Universally acclaimed, rapturously reviewed, winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award for autobiography, and an instant New York Times bestseller, Chanel Miller’s breathtaking memoir “gives readers the privilege of knowing her not just as Emily Doe, but as Chanel Miller the writer, the artist, the survivor, the fighter.” (The Wrap).“I opened Know My Name with the intention to bear witness … with the intention to bear witness to the story of a survivor. Instead, I found myself falling into the hands of one of the great writers and thinkers of our time. Chanel Miller is a philosopher, a cultural critic, a deep observer, a writer’s writer, a true artist. I could not put this phenomenal book down.” –Glennon Doyle, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Love Warrior and Untamed
”Know My Name is a gut-punch, and in the end, somehow, also blessedly hopeful.” —Washington Post
She was known to the world as Emily Doe when she stunned millions with a letter. Brock Turner had been sentenced to just six months in county jail after he was found sexually assaulting her on Stanford’s campus. Her victim impact statement was posted on BuzzFeed, where it instantly went viral–viewed by eleven million people within four days, it was translated globally and read on the floor of Congress; it inspired changes in California law and the recall of the judge in the case. Thousands wrote to say that she had given them the courage to share their own experiences of assault for the first time.
Now she reclaims her identity to tell her story of trauma, transcendence, and the power of words. It was the perfect case, in many ways–there were eyewitnesses, Turner ran away, physical evidence was immediately secured. But her struggles with isolation and shame during the aftermath and the trial reveal the oppression victims face in even the best-case scenarios. Her story illuminates a culture biased to protect perpetrators, indicts a criminal justice system designed to fail the most vulnerable, and, ultimately, shines with the courage required to move through suffering and live a full and beautiful life.
Know My Name will forever transform the way we think about sexual assault, challenging our beliefs about what is acceptable and speaking truth to the tumultuous reality of healing. It also introduces readers to an extraordinary writer, one whose words have already changed our world. Entwining pain, resilience, and humor, this memoir will stand as a modern classic.
Chosen as a BEST BOOK OF 2019 by The New York Times Book Review, The Washington Post, TIME, Elle, Glamour, Parade, Chicago Tribune, Baltimore Sun, BookRiot
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Way too long, I found it redundant and boring at times. Loved the message but not the carrier.
I learned a lot about the trauma of rape, rape culture, and the how the legal system oppresses victims. I appreciated that author was very real, authentic and vulnerable. This is a hard book to read but very worthwhile.
There are still questions in my mind, after reading the book, as to why “Emily” would attend parties and knowingly drink until she blacked out, but the very loud and clear message that I hope comes through this book is that rape by any other name is rape. I believe her parents, sister and boyfriend are to be admired for their resilience and steadfast love.
Sometimes a little wordy, but a great read anyway!
I’d followed the rape case with Brock Turner from the initial news reports, wondering all along about the woman he raped by a dumpster. I hadn’t realized that she’d come forward and publicly shared her identity, much less that she’d written a book about the experience. I confess, I was dubious. But I took a look at the sample then clicked that BUY button. The writing is phenomenally good and the story told with humor and potent insight. Possibly the best book I’ve ever read by a victim of sexual assault. Absolutely read this one. It’s so worth it.
This book opened my eyes. Learning about the experience of sexual assault through the eyes of the victim – starting with the days and hours leading up to an assault, the actual assault, the response of first responders immediately after, the fear of telling family and friends, the trial and subsequent appeals, and of course, the emotional upheaval that the victim and her family face – was truly an emotional education.
“We may spend half our time wandering around,
wondering what we are even doing here,
why it’s worth the effort,
but living is an incredible thing,
just to have been here,
to have felt,
if only briefly,
the volume and depth of others’ empathy.
I wrote, most of all, to tell you I have seen how good the world can be.”
Listened to Know My Name on Audible read by Chanel herself. Thank you for letting us in. It’s an honor to know your story.
What a moving and important personal account of one woman’s journey through the criminal justice system and court of public opinion as a sexual assault victim!
Ms. Miller’s reflections on the night of her assault and the events that follow resonate like the best written poetry.
Her story is every victim’s and yet wholly her own.
Far from vengeful or berating, the book has nothing to do with vilifying a single person like Brock Turner or former Judge Persky. Instead, Ms. Miller takes us through her experience as a crime victim, as a woman whose level of intoxication or style of dress was once again called into question as to how complicit or deserving she was in her own assault. She goes from feeling rather invisible in her personal life to finding her voice as a result of her repeated victimization, diminishment, and devaluation.
Ms. Miller presents us with the reality of our current criminal justice system and still existing rape culture. She lays bare her lowest moments, her struggle with healing and moving forward, and her soul-quenching and replenishing support system.
The memoir covers gender and class privilege, the idolization of athletes in America (at the expense of those some athletes victimize), the often slow, non-linear healing process many violent crime victims go through, a young woman finding her voice, power, and purpose, and the urgent need for society to engage in earnest discussions regarding affirmative consent, respect for others’ bodies, and personal responsibility.
