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Everything and Nothing at Once: A Black Man's Reimagined Soundtrack for the Future
For readers of Kiese Laymon’s Heavy and Hanif Abdurraqib’s A Little Devil in America, a beautiful, painful, and soaring tribute to everything that Black men are and can be
Growing up in the Bronx, Joél Leon was taught that being soft, being vulnerable, could end your life. Shaped by a singular view of Black masculinity espoused by the media, family and friends, and society, he learned instead to care about the gold around his neck and the number of bills in his wallet. He absorbed the “facts” that white was always right and that Black men were either threatening or great for comic relief but never worthy of the opening credits. It wasn’t until years later that Joél understood he didn’t have to be defined by these and other stereotypes.
Now, in a collection of wide-ranging essays, he takes readers from his upbringing in the Bronx to his life raising two little girls of his own, unraveling those narratives to arrive at a deeper understanding of who he is as a son, friend, partner, and father. Traversing both the serious and the lighthearted, from contemplating male beauty standards to his decision to seek therapy to the difficulties of making co-parenting work, Joél cracks open his heart to reveal his multitudes.
In this book crafted like an album, each essay is a single that stands alone yet reverberates throughout the entire collection. Pieces like “How to Make a Black Friend” consider challenging, delightful, and absurd moments in relationships, while others like “Sensitive Thugs You All Need Hugs” and “All Gold Everything” ponder the collective harms of society's lens.
With incisive, searing prose, Everything and Nothing at Once deconstructs what it means to be a Black man in America.
Growing up in the Bronx, Joél Leon was taught that being soft, being vulnerable, could end your life. Shaped by a singular view of Black masculinity espoused by the media, family and friends, and society, he learned instead to care about the gold around his neck and the number of bills in his wallet. He absorbed the “facts” that white was always right and that Black men were either threatening or great for comic relief but never worthy of the opening credits. It wasn’t until years later that Joél understood he didn’t have to be defined by these and other stereotypes.
Now, in a collection of wide-ranging essays, he takes readers from his upbringing in the Bronx to his life raising two little girls of his own, unraveling those narratives to arrive at a deeper understanding of who he is as a son, friend, partner, and father. Traversing both the serious and the lighthearted, from contemplating male beauty standards to his decision to seek therapy to the difficulties of making co-parenting work, Joél cracks open his heart to reveal his multitudes.
In this book crafted like an album, each essay is a single that stands alone yet reverberates throughout the entire collection. Pieces like “How to Make a Black Friend” consider challenging, delightful, and absurd moments in relationships, while others like “Sensitive Thugs You All Need Hugs” and “All Gold Everything” ponder the collective harms of society's lens.
With incisive, searing prose, Everything and Nothing at Once deconstructs what it means to be a Black man in America.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published June 4, 2024
22 people are currently reading
4507 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
July 28, 2024
Raw and moving essay collection about Black masculinity. Really appreciated Joel Leon for opening up about topics that we often don’t hear about from Black men, such as dealing with body image issues, navigating co-parenting both in-person and long-distance, and friendships with fellow Black men. His writing is thoughtful and his energetic personality comes off the page well. I liked that with a lot of the essays there is not a simple or clean resolution, rather he invites nuance and difficult of conflicting truths to co-exist. At times I thought the writing itself was a little verbose or unstructured (e.g., really long paragraphs, questionable transitions sometimes) though Leon’s honesty and realness still made this book a worthwhile read.
May 6, 2024
Good. Enjoyable. Waited to late to write review, so just know this is one worth having in the library.
July 30, 2024
Special thanks to the author, @macmillan.audio #MacAudio2024 for my advanced listening copy & @henryholtbooks for my gifted copy‼️
A MUST READ ESSAY COLLECTION!!! This book was funny, informative, powerful, captivating, and filled with so many interesting topics. I was drawn in by the authors rawness and honesty. But this book was literally about everything and nothing all at once. You’ll have to read it to understand what I mean.
I loved the author’s personal perspective as a black man, the way he dove deep into how society views black men, manhood, family, male friendships, fatherhood, culture, and blackness in general. Not only are the essays relatable but they’re inspiring and very thought-provoking. He touched on how black boys aren’t taught about their feelings or how to feel let alone on how to properly express themselves. How food became his refuge as a result of trauma and the insecurities he dealt with. He also spoke on the way your environment can have an effect on the person you become. His ten Be a Better Black Man Commandments were realistic but also hilarious especially number 7.
Overall, this book was amazing and a page-turner highly recommended with the audio. It was very unstructured and free flowing kind of a cross between essays and a memoir. But it was a quick read and I loved the chapter titles. If you’re looking for more books to read by black male authors here’s a good one‼️
A MUST READ ESSAY COLLECTION!!! This book was funny, informative, powerful, captivating, and filled with so many interesting topics. I was drawn in by the authors rawness and honesty. But this book was literally about everything and nothing all at once. You’ll have to read it to understand what I mean.
