Well written engaging the characters drew me in.There are twists and turns hilarious moments really enjoyed the writing the storyline.#netgalley #hmh

Wow. What a sarcastic, fun, original book. Great for fans of Office Space, Sorry to Bother to You, and Silicon Valley,

The book is introduced as a how to succeed in sales career guide. The narrator then shares his story: his rise through a startup, which leads to riches and fame.

Through the story, we observe micro and macroaggressions that many people of color experience at work. The narrator gives readers tips on how to survive.

If you’ve ever critiqued ridiculous workplace cultures, you’ll enjoy this highly original, funny novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Haughton Mifflin Harcourt for the advance reader copy.

What a journey and utter powerhouse BLACK BUCK, the debut from Mateo Askaripour, is. So much happens to Buck, our main character, in the span of a year that it is hard to condense into one quick sentence, and often hard to believe. This book is somewhat fantastical, but also often depressingly realistic. It tells the story of Darren Vendor, who gets re-named Buck after being plucked from being a Starbucks barista to being a salesman at a dubious sounding Manhattan tech start-up. A mix of tragedy and hilarity propel the plot forward as we watch Buck rise up the ranks, lose himself (and his Bed-Stay friends and family), and take some other young POC under his wings to extraordinary heights.

I have never read anything quite like this. Askaripour is an incredibly writer; his sentences are refreshing and vibrant and the way he moves a story along is inspiring. Buck is a character for the ages. He is complex, unpredictable, and quietly intelligent. The things that happen to Buck, and the things he does himself, are surprising and while the racism is horrifying and extremely hard to read, Askaripour doesn't hold anything back. The nature of start-up culture is completely skewered, and systematic racism is gut-wrenchingly on full blast. It's not an easy read, but it is hard to put down and it is a book we need today. It comes out January 2021!

This is a fascinating book and a wild ride from start to finish. Satirical, sharp, funny; i loved and hated the main character Buck in equal measure. I saw greater meaning beneath the story in many ways, particularly in Buck’s decision to join the system, try to work it to the top, and then to try and beat it. The ending sped up a lot, but i loved it. I am very excited for all that this writer has to offer in the future.

One small thing is that i really really dont like the d slur when it is not said from a lesbian author. That being said, i can allow it (as a lesbian) if it adds to a point. The use of it in the last 4% did not add to anything. Did it try to offer an insight into lesbophobia in society? No, it did not.

I enjoyed this but am not the intended audience in any way so will leave it to ownvoice reviewers to truly review.

Where do I even begin with this one! Mateo did a fantastic job with Black Buck. If you have ever had a job in sales, you will definitely relate. If you haven't, well... Still read it because you'll learn something along with being entertained in the process.
Mateo did an excellent job portraying what it is like for POC to work in a mostly white industry. I felt the emotions in his written word and I think you will too.
He gave us a little of everything we never thought we wanted. The truth! Characters we love, relationships we love and those we don't. Read this, I promise you won't be able to put it down.

Sharp, insightful, timely, relatable, thoughtful, funny. Read this book. I’m intentionally making this review short and sweet because I believe everyone should read it, and discover the reflections and insight found in the book themselves.

This is a brilliant book. The story reads quite like Wolf of Wall street, however with a diverse cast of characters and lots of twists and turns along the way. I really enjoyed the development of character relationships and the little breaks by the narrator to give life advice disguised as sales advice. Great read!

Black Buck is Mateo's debut novel and I was thoroughly impressed. This story line is peculiar and also very well written. It's entertaining but also touches on some very relevant issues in today's society. I am definitely looking forward to reading any subsequent novels that may come from this author.

Black Buck tells a tale of Darren Vendor, your typical twenty two year old guy that works at Starbucks and lives with his mom. Darren graduated as his high school's valedictorian but after graduating becomes complacent in life. His mom, like any other mom, has bigger goals for her son and vocalizes it every chance she gets. One day, Darren steps out on a limb to sell his regular customer, Rhett, a coffee that is different from his regular order. Rhett offers Darren an opportunity of a lifetime, to come work for him at his company, after this Darren's life is never the same. "Back in my day, when a white man gave you an opportunity, it came at a cost."

Once Darren goes to work for Sumwun he is transformed in to "Buck", a moniker given to him because he worked for Starbucks."I'll tell you what I do know, Darrone. Or rather, Buck. I'd call you Starbucks, but it's too long, so Buck will have to do. You don't mind do you, Buck?" Darren is the only black person that works at Sumwun and faces many racial challenges, but because of his mom he pushes through in hopes of being the best man that he can be. "Well, no matter how hard it gets, remember why you're there, Dar. To become somethin' and show the world what you're made of. To let your light shine and be all I know you can be."

The longer Buck works at Sumwun the more his life changes. The people around him don't even recognize who he's become. While reading I tried to decipher if it was Buck who was actually changing, or if his friends and family were just having a hard time adapting to his new lifestyle. Then something life-altering happens, Darren completely gives up on every one that has been in his corner and completely transforms in to Buck. "'Fuck the old Darren,' I announced to the empty room. 'I'm Buck.'"

As time progresses in the book, Buck realizes the error in his ways and tries to get back to being Darren. Something his mother told him resonates loud in his spirit. "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 obtain but who we were able to help." And help is exactly what Buck did. Buck decides to help people of color become better salesman to help better themselves. He also doesn't want them to experience what he experienced his first week at Sumwun.

This book reads as funny and satirical, so the ending was not expected. Overall I was pleased with this author's writing style and exceptionally happy with this very different and original story line.

