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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →The Book of Jose is Fat Joe’s memoir, co-written with journalist Shaheem Reid. It traces Joseph Cartagena’s path from a South Bronx upbringing shaped by street life and loss to a career in music. Fat Joe has said he wanted to tell that story transparently and in his own voice.
What The Book of Jose is about
Published by Penguin Random House, the memoir follows Cartagena, known professionally as Fat Joe, from his Puerto Rican and Cuban family and childhood in the South Bronx projects into the world of park jams and hip-hop. The publisher’s description presents him as both a young man navigating street life and an emerging rapper searching for beats.
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The story includes betrayal, addiction, death, and a shooting that nearly killed him. Music becomes a way to tell his story and pursue a different life. In a December 8, 2022 interview with Audible, Fat Joe also described the memoir as revisiting depression, suicidal thoughts, gun violence, bullying, police brutality, and the loss of loved ones, alongside personal triumph. Those are his descriptions of the subjects he addresses, not an independent verification of every account in the memoir.
Why Fat Joe says he wrote it
Fat Joe told Audible, “I wanted to make sure I did it right for the people, and I wanted to be transparent.” He said Shaheem Reid was a good fit to help preserve his voice because Reid had written about him for years.
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In a November 14, 2022 interview with People en Español, Fat Joe said he had seen documentaries and other accounts in which, in his view, the facts were wrong. He wanted his account of both his successes and failures to help people learn. That is his stated reason for writing, rather than an independently established finding about the accuracy of other portrayals.
What makes the audiobook different
Fat Joe narrates the audiobook, which the publisher lists at 9 hours and 54 minutes. In the Audible interview, he described the recording as demanding because he wanted listeners to feel immersed in the story. The interviewer noted elements including ringing phones, cars, and reenacted calls; these are features of the audio production, not the print edition.
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Choose an edition
| Format | Publisher-listed details | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Paperback | 304 pages; on sale November 7, 2023; ISBN 9780593230657 | A physical copy to read at your own pace. |
| Ebook | 304 pages; published November 15, 2022 | Digital reading. |
| Audiobook | Narrated by Fat Joe; 9 hours, 54 minutes; ISBN 9780593611074; published November 15, 2022 | Fat Joe’s narration and the audio production. |
These publication and edition details are listed by Penguin Random House. Retail prices and stock vary, so check a current listing before buying.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to know about announced adaptations
In November 2022, People en Español reported plans for a Showtime series based on the memoir, executive-produced by Kenya Barris, as well as a one-man show. Audible also referred to a Showtime adaptation in December 2022. Those reports document announcements at the time; they do not establish that either project was later produced or released.
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