I loved the author’s personal perspective as a black man, the way he dove deep into how society views black men, manhood, family, male friendships, fatherhood, culture, and blackness in general. Not only are the essays relatable but they’re inspiring and very thought-provoking. He touched on how black boys aren’t taught about their feelings or how to feel let alone on how to properly express themselves. How food became his refuge as a result of trauma and the insecurities he dealt with. He also spoke on the way your environment can have an effect on the person you become. His ten Be a Better Black Man Commandments were realistic but also hilarious especially number 7.
Overall, this book was amazing and a page-turner highly recommended with the audio. It was very unstructured and free flowing kind of a cross between essays and a memoir. But it was a quick read and I loved the chapter titles. If you’re looking for more books to read by black male authors here’s a good one‼️
December 17, 2024
Finished Reading
Pre-Read Notes:
I chose this one purely for my love of memoir and the title. Happily, the writing is excellent and the content is compelling.
Final Review
All I’ve ever done, all I’ve known to do, is make a home out of language. p1
Everything and Norhing at Once is one of my favorite books of the year. I was captivated and educated by the essays in this book. My favorites are "Homecoming" and "Good Art, Bad Art, Black Art" but each of these essays are worthwhile reading.
Recommended for readers of short prose and/or essays, readers interested in Black culture, racial justice and equity, and hip hop. This is a great example of a clever form-- the essay collection as personal soundtrack.
I want to be better with words. I want all of us to be better with words. p135
To be Black is to be seen by everyone and no one at all; to be at once coveted and loathed; to be both heard and misunderstood—both herd and cattle, martyr and savior. p229
Reading Notes
Three (or more) things I loved:
1. Because there was a shift, a transformation. And while doing so, there is also a dying. For in the rebirth, there is also a conclusion, a burying of what needs to die to allow something new to live. p2 I already love this book.
2. Screenreaders have a party with page 10 lol! It's funny, clever form too, visually.
3. The bar is set to a monotone whiteness. When a film that exists outside of that shows up in the Black community, it tends to stay there. Because Blackness is not considered the norm. Whiteness is. p158 Smart discussions about race and culture are gems, like this essay, "Good Art, Bad Art, Black Art" but everyone of these essays is worth a close read.
Rating: 📚📚📚📚📚 /5 nuanced essays
Recommend? Yes!
Finished: Dec 14 '24
Format: digital arc, NetGalley; digital, Libby
Read this book if you like:
🗣memoir
🤎 personal essays about Blackness
🧒🏿 boy's coming of age
🎤 hip hop
Thank you to the author Joél Leon, publishers Henry Holt & co., and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of EVERYTHING AND NOTHING AT ONCE. I found an accessible digital copy on Libby. All views are mine.
---------------
About the Essays:
1. "What Kind of Black Are You?" An essay written in a flowing, smooth style, about the author's experience with Blackness and Black masculinity. Best bit is the Be a Better Black Man Commandments.
2. "Belly" - An essay about childhood challenges and the ways kids cope.
3. "Sensitive Thugs You All Need Hugs" - We ran because running sometimes can save your life, even when you’re not sure what you’re running from. p45 An essay about the author's youth and all the trouble he managed to avoid.
4. "All Gold Everything " - An essay about the importance of gold to the mainstream Black culture, especially among men and boys.
5. "How to Make a Black Friend" - An essay about male friendship in the author's life, and in the lives of Black boys in general. The idea that we must be breadwinners, we must work always, we must not be emotional. To question the rules, to question the language given to us, would mean to question our relationships to masculinity, to the men in our communities, and to our friendships. p79
6. "Homecoming" - A beautiful, poetic essay about...guess. The block is mythological. Everyone’s block is different, and yet so much the same... p100 But also, how we can never go home again.
7. "The Sound a Slap Makes" - A very interesting discussion about patriarchy and the conflict between Chris Rock and Jada and Will Smith that went down at the Oscars.
8. "For Black Boys Contemplating Suicide - An insightful essay about social factors in mental illness.
9. "Good Art, Bad Art, Black Art" - This book says so much, sometimes in only a few words. It's a profound read. Maybe a must-read. You know what’s Black art? Black Thought. p149
10. "Black Republicans" ‐ Money keeps you away from poor people, so far removed from their everyday struggles, that the politics surrounding how to lift Black communities gets muddied with anecdotes that are less about actual people with lived experiences and more about data and stats that tend to be disconnected from the reality of people’s lives. p187 A detailed discussion about how capitalism is counter to Black liberation.
11. "The Postpartum Tree" - A brilliant essay about the moments a man becomes a father, and the pressures for women to become mothers.