What a interesting story. This book covers so many topics but the two that stuck out the most to me were racism and classism/elitism cIt was hard to watch (or read) Darren swallow his pride on numerous issues and even harder to see him turn around and treat others like he had been treated (like crap). This book has so many twists and turns with a very surprising ending. I wasn’t so sure about this one when I first started reading but I’m glad I stuck it out.

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 certain point. (And I don't mean that in a bad way!) Still, this is one of the most original books I've read all year, and it'll definitely make you feel all sorts of things.

Content warning: Overt racism and white supremacy, bullying, harassment, violence, murder

I was drawn in by the description of Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour. This book wasn’t quite what I was expecting in the best way. It’s a powerful story that walks the reader through the sales process in an autobiographical format. Buck, the narrator and protagonist, speaks to the audience throughout giving advice much like Saved by the Bell and first season of Sex and the City. It reminded me of Life of Pi which tells you it’s a novel right there on the cover, but the book is so well written and I was so immersed in the story I kept thinking these were real life events.

Darren aka Buck goes from managing a Starbucks to being the only black salesperson at a tech startup. He then sets up a way to “each one teach one” and help other people of color with sales training and a network. This book was deeper than expected and really made me think. I’m sure I’ll be thinking about it for years to come. Askaripour is a gifted writer and created wonderful characters in this twisty book. Pre-order it now, you won’t regret it!

It was very readable and I was interested right away, I realize that the book was a lesson, not about selling, but about "being". I guess I'm torn because the book was heavier than I expected, and was uncomfortable for me. So on that level, it worked. On a selfish level, I needed a mindless, escape book. This book is definitely worth reading!

Debut author Mateo Askaripour’s biting satire about the world of sales and the American Dream is a timely, witty novel that’s framed as an autobiography/self-help book. Knowing that Askaripour was an actual salesperson, though, I can’t help but wonder how much of his real life is revealed within Black Buck.

If you’ve ever experienced real discrimination (as opposed to the “persecution” that some white people claim they’re facing when others gain the same rights/privileges they’ve always had), then you’ll be able to relate to at least part of titular character’s story.

Although Buck is in his early 20s when the novel begins, this is definitely a coming of age story. The author asks the reader to face the ugliness of racism in all its forms, ranging from overt to micro-expressions. If you’re not a POC and the book makes you uncomfortable, be sure to keep reading as that’s the entire point. You should feel uncomfortable with the obvious roadblocks that are put in the way for young black men like Buck.

As Buck begins to achieve his dreams, he allows the influences around him to twist and change his personal character. It was painful to watch him go through this, especially with the knowledge that he had been a kind, caring person before the drive to succeed at all costs got in his way. Even worse is the knowledge that succeeding in a traditionally white industry seemingly required him to become a callous individual. This is a major indictment of the white washed world of Corporate America, and it’s something that we as a society really need to own up to and change.

Fortunately, Buck finds himself again. And when he does, he’s able to put all the skills he learned from his career as the sole Black employee at a fanatical, cult-like sales company to good use.

If you’re offended by foul language and sex in books, this one probably isn’t for you (which is a real shame as there’s much to learn from the author’s perspective). The book is well-written and entertaining. As a fellow author, I’m very excited by the level of talent that’s displayed in this book, and I expect even greater things from Askaripour in the future.

Black Buck made me literally laugh out loud at times. It also made me sob and infuriated me. As a white person, I have one thing to say to my fellow white readers: We can and must do better. Start by examining your beliefs and inner prejudices through Black written literature like Black Buck.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.

An unambitious twenty-two-year-old, Darren lives in a Bed-Stuy brownstone with his mother, who wants nothing more than to see him live up to his potential as the valedictorian of Bronx Science. But Darren is content working at Starbucks in the lobby of a Midtown office building, hanging out with his girlfriend, Soraya, and eating his mother’s home-cooked meals. All that changes when a chance encounter with Rhett Daniels, the silver-tongued CEO of Sumwun, NYC’s hottest tech startup, results in an exclusive invitation for Darren to join an elite sales team on the thirty-sixth floor.

After enduring a “hell week” of training, Darren, the only black person in the company, reimagines himself as “Buck,” a ruthless salesman unrecognizable to his friends and family. But when things turn tragic at home and Buck feels he’s hit rock bottom, he begins to hatch a plan to help young people of color infiltrate America’s sales force, setting off a chain of events that forever changes the game.- Goodreads

About 7 chapters into this book, I thought, this author has no problem being the only Black person in a room. But then that changed. He has no problem/wants to be the smartest person in the room. I don't rock with that. Those two thoughts were shaped by the writing style, the little break the fourth wall messages and how he flat out says I am here to teach you something.

I don't have an issue with an author saying "message" in their works. However, Darren lost all credibility for me when he allowed white executes to change his name, make racial jokes at him, humiliate him and made him kiss their ass. All for a dollar. 

Yes, for a dollar. Darren didn't know what he wanted to do with his life. His excuse of failing was bull because he was valedictorian for his high school. He wanted to be the smartest person in the room always, which is why he stayed at Starbucks so long. He wanted to be looked up too. He didn't want to earn respect or work for new knowledge. He was comfortable where he was at. But pressure sure does a lot of things for you. 

You know how there are books that are not just not written for you. Like you know the book is written to enlighten, teach or just let a particular race know what is going on? This is one of those books. 

Darren is an idiot. 

1 Pickle

Black Buck is one of those books you don't really know what to expect when you start reading, But wow. Clear your schedule before you read this one, it's so hard to put down. It's satire but it makes you look at how you see the "American dream". A great read,