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Black Buck

Mateo Askaripour (Goodreads Author)

3.91 · Rating details · 6,044 ratings · 1,319 reviews

For fans of Sorry to Bother You and The Wolf of Wall Street—a crackling, satirical debut novel about a young man given a shot at stardom as the lone Black salesman at a mysterious, cult-like, and wildly successful startup where nothing is as it seems.

There’s nothing like a Black salesman on a mission.

An unambitious twenty-two-year-old, Darren lives in a Bed-Stuy brownston ...more

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Hardcover, 400 pages

Published January 5th 2021 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

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Average rating 3.91 ·

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· 6,044 ratings · 1,319 reviews

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Nov 12, 2020 Liz rated it liked it

Shelves: netgalley

My thoughts about this book were all over the map. It’s called satire, but it’s not the traditional laugh out loud satire. Other than a running joke in which every white person thinks Buck looks like a different famous black man, there’s not much to laugh about. Instead, it’s the tale of what happens when a young black man tries to emulate a successful white man and loses his soul.
Darren is happy working at Starbucks, waiting for the right opportunity. He gets that opportunity to work as a sale ...more

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Jan 04, 2021 Ron Charles rated it it was amazing

Shelves: finances-in-fiction

A month ago, I’d never heard of Mateo Askaripour. Today I would buy anything from him.

This young debut author apparently polished his patter as director of sales at a tech start-up. Now he’s bounced off that success to produce an irresistible comic novel about the tenacity of racism in corporate America. “Black Buck,” which marks the launch of an effervescent new career, is alternately sly and sweet, a work of cultural criticism that laments and celebrates the power of money.

In a tradition stret ...more

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Dec 27, 2020 Michelle rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley-approved, dec-2020-reads

If I were a HS English teacher or a college English professor, I would assign this book to my class. I've been ruminating on this for a few days and I think now that I'm finally extracting my analysis and putting it into words I have much more of an appreciation for what this book is meant to do. What the author has accomplished here is pretty remarkable. The more non-POC who read books like this and supplement that with research and conversations from POC, we can work towards really trying to m If I were a HS English teacher or a college English professor, I would assign this book to my class. I've been ruminating on this for a few days and I think now that I'm finally extracting my analysis and putting it into words I have much more of an appreciation for what this book is meant to do. What the author has accomplished here is pretty remarkable. The more non-POC who read books like this and supplement that with research and conversations from POC, we can work towards really trying to make things better. With that said, the skeptical part of me thinks that if you choose to read this then you're already trying (and maybe already willing to really look at how things are), but the more we can get books like this into the mainstream and into our classrooms or in front of young people who don't recognize this as their life - we can maybe, just maybe help open eyes that might have otherwise been closed.

While I was reading my rating was all over the map. After finishing it, I initially didn't like it. I told myself to stop being so old and out of touch. As I previously mentioned, it has taken me a few days to analyze this and while this is an extremely provocative book with a lot of extremes, I think there is a lot of value here. If you don't feel like you were just slapped in the face after reading it, then you're either too close to what this is about or you need to try reading it again. You should also feel really uncomfortable at times (at least I hope you do).

What I think worked in a lot of ways for me about this was that it was written as a sales manual. I liked how the narrator would talk to the reader and provide context on certain things that were happening to further illustrate a point. (The end was particularly clever.) What I was a little confused by was the rapid transformation of Buck. I felt his descent into vile behavior was a little too rapid and rushed, but I haven't seen much else about this from other reviews so it might have just been me.

I predict this book will be on a lot of lists next year and I hope it catapults Mr. Askaripour into the limelight. He has a lot of talent and I look forward to how his next book will challenge me too.

Thank you to Netgalley, Henry Holt & Co and Mateo Askaripour for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review.

Review Date: 12/29/2020
Publication Date: 01/05/2021 ...more

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Jan 08, 2021 Regina rated it really liked it

Before reading the first word of Black Buck, close your eyes, breath deeply, then recite this definition to yourself:

Satire = The use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.

For if you don’t keep that definition in mind, this novel will be weighed down by its ridiculousness. The main character, Buck (so nicknamed because he worked at Starbucks), actually tells the Before reading the first word of Black Buck, close your eyes, breath deeply, then recite this definition to yourself:

Satire = The use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.

