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dominiquejl's review against another edition
2.0
Judging from the other reviews, apparently a lot is lost by not listening to the audiobook version, because despite being a fan of Baratunde on Twitter and the About Race podcast, this book just wasn't that compelling. The memoir pieces are the best bits, I found him highly capable of writing with humor and authority on his own experience, and his voice is endearing. But when speaking more generally about blackness, which is most of the book, I found him just not very funny, or especially insightful, nor does he seem to have much new to say. If you're used to the quick wit and trenchant commentary of Black Twitter, and wanted that in more than 140 characters, I'd say keep looking. 250 pages of Baratunde's Twitter feed would be a better read than a book that ultimately can't quite figure out what it's trying to do. Hoping his next effort is better!
freyaf97's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed this and Thurston has a really readable writing style. I was surprised by how genuinely funny this was and liked that he let his comedic flair come through. However, it just all felt a bit light. He states in the introduction that he wanted to ‘recomplicate blackness’ but it just felt like he was skimming the surface to appeal to a mass market.
wellreadsinger's review
funny
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
5.0
Barracuda. Sorry, I mean Bartholomew. Wait, my fault I meant Barack?…nah that’s not it. Bidi bidi bom bom? Hol on, I got it now: Baratunde Thurston and the BPP (not the Black Panther party) use this memoir combined guidebook to discuss race in a refreshing way and provide a look into the future of blackness.
I loved reading about Brad’s upbringing and the ways his mother ensured that he had balance in his life. Whether it was making sure he had the best education, knowing how to protect himself, or simply staying connected to his community—she was a prime example of how blackness and what it means to be black has no limitations. Barry, HNIC of the BPP (black people panel) notes that it is important for black people to fully embrace themselves which in turn will help define what blackness means to them individually.
Thursday doesn’t simply urge black people to think about where we want to go in regards to our standing in this country, but he provides a solid plan for how we might get there. How To Be Black effortlessly gets its message across without the humor drowning it out. If you want to learn how to be black (from an actual black person!!), if you want to beat the “I’m not racist” allegations, or if you want to help close the racial wealth gap by giving a black author his coins, this one is for you (everyone).
audaciouskay's review against another edition
5.0
Only the funniest book I've ever read (and certainly one of the best books I've ever read)! Baratunde's approach to discussing race is so refreshing. I'm giving every white person I know a copy of this book! (I kid. Sorta.)
misamille's review against another edition
5.0
I recently got an Audible account because when I was little I LOVED listening to audio books. Mainly because we traveled around a lot and I get sick in cars (BAD motion sickness I have) while reading. So, I would listen to SO many books on my cassette player that I would check out from the library.
Now that I am the ripe age of 22 (*makes the older readers of this blog feel older than what they are*) I missed that experience of listening to books being read to me.
When I got the account I, of course, had to pick out a book. There were soooo many decisions to make
and I fail at making them to pick just one with the free credit Audible gives you.
I was on the phone with the boyfriend and he recommended "How To Be Black" because the awesomely named author, Baratunde Thurston (yes that's his real name) was on the Nerdist podcast (if you don't know what that is click on the name and check it out!).
Now if you don't want to do the whole audio book experience with this one but I highly recommend to get it in this form, but it also comes in book form.
"How To Be Black" is essentailly exactly what it says, but it's very well mixed in with his own story of coming of age as one of the only black kids in a predominately white school and his life up to a certain point (which *being honest* I don't remember).
Aside from the memoir part the 'guidebook' is the most hilarious part of the whole book!
It basically opens up with a checklist with the things that make black people black, and according to that list I am the blackest of the black (even though I'm honestly really white...I mean if you look up the definition of a 'white girl' I'm there! Hai.). I also did go to high school where the white kids where the minority but it's all cool up in this hood, so there.
Anywho back to the book.
In addition to the list, there are just so many tidbits of hilarity it's hard to not laugh out loud (LoL). The best part, and this is why it's better to get the audio book because you can hear these people, is the Black Panel.
