Scenes from My Life

A Memoir

Michael K. Williams, Jon Sternfeld

$57.95

Hardback

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English

Crown Publishing Group, Division of Random House Inc
23 August 2022

Film, TV & Radio; Autobiography: arts & entertainment; Memoirs; Ethnic minorities & multicultural studies

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • WINNER OF THE NAACP IMAGE AWARD • A “gripping, revelatory” (NPR) memoir of hard-won success, struggles with addiction, and a lifelong mission to give back—from the late iconic actor beloved for his roles in The Wire, Boardwalk Empire, and Lovecraft Country

“Williams’s cool rasp leaps off every page, his story told in the direct yet impassioned language that defined his greatest characters.”—Vulture

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The New York Times, NPR, The Root

When Michael K. Williams died on September 6, 2021, he left behind a career as one of the most electrifying actors of his generation. From his star turn as Omar Little in The Wire to Chalky White in Boardwalk Empire to Emmy-nominated roles in HBO’s The Night Of and Lovecraft Country, Williams inhabited a slew of indelible roles that he portrayed with a rawness and vulnerability that leapt off the screen. Beyond the nominations and acclaim, Williams played characters who connected, whose humanity couldn’t be denied, whose stories were too often left out of the main narrative.

At the time of his death, Williams had nearly finished a memoir that tells the story of his past while looking to the future, a book that merges his life and his life’s work. Mike, as his friends knew him, was so much more than an actor. In Scenes from My Life, he traces his life in whole, from his childhood in East Flatbush and his early years as a dancer to his battles with addiction and the bar fight that left his face with his distinguishing scar. He was a committed Brooklyn resident and activist who dedicated his life to working with social justice organizations and his community, especially in helping at-risk youth find their voice and carve out their future. Williams worked to keep the spotlight on those he fought for and with, whom he believed in with his whole heart.

Imbued with poignance and raw honesty, Scenes from My Life is the story of a performer who gave his all to everything he did—in his own voice, in his own words, as only he could.

By: Michael K. Williams, Jon Sternfeld
Imprint: Crown Publishing Group, Division of Random House Inc
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 217mm, Width: 148mm, Spine: 25mm
Weight: 408g
ISBN: 9780593240373
ISBN 10: 0593240375
Pages: 288
Publication Date: 23 August 2022
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Michael K. Williams was an Emmy-nominated actor and producer. One of his generation's most respected and acclaimed talents, Williams was best known for his roles on The Wire and Boardwalk Empire. He died in his native Brooklyn, New York, on September 6, 2021. Jon Sternfeld is a former editor, the author of Unprepared, and the co-author of Crisis Point with Senators Tom Daschle and Trent Lott, A Stone of Hope with Jim St. Germain, and A Forever Family with Rob Scheer, among other nonfiction books. He lives in New York.

Reviews for Scenes from My Life: A Memoir

Soul-baring. -The Washington Post Moving . . . [Williams's] warmth and hard-earned wisdom shine through the pages, his story ending far too soon. -The A.V. Club Engaging. . . . A bittersweet memento of a generational talent gone too soon. -Kirkus Reviews Scenes From My Life will cement Williams's legacy as a kind, thoughtful man who used his public prominence to give back to his community. -BookPage Immensely inspiring and candid . . . This bittersweet and poignant work will leave readers in awe. -Publishers Weekly (starred review)