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Black Friend: Essays
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Humor (2023)From a rapidly rising comedy star, a bold, biting, and deeply hilarious takedown—and send-up—of our culture’s (mis)understanding of race
Ziwe made a name for herself staring interviewees in the eye and asking: “How many Black friends do you have?” She’s an expert at making people squirm, coming right out and asking the tough questions about race and racism that our culture has made white people experts at dancing around.
In The Book of Ziwe, she turns this incisive perspective on the culture at large, with the signature blend of devastating bluntness and incredible warmth that keeps her guests coming back. Throughout the book, Ziwe mixes bite-sized moments of insight with longer essays that take a range of forms, from serious distillations of cultural phenomena to a transcript of “A Conversation with a Cancelled White Person,” and even a Choose Your Own Adventure-style piece about navigating race in everyday life.
Personal and funny, but also challenging and engaging, The Book of Ziwe tackles questions about race and racism head-on, approaching the issue in a manner that evokes the way it comes up in the real world—not through deliberate studies of history and theory, which are so important, but in an awkward conversation at a party or a yikes comment from a coworker in the break room. The book lives in the moment of discomfort that can be the most truly educational way of unlearning biases. Plus, like everything Ziwe does, it will startle you with how much it makes you laugh.
Ziwe made a name for herself staring interviewees in the eye and asking: “How many Black friends do you have?” She’s an expert at making people squirm, coming right out and asking the tough questions about race and racism that our culture has made white people experts at dancing around.
In The Book of Ziwe, she turns this incisive perspective on the culture at large, with the signature blend of devastating bluntness and incredible warmth that keeps her guests coming back. Throughout the book, Ziwe mixes bite-sized moments of insight with longer essays that take a range of forms, from serious distillations of cultural phenomena to a transcript of “A Conversation with a Cancelled White Person,” and even a Choose Your Own Adventure-style piece about navigating race in everyday life.
Personal and funny, but also challenging and engaging, The Book of Ziwe tackles questions about race and racism head-on, approaching the issue in a manner that evokes the way it comes up in the real world—not through deliberate studies of history and theory, which are so important, but in an awkward conversation at a party or a yikes comment from a coworker in the break room. The book lives in the moment of discomfort that can be the most truly educational way of unlearning biases. Plus, like everything Ziwe does, it will startle you with how much it makes you laugh.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published October 17, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,078 reviews
April 15, 2024
"The problem is that public outrage has a short memory... So rarely do the ramifications of cancel culture extend past an internet connection. And when they do, it is important to remember that they usually result in an incredibly privileged person temporarily experiencing slightly less privilege than they were accustomed to, which is still a very high baseline of privilege compared to the rest of the world. Personally, I long to be a canceled rich man because that is just a vacation." Pg. 78
This was a witty and insightful collection of essays by comedian, writer and talk show host, Ziwe! It had an element of memoir in it as well, as Ziwe shared many personal experiences from her youth, time in college, and at the start of her career. It was a very perceptive and thought-provoking collection, that not only fans of Ziwe should read, but that people, in general, could learn from, especially since the humour aspect and format make it very accessible.
The problems I had with this book were the footnotes and the grey boxes of text. The footnotes took away from my focus almost every time. I didn't find they gave enough context to things mentioned in the essays to be fully necessary, and there were just far too many in each chapter/essay. There were also many personal anecdotes via the footnotes, that I think would have served more of a purpose if they were just included in the essay rather than having to flip to the footnote every time. Additionally, the grey boxes of text seemed very unnecessary and really took me out of the essay every time they were included. If they were put in between chapters/essays they would have been less of a bother, but adding them within the essays just felt like an interruption.
Overall, I am happy I read this collection of essays, especially since I love Ziwe's talk show. I would recommend it to any fan of hers, especially because it is a short, but lively read.
September 8, 2024
Hilarious essay collection that made me laugh out loud a few times and smile throughout. I most appreciated Ziwe’s clear, confident voice and how her humor doesn’t punch down. The essays themselves were entertaining and tackle a variety of race-related topics such as the idea of having Black friends as virtue signaling, cancel culture, and affirmative action. While I wouldn’t say her takes on these issues will be necessarily new for those who read and think a lot about race and racial justice, she still offered thoughtful and well-argued perspectives throughout this collection.
October 26, 2023
big fan of her pov/jokes/advice, not a fan of the book’s format re: footnotes, grey boxes??
October 18, 2023
An absolutely ICONIC book. Only complaint is that it wasn’t longer because I loved it so much.
Ziwe is so fucking funny, she is everything I aspired to be but was too lazy to be (but her comedy scene struggles really spoke to me, a fellow improv reject!). Now I’ll be going back to rewatch her show because I need more Ziwe ASAP.