For if you don’t keep that definition in mind, this novel will be weighed down by its ridiculousness. The main character, Buck (so nicknamed because he worked at Starbucks), actually tells the reader repeatedly that his story is unbelievable. His story being that of a young black man who is plucked from his job making mochaccinos and thrust into the world of high-stakes sales at a New York tech startup.

The entire book is written from Buck’s first person perspective, including the Author’s Note at the beginning. There he writes, “I am a black salesman on a mission. And the point of this book - which I am writing from my penthouse overlooking Central Park - is to help other black men and women on a mission to sell their visions all the way to the top.” He’s not lying - the book is even written like a sales manual with specific tips on selling highlighted in bold for his readers.

And what if you’re not black, like this particular reader? He writes, “If you’re not black but have this book in your hands, I want you to think of yourself as an honorary black person.” If you can do that, and continue to bear in mind this is SATIRE, Black Buck is a heck of a fun read. Otherwise the plot and characters will seem too over the top and unrealistic. You need to set aside your “why’s” and “how’s” entirely. You’ll also need to excuse a lot of cringe-worthy analogies like, “colder than Jeffrey Dahmer’s freezer,” “drier than a nun’s vagina,” and “sharper than Michael Jackson’s nose.” (Groan.)

All things considered, I was pleasantly surprised to see that this debut is the January 2021 Read With Jenna book club selection. Devotees of her recommendations are in for a little something different, and I hope they’ll keep their minds open to the lessons Buck is trying to sell.

My thanks to Mateo Askaripour and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for the opportunity to review an advance copy via NetGalley. ...more

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Feb 07, 2021 Bookishrealm rated it really liked it

Shelves: black-books, audiobook, books-read-in-2021, satire

I finished this book days ago, but it took me a while to reason with my feelings about it. It’s unlike anything that I’ve read before and the audiobook was truly an experience, but there were some elements that didn’t work for me as a reader. 3.75 Stars rounded up to 4 Stars for GR

One of the most important things to recognize about Black Buck is that it is a satire. If you’re not a fan of satire’s this book may not be up your alley. Personally, I haven’t read many satirical works in my lifetime I finished this book days ago, but it took me a while to reason with my feelings about it. It’s unlike anything that I’ve read before and the audiobook was truly an experience, but there were some elements that didn’t work for me as a reader. 3.75 Stars rounded up to 4 Stars for GR

One of the most important things to recognize about Black Buck is that it is a satire. If you’re not a fan of satire’s this book may not be up your alley. Personally, I haven’t read many satirical works in my lifetime so I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect. The book itself focuses on Darren who is content working as a manager at Starbucks, living in brownstone in Bed-Stuy with his mother, and dating long-time girlfriend Soraya. It’s when he makes the decision to challenge a regular customer, Rhett, on his usually drink choice that his world takes an interesting turn. Darren then becomes “Buck” as he becomes employed and goes through this rough initiation process for Rhett’s company Sumwon. Unclear of the intentions of the company, it is surprising to watch Darren fully embrace his new persona and lose the closest things and people to him.

I’m going to be honest, the macro and micro-aggressions in this book are enough to make any Black person’s blood boil. And while they may seem exaggerated, there are so many Black individuals in corporate America that continuously deal with the same conflicts as Darren (I can’t bring myself to call him Buck). The intrigue in literally watching him sell his soul for the company had me on edge. In some ways it feels like psychological warfare. How could a Black man who knows that he’s dealing with passive-aggressive behavior, abuse, and racists managers and coworkers continue to go so hard for this company? But then I have to ask myself: in reality how many Black people have had to essentially sell themselves short and have lost family and friends just to make even close to the financial gains that their White counterparts make with ease? This is especially applicable in corporate America where “the rats race” is the name of the game. You do what you have to do to survive and while it’s ugly to watch, it’s reality. From the use of Darren to promote the company’s “efforts” on diversity and inclusion to saying that he reminds people of “insert any name of any famous Black man,” Askaripour does not shy away from making readers cringe (although I suspect Black readers will be floating between laughter and anger at behaviors that are reminiscent of what they see in their daily lives). Another interesting aspect of this book is that it is literally written as a cross between a sales manual and a memoir. It’s an instruction guide and really navigates the way in which Darren will conduct his life throughout the book. From joining the company to realizing that BIPOC people must create their own way. And when they do, expect White corporate America to be filled with rage.

