The Sound of Purpose

A riveting and unflinching memoir from actress Nia Long about her decades-long career in Hollywood and how she discovered her purpose along the way.

Nia Long is one of the most recognizable and beloved actresses of the past three decades, with iconic roles in Boyz n the Hood, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Love Jones, Soul Food, You People, and Michael. In her powerful literary debut, Long gives readers an intimate look into her life for the first time.

The Sound of Purpose takes us from 1970s Brooklyn surrounded by Long's large extended Trinidadian immigrant family to an isolated existence in a small town in Iowa to the surreal world of South Central LA in the 1980s to Hollywood in the 1990s, and beyond. She shares poignant details of a childhood filled with both the expansive love of her single mother who was also a talented painter, and the aching absence of Long's father, a lauded poet. As a girl Long witnessed firsthand the struggles of Black artists striving for representation and opportunity in America and it made her even more determined to succeed.

With a voice that is fierce yet funny, vulnerable yet resilient, Long shares behind-the-scenes stories featuring some of the biggest names in entertainment, including, the late Heavy D and John Singleton, Regina King, Will Smith, Larenz Tate, Colman Domingo, Whoopi Goldberg, and more. Long also looks at Hollywood through the lenses of racism, colorism, and sexism. She offers not only the glamorous moments but also the moments of doubt, growth, and strength that have defined her path toward healing.

Exploring grief and joy, heartbreaks and breakthroughs, The Sound of Purpose is not just for longtime fans but for anyone searching for their own personal transformation.