12. "A Conversation on Afro-Normalism" - Diddy made “Can’t stop, won’t stop” scripture, with each of us finding new ways to adopt the slogan as principle, as a means by which to revel in the sacred art of doing. p220
13. "Death by Visibility" - Visibility is a Black man’s defense mechanism actualized. It is our shield. It is our comfort. p240
14. "Survivor's Guilt" - A fascinating piece about "being the one to get out."
15. "The Eulogy of Charles Lorenzo" - A moving essay about the high death rate Black men of all ages experience in the US.
16. "Our Poetry Will Save the World" - A beautiful piece about the power of Black art to provide purpose and voice to Black people.
Pre-Read Notes:
I chose this one purely for my love of memoir and the title. Happily, the writing is excellent and the content is compelling.
Final Review
All I’ve ever done, all I’ve known to do, is make a home out of language. p1
Everything and Norhing at Once is one of my favorite books of the year. I was captivated and educated by the essays in this book. My favorites are "Homecoming" and "Good Art, Bad Art, Black Art" but each of these essays are worthwhile reading.
Recommended for readers of short prose and/or essays, readers interested in Black culture, racial justice and equity, and hip hop. This is a great example of a clever form-- the essay collection as personal soundtrack.
I want to be better with words. I want all of us to be better with words. p135
To be Black is to be seen by everyone and no one at all; to be at once coveted and loathed; to be both heard and misunderstood—both herd and cattle, martyr and savior. p229
Reading Notes
Three (or more) things I loved:
1. Because there was a shift, a transformation. And while doing so, there is also a dying. For in the rebirth, there is also a conclusion, a burying of what needs to die to allow something new to live. p2 I already love this book.
2. Screenreaders have a party with page 10 lol! It's funny, clever form too, visually.
3. The bar is set to a monotone whiteness. When a film that exists outside of that shows up in the Black community, it tends to stay there. Because Blackness is not considered the norm. Whiteness is. p158 Smart discussions about race and culture are gems, like this essay, "Good Art, Bad Art, Black Art" but everyone of these essays is worth a close read.
Rating: 📚📚📚📚📚 /5 nuanced essays
Recommend? Yes!
Finished: Dec 14 '24
Format: digital arc, NetGalley; digital, Libby
Read this book if you like:
🗣memoir
🤎 personal essays about Blackness
🧒🏿 boy's coming of age
🎤 hip hop
Thank you to the author Joél Leon, publishers Henry Holt & co., and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of EVERYTHING AND NOTHING AT ONCE. I found an accessible digital copy on Libby. All views are mine.
---------------
About the Essays:
1. "What Kind of Black Are You?" An essay written in a flowing, smooth style, about the author's experience with Blackness and Black masculinity. Best bit is the Be a Better Black Man Commandments.
2. "Belly" - An essay about childhood challenges and the ways kids cope.
3. "Sensitive Thugs You All Need Hugs" - We ran because running sometimes can save your life, even when you’re not sure what you’re running from. p45 An essay about the author's youth and all the trouble he managed to avoid.
4. "All Gold Everything " - An essay about the importance of gold to the mainstream Black culture, especially among men and boys.
5. "How to Make a Black Friend" - An essay about male friendship in the author's life, and in the lives of Black boys in general. The idea that we must be breadwinners, we must work always, we must not be emotional. To question the rules, to question the language given to us, would mean to question our relationships to masculinity, to the men in our communities, and to our friendships. p79
6. "Homecoming" - A beautiful, poetic essay about...guess. The block is mythological. Everyone’s block is different, and yet so much the same... p100 But also, how we can never go home again.
7. "The Sound a Slap Makes" - A very interesting discussion about patriarchy and the conflict between Chris Rock and Jada and Will Smith that went down at the Oscars.
8. "For Black Boys Contemplating Suicide - An insightful essay about social factors in mental illness.
9. "Good Art, Bad Art, Black Art" - This book says so much, sometimes in only a few words. It's a profound read. Maybe a must-read. You know what’s Black art? Black Thought. p149
10. "Black Republicans" ‐ Money keeps you away from poor people, so far removed from their everyday struggles, that the politics surrounding how to lift Black communities gets muddied with anecdotes that are less about actual people with lived experiences and more about data and stats that tend to be disconnected from the reality of people’s lives. p187 A detailed discussion about how capitalism is counter to Black liberation.
11. "The Postpartum Tree" - A brilliant essay about the moments a man becomes a father, and the pressures for women to become mothers.
12. "A Conversation on Afro-Normalism" - Diddy made “Can’t stop, won’t stop” scripture, with each of us finding new ways to adopt the slogan as principle, as a means by which to revel in the sacred art of doing. p220
13. "Death by Visibility" - Visibility is a Black man’s defense mechanism actualized. It is our shield. It is our comfort. p240
14. "Survivor's Guilt" - A fascinating piece about "being the one to get out."
15. "The Eulogy of Charles Lorenzo" - A moving essay about the high death rate Black men of all ages experience in the US.