Now as much as I enjoyed those specific elements of the book, I must admit that the second half of the book was a drag. Askaripour had a lot going in the first half, but the second half became too muddled with too many different elements. The book itself got away from him and he was attempting to do too much at once. Part of me understands the direction he was aiming for: some White people are bothered by the success of Black people, some White people won’t even be satisfied once Black people attempt to create their own spaces, “each one teach one” – Black people helping other Black people should always be our intention; however, it was too long and became just a tad bit on the unrealistic side. It was going in so many different directions that I, as a reader, began to question my interpretation of the novel. I found myself wishing that it would come to an end. And when I reached the very end, I was pissed. I was frustrated because it came across as no matter what Black people do they can’t win against a system that was designed to fail them from the beginning. It didn’t seem to fit the construct or the primary intention of the work as a whole. I’m not sure if it was intended to be a redemption arc (part of it felt that way); however, I didn’t buy into the way I should have because my attention was taken into so many different directions. Had this section of the text been more concise, I would have felt justified in giving it 4.5 stars or higher. Overall, I think that this was a solid read with fantastic storytelling. The message in this book is going to make some readers feel uncomfortable as it should. I haven’t had a book challenge me like this in a while. Part of me still doesn’t know what to think and part of me still feels like I need to read it again before the year is over with to make sure this is the rating I want to stick with. Interestingly enough, I’m anticipating what else Askaripour will offer the literary world. ...more

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Feb 03, 2021 Brandice rated it liked it

Darren is content working as the shift supervisor at Starbucks located in a corporate NYC office building. He’s worked there for 4 years, lives at home with his mom, and has a girlfriend. One day Darren persuades a customer to change his typical drink order and the customer, Rhett, is impressed. He invites Darren to come work at Sumwun, his startup company located upstairs. Eventually Darren agrees, beginning his new career.

Hell Week is rough for Darren — His mock calls are highly criticized an ...more

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Feb 02, 2021 Jessica | JustReadingJess rated it it was amazing

Shelves: netgalley, libro-fm

I really enjoyed Black Buck. Buck is a great character that works hard to become successful. He also mentors and starts a group to help young blacks get the skills necessary to get better jobs. I enjoyed how hard Buck worked and found it interesting how he changed as he became more successful. This is an interesting portrayal of how people change when they earn more money and success isn’t always a good thing. Black Buck discusses important race issues. Buck was never accepted by some of his cow ...more

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Feb 01, 2021 Larry H rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc

4.5 stars, rounded up.

Wow, what a book. Black Buck , Mateo Askaripour's debut novel, is powerful, satirical, poignant, and so relevant.

Darren Vender isn’t unhappy with his life. He lives with his mother in a Bed-Stuy brownstone, works at a Starbucks in the lobby of a NYC office building, and loves spending time with his longtime girlfriend, Soraya. Maybe it’s not what one would expect from the 22-year-old former valedictorian of Bronx Science High School, but he’s fine with it, even if his mo ...more

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Feb 20, 2021 Jenna rated it liked it

Shelves: race, satire, fiction

So... lots of people are raving about this book and it probably does deserve ~~all~~ much of the hype it's getting. It's a clever take on racism, especially in the workplace.

Buck is a young Black man working at Starbucks. He's content with the way life is and not very driven to do more. Then this white guy named Rhett convinces him to interview for a job at a startup called Sumwun.

Buck does and is the first Black person to work for Sumwun. Just about every white person there, upon meeting Buck, te So... lots of people are raving about this book and it probably does deserve ~~all~~ much of the hype it's getting. It's a clever take on racism, especially in the workplace.

Buck is a young Black man working at Starbucks. He's content with the way life is and not very driven to do more. Then this white guy named Rhett convinces him to interview for a job at a startup called Sumwun.

Buck does and is the first Black person to work for Sumwun. Just about every white person there, upon meeting Buck, tells him how much he looks like a famous Black person... a different one each time (of course). They want him to perform for them like he's in some present day minstrel show. Some of them talk in a stereotypical way to him. Really, they're a bunch of assholes.

