A funny and inspiring essay about ambition, persistence, self-discovery, and the thrilling—if unpredictable—business of creativity by Issa Rae, one of Hollywood’s most innovative voices.

Even at seven years old, Issa Rae meant business, conducting herself with entrepreneurial authority on a toy phone in her bedroom. Eventually, it was a matter of convincing others that she had a lot to say and getting them to listen. From her first web series, Awkward Black Girl, to network disappointments to HBO triumphs, Issa charts her aspirational journey—self-doubts and all—of being taken seriously, finding her voice, and shaping it into a groundbreaking career.

From writer, actress, producer, and New York Times bestselling author Issa Rae comes I Should Be Smarter by Now. In these essays, she shares her journey from internet creative to a multi-hyphenate career in Hollywood. Read or listen to them in a single sitting. Either way, they’re insightful, hilarious, and unapologetically authentic.