Know My Name: A Memoir

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 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
"I opened Know My Name 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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Readers say *Know My Name* by Chanel Miller is a raw, powerful memoir of reclaiming identity after sexual assault. Reviewers agree it offers emotional...
Know My Name is Chanel Miller’s raw, powerful account of reclaiming her voice after surviving sexual assault. She was known to the world as “Emily Doe” during the Brock Turner case—until she decided to step forward and tell her story on her own terms. It’s a deeply personal, beautifully written memoir that dives into trauma, healing, and the broken systems survivors have to navigate.
Know My Name by Chanel Miller is hands down the most emotional memoir I’ve ever read. Chanel, once known only as “Emily Doe” in the Brock Turner case, reclaims her identity and walks us through the trauma she endured, the aftermath that followed, and the painfully frustrating reality of navigating a system that failed to protect her. Her writing is stunning—both gut-wrenching and poetic—and she doesn’t shy away from the messy, raw parts of healing.
This is an absolute must-read. It’s one of those books that leaves a mark—raw, real, and impossible to forget.
Whew.
This is one hell of a book. Chanel writes an incredibly visceral but still thoughtful and relatable experience. I have no frame of reference to pretty much this entire book and to see things broken down the way they were helped me to become a better ally. I recommend but be aware that it will make your stomach hurt and there will be times that you need to walk away from it.
Powerful, Awakening.
Chanel’s is a riveting story that articulates the voices of sexual assault victims.
She describes the injustices in the justice system, but also her role and the roles of people lifting her up. The evolution of events resulted in the expansion of the definition of rape, a global outpouring of support and emotions.
Chanel helped me understand and shape my perspective of the justice system in rape cases and the humanity of it all.
Thank you, Chanel.
Chanel’s is a riveting story that articulates the voices of sexual assault victims.
She describes the injustices in the justice system, but also her role and the roles of people lifting her up. The evolution of events resulted in the expansion of the definition of rape, a global outpouring of support and emotions.
Chanel helped me understand and shape my perspective of the justice system in rape cases and the humanity of it all.
Thank you, Chanel.
A must read!
Powerful. This work is powerful. Impactful.
Many have stated in their reviews that women should read/hear this story.
I believe that MEN need to listen and hear what she has to say...
This should be required reading for MEN and women.
Many have stated in their reviews that women should read/hear this story.
I believe that MEN need to listen and hear what she has to say...
This should be required reading for MEN and women.
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