Mama's Boy cover art

Mama's Boy

A Memoir

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Mama's Boy

By: Dustin Lance Black
Narrated by: Dustin Lance Black
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About this listen

 'To outsiders, my mom and I should have been enemies. Our house should have been divided -- North vs South, red vs blue, conservative vs progressive, or however you want to put it. Instead, my mom and I fuelled each other. Her oil lit my lamp, and eventually mine lit hers. The tools I'd learned to wield growing up in her conservative, Christian, southern, military home were the same I'd used to wage battles that had taken me from a broken-down welfare apartment where gunfire sang me to sleep, to the biggest stages in the world, and to the front row of the United States Supreme Court to fight for LGBTQ equality.'

Dustin Lance Black wrote the Oscar-winning screenplay for Milk and helped overturn California's anti-gay marriage Proposition 8, but he grew up in a conservative Mormon household outside San Antonio, Texas. His mother, Anne, was raised in rural Louisiana, and contracted polio when she was two years old. She endured brutal surgeries, as well as braces and crutches for life, and was told that she would never have children or a family. Willfully defying expectations, she found salvation in an unlikely faith, raised three sons, and escaped the abuse and violence of two questionably devised Mormon marriages before finding love and an improbable career in the U.S. civil service.

When Lance came out to his mother at twenty-one, he was already studying the arts instead of going on his Mormon mission. She derided his sexuality as a sinful choice and was terrified for his future. Mama's Boy explores what it took to remain a family despite such division-a journey that stretched from the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court to the woodsheds of East Texas. In the end, the rifts that have split a nation couldn't end this relationship that defined and inspired their remarkable lives.

Mama's Boy is their story. It's a story of the noble quest for a plane higher than politics - one of family, foundations, turmoil, tragedy, elation, and love. It is a story needed now more than ever.

A magnificent achievement... I cannot remember a book where I cried so often. Brave, insightful, unflinching, funny, sad, triumphant... everything. And both a warning and a hope for the times to come. - STEPHEN FRY

A beautifully written, utterly compelling account of growing up poor and gay with a thrice married, physically disabled, deeply religious Mormon mother, and the imprint this irrepressible woman made on the character of Dustin Lance Black. Their extraordinary bond left me exhilarated-it actually gave me hope for the future. - JON KRAKAUER, author of INTO THIN AIR

(P)2019 Penguin Random House Audio©2019 Dustin Lance Black Biographies & Memoirs Entertainment & Celebrities Motherhood Parenting & Families Relationships Celebrity Inspiring Heartfelt Thought-Provoking Mormon Marriage

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Critic reviews

A beautifully written, utterly compelling account of growing up poor and gay with a thrice married, physically disabled, deeply religious Mormon mother, and the imprint this irrepressible woman made on the character of Dustin Lance Black. Their extraordinary bond left me exhilarated - it actually gave me hope for the future
An incredibly moving book about how love really does have the power to conquer all. Beautifully written and fortifying
A beautiful, original book
This beautifully written memoir is a wonderfully optimistic story of tolerance and positive change for today's divided times
Black tells his story with love and honesty in a voice that will resonate with many readers
Bittersweet and surprising
All stars
Most relevant
Best book I’ve heard in ages- don’t miss it. A life changer. Thank you Lance xxx

Brilliant

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Listen to this in his own voice, so full of love and emotion, Incredible story

Incredible

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never cried so much and laughed at a book at the same time hearing lance black reading this was so emotional you canhere it in his voice which made even more special as far as i am concerned excellent amazing emotional performance best read of the year

amazing emotional roll a Costa tears and laughter

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a book I never expected, a story that is inspiring and touched me personally

loved loved loved it

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I thought this book was a masterpiece and it just got better and better. I didn't just cry I wailed when I listened to this book. It was so powerful, so inspiring and best of all it was a true story. I've taken away many things from this book - too many to write here but I will be buying everyone a copy for Christmas. Thank you for sharing your remarkable story with us.

Just incredible

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