16. "Our Poetry Will Save the World" - A beautiful piece about the power of Black art to provide purpose and voice to Black people.
June 5, 2024
Thank you to Joel Leon, Macmillan Audio, NetGalley, and Henry Holt & Co. for this book.
Everything and Nothing at Once: A Black Man’s Reimagined Soundtrack For The Future was expertly written and very profound. Joel Leon narrated this audiobook and it made the experiences he discussed that much more intense. This book is a collection of essays where he discusses growing up Black, masculinity, and his overall experience as a Black father, son, and brother. I highly recommend this book.
Everything and Nothing at Once: A Black Man’s Reimagined Soundtrack For The Future was expertly written and very profound. Joel Leon narrated this audiobook and it made the experiences he discussed that much more intense. This book is a collection of essays where he discusses growing up Black, masculinity, and his overall experience as a Black father, son, and brother. I highly recommend this book.
November 17, 2023
"Everything and Nothing At Once" by Joel Leon resonates deeply with my work as a therapist in the Bronx and my personal experiences. This collection of essays, penned by a Bronx native, performer, poet, and storyteller, offers a tender, rich, and emotionally honest exploration of Black masculinity, Black life, Black parenthood, Black joy, Black trauma, and the rich tapestry within the Black community.
Leon's prose is a delicate blend of street talk and fierceness, delivering an unflinchingly honest account of his own experiences and reflections. Having lived and worked in the Bronx for over a decade, I found immense fulfillment in reading an artist's testimony who not only grew up in the same borough but also pays homage to its transformative impact on his journey towards becoming the artist, man, partner, father, and creative he is today.
Leon's mastery of language is evident throughout the collection, skillfully rendering even the most painful experiences into words that you won't be able to stop reading. His ability to encourage readers to persist through challenging emotions showcases his gift for making a home out of language. It is not surprising that he authored his first book at the age of 14, a testament to his role as a thinker, feeler, and community activist.
The vulnerability with which Leon explores his journey as a Black father to two Black girls is particularly moving. His emotional maturation process unfolds on the pages, outlining his mistakes as a guide for the next generation of Black men. This collection is not a directive on what to think or feel; rather, Leon invites readers to consider who we are as Black folx, urging reflection on the art we will create and the legacy we will leave in our lifetimes.
The essays cover a wide spectrum of topics, from the intricacies of masculinity as performance to the fragility within this "decaying time bomb." Leon fearlessly addresses questions often left unspoken, such as "How do you break up with a friend if you are a Black man?" He weaves in insights from Buddhism, sharing its impact on his gratitude practice and his ability to navigate life with openness.
Throughout the collection, Leon pays homage to influential figures and community pillars, including Jay Z, Nipsey Hussle, Will Smith, The Ortiz Funeral Home, and Fordham Road. He shares personal experiences with therapy, emphasizing its role in healing his inner child and promoting positive well-being today.
The eulogy for his father, Charles Lorenzo, at the end of the collection adds a deeply personal touch. In "Everything and Nothing At Once," Joel Leon invites readers to witness the beauty in the complexity of Black life, offering a profound and transformative journey through his words. This collection is a testament to the power of storytelling and the healing potential of literature in exploring and understanding the nuances of the human experience, specifically for the brothers. Thank you to the author and publisher for the e-arc copy!
Leon's prose is a delicate blend of street talk and fierceness, delivering an unflinchingly honest account of his own experiences and reflections. Having lived and worked in the Bronx for over a decade, I found immense fulfillment in reading an artist's testimony who not only grew up in the same borough but also pays homage to its transformative impact on his journey towards becoming the artist, man, partner, father, and creative he is today.
Leon's mastery of language is evident throughout the collection, skillfully rendering even the most painful experiences into words that you won't be able to stop reading. His ability to encourage readers to persist through challenging emotions showcases his gift for making a home out of language. It is not surprising that he authored his first book at the age of 14, a testament to his role as a thinker, feeler, and community activist.
The vulnerability with which Leon explores his journey as a Black father to two Black girls is particularly moving. His emotional maturation process unfolds on the pages, outlining his mistakes as a guide for the next generation of Black men. This collection is not a directive on what to think or feel; rather, Leon invites readers to consider who we are as Black folx, urging reflection on the art we will create and the legacy we will leave in our lifetimes.
The essays cover a wide spectrum of topics, from the intricacies of masculinity as performance to the fragility within this "decaying time bomb." Leon fearlessly addresses questions often left unspoken, such as "How do you break up with a friend if you are a Black man?" He weaves in insights from Buddhism, sharing its impact on his gratitude practice and his ability to navigate life with openness.
Throughout the collection, Leon pays homage to influential figures and community pillars, including Jay Z, Nipsey Hussle, Will Smith, The Ortiz Funeral Home, and Fordham Road. He shares personal experiences with therapy, emphasizing its role in healing his inner child and promoting positive well-being today.
