Thomas Chatterton Williams

Thomas Chatterton Williams is a French-American author and cultural critic whose writing explores race, identity, and the politics of belonging. He is a contributing writer at The Atlantic and his work has appeared in The New York Times, Harper's, and The New Yorker. Losing My Cool is a memoir about growing up between two worlds — the hip-hop culture his father encouraged and the intellectual traditions his father also embodied. Williams writes about how his relationship with Black identity evolved as he moved from his New Jersey childhood to college and beyond, questioning the cultural scripts he'd been given. The audiobook and book versions offer listeners and readers a thoughtful, provocative memoir. Williams' work appeals to readers interested in race, identity, and American culture, and to anyone who appreciates writing that challenges comfortable assumptions about what it means to belong.