Don Lemon’s upcoming memoir, I Once Was Lost: My Search for God in America, is slated for a fall release and delves into his journey of losing and rediscovering his faith. The book serves as a follow-up to his previous bestseller, This Is the Fire: What I Say to My Friends About Racism.
According to a press release from Little, Brown and Company, the memoir draws on Lemon’s personal experiences, from growing up in the Bible Belt of the Deep South to confronting a crisis of faith as a young man and coping with significant loss in recent years. Combining his personal stories with investigative reporting, the book weaves a poignant narrative about losing and reclaiming one’s sense of purpose and direction.
Set to release over a year after his departure from CNN in April 2023, I Once Was Lost follows a period of reinvention for Lemon. After 17 years at the network, Lemon announced his firing on X (formerly Twitter), expressing his shock at the decision. CNN later clarified that Lemon had been offered a chance to meet with management but chose to issue a public statement instead.
Since leaving CNN, Lemon launched The Don Lemon Show on March 11, featuring high-profile interviews with guests like Elon Musk, Senator Cory Booker, and Sunny Hostin. Reflecting on his return to CNN Studios for an interview with Erin Burnett, Lemon described the experience as deeply emotional, noting the warm reception from former colleagues.
I Once Was Lost: My Search for God in America will be available on September 10 and is currently open for preorder.