The eulogy for his father, Charles Lorenzo, at the end of the collection adds a deeply personal touch. In "Everything and Nothing At Once," Joel Leon invites readers to witness the beauty in the complexity of Black life, offering a profound and transformative journey through his words. This collection is a testament to the power of storytelling and the healing potential of literature in exploring and understanding the nuances of the human experience, specifically for the brothers. Thank you to the author and publisher for the e-arc copy!
June 3, 2024
Gifted by the publisher
If MARTYR! and THERE’S ALWAYS THIS YEAR had a baby, this would be it 🥹🥹🥹
EANAO is a remarkable collection of essays that intricately weaves together the complex threads of toxic masculinity, parenting, depression, capitalism, male friendships, and the contemporary Black male experience. Leon’s ability to infuse his essays with humor, including self-deprecating remarks, makes me feel like I’m discussing modern Black male culture with a close friend. His commentaries are funny yet insightful, providing a unique and intriguing perspective on serious topics.
Every essay is phenomenal, and some of my absolute favorites are: What Kind of Black Are You? Belly, How to Make a Black Friend, Feat. Ty, For Black Boys Contemplating Suicide, The Eulogy of Charles Lorenzo, Feat. Charles Lorenzo, Our Poetry Will Save the World.
If MARTYR! and THERE’S ALWAYS THIS YEAR had a baby, this would be it 🥹🥹🥹
EANAO is a remarkable collection of essays that intricately weaves together the complex threads of toxic masculinity, parenting, depression, capitalism, male friendships, and the contemporary Black male experience. Leon’s ability to infuse his essays with humor, including self-deprecating remarks, makes me feel like I’m discussing modern Black male culture with a close friend. His commentaries are funny yet insightful, providing a unique and intriguing perspective on serious topics.
Every essay is phenomenal, and some of my absolute favorites are: What Kind of Black Are You? Belly, How to Make a Black Friend, Feat. Ty, For Black Boys Contemplating Suicide, The Eulogy of Charles Lorenzo, Feat. Charles Lorenzo, Our Poetry Will Save the World.
June 3, 2024
A raw, powerful series of essays about Black masculinity in all its complicated, multifaceted glory.
March 19, 2024
I am a white woman, so this book is difficult to review... I cannot speak to what it means to be a Black man in America. My only clue comes from books like this, which share insight with me. The only thing I can do is be open to its lessons.
I found the book emotional, intelligent, funny, heartwarming, frustrating... It is filled with anger, love, sarcasm, pain, humor and all of the human emotions that make us who we are. Its pages are filled with life. It made me think, and allowed me a glimmer of insight into the author's lived experiences. He was forthright and vulnerable, and that made it a wonderful read.
I am grateful to the publisher and author for this #gifted copy of a book that I will recommend often.
I found the book emotional, intelligent, funny, heartwarming, frustrating... It is filled with anger, love, sarcasm, pain, humor and all of the human emotions that make us who we are. Its pages are filled with life. It made me think, and allowed me a glimmer of insight into the author's lived experiences. He was forthright and vulnerable, and that made it a wonderful read.
I am grateful to the publisher and author for this #gifted copy of a book that I will recommend often.
May 6, 2024
Read any essay collection and ideally, you’ll learn something about the author. How much you learn is sort of up to how much they grant you. Leon charged forward with this collection as unapologetically as any author I’ve read. His storytelling is manifold, flitting from playful admissions of his Capricornism and what that means for his emotional navigation of this tumultuous world, to more sober retellings of the founded fears and looming realities he faced as a Black boy, to the equally impactful joys and lessons of being a Black father. But between all of it, there was a poetic beauty — an actively breathing learning taking place in each paragraph he wrote. While some of Leon’s ideas felt more actualized, communicating his grasp of the issue at hand, he’s not too shy to tell you when he’s still figuring other ideas out. Therein lie the true gems of this collection.
The pieces regarding Leon’s childhood are particularly fearless in their details and full of empathy for even the most complex people in his life. Each essay seamlessly weaves a fierce love of music and poetry with vivid details of early life in the Bronx to produce tapestries in relatively few pages. Leon’s voice is unmistakeable, beckoning readers to pause and consider the delicate, swirling, magnificent intricacy of human experience — especially when it feels the messiest. That’s where the poetry lives.
The pieces regarding Leon’s childhood are particularly fearless in their details and full of empathy for even the most complex people in his life. Each essay seamlessly weaves a fierce love of music and poetry with vivid details of early life in the Bronx to produce tapestries in relatively few pages. Leon’s voice is unmistakeable, beckoning readers to pause and consider the delicate, swirling, magnificent intricacy of human experience — especially when it feels the messiest. That’s where the poetry lives.