I cringed even as I chuckled and it drove me crazy how Buck felt like he couldn't call them out and had to keep his justified anger inside. However, I also understand that he was in a position, as most Black people are, where he couldn't call out the racism without being punished.

Indeed, when Buck does speak up, he's accused of being a "reverse racist" (hint to white people: there's no such thing).

I love the way the author teaches about racism and microagressions and stupid shit white people do and say.

My problem with this novel is all the dialogue. I cannot stand a lot of dialogue. Usually when there's this much talking, I DNF. However, I was drawn in by Mr. Askaripour's satirical style and kept reading.

I ended up skimming much of the dialogue; at times I felt like I was reading a play. However, the parts written in narrative form captured me.

Those who don't mind dialogue will probably enjoy this more than I did. It was entertaining and I appreciate learning more about the ways in which racism manifests itself. Buck was a likable character (even though he let success turn him into an asshat for a while).

All in all, a partially enjoyable read. Witty and clever and at times hilarious, it's a brilliant way to teach about racism. ...more

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Jan 17, 2021 Barbara rated it really liked it

Shelves: satire, adult-fiction

So, “Black Buck” is billed as a satirical novel about racism, and I agree, there’s much satire in this amazing novel. While reading it, and after reading it, I took pause. Author Mateo Askaripour packs so much into his novel, and the racism…. oh my…it’s horrifying yet he writes it in such a clever way, many times cringe-worthy, that I had to admit to myself that yes, this crap happens and most likely is STILL happening! With satire and humor, Askaripour creates a message that is profound and for So, “Black Buck” is billed as a satirical novel about racism, and I agree, there’s much satire in this amazing novel. While reading it, and after reading it, I took pause. Author Mateo Askaripour packs so much into his novel, and the racism…. oh my…it’s horrifying yet he writes it in such a clever way, many times cringe-worthy, that I had to admit to myself that yes, this crap happens and most likely is STILL happening! With satire and humor, Askaripour creates a message that is profound and for me, eye-opening (without being dogmatic).

But it’s not just a satirical story. It’s a sales manual…yep, he offers little tidbits along the way on how to be a successful salesperson. For example:

“Every great salesperson has to go through tough times in order to find out what they’re made of. The best thing to do is to try to come out as unscathed as possible but to never forget the experience. Pain is a powerful teacher.”
And
“Contrary to popular belief, fairness has no place in sales. It’s not a meritocracy. Every salesperson comes into the game with a different set of advantages and disadvantages, but it’s knowing how to double-down on what makes you special that will help you get ahead.”

Now, these gems are sprinkled throughout the novel; they do not serve as the main piece. However, these gems add depth to his story. And Askaripour knows what he’s talking about because he went to NYU with the intention of getting a career in startup sales and eventually owning his own company. He did become director of sales at his company, similar to the narrator.

Where does the title come from? I mean, it’s sounds racist to me. Well, the protagonist, an earnest and kind Darren, is a manager at a NYC Starbucks. He graduated valedictorian in his high school, lives with his mom in a brownstone in Brooklyn, has a long time girlfriend is and is regular kind guy. After an odd encounter with an entrepreneur, Darren is hired to work in sales for a start-up. He’s the lone black employee and the director of sales decides to name him Black Buck because he came from Starbucks. Yikes. And often, upon meeting a colleague, he’s asked, “has anyone ever told you that you look like (insert known black man)? He’s been told he looks like Malcom X; Sidney Portier, Dave Chappelle, and the list goes on. Askaripour has stated that most of his parody is for Black people, as inside jokes. As a white woman, I blanched because I could imagine it as reality.

I found this story to be original and creative. I loved the satirical elements. I cringed for the narrator and rooted for him. I hope Askaripour pens more work. ...more

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Nov 01, 2020 Theresa Alan rated it really liked it

“An opportunity means change. And opportunity means actions. But most of all, an opportunity means the chance of failure. And it’s the potential for failure, more than failure itself, that stops so many people from beginning anything.”

