The Road Is Good

With wit, insight, and heart, Aduba constructs a captivating self-portrait that doubles as an ode to her remarkable mother. In this powerful autobiography, even readers unfamiliar with Aduba’s acting work will be spellbound.
—Starred Review, Publishers Weekly

This modest, thoughtful memoir pays less attention to [Aduba’s] successes than to her family, cultural heritage, Christian faith, and particularly her strong relationship with her mother. Reflective and infused with gratitude, the memoir is as much about the conflicts and comforts of growing up Nigerian-American as about those of becoming a working actor.
—Booklist

Poignant and well-written, this memoir not only celebrates the achievements and talents of its author but also grounds readers in the customs of Nigeria. It is a must-have for fans of Aduba or Orange Is the New Black and for those wanting to read about the African diaspora.
—Starred Review, Library Journal

“Uzo Aduba once lamented to her mom, Nonyem, that her classmates couldn’t pronounce her full Nigerian name, Uzoamaka. Nonyem wasn’t having it: “If they can learn to say Tchaikovsky, and Dostoyevsky, and Michelangelo, then they can learn to say Uzoamaka,” she told her young daughter. That memory takes on new significance in the actor’s debut memoir, the title of which is both the translation of her name and a thematic undercurrent in the book. The Emmy winner dubs herself the “family historian” and tells the story of her and Nonyem’s pasts with remarkable clarity and gratitude.”
—Bustle

“With The Road Is Good, Uzo Aduba not only celebrates her mother’s life but also offers an inspiring narrative of perseverance, cultural pride and the unbreakable bond between a mother and daughter that transcends fame and fortune.”
—The Lagos Review