The Black Panel is a group of people Thurston gathered to use as a kind of focus group to disprove or prove this long list of stereotypes and questions. It's composed of three black men, three black women, and not to make it wholly biased one white guy. This part is the best and really hard to describe how awesome it is.
If you go and get any form of this book it's NOT a disappointment.
Now that I am the ripe age of 22 (*makes the older readers of this blog feel older than what they are*) I missed that experience of listening to books being read to me.
When I got the account I, of course, had to pick out a book. There were soooo many decisions to make
and I fail at making them to pick just one with the free credit Audible gives you.
I was on the phone with the boyfriend and he recommended "How To Be Black" because the awesomely named author, Baratunde Thurston (yes that's his real name) was on the Nerdist podcast (if you don't know what that is click on the name and check it out!).
Now if you don't want to do the whole audio book experience with this one but I highly recommend to get it in this form, but it also comes in book form.
"How To Be Black" is essentailly exactly what it says, but it's very well mixed in with his own story of coming of age as one of the only black kids in a predominately white school and his life up to a certain point (which *being honest* I don't remember).
Aside from the memoir part the 'guidebook' is the most hilarious part of the whole book!
It basically opens up with a checklist with the things that make black people black, and according to that list I am the blackest of the black (even though I'm honestly really white...I mean if you look up the definition of a 'white girl' I'm there! Hai.). I also did go to high school where the white kids where the minority but it's all cool up in this hood, so there.
Anywho back to the book.
In addition to the list, there are just so many tidbits of hilarity it's hard to not laugh out loud (LoL). The best part, and this is why it's better to get the audio book because you can hear these people, is the Black Panel.
The Black Panel is a group of people Thurston gathered to use as a kind of focus group to disprove or prove this long list of stereotypes and questions. It's composed of three black men, three black women, and not to make it wholly biased one white guy. This part is the best and really hard to describe how awesome it is.
If you go and get any form of this book it's NOT a disappointment.
novemah's review against another edition
4.0
I grew up in Asia and moved to the U.S. over a decade ago, and I could relate to a lot of the book. When you're a minority, it's easy to find yourself in a situation where you're the only representative of your race/ethnicity in a given place/space, and there's a certain type of anxiety, stress, and even anger that comes from having to be constantly self-conscious about every action you take and every word you say and how that may be (over)extrapolated. Thurston does a great job of capturing those feelings (and more) with humor and optimism. I really enjoyed his stories of growing up while straddling two different worlds and other little tidbits too, like his discovery of CNN International while he was in Senegal on a high school trip. (For me, it was the reverse -- I was disappointed to find that CNN in the U.S. was more similar to the E! Network than an actual news channel.) He also uses "doth protest too much" correctly, which I love because it's a huge pet peeve of mine when people misuse that phrase. Overall, a quick and enjoyable read.
thuismuis's review against another edition
3.0
A tongue-in-cheek memoir of blackness. If you don't buy this book, you're a racist. But seriously, it's always good to get a different perspective, and Baratunde Thurston pens, in an intelligent and wry manner, what being black can mean in a world that has expectations of blackness that no one ham being can adequately be summed up in.
kwbat12's review against another edition
4.0
Delightful audiobook. This was absolutely the right way to enjoy this book.
ehinrichsenjr's review against another edition
2.0
I bought this book because of the clever title. I'm as white as they come, so I figured it'd be somewhat funny to read this. I didn't realize that it was going to be 90% about somebody I'd never heard of before (I'm familiar with The Onion, just don't read it a lot). While the book did have some funny moments, most came within the first chapter. The rest of the time was devoted to Thurston describing his childhood, schooling and his experiences being black. The chapter on when he and the other people he interviewed discussed when they realized being black was being different than being white was very interesting too. But if you're not a fan of his writing or you're just looking for a good novel on how to increase your blackness, look elsewhere.