Author Mateo Askaripour confronts the lack of diversity within the workplace with satire in his debut novel Black Buck. BLACK BUCK My debut novel, BLACK BUCK, OUT NOW, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 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. Brooklyn author Mateo Askaripour's debut novel, "Black Buck" (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), is a comical tale of one ambitious Black man's experience on a tech startup's sales team. Watch CBS News anytime, anywhere with the our 24/7 digital news network. Black Buck is a hilarious, razor-sharp skewering of America's workforce; it is a propulsive, crackling debut that explores ambition and race, and makes way for a necessary new vision of the American dream. Written by Danielle Prescod Debut author Mateo Askaripour wants you to know he sees you. How do I fit into all of this? "'Black Buck' is raw and intimate — and a title I knew our book club readers needed to read as we begin this new year with a fresh start," said the TODAY co-host. I won't let you down. "Black Buck," a debut novel by Mateo Askaripour, is about Darren "Buck" Vender, an enterprising manager at a Starbucks in Manhattan who impresses the leader of a … "Askaripour closes the deal on the first page of this mesmerizing novel, executing a high wire act full of verve and dark, comic energy." The story opens with Darren, a young Black man, working at … A New York Times Bestseller “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. Bang! Buck, nicknamed such from his prior position at Starbucks, is chosen by a charismatic, OCD driven, bordering on maniacal c. e. o. of a tech start up, to be his token ethnic employee, after an interesting encounter between them at the coffee shop. My goal is to teach you how to sell. Don't believe me? So high up that I'll have to crane my neck, like one of those goofy White people in films deciding whether a superhero is a bird or a plane, just to catch a glimpse of them before they're out of sight. The good thing is that you already bought this book, so you trusted me enough to part with $26. Black Buck is an ambitious book. Reprinted by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. A year ago I didn’t have a book deal, or anything else (news soon come) in the works. I don’t know what I was expecting from Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour, but it wasn’t what the book ended up being, in the best way. Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour is one of those works . I know it's strange, but do it. But before we do, I'm going to ask you to do three things. . Understand that I want all people to be successful, but in the same way that Starbucks can't just give out Mocha Frappuccinos to anyone who doesn't have $14, I can't help everyone. And a few months before that I didn’t even have an agent. 1. Not really that last one, but I just wanted to keep the rhyme going. It may be a new car, a promotion, someone's affection, or an expensive pair of shoes. 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. A day without deals is like a camel without humps; it doesn't exist. Say, "Every day is deals day," and clap your hands. Copyright © 2021 CBS Interactive Inc.All rights reserved. Reading “Black Buck”, by Mateo Askaripour, was like attending a sales conference in the hood. 3. Whoosh! California Privacy/Information We Collect. And if I'm half the salesman every newspaper, blog, and hustler in New York City says I am, then you are in luck. In fact, the dedication to his forthcoming novel, Black Buck, reads, “To all … Black Buck was born out of a handful of intersecting forces: desperation, obligation, frustration, hesitation, and flotation. Here’s How. Brooklyn author Mateo Askaripour's debut novel, "Black Buck" (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), is a comical tale of one ambitious Black man's experience on a … Oprah "hide a BMW under your seat" Winfrey is a saleswoman. Critics have heaped praise on the newly released book – part satire but more survival guide for Black people – that examines corporate racism in a comedic way. A Starbucks chain plays a major role in 'Black Buck,' a new novel by Mateo Askaripour. He's Superman, Spiderman, Batman, and any other supernatural, paranormal, or otherwise godlike combination of blood, flesh, and brains. From "Black Buck," copyright © 2021 by Mateo Askaripour. I am a Black man on a mission. While reading it, and after reading it, I took pause. Mateo Askaripour is not trying to be divisive when he says his debut novel, “ Black Buck,” was written just for Black readers, though white readers … black buck by Mateo Askaripour ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 5, 2021 A first novel satirically lays out the wretched excesses of turn-of-the-21st-century capitalism as it both enriches and disfigures a bright young Black man’s coming-of-age. No, let me revise that. In Black Buck, Mateo Askaripour uses a gregarious Black salesman in an all white company to satirically take down corporate America. They chat about telling your own story even if someone else is telling a similar one, about weaving life into art, and about how fiction is more fun. With my story, I will give you the tools to go out and create the life you want. No, I am a Black salesman on a mission. I know we're strangers right now. For the January 2021 Read With Jenna book club pick, Jenna Bush Hager selected "Black Buck" by Mateo Askaripour. A vision for what the world could look like if millions of people were to change their minds — the hardest thing to change. Peace, and thank you for being here. We'll get there. INTERVIEW: Mateo Askaripour Confronts the Surreality of the Black Professional Experience in His Satirical Novel, Black Buck By Larissa Irankunda Dec 21st, 2020, 12:34 pm Now that you’ve read the book, has your definition changed? Each and every one of these people was selling something more precious than gold: a vision. MLK, Malcolm X, James Baldwin, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Frederick Douglass were all salesmen. Not only did he sell black people on the vision of a unified America, but he also sold the United States Supreme Court, which at the time