I started out really enjoying this book because I liked the main character, Darren, who gets the nickname Buck at a start-up company where he is the only black person. But then Buck becomes a person I disliked immensely, one of those sleazy salespeople that is a st ...more

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Feb 07, 2021 Elle rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2021, netgalley

This was an interesting book, pretty different from a lot of other things I’ve read. I normally don’t think much of the comp titles that marketing departments like to toss out there to help sell books, but the two from the synopsis, Sorry to Bother You and The Wolf of Wall Street were pitch-perfect to me!

I’ve seen some complaints about how this book is over the top and to those readers I say......that’s kind of the point. This is a satirical novel. It’s also about a topic that’s likely to be unc This was an interesting book, pretty different from a lot of other things I’ve read. I normally don’t think much of the comp titles that marketing departments like to toss out there to help sell books, but the two from the synopsis, Sorry to Bother You and The Wolf of Wall Street were pitch-perfect to me!

I’ve seen some complaints about how this book is over the top and to those readers I say......that’s kind of the point. This is a satirical novel. It’s also about a topic that’s likely to be uncomfortable for the average white person to explore. Black Buck is not supposed to be a ‘realistic’ depiction, true to life in every single way, but I think that people who operate outside the world Mateo Askaripour is discussing would be surprised to learn how much is pulled from real life examples.

As for the story, it’s a little all over the place for me. I felt like I read multiple books back-to-back as opposed to one cohesive narrative. Black Buck is broken down into five parts, and where a couple feel like natural breaks in the story, others feel like a complete departure. I don’t want to put spoilers in this review, but there are some pivotal moments in the main character’s life that really change the dynamic of the story Askaripour is trying to tell, and not always for the better. Sometimes I think he struggled with exactly what this book was trying to be, and instead of making some difficult cuts he decided to just include everything.

I also didn’t love the ending. Not because it was bleak or I didn’t appreciate the point the author was trying to make, but because it didn’t feel as well thought out as the rest of the book. It features a character introduced at the eleventh hour as a mustache-twirling villain instead of letting the natural consequences of Buck’s actions lead him to that conclusion. I just think there was a way to accomplish the same things without cheapening the effect.

As a whole, though, I did like the book. The narrator of the audio version, Zeno Robinson, really brought the story to life. I’d recommend the audiobook to anyone who might be interested! And I’d recommend the book itself to anyone who’s interested in reading a searing debut about the intersection between the business world and race in America.

*Thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt & Netgalley for an advance copy! ...more

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Jan 17, 2021 Lisa rated it really liked it

Shelves: audiobook

[4+] Sold! It is a thrill to read a novel that leads me into new territory. Biting, absurd, over-the-top, right-on-target, Black Buck repeatedly surprised me. It also angered me, dismayed me and delighted me. My feelings about Buck, a young black man trying to succeed in a racist company, frequently vacillated as he continually transformed himself.

I recommend the excellent audiobook, read by Zeno Robinson.

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Jan 30, 2021 Elyse Walters rated it liked it

Shelves: audiobook, satire, humor, race-issues, cultural

Audiobook... read by Zeno Robinson (excellent voice personality)

As for this book... itself...
my feelings are mixed.
My funny bone has limitations.
Satire mixed with corporate America, racism, climbing the mountain, white supremacy, a mother, a girlfriend, friends, a sad loss, and the *humor*
fizzled out on me. The fire just went out....
— with an ending that left me feeling very bleak.

It started out with a fun refreshing bang....( especially loved the gifted audiobook reader)...
but then I took a ...more

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Feb 19, 2021 Reggie rated it really liked it

#10Books10Decades Entry #1 Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour

Satire is defined as the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.

Mateo Askaripour, the author of Black Buck, has been a bit reluctant to call his novel satire. He has been consistent in telling anyone who asks that his novel was written in earnest. Sure there are moments that can be considered satirical ...more

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Jan 22, 2021 Josh rated it liked it · review of another edition

Black Buck
Ambitious, Promising, Satire, Dark Humor

First off, if you want to read this book or still deciding, please have an open mind, this is going to be a wild ride, and if you are not familiar with satire , please do have a little research about it, it's going to affect your reading experience.

Darren (Buck) is an unambitious 22 year old valedictorian who works at Starbucks, and he is pretty fine with it, but his mother however really push him to go out there and show them what he's go Black Buck
Ambitious, Promising, Satire, Dark Humor

First off, if you want to read this book or still deciding, please have an open mind, this is going to be a wild ride, and if you are not familiar with satire , please do have a little research about it, it's going to affect your reading experience.

