George Takei Books

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A moving, beautifully illustrated true story for children ages 6 to 9 about growing up in Japanese American incarceration camps during World War II—from the iconic Star Trek actor, activist, and author of the New York Times bestselling graphic memoir They Called Us Enemy. February 19, 1942. George Takei is four years old when his world changes forever. Two months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declares anyone of Japanese descent an enemy of the United States. George and his family were American in every way. They had done nothing wrong. But because of their Japanese ancestry, they were removed from their home in California and forced into camps with thousands of other families who looked like theirs. Over the next three years, George had three different “homes”: the Santa Anita racetrack, swampy Camp Rohwer, and infamous Tule Lake. But even though they were now living behind barbed wire fences and surrounded by armed soldiers, his mother and father did everything they could to keep the family safe. In My Lost Freedom, George Takei looks back at his own memories to help children today understand what it feels like to be treated as an enemy by your own country. Featuring powerful, meticulously researched watercolor paintings, this is a story of a family’s courage, a young boy’s resilience, and the importance of staying true to yourself in the face of injustice.

"A stunning graphic memoir recounting actor/author/activist George Takei's childhood imprisoned within American concentration camps, as one of 120,000 Japanese Americans imprisoned by the U.S. government during World War II. Experience the forces that shaped an American icon -- and America itself -- in this gripping tale of courage, country, loyalty, and love." -- Page 4 of cover

This is the autobiography of one of Star Trek's most popular stars, George Takei. It tells of his triumph over adversity and of his huge success, despite an inauspicious start in a wartime US Asian relocation camp. In his lifetime, he has become an actor, a successful businessman, a writer, and a man deeply involved in politics and the democratic process. His story also includes his early days as an actor when he had brushes with greats like Alec Guinness, Burt Lancaster and Bruce Lee, as well as his first meeting with a writer/producer named Gene Roddenberry.

Following the success of his previous graphic memoir, George Takei unveils his most personal story for the first time. Known for his multifaceted roles as an actor, author, activist, and social media icon, Takei reveals a significant aspect of his life that remained hidden until October 27, 2005. In this memoir, he shares his journey of living in the closet and his decision to come out as gay at 68, a moment that transformed his life. Reuniting with the creative team behind his first memoir, Takei offers a powerful narrative that spans from his childhood crushes in the conformist 1950s to his rise as a global celebrity and the fear of exposure. This work presents a sweeping portrait of an iconic American navigating LGBTQ+ history. Through a blend of historical context and personal reflection, Takei illustrates the intertwining of personal and political struggles. The memoir captures the terror of feeling trapped, the anguish of voicing various issues while remaining silent about his own, the grief of losing friends to AIDS, and the joy of finding love with Brad Altman. It highlights his determination to declare that love openly and legally. Reflecting on his remarkable life, Takei serves as a candid witness to America’s progress and the value of that journey.

Gang Rudého škorpiona terorizuje celé okolí už několik měsíců. Usagi naráží na stopy jeho krutých činů kamkoliv se pohne. Jenže když je sám obviněný z toho, že je členem gangu, nezbývá mu než přejít do útoku!