contained nine white men — the hardest decision makers for any Black man to convince. To overcome every seemingly impossible obstacle. And if you want, you can even give yourself a fancy black name, like Jamal, Imani, or Asia. So, “Black Buck” is billed as a satirical novel about racism, and I agree, there’s much satire in this amazing novel. Stream CBSN live or on demand for FREE on your TV, computer, tablet, or smartphone. There's nothing like a Black salesman on a mission. Mateo Askaripour’s first novel, Black Buck (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Jan. 5), takes place largely in an office building at 3 Park Ave. in Manhattan: a big, ungainly tower that sits diagonal to the street. And with its tips and tricks for achieving success in white-dominated spaces, the book also acts as an instruction manual for Black and brown corporate climbers. Ten-Point-Five Tips for Success: An Exclusive Guest Post from Mateo Askaripour, Author of Black Buck, Move Over, Willy Loman—Literature Needs a New Salesman, Through Films for Black Audiences, Ousmane Sembene Spoke to All, Falling in Love with Malcolm X—and His Mastery of Metaphor, Why I Won’t Teach My Child to Believe in God. This story—which is narrated perfectly by Zeno Robinson—is a satirical look at race and capitalism that could not have come at a better time. The great disappearing act of success. 4.75/5 stars (bumped to a 5 on all review websites) This novel is a satirical humor, built around the world of minorities in sales positions. The guys get caffeinated, distantly, with Mateo Askaripour to talk about his fantastic debut novel, Black Buck. As you'll find out, every day is deals day. 3. "'Black Buck' is raw and intimate — and a title I knew our book … Askaripour embeds tokens of wisdom in his well-crafted plot and delivers direct messages of advice and encouragement to readers. Let down your guard and open your mind to what I'm going to tell you. Poof! It had a colourful cover and sounded an intriguing concept. While being an intellectual and captivating work of satire, it also serves as an instruction manual for Black and brown people working in white-dominated spaces. All rights reserved. And why do you think Mateo Askaripour chose to structure the novel this way --- almost like a business memoir or sales manual? If you're not Black but have this book in your hands, I want you to think of yourself as an honorary Black person. When will I shut up and get to the point? A razor-sharp and highly intelligent debut, Black Buck brings the idea of the American Dream into a new century. Hell, Nina Simone, Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, and every other Black woman who achieved any leap of success was a saleswoman. Don't go don blackface and an afro, but picture yourself as Black. My debut novel,Continue readingABOUT. I’m writing this new About section on May 21st, 2020. He can't die. With a complex yet accessible plot, rich characters and Askaripour’s sharp wit, Black Buck is a page-turning satirical examination of corporate racial struggle. If so, how? What do you make of Buck’s advice? "Black Buck" is the new darkly comic novel by Mateo Askaripour that gets its title from an old racial slur. 2. I requested this book on NetGalley on a whim. You're likely asking yourself why you should trust me. . © 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Don't worry, I'm getting there. Whatever it is, think of it and say, "Every day is deals day," and clap your hands as loud as you can. Q&A with Mateo Askaripour Where did the inspiration for Black Buck come from?. Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour: Black Buck begins with an address that lays out the implicit contract between writer and reader: “You’re likely asking yourself why you should trust me. To fix the game. What a wild ride it’s been. “ 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. Discuss the author’s note at the beginning of the novel and the tips addressed to the reader throughout. So, I am starting with Black people. I’m grateful for growth, patience, and all who have supported me on this journey. Write Better. In the same way used-car salesmen hawk overpriced hunks of metal that break down once an unsuspecting customer drives off the lot, our man ML to the goddamn K was a salesman to the highest degree. And when you do, think of the number one thing you're working toward. Black Buck is the debut novel of Crown Heights author Mateo Askaripour. You get the point. Through sharp-witted humor and a lot of heart, Askaripour sheds light on the microaggressions and blatant racism Black men and women go through on a daily basis.The book has been praised by everyone from… Mateo Askaripour’s debut novel about a young black man in New York climbing to the top of this very shady, cult-ish start up is exactly what I needed. Mateo Askaripour’s debut novel, Black Buck, is a solid 4-star, break-neck ride through the decadent world of American start-ups. 2. Beautifully marrying the surrealism of Sorry to Bother You with the outlandish escapades of The Wolf of Wall Street, Black Buck is gearing up to be one of those novels that will definitely spur important, long-standing conversations." Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour Genre: Contemporary Fiction Length: 400 pages Audiobook Length: 11 hours and 13 minutes First Published: 2021 View in Goodreads Buy on Amazon Publisher's Description There’s nothing like a Black salesman Go on, do it. And the point of this book — which I'm 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. MLK. Want to Be More Successful? There's nothing like a Black man on a mission. The good thing is that you already bought this book, so you trusted me enough to part with $26. It is a darkly comic novel about a young Black man named Darren, who moves from trying workplace drama to a rollercoaster journey of self-actualization. Toward an Expanded Canon of Black Literature, The Distinct Anxiety of Interracial Dating, How I Became the ‘Nigger from Pulp Fiction’ in Florence. Which game, you ask? Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour 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. 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