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  • Unbound

  • My Story of Liberation and the Birth of the Me Too Movement
  • Written by: Tarana Burke
  • Narrated by: Tarana Burke
  • Length: 7 hrs and 9 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (133 ratings)

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Unbound

Written by: Tarana Burke
Narrated by: Tarana Burke
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Publisher's Summary

"Tarana Burke, I just finished Unbound. Searing. Powerful. Needed!! Thank you." (Oprah)

This program is read by the author.

From the founder and activist behind one of the largest movements of the 20th and 21st centuries, the "me too" movement, Tarana Burke debuts a powerful memoir about her own journey to saying those two simple yet infinitely powerful words - me too - and how she brought empathy back to an entire generation in one of the largest cultural events in American history.

Tarana didn’t always have the courage to say "me too". As a child, she reeled from her sexual assault, believing she was responsible. Unable to confess what she thought of as her own sins for fear of shattering her family, her soul split in two. One side was the bright, intellectually curious third generation Bronxite steeped in Black literature and power, and the other was the bad, shame-ridden girl who thought of herself as a vile rule breaker, not of a victim. She tucked one away, hidden behind a wall of pain and anger, which seemed to work...until it didn’t.

Tarana fought to reunite her fractured soul, through organizing, pursuing justice, and finding community. In her debut memoir, she shares her extensive work supporting and empowering Black and Brown girls, and the devastating realization that to truly help these girls she needed to help that scared, ashamed child still in her soul. She needed to stop running and confront what had happened to her, for Heaven and Diamond and the countless other young Black women for whom she cared. They gave her the courage to embrace her power. A power which in turn she shared with the entire world. Through these young Black and Brown women, Tarana found that we can only offer empathy to others if we first offer it to ourselves.

Unbound is the story of an inimitable woman’s inner strength and perseverance, all in pursuit of bringing healing to her community and the world around her, but it is also a story of possibility, of empathy, of power, and of the leader we all have inside ourselves. In sharing her path toward healing and saying "me too", Tarana reaches out a hand to help us all on our own journeys.

A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books

“Sometimes a single story can change the world. Unbound is one of those stories. Tarana’s words are a testimony to liberation and love.” (Brené Brown)

"Burke's Unbound is worthy of being considered next to I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings as one of those rare books that will unfold and welcome parts of us we thought we'd completely hid until the earth is gone. Unbound is the one we readers and writers have been waiting for." (Kiese Laymon, author of Heavy)

"Tarana Burke is the most important voice of our generation and Unbound is an offering that will set free hearts, families, and communities. I will never stop being grateful for Tarana Burke’s wisdom and courage - and I will never stop thinking about this book." (Glennon Doyle, number one New York Times best-selling author of Untamed)

©2021 Tarana Burke (P)2021 Macmillan Audio

What the critics say

2021, Kirkus Reviews Best Books of the Year

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Powerful

I throughly enjoyed and related to this story in so many ways. Hearing of full circle healing in others makes healing possible for yourself. Thank you Tarana #Metoo

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A moving glimpse into the beginnings of the #Metoo movement

This was a beautifully told, and fiercely powerful recounting of the journey through trauma and strength, community and independence, self compassion and empathy that led Tarana to start the Me Too movement, long before it became a hashtag. I so appreciate the vulnerability and authenticity in the sharing of her experience. She never claimed to have it all figured out, but instead shared how she navigated as best she could, consistently showing up, and doing her best. And consistently striving for a better way - for herself, her community, and young black women around the country.

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I’m a mess

Hearing Tarana tell her story made me weep and cheer. I am so moved and forever grateful for this book

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Intense and hard to put down

Thank you Tarana for your vulnerability in putting your experiences and life down in words. Your book is beautiful, relatable, and above all, powerful.

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So insightful

Tarana’s words brought a new world to life for me, I couldn’t stop listening. Thank
You for sharing your story, your struggles, experiences and lessons. She sparked something in me that has been hiding for so many years.

#metoo

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Me Too

I am filled with gratitude. Tarana Burke is a beautiful writer and storyteller. This book captivated me from the first moment. Her brave vulnerability shone through as a beacon of hope for girls and women, myself included, to say “me too”.

Please keep writing.

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Brilliant, raw, heartbreaking & beautiful

Tarana has used her voice and her experiences to open the conversation about sexual violence in a way that is brave, vulnerable and raw.
As a mental health therapist, I thank you for your strength as it is through two simple words that you guide the way safely for so many others to walk the path to recovery! Me too!

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I laughed and cried and felt seen.

Thank you Ms Burke for your vulnerability and courage. This book is a gem.

