Introduction

An NPR Best Book of 2020 - An O, The Oprah Magazine Best LGBTQ Book of 2020 - An Electric Literature Favorite Nonfiction Book of 2020 - A Largehearted Boy Favorite Nonfiction Book of 2020 - A 2020 Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Best Humor - One of Lambda Literary's "Most Anticipated LGBTQ Books of August 2020" - One of BuzzFeed's "15 Books From Smaller Presses You Won't Be Able to Put Down" - A Shondaland 15 Hot Books for Summer

In this unique and hilarious debut memoir, writer and comedian Greg Mania chronicles life as a "pariah prodigy." From inadvertently coming out to his Polish immigrant parents, to immersing himself in the world of New York City nightlife, and finding himself and his voice in comedy. Born to Be Public is a vulnerable and poignant exploration of identity (and the rediscovery of it), mental health, sex and relationships, all while pursuing a passion with victories and tragicomic blunders. At once raw and relatable, Mania's one-of-a-kind voice will make you shed tears from laughter and find its way into your heart.

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Excerpt

5. YES, THAT’S MY REAL LAST NAME

Actively seeking well-known NYC socialites via social media and trying to get their attention in a shameless fashion by posting exhibitionistic content ranging from borderline crude humor to eyebrow-raising photos: Effective? Yes. Morally questionable? Perhaps. Shallow? Great opportunity for a duet at karaoke. ... view entire excerpt...

Discussion Questions

From the publisher:

1. Greg found comedy and sarcasm as a way to survive the cruelty of high school kids. What were your survival mechanisms? Did you need them?

2. Considering the evolution of one’s personality: Are there attributes in your own personality that don’t seem to fit together on paper? Things that “don’t reconcile”?

3. What was an important development moment in your teen years that helped you to understand yourself? Did you get it then or was it retrospective? Or has it just stuck out in your brain and you haven’t quite figured out why?

4. Greg found himself in the perfectly right place at the perfectly right time at Bowery Ballroom seeing Semi-Precious Weapons perform. This was a pivotal point for him. Can you recall a moment in life when you knew you were in the perfectly right place at the perfectly right time?

5. What is special about your chosen family? How has your chosen family made the difference in your life?

6. What drives us to stay the course when we know we aren’t doing what we want to do? How do we stay true to ourselves when we have to put the “front” to accomplish a job we don’t love?

7. There’s a reality check in working in customer service such as restaurant, retail and office assistance. These jobs are difficult but definitely educational. What is a similar work experience that you may have despised but also provided opportunity for hard life lessons?

8. How does one transition artifice vs. vulnerability? What is the most meaningful demonstration of acceptance you’ve received when transition from the artifice of 'your best foot forward" into vulnerability by showing the real you?

9. Greg talks about his relationship with Ky. Who’s your Ky the person who has seen you develop? How is it to see your friends in monumental moments that bring incredible nostalgia?

Weblinks

»	Author's website

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