Darren (Buck) is an unambitious 22 year old valedictorian who works at Starbucks, and he is pretty fine with it, but his mother however really push him to go out there and show them what he's got. He encountered a white man Rhett Daniels who offered him a job on a company Sumwun, Darren accepted the offer. He didnt like it because he is the only black man in the company, but he accepted it anyway for his own mother, to make his mother proud.. but was it all worth it, could this be the way to Darren's success or will it drags him down and make him forgot where he came from and who he really is. Is he ready for the big change?

Black Buck is a story about racism, racism in a corporate America, White Privileges, Racial Injustice, Freedom, Decisions, And of course The American Dream.

Black Buck starts really good, really promising but it kind of went off the rails. I loved how it starts, the characters are really likable but as I continue reading, i find it so different, so ridiculous, especially near the end.
Sometimes other parts got disjointed from the main topic of the book. I find it really hard to keep up.
The good thing is it didn't fail to convey clearly and properly its purpose and its themes and lessons and everything that the author wants the reader to know. This book is a satire, which a genre that I'm not familiar of. is this supposed to be funny-sarcastic or something? . I read this really seriously. The denouement is fine, satisfying, the transformation of Darren to Buck as a human being, as a salesman, as a man, is really good. But it's expeditiously written. But acceptable.
I didn't like it that much. It's a good book, but it's not the book I expected but still it's a good read.

Thank you Mateo Askaripour, The Publisher, and Netgalley for a copy to review. ...more

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Jan 10, 2021 Jessica Woodbury rated it liked it

Shelves: authors-of-color, arc-provided-by-publisher

Very torn on this satire. While it has the bravado of a Vonnegut and the keen eye for race of THE SELLOUT, the actual plot and prose are very broad. This isn't the same kind of satire we've seen from Paul Beatty or Maurice Carlos Ruffin, it's quite different in tone even if there are definitely similarities in topic.

The concept and the ideas are the strongest pieces here. I love the fictional-memoir-as-sales-manual gimmick and it's one of the best elements of the book. The constantly twisting tu Very torn on this satire. While it has the bravado of a Vonnegut and the keen eye for race of THE SELLOUT, the actual plot and prose are very broad. This isn't the same kind of satire we've seen from Paul Beatty or Maurice Carlos Ruffin, it's quite different in tone even if there are definitely similarities in topic.

The concept and the ideas are the strongest pieces here. I love the fictional-memoir-as-sales-manual gimmick and it's one of the best elements of the book. The constantly twisting turning plot only gets faster as the book zips along. And just when you think you know what it is, it goes in a totally different direction.

What threw me is how much this book feels like melodrama rather than satire. Everything is dialed up to the extreme. There is little room for nuance or character building, the dialogue is so basic it often feels like a bad movie. (There is also that thing I keep running into in otherwise interesting books by men where the nice girlfriend is constantly described by how hot and sexy she is and it fills me with rage every time, someone please make them stop.) The tone can work very well in the business and sales scenes, but outside of those settings not so much. I can't tell if this is a purposeful attempt for an over-the-top, a kind of hyper-realism, but if it is it didn't really work for me.

There are ideas and plot points in this book that are so good and funny but that don't get fully realized. And for a book that seems to want to say something about race and class, there's not a lot of attention given to the ethics of the selling that becomes so important to everyone. It's not just entering a heavily white (and heavily male) field, it's also entering a field known for predatory tactics and fuzzy ethics. Sometimes it looks like we might go there, but then we never fully do and it dulls the overall message for me.

But even with my reservations I kept wondering where Askaripour was going to take me and I was impressed with how big a swing this is and how at its brashest it's often at its best. ...more

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Jul 03, 2020 Lily Herman rated it really liked it

Excuse me for a sec, I need to catch my breath, because this novel took me on a JOURNEY.

Mateo Askaripour's debut Black Buck is a wildly batshit absurdist satire on startup culture, racism in America, media fuckery, New York City, and so much more. Buck himself was a fascinating character—and one whom you never quite get a grip on but feel okay about in the process.