Ziwe is so fucking funny, she is everything I aspired to be but was too lazy to be (but her comedy scene struggles really spoke to me, a fellow improv reject!). Now I’ll be going back to rewatch her show because I need more Ziwe ASAP.
November 24, 2023
this essay collection was funny and intelligent - my favourite type of non-fiction! ziwe shows she is a master in combining humour, personal anecdotes, and astute observations on our sociocultural climate and pop culture. looking forward to reading more of her writing!
4.5
4.5
January 22, 2024
“Black friends come in all shapes and sizes. Yet the archetype is often a two-dimensional character meant to support the non-black protagonists’ more complex humanity. ” …“While I am a supportive friend, I am not a supporting character. I am the protagonist of my perfectly imperfect story.” - Ziwe
Go off, Ziwe! Talk your shit.
Ziwe is absolutely hilarious but when she’s dead ass serious, girl is shaking the table. When she’s talking about her parents she’s profound and realistic about her experience as a first-gen kid becoming successful in a field not designated by her Nigerian parents.
I appreciate her honesty, felt seen, enjoyed her recollections and bite backs. I agreed with her thought process on a lot of her takes — especially this one:
“Either shut up and take the money or don’t participate at all. But the middle ground of awareness is an insult wrapped in a bow. If you’re going to be problematic, say it with your chest.”
Agreed. I couldn’t agree more.
Some of the essays felt a little underwhelming so I’m on the 3.5 rounded up but yo Ziwe deserves every star, just for being her. A lot of white copycats: Bobbi Althoff, and all the other basics, tho they got the moneyyy and connections.. THEY COULD NEVER with the content. Them and their stolen schtick could never. We gotta give Ziwe the credit where credit is due! Plus, I lived for her talking about how Spike Lee both ruined and influenced her life to the highest degree. It was great!
November 26, 2023
i had no idea who ziwe was before i read this, but this book made me want to watch her videos!! she was so funny and real. she approached very serious topics like racism and cancel culture in such a funny and interesting way. her entire collection felt like a breath of fresh air. she wasn’t trying to convince anyone of anything. it was like i was just chatting with a best friend. honestly i loved everything about this. i completely forgot that i was even reading an essay collection. i laughed so much, and she wasn’t even trying to be funny. she was just naturally funny and yet perceptive.
put this on your tbr asap. you won’t regret it. this was the first easiest 5 ⭐️ i’ve ever given. the next book she writes, i’m preordering it.
put this on your tbr asap. you won’t regret it. this was the first easiest 5 ⭐️ i’ve ever given. the next book she writes, i’m preordering it.
November 11, 2023
Sad because I love Ziwe and was really looking forward to this one, but I didn't enjoy it at all. The essays were so half-baked, meandering observations without actually much getting to any point, that the end of each one was a surprising relief.
October 19, 2023
ziwe for president 💖💘💓💝💞💗💕
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January 23, 2024This review is only for Ziwe and Black people !! I adore Ziwe which is why I won’t star rate this because I don’t want to mess up her rating and think white people should read this (and she should get her bag)… but that’s because it’s clear that white people are the intended audience for this book. It’s the Black friend perspective that you would gently tell your white friend, not the Black friend perspective that you’d talk to other Black people about- which is what I hoped it would be. Parts of this book I really thought were interesting but so much was slow because it was about explaining things for people who may be thinking about this for the first time. Ziwe quotes Tori Morrison about the very function of racism serving as a distraction, but Tori Morrison also talks about not watering down stories or changing language to make her literature more accessible to White people because they can keep up, not centering the White gaze!! These essays would be stronger stories if Ziwe was writing as if talking to Black people and actually digging into the content.
White people have the internet, they can jump into the story, let’s stop dumbing down everything for them.
I am not asking for a bunch of activist essays, I’m asking for Black people to be the center of who is being written to more when talking about race/racism/ etc.
White people have the internet, they can jump into the story, let’s stop dumbing down everything for them.
I am not asking for a bunch of activist essays, I’m asking for Black people to be the center of who is being written to more when talking about race/racism/ etc.
January 2, 2024
I love Ziwe. These essays were funny and smart. I especially loved the insight we get into her work ethic as well as snippets from her very iconic interviews.
November 2, 2023
I am so sorry and so upset about this, but I just don't think this was a well written book. It was weirdly disjointed and hard to follow, and felt more like a very long ramble than distinct essays. I didn't understand the choice to use the (sometimes MUCH too long) footnotes and odd inserts, which helped make it feel both poorly conceived and executed.
I think there was something there, there were really poignant moments, some very funny lines, but something important was missing.
It's a super short book and does pack a punch, also I seem to be wildly in the minority, so I do think it'd be worth anyone's time to pick it up.
I think there was something there, there were really poignant moments, some very funny lines, but something important was missing.
