Transparent

I bought this book because I wanted to know more about someone I first came to "know" as a viewer when he worked at KTVI Channel 2 in St. Louis, and later met at an event I was involved in. I already knew he was great at his job, as his reporting and anchoring always had both grit and polish, something I appreciated. But what always intrigued me is that there seemed to be more to the man than met the eye, something that made him approachable and distant at the same time. It's a mystique we in the world outside of the box we place television journalists in revel, and where we don't know them well we fill that box with all kinds of ideas, projections and possibilities that eventually turns each of the people we welcome into our living rooms into nothing more than an image; not a flesh-and-blood human being.With "Transparent", Lemon proves he is a full-on human being, lumps and all. Laying out a story that begins in youth and takes us along through adulthood via personal experiences, career progressions and internal thoughts and decisions, Lemon puts flesh on the bones of his backstory and infuses this very personal biography with sense of honesty that higlights his very human need to know what we all want to know: that we matter.There are lessons here focused on a variety of subjects, from race, to politics, to individual self-worth. And the lessons are powerful and relatable on a number of levels. Pay attention and you'll understand that Don Lemon the journalist was made possible because Don Lemon the man lived the life he lived. Spend some time learning about where he grew up, how he grew up and what he learned about truth and secrets early-on, and you'll never again look at someone like Lemon, who on the surface appears to have it all, and assume that their life, as it appears to be, was reached via a crystal stair. Like all of us, he's been loved, known uncertainty, been damaged, and grown resilient in the course of a life filled with moments of joy and a history pain.Early attention about the book focused on but one element of his journey, and an easy one, at that: his sexuality. Perhaps many will purchase the book because they're expecting a revelation that's raw and elemental, feeding into America's obsession with who is having sex with whom. If they do purchase it for that reason, they'll be disappointed. Lemon addresses the topic but doesn't linger on it, and with good reason: it's just part of his story. It's an important part, mind you, but so are the other parts throughout the book that don't have anything to do with sexuality. And that's the point: Lemon's revelations about his life are not limited to the obvious. Everything he writes about is a virtual peeling back of the layers that make him who he is, and helps the reader understand why so much of his history wouldn't be apparent if he'd decided not to be transparent about it.I appreciate the way he's gone about sharing his journey so far. I'm inspired by the drive he's always shown in pursuing his career and achieving what many told him was impossible. I'm encouraged to know that he has faced his demons and freed himself of of the burdens of social expectation by refusing to give anyone else a stick with which to hit him over the head. And I am thankful he chose to write this biography, for while it may be his story, it's also one we all--to one degree or another--share."Transparent" is just that, especially given that the person writing it is still alive and very much in the public eye. Lemon knew the risks the book requires he take, but he wrote it anyway. In interviews he's been routinely asked about those risks, in fact. But having read "Transparent", I don't see the risks being focused on what so many of us may think they will be. No, the real risk in writing the book lies in whether folks will accept its call to live in truth, whatever that truth may be, despite how people think or feel about it. Let's face it, we Americans are the great pretenders and have perfected a role-playing culture of social convention and mores that embraces virtually anything and everything but truth.I for one, am a proponent of more transparency for everyone, especially given how Lemon has thoughtfully and obviously proven what's possible when we choose truth over secrets, and life over lies.

I purchased this book to hear the voice and views of a successful African American man. I am white and grew up in Don's South around the same time he was growing up. He in Louisiana and myself in Tennessee. He, as I, grew up in a black/white world. I never laid eyes on another race till in the military at age 21 when i first saw the Filipino ladies serving food in the chow hall. But for whatever reason, i have always totally accepted and respected races other than my own. I truly feel, as a whole, that America has done an injustice to the black male and that is the reason they probably have the worst lots in American life. As Don so clearly states in his book, and exhibits in his accomplishments, this can be beaten. So hats off to him for achieving this and to countless others who, too, have risen above this. For me, the book was a journey of shared events seen through a viewpoint I would love to be connected with and chat over a few beers with. He proved to me that all of us are independent and really do think for ourselves. The "lessons" he shares with us and maybe even teaches us are invaluable. The times he clearly states that few that we put in the "black box" really belong there relieved me many times and gives me hope for mankind. I thank him for this book and for proving to me that we are all human and none of us are really the "black box'" we are put in. Good luck, Don and take care........P.S... I gave this book 4 stars only due to its brevity and large print. That is the only way it barely covers the 220 pages.

Before the hullaballoo over the revelations in this book, I hadn't really heard of Don Lemon. I guess I don't watch that much CNN, or enough to know the anchors all that well. Once the story broke, I watched a story on some network about the book and knew it would be right up my reading alley. I wasn't wrong. "Transparent" is an insightful look at the life of a black, gay man in a society that doesn't always celebrate those two traits.Transparent is the quick read memoir of Don Lemon, a product of Louisiana in the 1960s. Lemon strives to come clean about many things in his life, including his sexuality and how he was molested as a child. Interestingly, he recounts the stories with fact and reveals little emotion about the events. They are what they are. Lemon does relay emotion about the stories he's covered, and the people he's met, but little in the way of himself. His story of his visit to Africa is compelling.What intrigued me most of about the book is Lemon's assessment of living inside the little black box that he constantly has to encounter during the course of his work. Lemon describes the box much better than I, but it is both limiting and infuriating. Lemon is professional, and relates his view of the situation. Whether you agree with his view, or not, it is fascinating.I did enjoy this book. It was a fast read on a two hour airplane flight over the western US. Lemon opened up a little bit of his life and sheds light on some very real issues. Well done!

I love don lemon I read the transparent book about him coming out has black gay man I will always be proud of him for this the fire book to it was wonderful book to read I know him for 19 years on nbc and cnn

Don Lemon is superb and a great Journalist. I first saw him on his latest job as anchor on CNN. I wasalways impressed at his profsionalism. Then when I learned he had a book out I had to have it. And I waspleasantly suprised at the life he lived to get to where he is know. Its a very good book and I wouldRecommend it to anyone interested in this field for a career.

a good read

I love Don Lemon--he is so fair and objective as a journalist. I watch him every night on CNN. But this book disappointed. I wanted to know more about Don, the man--we know he is gay, but has he struggled in his relationships? How hard has it been to be gay and African American? Black men seem to be macho--has he found acceptance? I expected more from a memoir than his employment history and the struggle to get out of the black box. To give him credit, the childhood bits were done well--finding out who his dad was, and his relationship with him--as well, his ties to Baton Rouge. But the book left me unsatisfied. Lemon didn't dig deep enough. The read was too quick.