Cack-Handed: A Memoir

Gina Yashere, a British comedian of Nigerian heritage, co-executive producer, and writer of the CBS hit series "Bob Hearts Abishola," shares her journey to America and Hollywood in her memoir, "Cack-Handed." Born with a birthmark resembling her grandmother's, Gina was destined to fulfill her grandmother's dreams. She overcame challenges, learned English, worked a man's job, and traveled the world. The memoir explores her intergenerational journey, from growing up in London to becoming the first female engineer with Otis and a stand-up comic in the UK. It combines family, race, gender, class, and country, revealing the foundation of her successful career as an international comedian.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 11 May 2023
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

The British comedian of Nigerian heritage and co-executive producer and writer of the CBS hit series Bob Hearts Abishola chronicles her odyssey to get to America and break into Hollywood in this lively and humorous memoir.

According to family superstition, Gina Yashere was born to fulfill the dreams of her grandmother Patience. The powerful first wife of a wealthy businessman, Patience was poisoned by her jealous sister-wives and marked with a spot on her neck. From birth, Gina carried a similar birthmark – a sign that she was her grandmother's chosen heir, and would fulfill Patience's dreams. Gina would learn to speak perfect English, live unfettered by men or children, work a man's job, and travel the world with a free spirit.

Is she the reincarnation of her grandmother? Maybe. Gina isn't ruling anything out. In Cack-Handed, she recalls her intergenerational journey to success foretold by her grandmother and fulfilled thousands of miles from home. This hilarious memoir tells the story of how, from growing up as a child of Nigerian immigrants in working-class London, running from skinheads, and her overprotective mum, Gina went on to become the first female engineer with the UK branch of Otis, the largest elevator company in the world, where she went through a baptism of fire from her racist and sexist co-workers. Not believing her life was difficult enough, she later left engineering to become a stand-up comic, appearing on numerous television shows and becoming one of the top comedians in the UK, before giving it all up to move to the US, a dream she had since she was six years old, watching American kids on television, riding cool bicycles, and solving crimes.

A collection of eccentric, addictive, and uproarious stories that combine family, race, gender, class, and country, Cack-Handed is a must-read for anyone who has ever dreamed big and pursued their passions, no matter how unconventional or difficult the path may seem.

Weight: 224g
Dimension: 129 x 197 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780008620066