In a weird way, this novel sort of reminded me of C. D. Payne's Youth in Revolt in terms of how ridiculous the stakes got after a cer ...more

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Feb 16, 2021 Kelli rated it it was ok

This book started out really strong for me but fell flat. I didn’t like any of the characters, especially Buck/Darren. The cover was beautiful! This book just was not for me.

It reminded me of the movie Boiler Room with the sales culture mixed with a lot of racism and micro aggressions.

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Dec 19, 2020 Chelsey (a_novel_idea11) rated it really liked it

Shelves: giveaways-arcs

Darren is a managing barista at a busy Starbucks in Manhattan just waiting for his big break. When one of his regulars comes in alone one afternoon, Darren works up the courage to pitch a new drink to him. The customer always orders the same beverage, but Darren knows another drink would be better suited to him. Able to persuade the customer to try something new, Darren realizes he may have bit off more than he can chew when the customer is so surprised that he asks Darren for a meeting in his o Darren is a managing barista at a busy Starbucks in Manhattan just waiting for his big break. When one of his regulars comes in alone one afternoon, Darren works up the courage to pitch a new drink to him. The customer always orders the same beverage, but Darren knows another drink would be better suited to him. Able to persuade the customer to try something new, Darren realizes he may have bit off more than he can chew when the customer is so surprised that he asks Darren for a meeting in his office.

Darren skips out on the meeting, claiming it isn't the "right" opportunity. But Rhett, the customer, refuses to take no for an answer. And so begins Darren's adventure into sales.

Walking into the Manhattan high-rise, Darren is taken aback by just how white and non-diverse the start-up is. Worse, racism seems to underscore every aspect of the company, from the names of the rooms, to the hiring practices, to how the employees see and treat one another. Sales is a sink or swim, dog-eat-dog world and it seems the entire company, except Rhett, may be against a Black man succeeding in "their" arena.

What did Rhett see in Darren that made him so special? And will it be enough to help Darren survive not only hell week, but a sales career in general?

This was a really fantastic book that tackles the super important and relevant topic of race and racism, as well as a multitude of related issues such as white privilege, reverse racism, gentrification, stereotypes, and microaggressions. Additionally, many aspects of the book almost felt like a self-help novel with life advice and sales tips and tricks scattered throughout.

Darren was a relatable and generally likeable character. It was easy to empathize with his rise and falls, relationships with other characters, and decision-making (though sometimes I wanted to shake him and yell 'what are you doing?!?').

I loved the writing style. The storyline flowed and I really liked that Darren often provided premonitions to let us know where the story was going, without really giving anything away. The plotline ended up in a direction I would not have predicted, but it worked well for the story and made the stylistic choices (i.e. tidbits of advice) really make sense.

I wouldn't say this book has a happy ending or that it was necessarily a "feel-good" book, however, again, I thought that worked for story and made it much more realistic. Unfortunately, racism and classism very much exist and for many people who experience racism and hatred directed toward them on a regular basis, there isn't a happy ending. This book was eye-opening in a lot of ways and really shines a light on white privilege and the lack of opportunities for minorities, impoverished, and disabled individuals.

I absolutely recommend this book and think it would be a great choice for a book club or buddy read.

Thank you to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, BookishFirst, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this novel. ...more

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Feb 02, 2021 Kelly (and the Book Boar) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2021, liburrrrrry-book, cartoony-covers-are-my-kryptonite, book-of-the-month-selection, read-with-jenna-book-club

I should’ve known from the Middle Passage to never trust a white man who says, “Take a seat.” It could be your last.

Do y’all read for a specific purpose? I am 100% a mood reader and I’m also of the mindset that if I have to force myself to read something specifically for a cause (like Black History Month) there’s a solid chance I’m part of the problem rather than the solution. I ended up reading Black Buck yesterday simply for the fact that my turn had come around at the library and I know o ...more

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Jan 26, 2021 breana / milkyboos ♡ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-2021, favorites

you ever finish a book and decide that you will buy and support everything the author releases in the future forever?

yup, me too. just now. with this book.

