This is Billy Porter's memoir from his childhood in Pittsburgh through the present.

I enjoyed this book. I knew where his early days were occurring as well as people he talks of during his high school and college years. I liked how he wrote it. It was not linear. He would be his pandemic year then go back to his early days on Broadway. Next time he'd talk about his childhood and the abuse he endured. Then he'd talk about becoming himself and staying true to himself no matter what others said. He talked of auditions and music and theater. I loved that he lives his life for him. I loved that he gives us the bad as well as the triumphs.

I hope to read another memoir 20 years from now letting us know what he's done since this book ends. ( )

Billy Porter did a PHENOMENAL job narrating this book, and honestly? I think he is the only one who could pull off his words. I bought the physical copy, and heard his voice on the page so clearly, I downloaded the audiobook, so that I could actually hear him tell his story. Worth the double-buy. Billy Porter is a legend and his story is a powerful testimony for any artist trying to find their way in an unpredictable industry, any person following a dream, and anybody simply trying to find their way despite every road block meant to stop them. I loved this so much, I plan to have a listening party with my friends, so I can enjoy this again. ( )

Just…wow. There are no words about how excellent this and Billy Porter is. Please read it, and listen to it. Get ready to be in awe. ( )

this one is really hard to rate. i really only knew of billy porter because of seeing his photo after he wore the half tux, half gown at the oscars a few years ago, so wasn't keyed in to who he is. but i did see a few of the shows he was in, around the time he was in them, and i wish i could go back to my old playbills (maybe stashed somewhere in my parents' house?) to check the cast lists.

pros: his voice. he is unapologetic in being himself. it took much from him to get to this point, and even when it held him back from working and from his passion, he didn't compromise. listening to this in his actual voice is great - he does a little singing and he very much imbues the harder parts of the narrative with emotion. his story is very much worth telling - his trauma, his work, the message he continues to share. his confidence as a black gay man is wonderful to see.

cons: that confidence, that is necessary and both a shield and a weapon for survival, can be a bit much. it's hard to say that because it's real, but also a crutch and a survival tool, and as been the reason for so much of his success (i mean really it's his talent but his confidence helped break barriers that his talent couldn't). it's this weird thing that feels like he goes between really believing and being over the top to remind himself that he's good enough. maybe that's actually what's happening and we're witness to his survival technique in real time. that wouldn't be a con at all. it was just a little awkward in the reading, i guess, but maybe just as necessary for the book as for him. i wish, too, that he said more about his husband and that relationship. he talked a bit about the isolation of the lockdown when covid came as being necessary for them to repair, but that's really all he said, giving no context to it. sure, it's not our business, but it felt like something he mentioned a few times, but never with any depth, and if it's going to be mentioned that often, i wanted more details so it would make sense to be talking about it. ( )

Let me stipulate in advance, I'm one of the oldest boomers, born the first week of the Baby Boom. Yes that comes with lots of downsides but in my case that means I've actually seen Ethel Merman live on Broadway playing Annie Oakley, Jerry Orbach (you may know him as Lenny Briscoe) play El Gallo and be the first to sing "Try to Remember" in The Fantasticks at Greenwich Village's Sullivan Street Playhouse, Mary Martin as Nellie Forbush in South Pacific and as Peter Pan, and loved Anthony Minghella's Madama Butterfly SRO at the MET. But I left NYC fifty years ago. Fortunately the touring company of Hamilton made it to Michigan before the pandemic and streaming services carry tons of things. I also knew that Kinky Boots: The Musical was a Tony winning success but all I knew was Harvey Fierstein and Cyndi Lauper. Billy Porter flew totally under my radar.

Then I got Unprotected: A Memoir as a birthday present from my daughter whose gifts always, thankfully, push me out of my comfort zone. That's when I learned he's an extremely talented, gifted, Black, homosexual, activist with a gospel background. What makes him stand out are two things. First and foremost is he will have it his way and no other, unless he can see the truth in what you want. Second he pulled himself up out of poverty in Pittsburgh eventually attending Carnegie-Mellon's prestigious drama program. It was far from a straight shot to the top. Lots of things were going against him. Even Spike Lee complained that Billy didn't speak like a Black. Tons of rejections and lots of people saying he was too over the top for what they wanted in their production. He got a reputation as being difficult. So he morphed somewhat mastering not only signing and dancing but writing, and directing. Utility outfielder he was not. If he was going to play the position he would do it his way.

Unprotected was not the first artist's life story my daughter had sent me. The previous one was The Music of Carly Simon, focusing on the lyrics of her songs. Night and day is the best way to describe the two. Carly Simon had it made from day one. A rich, Jewish girl who grew up in a family whose friends included George Gershwin. Instead of needing to overcome obstacle after obstacle she was gliding above it all. The contrast could not have been more stark. It took Billy Porter thirty years to accomplish what Carly Simon had almost on day one. I'm glad he persisted.

It was time for to go to Spotify and fill in the pieces. I listened to his albums and then Kinky Boots. Now I know who Billy Porter is. Glad I filled in that gap. I was missing something spectacular. ( )