I Don't Want to Die Poor: Essays

(Paperback)

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One of NPRs Best Books of 2020
One of Times 100 Must-Read Books of 2020

From the New York Times bestselling author of I Cant Date Jesus, which Vogue called a piece of personal and cultural storytelling that is as fun as it is illuminating, comes a wry and insightful essay collection that explores the financial and emotional cost of chasing your dreams.

Ever since Oprah Winfrey told the 2007 graduating class of Howard University, Dont be afraid, Michael Arceneaux has been scared to death. You should never do the opposite of what Oprah instructs you to do, but when you dont have her pocket change, how can you not be terrified of the consequences of pursuing your dreams

Michael has never shied away from discussing his struggles with debt, but in I Dont Want to Die Poor, he reveals the extent to which it has an impact on every facet of his lifehow he dates; how he seeks medical care (or in some cases, is unable to); how he wrestles with the question of whether or not he should have chosen a more financially secure path; and finally, how he has dealt with his dream turning into an ongoing nightmare as he realizes one bad decision could unravel all that hes earned. You know, actual economic anxiety.

I Dont Want to Die Poor is an unforgettable and relatable examination about what its like leading a life that often feels out of your control. But in Michaels voice thats as joyful as he is shrewd (BuzzFeed), these razor-sharp essays will still manage to make you laugh and remind you that youre not alone in this often intimidating journey.

Reviews

I Don't Want to Die Poor is somehow funnier, darker, and actually more incredibly well-written than I Can't Date Jesus. And I have no clue how Arceneaux managed to do that. This book is further proof Michael should replace Ben Carson as director of HUD. Kiese Laymon, author of Heavy: An American Memoir
In his brilliant I Don't Want to Die Poor, Michael Arceneaux is both witty and wise, always a difficult mix, in his nervy and provocative tale of his life a young, gay black man in a country that is crushing him with debt. Over and over again, he crawls out from under it reenergized with good humor and inner strength. He shares a very authentic and relatable story of how hard it is to be poor and still pursue your dreams as he fields calls from debt collectors even as he travels to prestigious speaking engagements. The essays in this book will make you laugh until you cry and cry until you laugh.Soledad OBrien, Host of Matter of Fact with Soledad OBrien
Listen to me. Michael is a genius B. Anybody that can make me cackle out loud like a drunk uncle about student loan debt (ugh) and general brokenness, a topic that was the theme of my (and a lot of yalls) youth, is a wordsmith par excellence. In other words, this n**** is smart and funny as f***! Youd be doing yourself a disservice not picking this up. The Kid Mero, co-host, Desus & Mero
Michael Arceneauxis one of the foremost humor writers of this generation, but his brilliance lies in how quietly he leads us to our own empathy forcing us to examine what it means to exist in a world that makes it increasingly difficult.On the surface, I Dont Want to Die Poor is about one mans struggle to pay off his student loans, but its also about paying off emotional debt, how expensive it is to choose your safety and well-being and peace of mind. I found myself laughing and nodding standard for Michaels work but also deeply moved by the undertones of his story.Bassey Ikpi, New York Times-bestselling author of Im Telling the Truth, but Im Lying
Since his days of blogging on The Cynical Ones, Michael Arceneaux has consistently kept me thinking and laughing with his witty musings on life and pop culture. That famous wit is on full display in I Don't Want To Die Poor, a collection of essays that is simultaneously hilarious, sharp, relatable, and enlightening. Fans of I Can't Date Jesus will be thrilled to know that Arceneaux has knocked it out of the park again, proving that people who stan for Beyonc always prosper in the end.Crissle, Host, The Read
Michael Arceneaux has succeeded in capturing a fear that many Americans are likely gripped by. The mighty dollar, or the lack of such might, can be the source of shame. And its not easy admitting that truth. But Arceneaux, writing with dazzling wit and keen wisdom, invites the reader to consider the economics at the heart of his Black queer life. In his singular voice, he riffs on sex, dating, his career, and much else in a way that will have you giggling and scratching your head at the same damn time.Darnell L. Moore, author of No Ashes in the Fire: Coming of Age Black & Free in America
Like no one else, Michael Arceneaux lets us into the money realities of what it takes to try to live the dream. He doesn't flinch from the indignities of debt, unaffordable health care, and having more bills than money to cover them, and he shows us how these personal money shames are connected to systems, policy choices, and history. And somehow, it's still really fun to read! This book will make you laugh, sigh and curse capitalism all at the same time.Anna Sale, host and creator of the podcast Death, Sex & Money
Throughout these essays, Arceneaux passionately and candidly displays his political and racial awareness alongside sharp opinions on popular culture, marijuana use, Instagram, and depression.Anyone who struggles with debt and lives in what Arceneaux calls the United States of Wage Stagnation and Economic Inequality will relate to his predicament. Kirkus Reviews
By turns angry, hilarious, and introspective, this should strike a chord with millennials.Publishers Weekly
"The thing that makesI Don't Want to Die Pooran outstanding read is Arceneaux's voice. He writes like he's telling you, his friend, a story. That makes you want to spend more time with him, listening to his stories and marveling at the way people can share so much simply because demographic factors put you in the same situations. For Arceneaux, life hasn't been easy, and his writing shows that. Luckily for readers, every painful detail he shares is balanced out by a superb critique, a masterful turn of phrase, a funny use of popular culture or a couple of sentences that cut to the bone of a social issue and expose the core of it with unbending honesty. . . . Heartbreaking, hilarious, unapologetic and smart, this collection of essays shows a talented young voice that can attack racist nonsense while discussingThe Real Housewives of Atlanta. It's also a warning to future generations and a literary hug to those who have fallen into the unforgiving claws of student loan debt."NPR

Another unflinchingly smart and wickedly funny collection of essays. . . . Arceneauxs writing is meticulously researched, gut-bustingly funny, and rich with niche cultural references ready to surprise and delight his audiences at every turn. Booklist (starred review)

"Arceneaux takes an emotional look at how debt has impacted his lifefrom dating to health to careerand exposes the toll it takes on his mental health, all while delivering his signature wit along the way." Paper

"Though their subjects vary, the essays all point to a larger question about the true cost of higher education in the United States. Like in his debutI Cant Date Jesus,Arceneauxs voice is both enraged and humorous as he tackles the anxieties of financial insecurity." TIME

"His latest essay collection brims with humor and pathos, as Arceneaux explores how a scarcity mindset combined with another looming recession permeates every aspect of his life." The A.V. Club

"Remarkably, [I Don't Want to Die Poor] captures the economic stress of our current moment with prescient precision. . . . With humility and ample (and often self-deprecating) humor, the excavation of artificeeven his ownis a theme that looms large inI Dont Want to Die Poor,whether Arceneaux is hilariously musing over the thot he could have been or more seriously reckoning with the repercussions of his choices and shortcomings."The Root

Author Bio

Michael Arceneaux is theNew York Timesbestselling author ofI Cant Date Jesus: Love, Sex, Family, Race, and Other Reasons Ive Put My Faith in Beyonc. He has written forThe New York Times,The Washington Post,Essence,Esquire,Ebony,Elle,Rolling Stone, and many other publications on and off Al Gores internet. Hes ran his mouth on MSNBC, NPR, VH1, Viceland, Comedy Central, SiriusXM, and elsewhere. His second book isI Dont Want to Die Poor. Hes working very hard to avoid such fate.