Jodi-Ann Burey with Angela Garbes — 'Authentic'

Third Place Books welcomes writer and critic Jodi-Ann Burey for a presentation of Authentic: The Myth of Bringing Your Full Self to Work. Part memoir and criticism, and using pop culture, personal storytelling and interviews, Burey draws insights from acclaimed television shows like The Good Place and Issa Rae’s Insecure and conversations with family, friends, colleagues and strangers alike to examine what “authenticity” really means in the workplace. Angela Garbes, author of Like a Mother and Essential Labor, joins in conversation.

In Authentic, Burey argues that expectations to “come as you are” and “bring your full authentic self to work” are part of an ongoing cycle of trading on our identities when it’s convenient and profitable.

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About Authentic. . .

"Jodi-Ann Burey explains why it is so hard to survive institutions and gives us many insights in how we can do so. She shows how institutions use authenticity rather like diversity, as a way of appearing to change without changing, so that workers, especially people of color, end up having to do even more. Speaking directly to her readers in a voice that is both distinctive and deepened by dialogue with others, this book calls for us to take time, to hold ourselves back from institutions so we have more of ourselves to give to our projects and our people." —Sara Ahmed, scholar and author of Living a Feminist Life

From the creator of the viral TED Talk “The Myth of Bringing Your Full, Authentic Self to Work,” a bold call to reclaim authenticity as a commitment to self

Workplace dynamics in recent years have been a dizzying storm of broken promises. Companies that once encouraged employees to “come as you are” and bring your full, authentic self to work are now shutting down initiatives, part of an ongoing cycle of trading on our identities when it’s convenient and profitable.

Jodi-Ann Burey, writer and critic known for her TED Talk “The Myth of Bringing Your Full, Authentic Self to Work,” delves into the dangers of disclosure in environments that aren’t built for our well-being. With insights from pop culture , academic research, and interviews with other professionals of color, Burey argues that we deserve better than shallow ploys for representation.

Our physical and emotional health are at risk, and too much is sacrificed—for ourselves and for collective progress—when our full potential is blocked by racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, and ableism. Authentic is a powerful reckoning—and now is the time to reclaim our agency. Even at work.

Jodi-Ann Burey is a writer, critic, and sought-after speaker on race, culture, and health equity. Her essays appear in various arts, business, and literary publications. Jodi-Ann created and hosts the prose and poetry salon Lit Lounge: The People’s Art and the Black Cancer podcast. She was born in St. Catherine, Jamaica; lives in Seattle, Washington; and will always call New York City home.

Angela Garbes is an American author. She has written two nonfiction books about motherhood: Like a Mother: A Feminist Journey through the Science and Culture of Pregnancy and Essential Labor: Mothering as Social Change.

About Third Place Books

Founded in 1998 in Lake Forest Park, Washington, Third Place Books is dedicated to the creation of a community around books and the ideas inside them. With locations in Lake Forest Park and Seattle's Ravenna and Seward Park neighborhoods, Third Place Books is proud to serve the entire Seattle metro area. Learn more about their event series at thirdplacebooks.com/events.