It's a super short book and does pack a punch, also I seem to be wildly in the minority, so I do think it'd be worth anyone's time to pick it up.
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October 24, 2023Been a fan of Ziwe since I stumbled upon her YouTube show, Baited, one day thanks to the platform's algorithms. Please clap for a social media's algorithms showing us something that we didn't know we needed. Since then, Ziwe's career has taken off hosting her own show, appearing on Forbes' lists and even dropping in on one of my favorite podcasts - Bitch Sesh - where she shared her love of the Real Housewives.
In "Black Friend," Ziwe shows us what's behind all of this revealing someone who struggles to live as a Pisces. As a Pisces myself, I get it. Mostly moving with comedy throughout - especially in the many footnotes - Ziwe reveals more of herself while still keeping some of it redacted. And that's okay.
In "Black Friend," Ziwe shows us what's behind all of this revealing someone who struggles to live as a Pisces. As a Pisces myself, I get it. Mostly moving with comedy throughout - especially in the many footnotes - Ziwe reveals more of herself while still keeping some of it redacted. And that's okay.
January 12, 2024
Ziwe's tone and humour is just so incredibly spot on. She's sarcastic yet still remains incredibly powerful in the message she's conveying - her anecdotes and stories are so deeply personal but somehow so witty. Her harrowing experience of being followed in the woods by a lone SUV had me cackling at how this man thought she was going to "steal the woods". I really enjoyed her commentary on the entertainment industry, and how every experience, priviledge, and open window you take advantage of can stray your path.
My only nitpick was the structure of the footnotes - I love the concept and content of them! I however, found them very tricky to follow due to their structure and place. They generally threw off the flow of an otherwise very smooth and digestible set of essays. I think reading this on Kindle worked in my favour - but on a traditional hardcopy, I feel flicking between the notes and content of each essay would have further confused me.
But otherwise - I am so, so obsessed with this, and so, so obsessed with Ziwe. I hope she continues to write and publish her essays, because I'll most certainly be picking up her next work :)
My only nitpick was the structure of the footnotes - I love the concept and content of them! I however, found them very tricky to follow due to their structure and place. They generally threw off the flow of an otherwise very smooth and digestible set of essays. I think reading this on Kindle worked in my favour - but on a traditional hardcopy, I feel flicking between the notes and content of each essay would have further confused me.
But otherwise - I am so, so obsessed with this, and so, so obsessed with Ziwe. I hope she continues to write and publish her essays, because I'll most certainly be picking up her next work :)
November 16, 2023
brilliant and hilarious, footnotes especially had me laughing out loud
December 27, 2023
I'M ZIWE'S BIGGEST FAN! AN ICON!
Criminally underrated, Ziwe and her book
She is one of the funniest ppl in comedy rn, her talkshow is a goldmine 💰
Criminally underrated, Ziwe and her book
She is one of the funniest ppl in comedy rn, her talkshow is a goldmine 💰
April 7, 2024
I am now an expert on racism in America. If you have any questions lmk
January 11, 2024
I do not want to start every single review here with a complaint about my mental health but yup, my mental health is a mess. Wars are very little fun, it turns out.
This book was delightful to read, though. I especially found the last chapter moving. Ziwe brings this combination of earnestness and humor, you can tell she takes her work seriousness yet also loves it. It's heartwarming. She takes us through a journey of her life, from failures to successes and on the way, touches themes of immigration, Blackness, her family, ambition, and more.
I've never heard of her before yet I still really enjoyed this! There's something so friendly and snarky in the writing that makes this an easy read.
Anyways, first book of 2024! Very pleased to have finished a book.
This book was delightful to read, though. I especially found the last chapter moving. Ziwe brings this combination of earnestness and humor, you can tell she takes her work seriousness yet also loves it. It's heartwarming. She takes us through a journey of her life, from failures to successes and on the way, touches themes of immigration, Blackness, her family, ambition, and more.
I've never heard of her before yet I still really enjoyed this! There's something so friendly and snarky in the writing that makes this an easy read.
Anyways, first book of 2024! Very pleased to have finished a book.
June 10, 2023
Thank you netgalley for this ARC!
This book was so good and so funny and also super important regarding alot of topics that Ziwe gave her opinion on etc etc. Each chapter was an essay on a topic and she would share her opinions on and also tell the reader things that have happened in the present, past history wise as well i thought it was super informative. This novel had such funny moments and i usually am not want to laugh at a book as im reading one but seeing Ziwe on watch what happens lives and clips from her show on twitter i had to request this book because she is so funny yall would love this book i felt like i was reading a mini memoir and it showed me more of who Ziwe is and i felt i got to know more of her just from reading this novel. Also the cover of this novel is so cute. I could not put this book down i finished it in a day Ziwe sucked me in and kept me reading and stanning each chapter because not one chapter was boring at all. Queen of writing books. Overall this was a great read and i feel as if you know ziwe you will love this novel but if you are not familiar with her read and find more about her like i did! Great book ziwe!
