ONE OF TIMEâS 100 BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR
ONE OF NPRâS BEST BOOKS OF 2019
ONE OF BUZZFEEDâS BEST BOOKS OF 2019
An electrifying, dazzlingly written reckoning and an essential addition to the national conversation about race and class, Survival Math takes its name from the calculations award-winning author Mitchell S. Jackson made to survive the Portland, Oregon of his youth.
This dynamic book explores gangs and guns, near-death experiences, sex work, masculinity, composite fathers, the concept of âhustle,â and the destructive power of addictionâall framed within the story of Jackson, his family, and his community. Lauded for its breathtaking pace, its tender portrayals, its stark candor, and its luminous style, Survival Math reveals on every page the searching intellect and originality of its author. The primary narrative, focused on understanding the antecedents of Jacksonâs familyâs experience, is complemented by poems composed from historical American documents as well as survivor files, which feature photographs and riveting short narratives of several of Jacksonâs male relatives. The sum of Survival Mathâs parts is a highly original whole, one that reflects on the exigenciesâover generationsâthat have shaped the lives of so many disenfranchised Americans. As essential as it is beautiful, as real as it is artful, Mitchell S. Jacksonâs nonfiction debut is a singular achievement, not to be missed.