Deaf Utopia: A Memoir - And a Love Letter to a Way of Life

Deaf Utopia: A Memoir - And a Love Letter to a Way of Life

  • Downloads:2703
  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2022-04-19 02:21:35
  • Update Date:2025-09-06
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Nyle DiMarco
  • ISBN:0063062356
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

A heartfelt and inspiring memoir and Deaf culture anthem by Nyle DiMarco, actor, producer, two-time reality show winner, and cultural icon of the international Deaf community。

Before becoming the actor, producer, advocate, and model that people know today, Nyle DiMarco was half of a pair of Deaf twins born to a multi-generational Deaf family in Queens, New York。 At the hospital one day after he was born, Nyle “failed” his first test—a hearing test—to the joy and excitement of his parents。

In this moving and engrossing memoir, Nyle shares stories, both heartbreaking and humorous, of what it means to navigate a world built for hearing people。 From growing up in a rough-and-tumble childhood in Queens with his big and loving Italian-American family to where he is now, Nyle has always been driven to explore beyond the boundaries given him。

A college math major and athlete at Gallaudet—the famed university for the Deaf in Washington, DC—Nyle was drawn as a young man to acting, and dove headfirst into the reality show competitions America’s Next Top Model and Dancing with the Stars—ultimately winning both competitions。

Deaf Utopia is more than a memoir, it is a cultural anthem—a proud and defiant song of Deaf culture and a love letter to American Sign Language, Nyle’s primary language。 Through his stories and those of his Deaf brothers, parents, and grandparents, Nyle opens many windows into the Deaf experience。

Deaf Utopia is intimate, suspenseful, hilarious, eye-opening, and smart—both a memoir and a celebration of what makes Deaf culture unique and beautiful。

Download

Reviews

Jordan

This was a deeply personal and honest memoir about Nyle's life in the Deaf community, but also about growing up in a Deaf family, his education, his abuse, his sexuality, and his career。 I really loved the bits of Deaf history interspersed with the personal anecdotes—many of the stories I remembered from my time studying ASL in high school。 I think the partnership with his co-author created some beautiful writing where translation was needed。 One of the most important things for me with a memoir This was a deeply personal and honest memoir about Nyle's life in the Deaf community, but also about growing up in a Deaf family, his education, his abuse, his sexuality, and his career。 I really loved the bits of Deaf history interspersed with the personal anecdotes—many of the stories I remembered from my time studying ASL in high school。 I think the partnership with his co-author created some beautiful writing where translation was needed。 One of the most important things for me with a memoir is that there is a level of introspection and self-reflection, and that was certainly the case here, especially when it comes to Nyle exploring his sexuality and his previously held misconceptions about what being queer means。 I think the ending could have used a little bit of work; it ended quite abruptly, and I would've loved a bit of a conclusion。 Overall, this gives a heartfelt and loving glimpse of what it's like to be Deaf in a world designed for hearing people。CW: child abuse, ableism, internalized homophobia, suicide 。。。more

Jennifer Schultz

Since I'm not a regular viewer of America's Next Top Model or Dancing With the Stars, I was unfamiliar with Nyle DiMarco's achievements on those shows。 However, I do have an interest in books that deal with deafness/Deaf Culture, which is why this caught my eye。 This is a remarkable, stirring, and eye-opening memoir of growing up Deaf in a mult-generational Deaf family。 DiMarco entwines Deaf History throughout his narrative, which enhances and enriches his story。 His thoughts on his gay sexualit Since I'm not a regular viewer of America's Next Top Model or Dancing With the Stars, I was unfamiliar with Nyle DiMarco's achievements on those shows。 However, I do have an interest in books that deal with deafness/Deaf Culture, which is why this caught my eye。 This is a remarkable, stirring, and eye-opening memoir of growing up Deaf in a mult-generational Deaf family。 DiMarco entwines Deaf History throughout his narrative, which enhances and enriches his story。 His thoughts on his gay sexuality and LGBTQ+ culture within the Deaf community, as well as issues that arose when he dated hearing gay men were intriguing。 Throughout, DiMarco asserts his pride in being Deaf as well as the challenges and inequities he and his family have faced, Librarians/booksellers: Readers who enjoy memoirs that entertain and educate will definitely want to read this。 Many thanks to William Morrow/Custom House and NetGalley for a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review。 。。。more

Beth

#netgalleyarc I’m familiar with the author from his time in reality tv and was intrigued by his story。 This book is an open and honest look into his life and it was well-written。

Rachel

Growing up deaf for Nyle Dimarco was not an unusual thing。 His entire family was deaf。 He went to deaf school。 Then when testing out a public school made him realize he was "different"。 Nyle does a fantastic job shining light on what is means to be deaf。 He has such strong deaf pride and talks about how using terms like impaired is hurtful。 There is nothing wrong with being deaf in fact you can do anything you want just the same。 I loved to see his journey into Hollywood and the lows and highs o Growing up deaf for Nyle Dimarco was not an unusual thing。 His entire family was deaf。 He went to deaf school。 Then when testing out a public school made him realize he was "different"。 Nyle does a fantastic job shining light on what is means to be deaf。 He has such strong deaf pride and talks about how using terms like impaired is hurtful。 There is nothing wrong with being deaf in fact you can do anything you want just the same。 I loved to see his journey into Hollywood and the lows and highs of his career。 I have always been interested in his story and really enjoyed reading this。 I hope many more pick it up and educate themselves more on deaf awareness。 。。。more