At first I thought this was a modern day sales guide, curious to see where it goes the writing got me hooked right away. It was like hearing advice from your cool older brother. Well the story keeps going, and turns into a real rollercoaster of a ride. Definitely went to some unexpected places and I have to say, I liked it. Best way to describe this book is a tamer, more political wolf of wall street, and I don't know anyone who didn't enjoy that story!

You know how when you're reading a book, the story is so vivid and engaging you just KNOW some exec at Netflix or HBO will snatch it up and turn it into a series or movie? Black Buck was totally one of those books for me. It's the story of Darren, a smart young African American man who lives with his loving Mom =who sees her class valedictorian son squandering his career potential. He's perfectly content to manage a Manhattan Starbucks (though he personally eschews coffee) until an encounter with one of his corporate regulars changes the course of his career, and ultimately - who he is as a person. As he rises the corporate ladder as a wunderkind sales phenom, his life changes as the former barista trades a simpler life for a fast life of trendy restaurants, expensive wardrobes, posh nightclubs....I definitely see the comparisons to Wolf of Wall Street. Ever present in the background is an undercurrent of racial divide in the corporate world, which eventually boils over into the forefront of the story when it takes some twists and turns, with some scenarios I would have found unbelievable (until 2020). Buck takes a hard fall back down to reality - and reinvents himself again but this time to use his selling powers for good, teaching his skills to struggling people of color who want to change their lives by landing lucrative sales jobs. He becomes like the Pied Piper of Bed-Stuy as his group of proteges swells to hundreds into the thousands. And then, in a jaw-dropping, didn't-see-that-coming moment, ghosts of his past return to literally burn down his empire. There's so much more I want to say but I don't want to give away any spoilers... just READ THIS BOOK. If I have even a fraction of Buck's selling abilities (he interrupts passages in the book sporadically to speak directly to us, the reader with little tips on being a better salesperson), I hope I've persuaded you to give it a try. I hope this book gets the shine it deserves. I can't wait to see what Mateo Askaripour does next!

This completely reminded me of a modern day Office Space but not as engaging as that movie was.

While this had some good moments, overall, I don't think I was the target audience for this book. I will say it was well written, so I would read more from Mateo Askaripour, but the story just wasn't my cup of tea.

Thank you so much to #netgalley and HMN for the arc!

Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour is The Wolf of Wall Street for salespeople. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry, it will make you want to punch someone in the face, or it will inspire you to pick up the phone and call your prospects. Whatever your goal, the main reason why I chose this book is I wanted a subject that will teach me about sales written as a story instead of a self-help book. It is quite a unique writing style. You'll find reader-notes that the author wanted to spotlight. These are the vital lessons you need to highlight from the book and take with you once you are back in the jungle, wearing your vest, carrying your bow and arrow, and start hunting.

Whether we are aware of it or not, every one of us is a salesperson. We all became salespeople when we apply for jobs, credit cards, colleges, loans. We became salespeople when we are acquiring new friendships, pleasing our family, friends, colleagues, community, looking for romantic relationships, or for someone to marry. That is why it matters to learn these sales techniques because every day we are negotiating. Every day we are making a deal.

The author asked three things before I read the book: first is to keep an open mind. The second is that it is not for everybody. As the cliche goes, we can't please everybody. The third is to say an affirmation statement and clap my hands. Every day we are indeed negotiating without being mindful about it while the clapping helps bring up some positive vibes.

Reading the novel reminds me of worship that I attended in a huge stadium where the evangelist talks with such passion, eyes closed, hands raised in jubilance, shouting "In Jesus name. Amen." repeatedly. Except, this one happens in a war room on the 36th floor in 3 Park Avenue building (where the book's publisher is also holding office) in New York City.

Yes, I am a salesperson. The main reason why I appreciated how the author presented the book chapters by using sales terminologies such as prospecting, qualifying, discovery, demonstrations, and closing. The story of my life.

Ah yes, the "anatomy of a cold call"—intro, rapport, discovery, presentation, objection handling, qualification, and handoff. Sometimes it doesn't have to be in this order though each step is vital in filling up the funnel with qualified leads.

