Finding MeFinding Me
What it's about
Viola Davis grew up in a rat-infested apartment in Central Falls, Rhode Island, hungry, bullied and living with her father's violence against her mother. She tells how acting became her escape, through drama programs, Juilliard and years of struggle, to the roles that made her one of the few people to win an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony.
Why it's worth reading
It hit #1 on the New York Times list, and her reading of the audiobook won the Grammy. It's raw about poverty, trauma and racism in Hollywood, and a powerful story of claiming your own life.
You'll love it if you liked
I'm Glad My Mom Died
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Educated: A MemoirGood to know
It includes child abuse, domestic violence and sexual abuse. The audiobook, read by Davis, is especially worth it.
By the numbers
- Readers98 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller68 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #42 of the 290 memoirs and biographies we rank
- #42 of the 481 new books we rank
- #223 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story
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Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty
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Nobody's Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice
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Quick answers
Is Finding Me worth reading?
Yes. It hit #1 on the New York Times list, and her reading of the audiobook won the Grammy. It ranks #223 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 83.1 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Finding Me about?
Viola Davis grew up in a rat-infested apartment in Central Falls, Rhode Island, hungry, bullied and living with her father's violence against her mother. She tells how acting became her escape, through drama programs, Juilliard and years of struggle, to the roles that made her one of the few people to win an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony.
What should I read after Finding Me?
If you liked it, try I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou or Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover.