The Business of Being Me

I Should Be Smarter By Now

By: Issa Rae

Narrated by: Issa Rae

A funny and inspiring essay about ambition, persistence, self-discovery, and the thrilling—if unpredictable—business of creativity by Issa Rae, one of Hollywood’s most innovative voices.

Even at seven years old, Issa Rae meant business, conducting herself with entrepreneurial authority on a toy phone in her bedroom. Eventually, it was a matter of convincing others that she had a lot to say and getting them to listen. From her first web series, Awkward Black Girl, to network disappointments to HBO triumphs, Issa charts her aspirational journey—self-doubts and all—of being taken seriously, finding her voice, and shaping it into a groundbreaking career.

From writer, actress, producer, and New York Times bestselling author Issa Rae comes I Should Be Smarter by Now. In these essays, she shares her journey from internet creative to a multi-hyphenate career in Hollywood. Read or listen to them in a single sitting. Either way, they’re insightful, hilarious, and unapologetically authentic.

©2025 by Issa Rae. (P)2025 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Insecure

Loved the the realness, the ups and downs. It was definitely relatable. Hope to see more of these.

Leaning into my superpowers

Issa Rae always brings it home with golden nuggets of wisdom and laughter. From her ABG series to Insecure to The Misadventures of ABG, Issa retells personal experiences and stories that we all encounter. Thank you for creating this series of books, it’s come at the perfect time.

Short audio listen!

Made it so much better to listen to Issa Rae herself tell her story! I will continue the collection.

Love these short stories

I love getting more insight into Issa’s journey. Very entertaining and fun to listen to.

Authenticity

Everything Issa does is truly authentic. This was inspirational yet relatable! Her familiar voice made it that much more enjoyable.