Let Love Have the Last Word - by Common (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

"An insightful memoir that uncovers unique stories about matters of the heart." --Essence

The inspiring New York Times bestseller from Common--the Grammy Award, Academy Award, and Golden Globe-winning musician, actor, and activist--explores how love and mindfulness can build communities and allow you to take better control of your life through actions and words.

Common believes that the phrase "let love have the last word" is not just a declaration; it is a statement of purpose, a daily promise. Love is the most powerful force on the planet, and ultimately the way you love determines who you are and how you experience life.

Touching on God, self-love, partners, children, family, and community, Common explores the core tenets of love to help us understand what it means to receive and, most importantly, to give love. He moves from the personal--writing about his daughter, to whom he wants to be a better father--to the universal, where he observes that our society has become fractured under issues of race and politics. He knows there's no quick remedy for all of the hurt in the world, but love--for yourself and for others--is where the healing begins.

In his first public reveal, Common also shares a deeply personal experience of childhood molestation that he is now confronting...and forgiving.

Courageous, insightful, brave, and characteristically authentic, Let Love Have the Last Word shares Common's own unique and personal stories of the people and experiences that have led to a greater understanding of love and all it has to offer. It is a powerful call to action for a new generation of open hearts and minds, one that is sure to resonate for years to come.

Review Quotes

"A powerful memoir that speaks to all audiences."-- "Queen Latifah"

"A thoughtful and beautiful book that tells us much more about Common. . . . His mother's perspective takes this to another level."--Toure "Author of Who's Afraid of Post-Blackness"

"Common is a 360-degree human being, and I don't say that about many people. He never needed to "pimp the hood" to achieve his deserved success. He is an eloquent and honorable role model and his memoir is a perfect example of his depth as a human being. In addition, reading about his childhood and upbringing in Chicago is really a trip - because we went through so many of the same experiences albeit decades apart. Chicago is still the roughest and primary "Institution of Hard Knocks," and if you can make it there, you can truly make it anywhere!"--Quincy Jones

"Raw in its honesty, profound in its insights, One Day It'll All Make Sense establishes Common as a voice that is as compelling on the page as it is on a record. This is not simply the story of an individual artist but a crucial page the history of hip hop itself."--Jelani Cobb "The Substance of Hope"