiction and depression. Always in charge of her own life, Ms Lewis tells you the unfiltered truth about her early beginnings in a small town, her constant struggle to be a Hollywood star while fighting through sex addiction and depression. She takes us through auditions, rejection, rehearsals and her reactions to Hollywood and theater highs and lows. She writes with honesty, lots of cussing and bald humor while laying out some of her deepest heartaches. I read her book in about 3 sittings and admired her grit. This is a courageous and very funny book. You will laugh hard and also feel her sorrow. She wants you to understand where she came from and who she is and if somehow you don't get her...she says outright that she really does not care! You have to say " go girl" to this phenomenal woman. She has earned her place in Hollywood for sure.
4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

veronica j.
5.0 out of 5 stars Book review
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 13, 2024
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Fantastic reading. Couldn't put it down. Belly laugh every page.
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N3
5.0 out of 5 stars Funny as...
Reviewed in Canada on April 13, 2019
Verified Purchase
Lewis is always funny on blackish. This is why I bought this book. So far, it's the same. Some real soul wrenching stories with one of a kind Lewis humour.
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Shim
5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring
Reviewed in Canada on November 7, 2018
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Loved, loved every part of this book. It was uncut and real. Would recommend it to everyone. Thank you Jenifer Lewis!
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Miss Chin
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful black super power. The alpha female.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 12, 2019
Verified Purchase
This woman is funny as hell. That's all I gotta say. If you wanna be happy and learn something from an ol dawg to teach you new tricks then please read. I love this woman.
2 people found this helpful
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thomoslt@hotmail.com
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 24, 2020
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Loved this book, it is as if Jenifer Lewis is reading it to me, her voice comes through so strongly.
One person found this helpful
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