In this acclaimed memoir, Bliss Broyard, daughter of the literary critic Anatole Broyard, examines her father's choice to hide his racial identity, and the impact of this revelation on her own life. Two months before he died, renowned literary critic Anatole Broyard called his grown son and daughter to his side to impart a secret he had kept all their lives and most of his own: he was black. Born in the French Quarter in 1920, Anatole had begun to conceal his racial identity after his family moved to Brooklyn and his parents resorted to "passing" in order to get work. As he grew older and entered the ranks of the New York literary elite, he maintained the favßade. Now his daughter Bliss tries to make sense of his choices. Seeking out unknown relatives in New York, Los Angeles, and New Orleans, Bliss uncovers the 250-year history of her family in America and chronicles her own evolution from privilged WASP to a woman of mixed-race ancestry.

“Counterintuitive, practical and potentially life-changing, Akshay’s book wants to rewire the way you look at fear” (Seth Godin, author of Linchpin). Everyone experiences fear, stress, or anxiety at some point in life—but that is not a bad thing. When harnessed, these forces can be our greatest source of strength. Weaving together inspiring stories; in-depth research in neuroscience, psychology, and spirituality; practical insight; and effective strategies, Fearvana teaches the science of how to transform all your seemingly negative emotions into health, wealth, and happiness. Discover a revolutionary approach that shatters conventional wisdom, giving you the tools to leverage your fear, stress, and anxiety to accomplish anything you set your mind to. By laying out clear, proven, and actionable steps to find bliss through suffering, Fearvana will help you develop an unstoppable mind. This is the essential guide for you to overcome any barrier standing between where you are now and where you want to be.