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mellabella's review against another edition
4.0
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. I was beyond excited. I've been a fan of Damon's for quite some time.
It's everything I thought it would be. I'm not even sure if my review will do it justice.
It's funny. timely, insightful and poignant... Damon's style of writing is uniquely his.
Certain parts resonated really hard.
4.5 stars
It's everything I thought it would be. I'm not even sure if my review will do it justice.
It's funny. timely, insightful and poignant... Damon's style of writing is uniquely his.
Certain parts resonated really hard.
4.5 stars
missy_evanko's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this better than all the textbook anti-racist ones out there, even though it's a memoir. It touches on race without preaching to you. But what I really loved was all the Shadyside/ East Liberty /Pittsburgh references that really showed the gentrification of all the areas I frequent. No idea who he is though otherwise, but he's kinda funny. It was recommended to me through a Pitt diversity event that got canceled at the beginning of the pandemic.
sahdays's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
leslielu67's review against another edition
4.0
This guy is a great writer and reader. I learned things and laughed. I'll keep an eye out for his next book.
dcherry_pie's review against another edition
It was really good! I did a mixture of reading and listening, which I liked because Damon Young was narrating his own life. It was very Pittsburgh-y which was cool. I knew many of the areas and streets. I also feel like it helped me learn more about the city I've been calling home for almost 3 years!
hecman111's review against another edition
3.0
A noble effort and I’m appreciative of Young’s willingness to put his life story out there for all to see and dissect. The story was filled with familiar themes of love, (in)adequacy, curiosity, otherness, and hardship, but still he kept it accessible and, at many times, entertaining. I only gave it three stars because while the story was honest and well-presented (except maybe for the excessive use of the word that at times seems 10x harsher in print), I couldn’t help but feel that it was trying to have more impact than it could actually carry on its own. Young does a good job at calling attention to marginalization but somehow still comes off as being on the sidelines of the deeper struggle. Could just be that I’m coming off of a heavier book (literally, Heavy by Kiese Laymon) with similar themes, but it just didn’t pack as much punch.
cindifer20's review against another edition
What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Blacker
balletbookworm's review
4.0
Young uses the form of the essay to both tell his own story of growing up black in Pittsburgh AND write about the culture around him. He has a sharp turn of phrase and a dry humor that I really enjoyed. There is a lot to think about here, from ripping culture, to masculinity, to use of the N word in black culture, to his lack of an driver’s license and how that impacts employment, to his new identity as a parent. I really appreciated how he constructed the chapter about his mother’s illness and death then comments on how the white medical establishment views black women’s pain and bodies; very well-crafted.
goosemixtapes's review
4.0
wonderful book written with intense rawness, honesty, & humor; will definitely be reading young’s online column!
gottarun31's review against another edition
5.0
I stumbled upon this book when a Facebook event for a Q&A with Damon Young at a local bookshop appeared in my feed. After hearing him speak, I immediately bought it. Since Pittsburgh is "so historically and hilariously white, Rick James tried to snort it," and I had been doing a deep dive into Black culture through a guy I was seeing, I thought it would be good read.
Having Pittsburgh be a focal point throughout each essay made everything more relatable, since he gentrification of East Liberty is so in-your-face.
Also halfway through this book, George Flyod was murdered. So this book really took a on a different meaning. Damon pens his thoughts, intelligence, and emotions/insecurities framed within the context of not only our inescapable racist culture, but also his very own Black culture.
Having Pittsburgh be a focal point throughout each essay made everything more relatable, since he gentrification of East Liberty is so in-your-face.
Also halfway through this book, George Flyod was murdered. So this book really took a on a different meaning. Damon pens his thoughts, intelligence, and emotions/insecurities framed within the context of not only our inescapable racist culture, but also his very own Black culture.