Every young person should read this book to better understand how “twenty minutes of their lives” could impact their life, the lives of those they harm, and the lives of all who care about them and their victims.
Every person should read it to better understand how sexual aggression without concern for their intended partners can harm those partners, whether their actions constitute a crime or not.
Whether you’re intoxicated and can’t properly discern consent, whether your intended partner is intoxicated or incapacitated and can’t properly express consent, these “incidents” aren’t confined to college campuses or frat parties, and they’re no small thing.
Kudos to Chanel Miller for her powerful prose, for her determination to continue to heal and be present for all the beautiful moments awaiting her future, and for letting us in on her truth. You are powerful, you are brave, you are valued and valuable, and you are loved by many.
I look forward to watching your artistry blossom and witnessing the impact your voice will have in the future as you continue on your journey.
Extremely powerful memoir written by Chanel Miller about her assault and rape by Brock Turner and her journey through the trial and finding her way back to her life. She is a powerful advocate for females to understand their power. Her journey was filled with emotional distress and pain, and she tells it all with sincerity and raw feelings. This is not an easy book to read, but it is a necessary and important read.
She points our all the faults with our system, the victim shaming, the problem with the courts and society’s opinions, and the acceptance of men’s poor behavior, decisions, and sexual assault. Call it what it is-assault, and make them take responsibility.
Thank God for the two Swedes, thank God for Chanel Miller, and for all those who support her every day.
#KnowMyName #ChanelMiller
A raw and emotionally fraught memoir of one courageous woman who stunningly transcends from waking up victimized and under national scrutiny to being the voice of truth and change in how we see, treat and defend sexual assault survivors. When Chanel Miller speaks, everyone needs to listen, to learn.
Know My Name is a powerful read. I’m struggling to put words together that adequately describe this book. Chanel Miller experienced a horrible sexual assault and then endured the trial process that took years and held a microscope to her life and decisions. I don’t think I have any words that will properly express how strong I think Chanel Miller is for speaking out about her experience and facing Brock Turner.
Chanel Miller also is the narrator for the Know My Name audiobook. Having her voice vocalize her words and experience made this book even more powerful for me.
Going into Know My Name: A Memoir I only slightly remembered the Chanel Miller and Brock Turner case. I know I heard about it since it wasn’t all that long ago, but I didn’t remember any facts. It was a truly mind-blowing experience to listen to Chanel read her book, and I highly recommend the audio since she reads it herself.
I am a huge lover of memoirs, but this book is definitely super heavy. Reading about rape is never fun even in a fiction novel, but I think Know My Name is a must-read considering this is her life and what she went through. Is her writing the best ever? no, but her story is moving, painful, and necessary to hear. Our system is so flawed, and that fact is even more pronounced listening to her experience not just in court, but in general. I felt so many things while listening to this book, and when she read her victim’s statement (as Emily Doe) at the end I just about fell apart. You can hear the emotion in her voice as she tells her story and that just made the book even more powerful for me.
There was one little lull in Know My Name where I lost a tiny bit of interest, but other than that I just couldn’t stop listening and it definitely had my full attention. I am so disgusted with the way rape victims are treated, and I applaud Chanel for the way she was able to handle everything that was thrown her way. I can’t imagine going through it myself, but if it ever did I hope I could handle it with even an ounce of bravery that she had.
If you are looking for a moving and powerful read, look no further than Know My Name.
I loved the reality of this book. I loved that Chanel brings up how hard it is to be a victim, and that being okay takes work. I would highly recommend this to anyone who has been through a trauma, or has a family member who has been through trauma.
Know My Name is a deconstruction of Chanel Miller’s mind in the aftermath of her assault and through the trial as she cycles through the stages of grief and regains her strength as a woman and a name, not Brock Turner’s victim. I can’t count how many times she brought me to tears or near tears. This wasn’t just a recounting of Chanel’s days, weeks, and years, but a vicarious journey where I experienced deep empathy through her intelligent writing. I viscerally felt Chanel’s confusion, devastation, and constriction – physically and psychologically. Since the verdict occurred half way through the book, Chanel’s thoughts on the trial and all that came after was profoundly and thoughtfully dissected. This young woman can write! Know My Name was powerfully and creatively written with evocative imagery and brave honesty. A powerful memoir that shouldn’t be missed.
Absolutely should be required reading for all high school students.
Chanel is brilliant, brave and a gifted writer. I can’t wait to see what she does next.
Authentic, heartbreaking, and ultimately galvanizing, Chanel’s assault story is all too common. But it doesn’t define her. She is strong, empowered and empowering, a survivor, a fighter, and she’s making a difference. Sexual assault survivors endure horrors beyond the initial violation. The (in)justice system in America and around the world continues to put the victim on trial while protecting and shielding the perpetrators. Women have pasts. Men have futures. Chanel shines a light on this ugliness in a deeply personal, candid account. I won’t speak the name of the rapist or the judge who sentenced him so lightly. I will speak her name. I will remember Chanel Miller not as a victim, but as a survivor, an incredible human being, and a hero. Know her name and her story.