Self-Sabotage: And Other Ways I've Spent My Time

“Jeffery takes us on a wild—sometimes shocking—and always funny romp.”—Andy Cohen

"Excellent . . . Self is a very clever writer . . . and there’s never a dull moment in his captivating, extremely well-written stories that will have readers hoping for more."—Booklist (starred review)

In the vein of works by Gary Janetti and Danny Pellegrino, an honest, funny, and heartfelt comedian memoir-in-essays about chasing your dreams, making big messes, and finding yourself along the way.

In his debut book for adults, Jeffery Self invites readers into his world, taking them through a chaotic coming of age story and the usual foibles of gay adolescence, amplified in the vast wasteland of the American South and the odd characters who peopled it, from shoddy community theater productions to underage drinking with Broadway stars, from downtown comedy rooms to adventure-filled bedrooms. Along the way, he shares his experiences of acting in TV and film, touring live comedy around the world, getting booed off gay cruise ships, a tenure in the “oldest profession,” meeting his heroes, falling in love, getting his heart broken, breaking other people’s hearts, being hated, hating himself, and on the best of days, finding stuff to like about himself, too.

This candid LGBTQ+ memoir, Self-Sabotage, is a deeply personal and intimate exploration of Self’s life, filled with humor, heartache, and a hearty dose of bipolar disorder. It asks the profound question of how you become the person you want to be when so much of yourself is a secret—and how you learn to accept yourself when it’s not. It is also, of course, side-splittingly funny.

In these unflinchingly honest and candid essays, Self explores the chaotic highs and lows of a life lived without a safety net:

• Showbiz Memoir: From disastrous community theater productions to acting opposite Hollywood legends, Jeffery shares the unglamorous reality of a life in show business—including getting booed off a gay cruise ship.
• Unflinching Honesty: With candor and razor-sharp wit, Self recounts his time in “the oldest profession,” navigating love and heartbreak, and learning to live with a bipolar diagnosis.
• Funny Essays: A collection of laugh-out-loud stories about everything from underage drinking with Broadway stars to the particular chaos of growing up gay in the American South.
• Pop Culture Obsession: Perfect for fans of Broadway, classic films, and celebrity tell-alls, this book is a love letter to the icons and moments that shape a queer identity.