At first, I am disheartened at the protagonist's, Darren Vender a.k.a Buck, ambivalence when Rhett offered him a job. He is one of those people who will wait for the right opportunity to come instead of taking the bull by its horn and chasing his own dreams. Why do I not like this attitude that the character had initially in the story? That is because I do not have the luxury, the privilege, nor the trappings of success just like he had when someone had offered him a job owing to his sudden bout of courage. Just like him, I have the odds stacked against me except that he has someone offering him a job while I have to go after a job. I cannot afford to wait for someone to notice me. I have to find a way to get myself noticed. It takes double the effort to get where I need to be. One thing I know is for sure, with drive and persistence, I will get there. I will not think of myself as a victim of a system or institution which I have no control over. I will focus on the things I can control, like how I spend my time.

This book is for the underdogs. May it bring us enough inspiration and joy to reach our hopes and dreams in life.

"I had never let anyone speak like that to me before, and while I don't want to let it fly, I knew that it was all a part of the game that real men were judged by how much they could withstand." - Darren Vender

I want to express my profound appreciation to NetGalley, publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and author Mateo Askaripour for providing a digital copy of this book that allows me to write an honest and unbiased review. Thank you for giving me a silver lining during this trying time. It's nice to be seen.

I sadly think this was not made for me. The target audience seems to be way off my scope which is why it is hard to rate this one. I appreciate the writing style and I could see what the author was trying to do but it just didn't click with my style at all which made me DNF this book.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me an eArc in exchange for an honest review.

I've actually seen Sorry to Bother You and to say it was ...interesting would be an understatement.

This book most certainly would be along those same lines.

Darren lives in a Bed-Stuy Brownstone with his mother. He's 22, a shift-manager at Starbucks, and is waiting the perfect job "opportunity". What that "opportunity" happens to be, he isn't exactly sure, but he figures he'll know it when he sees it.

Until then, he's content to have fun and not embroil himself into anything so serious it'll take him away from time with his girlfriend, Soraya.

However, after making a major impression on a Starbuck's regular named Rhett, he finds himself in a sales position at a tech start-up called Sumwon; a place where he quickly realizes two things 1) he's the only minority and 2) everyone in the office, from the secretary to the sales manager, is a bit racist (either maliciously or out of ignorance).

Darren soon morphs into "Buck" and is sent through a rigorous training session. One where it's made clear not everyone was on-board with his hire--Sales Manager Clyde is not a fan and makes it his mission to make sure Darren fails and is never given the chance to be anything more than a footnote.

Clyde nearly gets his wish but Darren, with encouragement from Rhett and the urgings of those in his inner circle, pushes on and manages to land a spot at Sumwon.

From there, the book goes on one of the wildest, most unlikely of rides: hitting on everything from the gentrification of predominantly Black neighborhoods, to the tokenism of corporate America, to the racism of the tech world, to the lack of genuine career opportunities for young, Black men, to the precarious place of our elders in a world that would just as soon let them die as to care for them or allow them the chance to survive without putting their own health and well-being at risk.

Honestly, there was so much to process, it sometimes felt as though Askaripour was taking on too much and doing too much: by the end I was a bit lost as to how things devolved into mad cap craziness so quickly: at one point there's a kidnapping plot.

I kid you not.

However, as I said from the start, if you've ever seen Sorry to Bother You, you'll be well on your way to accepting whatever madness Askaripour throws your way because the tenor of this story has a lot in common with the satirical nature of that particular movie.

Even so, it does begin to be a bit much and, at a little beyond the halfway mark I was ready for it to come to a close; it simply became too much of a good thing and I was exhausted reading it; and that ending? Not a fan.

Otherwise, there are plenty of discussion points to be had and the majority of the book is more than entertaining--even while the truths being pointing out are making you mad as hell.

Thanks to NetGalley for this Advanced e-Galley. Opinion is my own.

This was a very prescient time to choose to read this book.
The story follows Darren, aka Buck, on his journey from Starbucks barista to salesperson extraordinaire. However, he is approaching the situation from a standpoint of a Black man in New York City, in a world that is inhospitable in many ways to people of color. I absolutely loved the way that he wrote the experience of this character. I am unsure if parts of if were satire, but unfortunately I can see many of the things that happened to Buck as being possible in the political climate we find ourselves. It was very eye-opening to see the types of things that could happen to someone merely because of the color of their skin.
It was very compellingly written and I thought it was a great way to approach the subject matter. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves fiction!

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!