Karamo: My Story of Embracing Purpose, Healing, and Hope

Karamo Brown

Simon and Schuster, Feb 18, 2020 - Biography & Autobiography - 304 pages

An insightful, inspiring, “candid and warm” (Booklist) memoir from Karamo Brown—beloved culture expert from Netflix’s Queer Eye—as he shares his story for the first time, exploring how the challenges in his own life have allowed him to forever transform the lives of those in need.

When Karamo Brown first auditioned for the casting directors of Queer Eye, he knew he wouldn’t win the role of culture expert by discussing art and theater. Instead he decided to redefine what “culture” could—and should—mean for the show. He took a risk and declared, “I am culture.”

After all, Karamo believes culture is how people feel about themselves and others, how they relate to the world around them, and how their shared labels, burdens, and experiences affect their daily lives in ways both subtle and profound. Seen through this lens, Karamo is culture: his family is Jamaican and Cuban; he was raised in the South in predominantly white neighborhoods and attended an HBCU (Historically Black College/University); he was trained as a social worker and psychotherapist; he overcame personal issues of colorism, physical and emotional abuse, alcohol and drug addiction, and public infamy; he is a proud and dedicated gay single father of two boys, one biological and one adopted.

In “this soul-soothing memoir” (O, The Oprah Magazine), Karamo reflects on his lifelong education. It comprises every adversity he has overcome, as well as the lessons he has learned along the way. It is only by exploring our difficulties and having the hard conversations—with ourselves and one another—that we are able to adjust our mind-sets, heal emotionally, and move forward to live our best lives.

“During every episode of Queer Eye, there’s at least one touching moment where Karamo Brown drops some serious wisdom about self-love and makes everybody cry. His moving memoir about overcoming adversity captures that feeling in book form” (HelloGiggles).

What people are saying

LibraryThing Review

User Review  - Beth.Clarke - LibraryThing

I only know Karamo from Queer Eye, so I was completely unaware of his Real World character. He has come a long way since his family and drug problems. This was a quick read and will appeal to his fans ...

LibraryThing Review

User Review  - untitled841 - LibraryThing

"I had a choice to make: I either had to talk about museums and art or I had to talk to the stranger and get to their emotional core." Karamo often makes everyone cry, even this viewer! This book is ...

Contents

• introduction: 1
• chapter two The Pain of Colorism: 31
• chapter three God Is Love: 53
• chapter four Overcoming the Legacy of Abuse: 75
• chapter five Coming Clean: 95
• chapter six A Dream Deferred: 133
• chapter seven Fatherhood: 171
• chapter eight Hopes for the Future: 209
• chapter nine Queer Eye: 241
• conclusion: 281

About the author

Karamo Brown, the culture expert on Netflix’s Queer Eye, is a former social worker and psychotherapist who was first introduced to audiences on MTV’s The Real World in 2004 and then continued to build their trust as a host on Dr. Drew Live, HuffPost Live, and Access Hollywood Live. He also founded 6in10, an organization that provides mental health support and education to the LGBTQ+ community. He lives in Los Angeles with his fiancé and two sons.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Karamo: My Story of Embracing Purpose, Healing, and Hope
• Author: Karamo Brown
• Edition: illustrated, reprint
• Publisher: Simon and Schuster, 2020
• ISBN: 1982111984, 9781982111984
• Length: 304 pages
• Subjects: Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs; Biography & Autobiography / Rich & Famous; Self-Help / Personal Growth / Happiness