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Transparent AF

As memoirs go, this is the most transparent I've ever read. Usually the writer talks about all the awful things people inflicted on them, rarely do they share with such honesty, the ways in which they fell short or outright hurt others. I devoured this book in one day, now I'll go back and listen through a second and third time. Beautifully written, excellent pacing, emotionally riveting.

I'm glad Tarana got the opportunity to tell origins of Me Too. The whole story.

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Inspiring!

I couldn’t stop listening to Tarana’s book Unbound. I had tears in my eyes and my heart aches for Tarana and all the girls who’ve fallen victim to sexual abuse. The way she turned her life around, faced her fears and is making a difference in our world is so inspiring that anyone will find this book a tool to overcoming any set backs in life.
I also loved how Tarana narrated her story, her voice keeps you hooked that you can’t put down this book. A must read for everyone!

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  • Sharna Che
  • 2021-09-14

Resilient

This is a must read! We were taken on a journey of strength and perseverance in all phases of Tarana's life. I love the author's storytelling style, I felt like I knew her, being from the Bronx, I understood all parts of what she experienced. I'm glad to see that everyone finally gets to see the positive impact that she has been doing so silently, yet spoke volumes.

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  • angie
  • 2021-09-17

Spectacular

I was spellbound by this story, and finished the audiobook in 2 days. I loved hearing Tarana’s words spoken by her. It was powerful, moving, painful, and beautiful. One of the best pieces of written work I have read. I was on the verge of tears the entire book, I found myself responding out loud to the injustices, moments of shock, and the tenderness. When she was talking to her daughter about her abuse and her daughters abuse in particular that it wasnt their fault, they did nothing wrong I felt like tarana was speaking directly to little me and I bawled like never before. The shame that gripped my childhood was worse than my actual abuse. No one blamed me (when truth came out) but no one has ever said “you did nothing wrong” and I didnt realize how much I needed to hear that. Tarana you are a magical and gift writer, and an amazing human, with a warriors spirit. Thank you for sharing the deepest darkest parts of you, so others can release theirs into the light.

4 people found this helpful

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  • CJP
  • 2021-09-20

Broken open and put back together ❤

Tarana Burke is a gift. A blessing. Listening to her read her story was the greatest gift I could have given myself today (yes, listened to it all in one day). It was like being in a "sister circle" with my dear friends in New York or Philly instead of just moving through my apartment on the other side of the world. I am inspired. I feel stirred from deep within to finally write my own story down and to recommit to living in my purpose. From Brooklyn to Brisbane, I am beyond grateful for the courage, compassion, grace, love, growth and community that it took for this book to be written. God Bless you Tarana and the Me Too Movement.

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 2022-02-26

Wow…

From my 2021 purchases, this book has left the
indelible impression. I cried my way thru this book.. I cried for a little girl who blamed herself and could not see her own beauty and power, but rose into it… I cried for all kids who suffer the same.. for loved ones who have suffered the same… and I cried for my own lost innocence.

1 person found this helpful

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  • sonya
  • 2021-11-02

Gorgeous. Honest. Unapologetically Black.

this story felt familiar like choosing to be a vessel for something larger than yourself demands this sort of journey. I am grateful for the power of truth and empathy to transform us radically.

1 person found this helpful

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  • Queenwdg
  • 2021-09-28

I am in AWE of how SPECTACULAR this book is!!!!

From the narration to exposing of how tumultuous her life was and the resilience born from that had me riveted and engaged! This book is EXACTLY who I am. Her story IS my story. I was on a roller coaster of emotions. I hurt when she hurt. The weight she lived with as a child I lived with. I was TOTALLY encased in this story. My heart felt all the pain, and I was jealous of her bravery. The ONE thing I have yet to embrace as a 48yr old woman is the BRAVERY to entirely reinvent myself FOR myself. I am so focused on creating that “space” (you’ll know what I mean by that if you read this book 😃) for my daughter. I felt the LAST 2 chapters IN MY SOUL! Thank you for this book! I needed EVERY WORD!

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  • Karen
  • 2021-09-19

Spectacular

I couldn’t stop listening. Tarana’s voice, her story, her fragility and fierceness brought me to tears and to applause. Amazing!

1 person found this helpful

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  • CR85
  • 2021-09-17

Powerful

This one of of the most powerful memoirs ever written. It gives you all kinds of “I know why caged bird sings..” vibes. This memoir should be taught in schools around the world.

1 person found this helpful

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 2023-03-08

Queen Maat!

Sending you love, peace and gratitude for your courage. Continue to shine!
The Ancestors are watching over us. Protection to you and your tribe.

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  • Luciana Daly
  • 2023-02-27

GREAT READ

OMG this was such a great emotional eye opening reading . I commend Tarana Burke for putting her story out there and for all of the young boys and girls she's helped by sharing her story !! Thank you for this