Act Like You Got Some Sense

Starred review from August 30, 2021
In this debut full of genuine reflection and heartfelt humor, actor and comedian Foxx riffs on parenting (“You ain’t ready for it”) and the life experiences that gradually helped shape him as a father. Raised by his grandparents, Foxx describes his “granny” as a suffer-no-fools individual whose “toughness... was practiced on strangers so she could give family the full treatment.” The wisdom she imparted—such as “You made your bed, now you gotta sleep in it”—would later have a profound impact on Foxx as he navigated his own uncharted waters through single fatherhood. Lessons in humility (which Foxx pokes fun at self-deprecatingly), perseverance, and common sense are just a few things he’s tried to impress upon his two daughters, who are 27 and 13. Foxx writes in a jovial manner, with jokes flying constantly: “Like many fathers of daughters... a boyfriend puts me on immediate high alert. I want to be courteous and gracious, but a part of me also wants to punch him in the throat for no reason.” Yet where this book truly excels is in its honesty, offering an intimate look past Jamie Foxx the famous actor to reveal a relatable figure with “two young girls... who don’t give a shit about any of that.” Fans and parents alike will get a kick out of this. Agent: Anthony Mattero, Creative Artists.

September 1, 2021
Academy Award-winning actor Foxx recounts raising two daughters in challenging times. "Dad Rule No. 1," writes the author, is simple: "You gotta show up." His own childhood was marked by such presence. Following his parents' divorce, he was raised by a grandmother who gave him the tough-love lesson "that you can entertain yourself on your own side of the street." His daughters, brimming with self-confidence, take delight in testing him--e.g., when he asked 13-year-old Anelise to get off the phone for two minutes, to which she responded by setting a timer for precisely two minutes. "I don't mean literally," said Foxx. "Then you should say what you mean," she replied. They also take pleasure in teaching him. "All grown people do is talk about people that are different," asserts 27-year-old Corinne, arguing that her generation has no interest in making distinctions on the basis of sexuality, religion, or other dividing lines. Foxx rightly prizes the good sense and solid values he has instilled in his daughters, but he also notes that parents must push their children to explore the world and make ethical and moral decisions for themselves. "Just be careful if they go too far," he adds, "because they might need an exorcism"--or, as when one of the children ate a pot brownie by mistake, a talking-down. A major part of the work of raising daughters, Foxx concludes, is to empower them, "which means being honest with them about the challenges they will face and showing them that they have the ability to overcome them." It helps to have the financial resources that Foxx has acquired in his decades in Hollywood, but the lessons he imparts, both humorous and serious, are applicable just about everywhere. A practical, sometimes profane, always entertaining guide to the fine art of parenting.

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September 1, 2021
Oscar-winning actor Foxx takes readers on a rollicking ride through his childhood, rise to stardom, and parenting adventures that are still in progress with two daughters: Anelise in her teens and Corinne in her mid-twenties. In cheerfully meandering stories, Foxx displays his comedic timing and pacing and is always entertaining, blending the folksy yet hard-edged wisdom of his adoptive grandmother with hard-won, more worldly ""New Dad"" sensibilities he acquires while raising his children in Hollywood under very different circumstances from those of his own childhood. Anelise and Corinne, through Foxx's telling, could hardly be more different--a dynamic that will resonate with many parents--and Foxx talks about how his strategies and approaches need to flex to meet the needs of each daughter. Fans will appreciate the many mentions of Foxx's famous friends and the deep-dive into his healing from his sometimes painful early life. Foxx's parenting-advice book is the equivalent of a vitamin-packed smoothie: sweet, fun, and easy to enjoy, full of slyly concealed nourishment and goodness.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Foxx's fans will be eager to read his upbeat blend of memoir and in-the-thick-of-it guide to parenting.

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