August 31, 2024
4.5 stars. Varied essays including topics such as black culture, black masculinity, black comedians, relationships, Will Smith slap, gender pay equity, family and fatherhood interspersed with music and poetry. Wonderful writing providing an interesting and thought-provoking perspective. Audiobook highly recommended.
August 13, 2025
It is such an honest and tender look at Black manhood, almost uncomfortably so at times because it forces you to reckon with how we treat and understand Black men. I love this book and donated my copy to my college-bound son who I know will learn so much from it 💜
June 15, 2024
Insightful and intriguing. The essays are interesting to read, and discuss important topics.
June 14, 2024
Smart, funny, and brave.
Joel isn’t just a writer. He’s a space facilitator, a poet, and an emotional activist; all of it bleeds through the pages of Everything and Nothing at Once.
It’s ultimately a love letter for Black men, but equally entertaining and engaging no matter the readers gender identity. I sometimes felt like I snuck into the men’s locker room, my eyes occasionally widening at a perspective I’d never heard or considered. Manhood may be the lens which Joél sees through, but love and humanity keep him anchored throughout the book.
The audio is dope.
Joel isn’t just a writer. He’s a space facilitator, a poet, and an emotional activist; all of it bleeds through the pages of Everything and Nothing at Once.
It’s ultimately a love letter for Black men, but equally entertaining and engaging no matter the readers gender identity. I sometimes felt like I snuck into the men’s locker room, my eyes occasionally widening at a perspective I’d never heard or considered. Manhood may be the lens which Joél sees through, but love and humanity keep him anchored throughout the book.
The audio is dope.
April 23, 2024
So I got sent this book early because I won a goodreads giveaway, and I could not be more grateful.
This is a very beautiful and intelligent book about being black and a man in America.
First off, I am a white man, so I'm not the perfect target audience, but I feel like this book is very helpful to all men. The essays in this helped me understand a bit more about the African-american experience in the US, something that I won't ever experience, and I feel more informed than I was before.
There are also a lot of good essays/points that help understand masculinity, and how it affects us and our lives in America today.
The author has an amazingly articulate and intelligent voice all throughout the book, and I would recommend this to all men whether you are black or not.
This is a very beautiful and intelligent book about being black and a man in America.
First off, I am a white man, so I'm not the perfect target audience, but I feel like this book is very helpful to all men. The essays in this helped me understand a bit more about the African-american experience in the US, something that I won't ever experience, and I feel more informed than I was before.
There are also a lot of good essays/points that help understand masculinity, and how it affects us and our lives in America today.
The author has an amazingly articulate and intelligent voice all throughout the book, and I would recommend this to all men whether you are black or not.
July 3, 2025
I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway. Joel Leon offers a interesting collection of essays that circle out from the experience of a Brooklyn-based writer to explore the ramifications of living as a Black man in contemporary America. His style is free flowing, almost stream of consciousness, he even mentions that he writes essays like "I write raps”. The essays cover a wide spectrum of topics, from the intricacies of masculinity as performance to the fragility within this "decaying time bomb." He also pays homage to influential figures and community pillars, including Jay Z, Nipsey Hussle, Will Smith, The Ortiz Funeral Home, and Fordham Road. He finally shares personal experiences with therapy, emphasizing its role in healing his inner child and promoting positive well-being today.
Traversing both the serious and the lighthearted, Leon offers the reader pieces like “How to Make a Black Friend” consider challenging, delightful, and absurd moments in relationships, while others like “Sensitive Thugs You All Need Hugs” and “All Gold Everything” ponder the collective harms of society's lens. He does all this in such a way as to inspire reflection.
Traversing both the serious and the lighthearted, Leon offers the reader pieces like “How to Make a Black Friend” consider challenging, delightful, and absurd moments in relationships, while others like “Sensitive Thugs You All Need Hugs” and “All Gold Everything” ponder the collective harms of society's lens. He does all this in such a way as to inspire reflection.
July 26, 2024
I really enjoy Joel Leon’s way with words and storytelling. I’m usually a reader of physical books, but occasionally (usually in the summertime on sunny filled walks) I like to listen to an audiobook on Audible, which is what I did with this book. All the more delightful that the book was narrated by the author himself.
As a mental health therapist, I especially liked his chapter for black men considering suicide as well as the chapter on survivor’s guilt and his complex thoughts and emotions about his father. What I liked most about this book was his thoughtful and nuanced analysis/reflections on a plethora of topics, something that seems both rare and refreshing in our current times.
We need more artists like Joel Leon sharing their authentic humanity with their grace, love, compassion, and appreciation of the beauty of this world amidst the darkness. Look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
As a mental health therapist, I especially liked his chapter for black men considering suicide as well as the chapter on survivor’s guilt and his complex thoughts and emotions about his father. What I liked most about this book was his thoughtful and nuanced analysis/reflections on a plethora of topics, something that seems both rare and refreshing in our current times.