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Jan 12, 2021 Sheena rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, social-justice-race, netgalley

Black Buck is a satirical novel that offers a unique take on race and justice. Darren is a manager at Starbucks until one day Rhett Daniels , CEO of SumWun sees potential in him and offers him the opportunity of a life time. From there, things begin to look up and may possibly slowly spiral out of control. Darren himself is an interesting character. We watch his gradual change from Darren to Buck and how it affects not only himself, but the people closest to him. Throughout the book, we get tips ...more

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Feb 09, 2021 Kathleen rated it really liked it

Meet Darren Vender, a 22-year-old Black man who lives with his mother in a Bed-Stuy brownstone. He works as a coffee barista at Starbucks until he is lured away by Rhett Daniels, who heads an up-and-coming company called Sumwun. Rhett teaches Darren how to sell—the kind of selling where the salesperson does not accept no as an answer. Darren's life completely changes--and not always for the better.

Askaripour’s debut novel takes satire to a whole new level. It takes aim at capitalism dependent up ...more

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Nov 09, 2020 Laura Tenfingers rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley

This was fantastic!

Here we meet Darren, a black man living in NYC, high school valedictorian working at Starbucks. He's smart, kind, caring, and pretty happy. But everyone he cares about wants him to reach his potential, be the man they know he can be, etc. Then an opportunity presents itself, and to please said people, he takes it. And all manner of hell breaks loose.

I found this book to be a great mixture of hilarity, inspiration and confrontation with racism. It was really smart and engaging ...more

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Jan 17, 2021 Chelsea Amber rated it did not like it

(SPOILER WARNING!)

I don't want what Black Buck is selling.

By page 9, I'd had enough of Askaripour's excessive use of metaphors, similes and shallow, unnatural dialogue between his characters. His repetitive jokes and sarcasm were laid on thick and never funny. Never. The word "fuck" appeared so many times in the first quarter of the book that it lost all impact. Read: A very obvious debut. Black Buck was not satirical, but sloppy.

Let's start with the main character, Darren, the titular Black Buc ...more

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Jan 06, 2021 Traci at The Stacks rated it liked it · review of another edition

Solid and ambitious debut. Really funny in parts. Reads like a movie for sure. Would be great on screen. The book went on way too long but what I liked I really liked and what lagged really lagged. Audiobook reader is great!

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Jan 27, 2021 Faith rated it liked it

Shelves: publisher, netgalley, overdrive, audio, reviewed

Darren Vender is a 22 year old man living with his mother in the brownstone she inherited in Bedford Stuyvesant. He was the valedictorian of his class at Bronx Science, but as a classic underachiever he has been working at Starbucks for four years instead of going to college. One of his Starbucks customers hires him to work at Sumwun as a cold caller selling a dubious product. Darren, the only African American at Sumwun, is nicknamed Buck by one of his more hostile new colleagues. After some ext ...more

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Jan 09, 2021 Laura • lauralovestoread rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2021, alcs, 2021-aty, arcs, hmh, 2021-popsugar

“Be good to those who need love most. Don’t be too hard on the world, especially yourself. And remember that the time we all have on this earth is but a brief flash of beauty, like a shooting star, and that we have to do all we can to live our dreams.”

Black Buck was a lyrical masterpiece and Mateo Askaripour has taken me on a journey. I had no idea what was in store for me prior to reading, only glimpsing at the synopsis that this was a satirical take on Wolf of Wallstreet.

I loved Darren, the he ...more

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Feb 16, 2021 Sunny rated it really liked it

A VERY WILD AND CRAZY RIDE OH MY GOD!! THE TWISTS THE TURNS THE HUHHHH

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About Mateo Askaripour

Mateo Askaripour

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“Askaripour closes the deal on the first page of this mesmerizing novel, executing a high wire act full of verve and dark, comic energy.”
—Colson Whitehead, author of The Nickel Boys

MATEO ASKARIPOUR was a 2018 Rhode Island Writers Colony writer-in-residence, and his writing has appeared in Entrepreneur, Lit Hub, Catapult, The Rumpus, Medium, and elsewhere. He lives in Brooklyn, and his favorite pas ...more

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“An opportunity means change. An opportunity means action. But most of all, an opportunity means the chance of failure. And it's the potential for failure, more than failure itself, that stops so many people from beginning anything.” — 5 likes

“It’s the duty of every man and woman who has achieved some success in life to pass it on, because when we’re gone, what matters most isn’t what we were able to attain but who we were able to help.” — 3 likes

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