Professional Troublemaker

everything we know is real. We need solid feet, rooted in something strong to continue to stand. Knowing ourselves is important because it provides that foundation for us. It doesn t allow anyone or anything to tell us who we are. Because when people tell us how amazing we are, that s good to absorb. But what about when someone tells us we aren t worthy? Or we don t have value? Or we don t deserve kindness and love? Or that we deserve papercuts? To know thyself is to not take all the praise to head or take all the shaming to heart.
 
To know thyself is to know your core, and for me, to know your core is to feel rooted in something outside of myself. It is to know, not only who I am but whose I am.
 
Whose We Are
 
Whose I am is not about belonging to someone or being beholden to people. It is about the community you are tied to that holds you accountable. It is about knowing you are part of a tribe that is greater than yourself. It is about feeling deeply connected to someone, and that no matter where you go, you have a base. If we re phones, knowing whose we are is our charging station.
 
I learned the importance of WHOSE you are growing up. As a Yoruba girl, I am a part of a tribe that prioritizes your people sometimes as much as it prioritizes an individual. Collectivism comes alive for us through the traditional ORÍKÌ (oh-ree-kee).
 
What s an ORIKI? It is a Yoruba word that combines two words to mean praising your head/mind. Ori is head and Ki is to greet or praise. An Oriki is a greeting that praises you through praising your kinship and speaking life to your destiny. It is your personal hype mantra, and can be spoken o

version of themselves.
Issa Rae, actor, producer, New York Times bestselling author
 
This book is a manual on HOW TO HUMAN. You could spend a lifetime and fortune finding the perfect therapist, mentor, minister, career coach, and girlfriend or you could just spend a day reading Professional Troublemaker. This book Luvvie Ajayi Jones s most helpful, bold, vulnerable, hilarious, and relevant work yet is equal parts catharsis and wake-up call, both comforting and galvanizing. I laughed and cried so hard that my family asked me to read in the other room. With her razor-sharp mind, soul on fire, and heart of gold Luvvie is the writer and artist the world needs right now. This will be my go-to gift for all the beloved troublemakers in my life.
Glennon Doyle, author of #1 New York Times bestseller Untamed and founder of Together Rising

There s nobody quite like Luvvie Ajayi Jones. She s a force and a powerhouse, the thunder and the lightning and Professional Troublemaker shows us exactly how she got that way. This is a great book about reaching deep down inside yourself, crushing your fears, unleashing your too-muchness, and giving yourself permission to shake the world. In a voice that is funny, wise, bold, and always generous, Luvvie encourages, inspires, and dares us to follow our dreams, fight against injustice, soak up the pleasures of life, and take up all the space in the room. If this book doesn t make you feel bolder and braver by the final page, then you weren t reading it right. I loved every passionate word of it.
Elizabeth Gilbert, New York Times bestselling author of Big Magic and Eat, Pray, Love

Whether you are traversing new territory, bounding back from perceived failure, or learning for the first time how to own the full power of your own voice, Luvvie s Fear Fighting Manual is the pep talk we all need. Delivered in her singular voice and signature shade, this must-read is chock-full of gems that will guide you out of your own way so you can get more out of your life a life that is more interesting than one lived in fear.
Elaine Welteroth, journalist and New York Times bestselling author of More Than Enough

If you ve seen her TED talk or read her first bestseller, you know there isn t a smarter or funnier cultural critic alive. This is the eye-opening, soul-nourishing, sidesplitting book you need to replace the anguish of 2020 with the courage to overcome your fears, master your doubts, and make good trouble in 2021.
Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and Originals, and host of the TED podcast WorkLife

As if there was ever a reason to think Luvvie Ajayi Jones was simply a powerful voice, Professional Troublemaker will remind readers that she is one of the most effective and evocative writers alive.
Kiese Laymon, New York Times bestselling author of Heavy

Some of the greatest pleasures in life come from breaking rules, questioning boundaries and troublemaking. But to make trouble well and to bring all the pieces of yourself to life, love and conflict is an art. Luvvie Ajayi Jones knows this and shows this as she guides readers to finding their own path to troublemaking with humor, charm and a whole lot of heart.
Esther Perel, psychotherapist, podcast host, and New York Times bestselling author
 
This book is a comfort and a challenge. It inspires, encourages, heartens and invigorates in equal measure. You should read it.
Jenny Lawson, New York Times bestselling author of Furiously Happy and Let s Pretend This Never Happened
 
Luvvie is authentic power personified. This book has so much depth, ancestral wisdom, and inspiration said in the most delightful way. It is ancient text, wrapped in hilarious observations, charm, and a supportive urging to become more. A blueprint for living with courage and unapologetically standing in your greatness. I legit had my jaw dropped mouth wide open in so many parts, and I felt God all in this book. There is seriously no one like Luvvie; she is 1 of 1.  
Devi Brown, chief impact officer at Chopra Global and master wellness educator
 
Tired of the status quo? This book is a MUST read. There is no better time to shake up your life, your work, or your perspective than today. Luvvie pushes you to places you have always wanted to go, but never thought you could until now. If you are a leader, urge your people to read this book. Limiting beliefs will be overcome, empowerment will be at an all-time high and the term professional troublemaker will become standard when it comes to taking people to the next level.
Mel Robbins, bestselling author of The 5 Second Rule

THIS BOOK. I m mad Luvvie wrote an even better book than her debut. LIVID in the best way. Professional Troublemaker is full of stories that made me laugh until my stomach hurt, advice that made me rearrange my priorities, and so many examples of the highs and lows of living a semi-public public creative life. Read this book to be simultaneously entertained and educated. Luvvie Ajayi Jones has a singular writing voice that comes across warm, kind, and just judge-y enough.  
Ashley C. Ford, author of Somebody s Daughter

The three things we need right now are the ability to fight through our fears, the understanding that we can make change in our lives and the world, and the invitation to laugh hard and often. Luvvie who is among the most hilarious, passionate women I know gives us all three in her forthcoming book, which is chock full of all of the things we all think, but never say. It s the daily vitamin we all need during these times.
Abby Wambach, Olympic gold medalist and FIFA World Cup champion

Podcast host Ajayi Jones (I m Judging You) explores how to fight fear in order to speak up for oneself in this witty, insightful guide. . . Readers needing the extra push to stand up will find Ajayi Jones s advice enlightening and empowering. (Mar.)
Publishers Weekly

Bold, insightful wisdom from a leading proponent of self-expression.
Kirkus

Like a self-help book minus the corniness.
PureWow

Jones fans will appreciate this bold display of her signature fearlessness, and new readers will connect with her funny personal stories and flair for language, which make reading this book feel like talking to an old friend.
BookPage