More Myself
{{Short description|2020 book by Alicia Keys}}
{{Infobox book
| italic title = force
| name = More Myself: A Journey
| image = File:More_Myself.jpg
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| author = {{hlist|Alicia Keys|Michelle Burford}}
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| country = United States
| language = English
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| publisher = Flatiron Books
| release_date = {{Start date|2020|3|31}}
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| pages = 272
| isbn = 9781529046045
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More Myself: A Journey is a book by American recording artist Alicia Keys, written with the assistance of writer Michelle Burford. The book is the first release on Oprah Winfrey's imprint An Oprah Book.{{cite magazine |author1=Legaspi, Anthea |title=Alicia Keys Details 'More Myself' Autobiography |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/alicia-keys-more-myself-autobiography-memoir-oprah-winfrey-807947/ |magazine=Rolling Stone|publisher=Penske Media Corporation |date=2019-03-13|access-date=2020-03-21}} The book appeared at number three on The New York Times Best Seller list for Hardcover Nonfiction and at number four for Combined Print & E-Book Nonfiction.{{cite news |title=Hardcover Nonfiction |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2020/04/19/hardcover-nonfiction/ |access-date=2020-04-10}}{{cite news |title=Combined Print & E-Book Nonfiction |url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2020/04/19/combined-print-and-e-book-nonfiction/ |work=The New York Times |access-date=2020-04-10}} It also appeared at number seven on Publishers Weekly's list of the best selling Hardcover Frontlist Nonfiction books.{{cite web |title=Hardcover Frontlist Nonfiction |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/nielsen/HardcoverNonfiction.html |website=Publishers Weekly |access-date=2020-04-13}} In 2021, the book won the Audie Award for Best Narration by Author, while also being nominated for Best Audiobook.{{cite web |author1=Maher, John |title=2021 Audie Award Winners Announced |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/awards-and-prizes/article/85874-2021-audie-award-winners-announced.html |website=Publishers Weekly |access-date=2021-06-19 |date=2021-03-23}}{{cite web |author1=Pereira, Carina |title=Meet the 2021 Audie Awards Finalists |url=https://bookriot.com/2021-audie-awards/ |website=Book Riot |access-date=2021-06-19 |date=2021-02-24}}
Background and release
Keys and Oprah Winfrey announced the book on 30 March 2019 on their respective social media accounts.{{cite web |title=Alicia Keys to Release 'More Myself' Memoir in November |url=https://www.rap-up.com/2019/03/13/alicia-keys-more-myself-memoir/ |website=Rap-Up |date=2019-03-19|access-date=2020-03-21}} Described as "part autobiography, part narrative documentary", Keys expressed much excitement at the announcement of the book's release about both the book and getting to release it through her friend's (Oprah's) imprint.{{cite magazine |last1=Canfield |first1=David |title=Alicia Keys to publish memoir More Myself with Oprah |url=https://ew.com/books/2019/03/13/alicia-keys-memoir-more-myself-oprah/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly|publisher=Meredith Corporation |access-date=2020-03-31 |date=2019-03-13}} The book was originally slated to be released on November 5, 2019.{{cite magazine |title=Alicia Keys to Publish 'More Myself' Memoir in November |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8502437/alicia-keys-more-myself-memoir |magazine=Billboard |date=2019-03-13|access-date=2020-03-21}} The audiobook version narrated by Keys, includes introductions and vignettes by Oprah Winfrey, Bono, Swizz Beatz, Jay Z and Michelle Obama, as well as original music by Keys.{{cite web |last1=Gillette |first1=Sam |title=Alicia Keys Recorded More Myself Audiobook with the Help of Michelle Obama, Oprah, JAY-Z and Bono |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/alicia-keys-recorded-more-myself-155559534.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAEPVTL5eHrmNicnmz40Uyi-vM1nAXv56AEjHwk8_f1ukVvGSxfg9QIuTM8yCqYb0aTYwSQphAlzqg3znlp116wpwQprbcfNzZYRah9D8eSJmAovATV7m2wvyP4bCpD8qy4KDm3HzGF36vGQUZyLE1yYBVspVyEgkEWYQzoMkXPJR |website=Yahoo! |date=2020-03-27|access-date=2020-03-21}} The memoir in combination with her album Alicia (2020) were described by Keys as "the best therapy I ever had"{{cite web |title=Alicia Keys Announces New Album ALICIA |url=https://www.rap-up.com/2019/12/05/alicia-keys-announces-new-album-alicia/ |website=Rap-Up |access-date=2020-03-31 |date=2019-12-05}} Keys stated that the book and album are "similar in this exploration, in the concept, in the conversation about identity, and what makes us up to be who we are".{{cite web |last1=King |first1=Noel |title=Alicia Keys Reflects On How Life Experiences Gave Her Permission To Be 'More Myself' |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/03/27/821654852/alicia-keys-reflects-on-how-life-experiences-gave-her-permission-to-be-more-myse?t=1585402126355 |website=NPR |date=2020-03-27|access-date=2020-03-21}}
Promotion
In October 2019, Keys appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! to promote the book and said "I'm definitely looking and I've been on a journey to discover more of who I am and how to be more authentically who I am without kind of worrying about what other people think".{{cite magazine |last1=Zemler |first1=Emily |title=Watch Alicia Keys Perform 'Show Me Love' on 'Kimmel' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/alicia-keys-show-me-love-kimmel-902119/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |publisher=Penske Media Corporation|date=2019-10-22|access-date=2020-03-21}} In an interview with CBS News Sunday Morning in March 2020, Keys stated that journey to knowing herself has been a struggle for her, saying that "the craziest part is that I didn't know that I didn't know myself". Keys also revealed that her mother considered abortion after getting pregnant.{{cite web |title=Alicia Keys on Her Struggle to Know Herself |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/alicia-keys-on-her-struggle-to-know-herself/ |website=CBS News |date=2020-03-22|access-date=2020-03-21}} In April 2020, Keys appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert via video call to discuss the book.{{cite magazine |title=Alicia Keys Performs Flo Rida's 'My House' With a Self-Isolation Spin on 'Colbert': Watch |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9350194/alicia-keys-performs-my-house-colbert |magazine=Billboard |date=2020-04-03|access-date=2021-02-07}} Keys appeared on El Hormiguero to promote the Spanish version of the book, More Myself: Mi Viaje, on June 10, 2021.{{cite web |author1=Borrell, J. F. |title=Alicia Keys Revela la Condición Que le Puso Prince Para Trabajar Con Ella: "No Sé Si Te Lo Voy a Poder Prometer" |url=https://www.marca.com/tiramillas/television/2021/06/11/60c27950ca474178378b45c7.html |website=Marca |publisher=Unidad Editorial|language=Spanish|access-date=2021-06-19 |date=2021-06-11}}