We need more artists like Joel Leon sharing their authentic humanity with their grace, love, compassion, and appreciation of the beauty of this world amidst the darkness. Look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
February 27, 2025
An incredible collection of essays from a beautiful human. I’ve been a fan of Joél and his words for awhile and his first book did not disappoint at all. I took my time, reading slowly, absorbing his thoughts and reflecting on his journey. I am better for having read this and look forward to hopefully reading more of his art.
“If the pandemic taught me anything, it is how individualism and this idea that self reliance is a virtue are the lies we are told in order to remain distant and detached from the goal of liberation. It takes a community to get free.”
“This is the fear of not being enough or too much or the even scarier unknown in between that exists between Black life and the death that we as Black men see peeking around the proverbial corner of our day-to-day lives. Because Blackness itself is a condition of the heart when living in a world that is slowly trying to kill you in as many ways as possible.”
“If the pandemic taught me anything, it is how individualism and this idea that self reliance is a virtue are the lies we are told in order to remain distant and detached from the goal of liberation. It takes a community to get free.”
“This is the fear of not being enough or too much or the even scarier unknown in between that exists between Black life and the death that we as Black men see peeking around the proverbial corner of our day-to-day lives. Because Blackness itself is a condition of the heart when living in a world that is slowly trying to kill you in as many ways as possible.”
May 29, 2024
Thank you to Henry Holt and Company for my advanced copy. My thoughts are my own.
Leon uses language like a sculptor uses clay--he forms and shapes it and makes the reader feel as at home with it as he does, seeing its possibilities. He does all this in such a way as to inspire reflection--to see from the perspective of another and to be the better for it. I, as a White woman, am not Leon's target audience. But even though I can only read with limited understanding, I am still astounded by his profundity. He examines the nature of Black masculinity in the US in all the ways that is is, has been, and could be. I celebrate his quest for good mental health and his mission to help others (especially Black men) to feel their feelings.
Trigger warning: substance abuse, suicidal ideations
Leon uses language like a sculptor uses clay--he forms and shapes it and makes the reader feel as at home with it as he does, seeing its possibilities. He does all this in such a way as to inspire reflection--to see from the perspective of another and to be the better for it. I, as a White woman, am not Leon's target audience. But even though I can only read with limited understanding, I am still astounded by his profundity. He examines the nature of Black masculinity in the US in all the ways that is is, has been, and could be. I celebrate his quest for good mental health and his mission to help others (especially Black men) to feel their feelings.
Trigger warning: substance abuse, suicidal ideations
June 4, 2024
Everything and Nothing At Once: A Black Man's Reimagined Soundtrack For The Future by Joel Leon is a collection of essays about growing up Black in the Bronx. The author speaks on Black masculinity, Black feelings, and, in general, being part of the Black community.
When this audiobook came up on my "to choose" list, I immediately said yes! The author narrated themselves, and it was done to perfection. He is a poet, and these essays really showed that. He wrote about his own experience as a Black man, father, son, brother, friend, and partner. The rawness of it was so emotional and eye-opening. He spoke about people who influenced him, who he looked up to like famous rappers and cultural icons, and how that can shape everyone so differently. The audiobook felt like I was having a conversation with the author. It was beautifully written, and I highly recommend this book!
When this audiobook came up on my "to choose" list, I immediately said yes! The author narrated themselves, and it was done to perfection. He is a poet, and these essays really showed that. He wrote about his own experience as a Black man, father, son, brother, friend, and partner. The rawness of it was so emotional and eye-opening. He spoke about people who influenced him, who he looked up to like famous rappers and cultural icons, and how that can shape everyone so differently. The audiobook felt like I was having a conversation with the author. It was beautifully written, and I highly recommend this book!
September 5, 2024
Joel born and raised Bronx, lyrically depicts the fluidity of Black male humanity more than often limited within mainstream media. Critiquing the world and his own lived experience through the cassete tapes, cds, vinyls and mix tapes that shaped him into the performer and writer that he is. This book, a compilation of essays devlved into the writer's life, lessons, and sufferings. I cannot wait to buy a copy of it for my father, brother, and cousins. Joel's voice sounded like family to me, his cultural references reminded me of the times we drove from upstate ny down to the bronx to visit family. His experiences as a black, male, carribean man stuck between privilege and poverty hite home. Joel's soundtrack was often what I listened to with my tribe. I heard my late uncle's voice in his words. The book read as smoothe as the famous backpack rap rappers referenced.
June 22, 2024
Everything and Nothing at Once by Joel Leon is a book by a black man intended for black men but it is SO much more. Just listening to Joel read his prose is poetry for the ears. It's not Joel's job to educate me but listening to the essays brought insight to struggles I never considered. I laughed, I cried, I learned. There were a lot of moments that recalled "When Chickenheads Come Home to Roost" by Joan Morgan for me. They are honestly probably nothing alike and two books with very different intended audiences but both have a way of sucking you into their rhythm and imparting a lasting impression. I recommend listening to the audio.
