SKU: 35121490772

I'm Telling the Truth, But I'm Lying: Essays

Sale price$13.00 Regular price$14.44
Save 10%

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Jul 10 - Jul 15

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

I'm Telling the Truth, But I'm Lying: EssaysINSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER In I'm Telling the Truth, but I'm Lying Bassey Ikpi explores her life as a Nigerian American immigrant, a black woman, a slam poet, a mother, a daughter, an artist through the lens of her mental health and diagnosis of bipolar II and anxiety. Her remarkable memoir in essays implodes our preconceptions of the mind and normalcy as Bassey bares her own truths and lies for us all to behold with radical honesty and brutal

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

In I'm Telling the Truth, but I'm Lying Bassey Ikpi explores her life--as a Nigerian-American immigrant, a black woman, a slam poet, a mother, a daughter, an artist--through the lens of her mental health and diagnosis of bipolar II and anxiety. Her remarkable memoir in essays implodes our preconceptions of the mind and normalcy as Bassey bares her own truths and lies for us all to behold with radical honesty and brutal intimacy.

A The Root Favorite Books of the Year - A Good Housekeeping Best 60 Books of the Year - A YNaija 10 Notable Books of the Year - A GOOP 10 New Favorite Books - A Cup of Jo 5 Big Books of Fall - A Bitch Magazine Most Anticipated Books of 2019 - A Bustle 21 New Memoirs That Will Inspire, Motivate, and Captivate You - A Publishers Weekly Spring Preview Selection - An Electric Lit 48 Books by Women and Nonbinary Authors of Color to Read in 2019 - A Bookish Best Nonfiction of Summer Selection

We will not think or talk about mental health or normalcy the same after reading this momentous art object moonlighting as a colossal collection of essays." --Kiese Laymon, author of Heavy

From her early childhood in Nigeria through her adolescence in Oklahoma, Bassey Ikpi lived with a tumult of emotions, cycling between extreme euphoria and deep depression--sometimes within the course of a single day. By the time she was in her early twenties, Bassey was a spoken word artist and traveling with HBO's Def Poetry Jam, channeling her life into art. But beneath the fa ade of the confident performer, Bassey's mental health was in a precipitous decline, culminating in a breakdown that resulted in hospitalization and a diagnosis of Bipolar II.

In I'm Telling the Truth, But I'm Lying, Bassey Ikpi breaks open our understanding of mental health by giving us intimate access to her own. Exploring shame, confusion, medication, and family in the process, Bassey looks at how mental health impacts every aspect of our lives--how we appear to others, and more importantly to ourselves--and challenges our preconception about what it means to be normal. Viscerally raw and honest, the result is an exploration of the stories we tell ourselves to make sense of who we are--and the ways, as honest as we try to be, each of these stories can also be a lie.

--Caroline Kepnes, author of You and Hidden Bodies

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Published: 08/20/2019
ISBN: 9780062698346
Pages: 272
Weight: 0.44lbs
Size: 7.90h x 5.30w x 0.60d

Review Citations: Library Journal Prepub Alert 03/01/2019 pg. 95
Library Journal 06/01/2019 pg. 109
Publishers Weekly 06/03/2019
Kirkus Reviews 06/15/2019
Booklist 07/01/2019 pg. 14
Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 35121490772

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.1 ★★★★★
Based on 2174 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
L
LBZ
Massapequa, US
★★★★★ 5
Commercial grade divider suitable for many needs
Color: Beige, Size: A-132''W-6 Panel
This item will be used at a future event where we need to separate a single locker room into two large areas, without any construction. This divider is perfect for the job because the partitions can be 1 to 6 panels and it will roll into place. When the event is over, the divider will fold/roll away and the locker room will return to its original design. The unit is very heavy, which will ensure that it is sturdy and stable. All the components arrived, wrapped in plastic to prevent damage. The screen material is a woven polyester in a cream color that will occlude any visibility but it may be possible to see shadows on the opposite side. The height is about 6ft, which would require a very tall person to "peep over" the divider. I needed a quality unit for this project and the frame, screens, and mobility will meet the needs. The divider is not the same as the small decorative dividers -- it is more of a commercial grade product, yet tasteful. If you want/need a small divider as an accent piece, this is not the best choice. This item could be used in a medical office, treatment/massage room, to divide an office room into two, or block a hallway in a building.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2025
M
Verified Purchase
Mr. Ruiz
Birmingham, US
★★★★★ 2
Flimsy
Color: Grey, Size: B-88''W-4 Panel
Would not recommend
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2026
K
Karen A.
Carnegie, US
★★★★★ 5
Great option for a professional looking backdrop
Color: Black, Size: B-102''-3 Panel
I decided to try these wall dividers for my home office space since it does not have a door. I wanted to have my video calls without the rest of the room in the feed to give it a more professional feel. These being on castors make them super easy to move into position and roll off to the side when not in use. They are stable, much more than the folding screens I have tried in the past. That they are connected by the middle piece and not the top/bottom of each other allows you to adjust the positioning to your needs. Overall, this did exactly what I needed and was an affordable option. I also like that they are highly portable: if you want to take them for a booth or event, the poles all disassemble into manageable lengths that easily fit in a car and take very little time to set up again. The only thing I would change is to include a bag to store them in for transportation.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2025
B
Verified Purchase
Barbara McCloud
Houston, US
★★★★★ 5
Nice and strong
Color: Black, Size: Wheel-6 Panel
Nice and strong, tedious, putting together, but very good quality
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2026
A
Verified Purchase
Al Tompkins
Phoenix, US
★★★★★ 5
if you are going to be moving them a lot, buy something more sturdy.
Color: Black, Size: Wheel-6 Panel
I use these at our churchc. They are pretty good, not terribly study and the screw that hold the faabric have pulled out in a couple of places. But they wqould work especially well if you were not constantly moving them as we do. They are a bit of a pain to assemble.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2026

recommand products