
The Time Is Now.
Click below to learn more about Arshay Cooper's foundation.
New Book October 2025
From the celebrated athlete and award-winning author, an inspirational collection of personal stories and lessons that will spark change within you and transform how you contribute to the world.
Arshay Cooper believes in bringing people together, seeking out opposing ideas to collaborate and find consensus rather than focusing on differences and “othering.” In Let Me Be Real with You, he reflects on his personal journey—from the trials he faced as a young Black boy from the West Side of Chicago to finding international recognition as an athlete and philanthropist—sharing insights to guide you on your own journey.
The stories in Let Me Be Real with You will help you navigate difficulties and challenges with grace, awareness, hope, and even humor, and fortify your commitment to a life lived in service to others without sacrificing your own self-care. Arshay introduces you to the eight essential tenets of wellness—mental, physical, environmental, vocational, financial, intellectual, social, and spiritual—and teaches you how to incorporate them into daily life. You'll discover:
How to tell and own your stories.
The importance of unlearning so you can learn.
The balance between pushing yourself and recovery.
Cooper reveals how a wellness mindset and practices became an integral part of his life and success and how they can become central to yours as well. A memoir and inspirational guide, Let Me Be Real with You is for all of us who want to change our lives and find the courage to “do it afraid."
A Most Beautiful Thing Documentary
Narrated by Academy Award and Grammy-winning artist Common. Executive Produced by Common, NBA Stars Grant Hill and Dwyane Wade, and Grammy-winning producer, 9th Wonder. Directed and produced by award-winning filmmaker (and Olympic rower) Mary Mazzio. Featuring original music by femdot., Reuben Vincent, King Draft and Swank; Ian Kelly, GQ, and other hip-hop artists, with beats by E.Jones.
A Most Beautiful Thing chronicles the first African American high school rowing team in this country (made up of young men, many of whom were in rival gangs from the West Side of Chicago, all coming together to row in the same boat). For more information, please visit AMostBeautifulThing.com
Arshay and his work has been featured in:






