What else can I say? My opinion doesn't matter here but I think everyone should read this book if given the opportunity.
What else can I say? My opinion doesn't matter here but I think everyone should read this book if given the opportunity.
July 12, 2024
As a white woman, I cannot speak to what it means to be a Black man in America. The insight I get comes from books like this, but I do my best to be open to what these books can teach me.
Every and Nothing At Once was a profound and expertly written collection of essays that weaved together the complex threads of parenting, depression, capitalism, toxic masculinity, male friendships and the contemporary black experience. Leon had a way of infusing his essays (usually centered around serious topics) with humor which made it feel like having a discussion with a friend. His commentary was interesting and insightful and provided a unique perspective on many serious topics.
This is a wonderful read for everyone, but I think it's especially important for other white people to pick up.
4.5🌟
Every and Nothing At Once was a profound and expertly written collection of essays that weaved together the complex threads of parenting, depression, capitalism, toxic masculinity, male friendships and the contemporary black experience. Leon had a way of infusing his essays (usually centered around serious topics) with humor which made it feel like having a discussion with a friend. His commentary was interesting and insightful and provided a unique perspective on many serious topics.
This is a wonderful read for everyone, but I think it's especially important for other white people to pick up.
4.5🌟
June 22, 2024
I know I'm not the intended audience for this book, but anyone can find insight and connection in Joél Leon's powerful vulnerability and tight turns of phrase that read like lyrics.
This essay collection covers topics from body image to mental health to capitalism to grief to parenthood to masculinity, both healthy and toxic, and so much more.
This is a resonant and ultimately hopeful collection woven together from stories from Leon's life, his neighborhood, and pop culture. Yes, there's darkness, but there's poetry--like the title of Leon's last essay, I believe "Our Poetry Will Save the World" too.
Thank you so much to Goodreads and the publisher for the giveaway copy I won!
This essay collection covers topics from body image to mental health to capitalism to grief to parenthood to masculinity, both healthy and toxic, and so much more.
This is a resonant and ultimately hopeful collection woven together from stories from Leon's life, his neighborhood, and pop culture. Yes, there's darkness, but there's poetry--like the title of Leon's last essay, I believe "Our Poetry Will Save the World" too.
Thank you so much to Goodreads and the publisher for the giveaway copy I won!
January 8, 2026
I was so happy to receive this book through a giveaway because I knew instantly it would be a favorite. Joél writes with such passion and insight into the struggles and beauty of being a Black man. I feel that books like this are so important for people like myself, who can never fully understand the complexities and nuances of being Black in America, but should pit in the effort to educate ourselves so we can be a better neighbor and ally. Joél pulls from so many aspects of popular culture to discuss the deep meanings underneath what we deem popular or unworthy. Such a fantastic book, I could talk about it for hours.
July 3, 2024
This is a good and insightful book about what it means to be and feels like being a black man in modern America. There are reflections on the nature of fatherhood (both being a father and having a father), being hard, having bling, friendship, mental health how to treat women, death, surviving, and various other things.
Some parts are quite good - the chapter that focuses on issues like suicide ideation. Other parts were a bit more lackluster, like when he tries to get inside Chris Rock's mind during and after the Oscar slap incident. Overall, the highlights far outweigh the rest.
Some parts are quite good - the chapter that focuses on issues like suicide ideation. Other parts were a bit more lackluster, like when he tries to get inside Chris Rock's mind during and after the Oscar slap incident. Overall, the highlights far outweigh the rest.
May 15, 2024
This book by Joel Leon is a work of staggering genius, all about him and his life in the big city. Joel really comes to life in the pages of his autobiographical essays, to include great descriptions of his world, and the emotionally charged decisions that he has to make. It's a bunch of stories, about how he single handedly beat the odds of mental illness, and survived to raise a family of his own. Well said and recommended to people of all ages, listen to Joel.
September 11, 2024
A vulnerable and resonating memoir that serves at a mirror into the experience of a black man in America dealing with hyper masculinity and racism. He shares beautiful reflections on poetic heroes I admire too- James Baldwin, Nikki Giovanni. He draws connections between struggles for justice worldwide, including the plight of Palestine.
September 28, 2024
This book is a good book. I read the whole thing. But its not my cup of tea ☕, if you know what I mean. I didn't really understand most of the man was talking about. If I was more smarter, I think I would have liked it way more.
its just not for me, but maybe you should try it. HEH
CONVINCE MEHH
its just not for me, but maybe you should try it. HEH
CONVINCE MEHH
April 29, 2024
I received this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway.
Well written with amusing anecdotes and lots of information. It was easy to read. Not my typical genre so do not know how it compares to others in the genre.
Well written with amusing anecdotes and lots of information. It was easy to read. Not my typical genre so do not know how it compares to others in the genre.
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