This book was so good and so funny and also super important regarding alot of topics that Ziwe gave her opinion on etc etc. Each chapter was an essay on a topic and she would share her opinions on and also tell the reader things that have happened in the present, past history wise as well i thought it was super informative. This novel had such funny moments and i usually am not want to laugh at a book as im reading one but seeing Ziwe on watch what happens lives and clips from her show on twitter i had to request this book because she is so funny yall would love this book i felt like i was reading a mini memoir and it showed me more of who Ziwe is and i felt i got to know more of her just from reading this novel. Also the cover of this novel is so cute. I could not put this book down i finished it in a day Ziwe sucked me in and kept me reading and stanning each chapter because not one chapter was boring at all. Queen of writing books. Overall this was a great read and i feel as if you know ziwe you will love this novel but if you are not familiar with her read and find more about her like i did! Great book ziwe!
September 7, 2024
Funny, insightful, anything less than 5 stars would be my whiteness showing
December 2, 2023
My issues with this were all in the format? Each essay relies heavily on the use of footnotes both to provide additional context or info and then also as a comedic device. There were also multiple boxed asides. Unfortunately this made for a confusing and disjointed reading experience, distracting from what is otherwise some solidly great writing and commentary.
January 15, 2024
I wanted to love this book but that proved to me a tough task. Half-baked with entirely too many paragraph long footnotes.
January 1, 2024
Quick, funny essay collection for my first read of the year: a good start. Happy New Year!
December 17, 2023
I love her
February 7, 2024
I did really enjoy this book. I wasn’t like haha laughing at it, but I do feel like she talked about topics we know with a fresh and open take that comes out of her comedy. Reading this book in conjunction with teaching Reconstruction in US History, teaching Sociology, and going to the Museum of African American History and Culture was a grand experience and my students are sick of me bringing up her analyses as points to think about in class.
January 4, 2024
So so so so so good. Ziwe has a way of intertwining incredibly personal stories on race and her opinions deriving from these stories with humorous anecdotes, not unlike her various comedy specials and shows. What makes this so special is in the overall tone of the book. Whilst funny and uplifting at times Ziwe never strays away from her message and experiences with racism in the entertaining and writing industry, and although this might not sound unique to Ziwe I believe by far she executes it in the best way. Nothing ever sounds forced and the book almost reads like a conversation which I appreciate, it is approachable without diminishing or undermining her intelligence. I am happy to have started the year with such a thought provoking yet humorous book.
July 9, 2024
Fitting for my 100th book of the year cause it was 100% amazing. There were so many great elements in this. The humor, the personal memoir, the subtle but somehow still direct commentary on racism and also growing up in an immigrant family. Even though it was brief, I found her take on cancel culture spot on. So much resonated with me from the immigrant culture and daily micro-aggressions to even the specific pop cultural references that were within my small sphere. For others, it may not be as relevant but still an entertaining and worthwhile read. I think it definitely peaked after like 2/3 of the way but was still thoroughly refreshing and entertaining. Would recommend on kindle as there are a ton of footnotes commentary that needs constant flipping back and forth.
February 20, 2024
4.25 in reality.
If you have watched any of Ziwe’s content and enjoyed yourself, I feel like you’d enjoy this book. Honestly, even if you didn’t enjoy it, you would probably find something in this collection to enjoy. It is very much an essay collection reflective of the times injected with a good dose of humor throughout. It posited a lot of interesting questions without providing easy answers and while definitely not the end-all-be-all for discussions of race, it definitely serves as a good jumping point due to a strong sense of self/strong pov from Ziwe.
If you have watched any of Ziwe’s content and enjoyed yourself, I feel like you’d enjoy this book. Honestly, even if you didn’t enjoy it, you would probably find something in this collection to enjoy. It is very much an essay collection reflective of the times injected with a good dose of humor throughout. It posited a lot of interesting questions without providing easy answers and while definitely not the end-all-be-all for discussions of race, it definitely serves as a good jumping point due to a strong sense of self/strong pov from Ziwe.
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February 14, 2024“…because for the past several centuries, racism has been in its slay era. Contrary to the mythos of 2020, it has given no indication that it’ll die out. If anything, it’s adapting.”
Loved this read, I normally lose interest in essay compilations easily but Ziwe is so fucking funny I really enjoyed myself. It’s easy to digest more serious topics when also cracking up about a less than stellar wiki feet rating, would highly recommend
Loved this read, I normally lose interest in essay compilations easily but Ziwe is so fucking funny I really enjoyed myself. It’s easy to digest more serious topics when also cracking up about a less than stellar wiki feet rating, would highly recommend
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,078 reviews