Lessons in Gratitude tells the story of Aaron Dworkin, a MacArthur Fellow, social entrepreneur, and spoken word artist who has dedicated his life’s work to changing the face of classical arts in the world. The themes of persistence, passion, and loyalty shine through stories of an unhappy childhood, a lifelong search for identity, and the obstacles of race, culture, and class. Readers will learn how the author greets these challenges and how they drove him to make a difference for people who are shut out of opportunity. Persistence in the face of multiple failures and false starts ultimately led Dworkin to create the Sphinx Organization, whose mission is to address the underrepresentation of Black and Latinx people in the field of the classical arts. 

Aaron’s unique journey, which begins with his adoption by a white Jewish couple from Chicago at two weeks of age, leads him to the ultimate reunification with his birth family at the age of 31. Lessons of Gratitude is a coming of age story that examines the difficulties of biracial identity across generations and the challenges that mixed race families still face today. It is also a painful and honest adoption memoir, further complicating the narrator’s experiences of racial identity throughout his life and shaping his experiences with his own children. Through his work in the arts and the impact of this work, Dworkin has been able to “pay forward” the first thing that offered him unconditional love—music.

Aaron P. Dworkin is a Poetjournalist, Professor of Arts Leadership & Entrepreneurship at the University of Michigan, and Founder of the internationally acclaimed Sphinx Organization.

“No one has been more effective than Aaron Dworkin in opening doors for talented musicians heretofore excluded from our nation's orchestras. He has created institutions that will continue to transform our world.”— Mary Sue Coleman, Former President of the University of Michigan

“My respect and gratitude for Aaron Dworkin is as old as the hills and deep as the canyons of our country. He is at once an artist who inspires us to reconsider the world and our understanding of it, and an entrepreneur who leads us to a better future.”— Deborah F. Rutter, President of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

“An open, honest, and compassionate account of a singular life in which music, art, community, and humanity are inextricably connected. Aaron Dworkin’s story is proof positive of the immense power of the arts to change the world for the better, in ways both big and small, immediate and long-lasting.”— Lara Downes, host of NPR’s Amplify and a Billboard Chart–topping recording artist

“Aaron Dworkin has a story to tell and share: his voice generates a genuine harmony of the dissonant pieces of life that synthesize together–all part of living with truths that define us.”— David Mas Masumoto, Author of Changing Season: A Father, A Daughter, A Family Farm

“Aaron’s life story is a compelling testament to the power of art and artists. Art, as a transformative force that helps us reimagine what is possible. Artists, as the wielders of that force. Their power lies in the willingness to bring every piece of themselves to their art and the world.”— Jenn White, host of 1A on NPR

“Aaron Dworkin’s memoir is as captivating as reading a novel; except it is a true story. On one hand, it accounts for challenges he encountered, from racism—not just from strangers, but people close to him—to financial and mental health issues. More important is how he learned to understand flaws in the system, affirm his identity, and support others; lessons from which we can all benefit.”— Jane Chu, 11th Chairperson, National Endowment for the Arts

"Despite hurdles and heartaches, Dworkin’s memoir illustrates how he has succeeded during numerous trials by fire. Dworkin narrates his personal and professional experiences and observations candidly and thoroughly. His creativity and adaptability are clear in his stories. . . . By reflecting in his memoir, Dworkin shows how he brings his full, authentic self to everything he does, along with gratitude for what he has learned and a large capacity for forgiveness and love."— Martha Stuit, Pulse

“This book is more than a memoir; it’s a journey of resilience, adaptation, and redemption. From orphanage to concert hall and to the ivory tower, Aaron’s story weaves through identity shifts and challenging circumstances. Heartrending yet inspiring, Lessons in Gratitude offers a compelling narrative of overcoming obstacles and finding forgiveness.”— Jeff DeGraff, Professor and Author