I Don't Want to Die Poor: Essays

From the New York Times bestselling author of I Can€t Date Jesus, which Vogue called €œa piece of personal and cultural storytelling that is as fun as it is illuminating,€ comes a wry and insightful essay collection that explores the financial and emotional cost of chasing your dreams.

Ever since Oprah Winfrey told the 2007 graduating class of Howard University, €œDon€t be afraid,€ Michael Arceneaux has been scared to death. You should never do the opposite of what Oprah instructs you to do, but when you don€t have her pocket change, how can you not be terrified of the consequences of pursuing your dreams?

Michael has never shied away from discussing his struggles with debt, but in I Don€t Want to Die Poor, he reveals the extent to which it has an impact on every facet of his life€"how he dates; how he seeks medical care (or in some cases, is unable to); how he wrestles with the question of whether or not he should have chosen a more financially secure path; and finally, how he has dealt with his €œdream€ turning into an ongoing nightmare as he realizes one bad decision could unravel all that he€s earned.

I Don€t Want to Die Poor is an unforgettable and relatable examination about what it€s like leading a life that often feels out of your control. But in Michael€s voice that€s €œas joyful as he is shrewd€ (BuzzFeed), these razor-sharp essays will still manage to make you laugh and remind you that you€re not alone in this often intimidating journey.