Hello. I hope you like this shade of green.
Uneducated was named winner of the 2024 ASJA Book Award for memoir/autobiography from the American Society of Journalists and Authors.
Out now from Little, Brown.
Uneducated tells a highly personal story about the education divide and the stigma of being degreeless in a 21st-century knowledge economy. I retrace my ill-fated journey through an overcrowded public-school system; getting classified as “emotionally disturbed”; ejected in 11th grade; being trapped in low-wage service jobs throughout my 20s and 30s; landing a lucky break in journalism; and finally my years-long struggle to assimilate as a high-school dropout in the elite world of New York City media.
At its heart, this is a book about fitting in, overcoming imposter syndrome in a creative white-collar industry that often dismisses non-college-educated people as unqualified. Or worse—unequal.
“By turns hilarious and heartbreaking.”―Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Gorgeously crafted writing.” ―Booklist (starred review)
“A much-needed look at the higher-education system.” —Book Riot
“A savvy account of an interesting life path.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Beautifully written and masterfully structured.” —ASJA Awards Committee
“This and Hamnet are two of the most well-written books that I have read this year.” —Bailey @wellredphd
Read my guest essay on the education divide in the New York Times.
say hi 👋
Christopher Zara 