Take My Word for It
Take My Word for It
by LeVar Burton with Tracey Michae'l Lewis-Giggetts
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About the Book
The legendary actor behind Roots, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Reading Rainbow shares never-before-told stories from a life that has shaped generations in this “compassionate, vulnerable memoir” (Time).
“LeVar Burton’s reverence, respect, and complete understanding of the power of story permeates this intimate weaving of his own life’s narrative threads. The tapestry created depicts a man in full—spiritual seeker, literacy educator, artistic explorer, social justice warrior, and conscious human.” —Noah Wyle
This is my attempt to pull back the curtain. Not just on the roles I’ve played, but on the life I’ve lived. The fears. The fight. The survival. And yes, the joy. All of it.
Tracing the different eras of his life—from Kunta Kinte to Geordi La Forge to Reading Rainbow and far beyond the camera—celebrated actor LeVar Burton fearlessly opens up about growing up during the Civil Rights Movement, being raised by a remarkable mother, and discovering his calling as a storyteller. He explores how acting has served as both a source of transformation and an escape from the most difficult parts of his past, while also confronting the challenges of being a parent, husband, and householder.
As Burton honors the loved ones whose strength and resilience shaped him in this inspiring memoir, he also asks what we owe to our ancestors and to each other, reflecting on the deep necessity he’s always felt advocating for liberation and equity. Generous, deeply moving, and illustrated with personal family photos, Take My Word For It is a courageous self-portrait of an iconic artist.
About the Author
LeVar Burton played Kunta Kinte in the acclaimed mini-series Roots. He starred in both Star Trek: The Next Generation films as Lt. Commander Geordi LaForge, the role he made famous on television. Other credits include a regular role on the CBS series Christy, and he serves as host and contributing producer of the Emmy award-winning children’s program Reading Rainbow.
Tracey Michae’l Lewis-Giggetts is the author of 23 books including several collaborations with high-profile authors like Tabitha Brown. She is also the founder of HeARTspace, a healing community created to serve those who have experienced trauma of any kind through storytelling and the arts. Tracey has spoken on a number of platforms around the country on topics related to race/social justice, education, faith/spirituality, and wellness. Additionally, her freelance work has been published in print and online publications such as Oprah Daily, The Washington Post, Essence, The Guardian, The Chronicle for Higher Education, Ebony, The Root, and more.
Editorial Reviews
“There’s no longer any need to question whether we have hyperbolized the light we have all claimed is emanating from LeVar Burton, because we now have documentation of the source. This testament proves that Burton is who we think he is, but, more important, who he knows and has willed himself to be: a journeyman, rich in spirit, working and Working. A blessing!”—#1 New York Times bestselling author Jason Reynolds
“In this compassionate, vulnerable memoir, a Hollywood legend revisits iconic roles such as Kunta Kinte in 1977’s Roots; Geordi in Star Trek: The Next Generation; and as host of Reading Rainbow, which brought the beauty of books to millions of children. . . . LeVar Burton channeled a painful childhood and his acting ambition into a breakthrough career, even as he struggled with mental-health crises, the challenges of family, and a new calling as a literacy advocate. His mantra: ‘I am first and foremost a citizen of this world.’”—Time
“LeVar Burton’s voice is one of those rare ones that finds you before you find it. He’s spent his life asking us to trust the power of stories. In Take My Word for It, he finally trusts us with his own. This is the man behind Kunta, told with honesty and hard-won warmth. It reads like a long conversation with someone you’ve always wanted to know. Have a seat.”—New York Times bestselling author Nnedi Okorafor
“LeVar Burton’s Take My Word for It is both a gift and an invitation. His reverence, respect, and complete understanding of the power of story permeate this intimate weaving of his own life’s narrative threads. The tapestry created depicts a man in full—spiritual seeker, literacy educator, artistic explorer, social justice warrior, and conscious human. This beautiful book encourages us all to see our lives as aggregates of all those whose struggle and sacrifice brought us into being—and to bear with honor the responsibilities owed to all who will follow.”—Noah Wyle; actor, writer, director
“Take My Word for It is a layered, complex, and beautiful telling of the moments and the people that shaped an iconic figure in our culture. LeVar Burton is one of the most gifted storytellers of the past half century of American life. Here, at last, he has turned his formidable abilities toward what may be the most important story he has told yet—his own.”—Jelani Cobb, author of Three or More Is a Riot
“A disarmingly candid memoir of a lifelong project of personal growth.”—Kirkus Reviews
“In this deeply introspective memoir, Burton shares . . . plenty of humor (such as a very young LeVar insisting to his amused mother that his absent father was actually Peter O’Toole), touching interactions with fans, and cameo appearances from luminaries ranging from Chaka Khan to Audrey Hepburn. All in all, the fascinating, inspiring, and very satisfying memoir fans would hope for from this beloved champion of literacy.”—Booklist, starred review
“This sweet autobiography from Emmy winner Burton offers intriguing reflections on his wide-ranging screen career. . . . his 23 years on Reading Rainbow gave him the credibility to ‘champion the cause of literacy worldwide and to speak out against the scourge of book bans.’ Approachable and charming, this is a treat for the author’s fans.”—Publishers Weekly