A review by dominiquejl
How to Be Black by Baratunde R. Thurston

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!