Layman

Born in Jackson, Mississippi, Kiese Laymon is an American writer and teacher whose work moves across memoir, fiction, and essays. He has taught English and creative writing at Rice University and is widely recognized for writing that connects personal experience with larger questions about culture, history, and power.

Laymon is the author of Long Division, How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America, and Heavy: An American Memoir. Heavy received major acclaim and helped bring his work to a broad audience, with readers and critics praising its honesty, warmth, and sharp intelligence.

Across his books, Laymon often returns to Mississippi, Black life in the American South, family relationships, and the emotional weight people carry through love, shame, memory, and survival. His writing is approachable but layered, making him a compelling author for listeners who want stories that feel intimate, searching, and unforgettable.