Emotional roller coaster in the best way! I laughed until my stomach hurt in some essays, then couldn't hold back tears in other essays. William & Omar have a fantastic tag-team writing style. Even though I'm not a fan of some of the topics themselves (I never got into comics, sorry!), their commentary on the topics kept me engaged the whole way through. I loved how real they were about the racial implications of movies, books, celebs, etc. I even learned about The Lion King through their eyes. This book was a fun learning experience.

Aptly titled, hilarious, real, and sometimes emotional, I loved reading this book. I identified hardcore with some of the nerd things, hadn’t heard of others, and gained a greater understanding for these men’s experiences as black men and as nerds. The intersection was relatable, hilarious, and at times, heartbreaking.

If you’re looking to add some nonfiction to yoiur reading at the end of this year and into 2022, definitely add this to your list. I saw a copy at my local library, today, so it’s available wherever you get your books.

This book was hilarious! The second I saw this book come on NetGalley I immediately requested it and I patiently waited for that little approval email, at which point I let out a whoop! at my desk and scared everyone around me. (Chuckle...sorry, not sorry.) Black Nerd Problems by William Evans and Omar Holman is an awesome, hilarious commentary on pop culture from the Black perspective.

Comics, movies, TV shows -- the authors cover all three categories beautifully. Each essay is short, to the point and funny as all get out. They are written in a style that is very conversational and absolutely in the style of a podcast. Which is why I also recommend the audiobook. The authors take turns writing essays and even team up on a few of them in conversation style pieces.

I identify as a Xennial (look it up it is a microgeneration before the millennials) so I was familiar with most of the pop culture references in the book. Not anything connected to anime though...I'm not sure I'm going to ever cross that bridge. I love the unique perspectives that each author brings to the topics they discuss. I'm going to be honest, I will not be able to look Simba in the eyes ever again, because I agree with William now. "Yes, I'm still salty about Simba bouncing like that." And just like William, I will not be able to sit down and watch The Lion King, of which I sang all of the songs and danced around my living room, and think about it the same way after reading the commentary and prompting questions posed in this book. Like baby boy really left Nala and the ladies to fend for themselves while he is out there chillin and eating bugs!

Either way that is just one example of how these two authors bring culture and insight to the table while examining pop culture icons such as Batman, Spiderman, Myra Monkhouse and many others. Each essay is reminiscent of the argument/discussion you might have among friends after viewing or reading something and trying to come to a consensus on a character or a scene. Holman and Williams are those friends who will point out something you never even thought about before and will probably have you cracking up, mad for a second and then agreeing with them.

A Few of My Favorite Chapters</h3>
"Hamilton and the Case of Historical Fanfics"
"Black Nerd Crush Blues: Myra Monkhouse Deserved Way Better"
"Top Five Dead or Alive: Monica Rambeau (Marvel Comics)"
"Chadwick Boseman's Wakanda Salute is Canon in the History of Black Language"

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a digital arc in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This essay collection covers a variety of essays on pop culture dealing with everything from which Spider Man is the best, to living as a Black man in the US. These essays are approachable and comedic but do not shy away from important issues. The book reads as though you are sitting down to debate the topic at hand around a dinner table. The cultural critique is at times fun and light, but occasionally brings the reader to a more serious level. This book is entertaining and enlightening. It is a fun read with serious intention.

Fun and funny. Thought provoking insight of a variety of topics. Well written and well thought out. Can happily cross cultural lines and find a niche with any crowd.

I'm giving this one 3.5 stars but upward leaning because I appreciated a lot of the points that Evans and Holmon present, but I had trouble understanding some of it.
Let me begin by saying I am a giant, unabashed nerd that is always open to debating and studying any nerd topic as long as it's done with a positive spin. I was already predisposed to enjoying this.
Evans and Holmon do a wonderful job in their many essays of exploring both the personal and the wide-reaching elements of many popular culture pieces, going from anime to the X-Men to racial disparity and everything in between. They present some very good points and back them up both objectively and subjectively. It makes for some thought-provoking reading.
Being familiar with pretty much all the geeky topics they touched helped me see their points despite not having the same cultural background or experiences to back up their more personal expressions. But the reason why I'm not rating this as high as I could have is because the way the authors chose to express themselves was in a way that I had trouble figuring out sometimes. It's moments like these when English not being my native language complicates things. The lack of that common ground/cultural background with the authors had me having to read things several times over to figure them out. And yes, I know that's 100% on me and not them, but it is still my experience that I had trouble figuring out what they were trying to say.
Overall, even with the uncommon way (at least for me) that the authors decided to share their truths, they were still essays that I enjoyed. I'm even walking away with a greater appreciation for several things I had never considered, so even with the difficulty in reading it, I'm happy that I did.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the read!

What an amazing adventure of essays. This book really highlighted Black Nerds everywhere and really left me feeling seen and understood. Although really funny I cant lie it got really deep for me. From Mario Kart to anime to the woes of lie this book is full of heart and a rare jewel in the literary world!

Humorous and thought provoking. A great read to find common ground with other nerds. Endearing and sweet.

I loved this book! The thing that I appreciated the most was the range of fandoms, sometimes nerd books have like 5 main stream fandoms and although its fun to read about those its fun to find others who love the broad range of things you do. I also enjoyed a different perspective on being a nerd, I know this book isn't specifically for me but I like to learn how others experience fandom to learn from their experience. I know this is a book I will easily suggest to my patrons.

This book was THE validation I needed as someone who proudly identifies as a Black nerd. That said, while this book highlights that “nerdom” can be applied to multiple passions, many of the essays in this book refer to nerdom as it relates to anime and superhero comics. This is an immediate pick up if you consider yourself a Black nerd who is passionate about those topics

As someone who’s nerd specialties are more invested in true crime, horror, and my unrelenting obsession with The OC, there were some references that went over my head. Even still, this book deeply resonated with me.

What I loved most was how the essays in this book discussed social justice and Black issues through the lens of the pop culture we consume. Especially as we continue to see some white bookstagrammers claim that politics and talk of social justice have no place in our little corner of the internet, this book perfectly illustrates why Black folks (and other marginalized groups for that matter) often face the intersection of the content we enjoy and the reality of the marginalized identities that we hold.

We’re reminded of this when Storm’s character is cast as a lighter-skinned or biracial Black woman, when we forgo cosplay as certain characters out of fear of how police may react seeing a fake weapon, and for folks like myself obsessed with The OC, we realize the only Black representation in the entire show is Chris Brown’s guest role for a handful of episodes in season 3.

“How My Black Ass Would Survive Every Horror Movie” and “The Push and Pull of Watching Mad Men while Black” were my favorite essays. Both discussed how challenging it can be to watch content when it’s clear Black folks are an afterthought at best. Representation matters, folks!

I highly recommend this for my fellow Black and BIPOC nerds. This could also be a great read for white nerdy allies to learn a bit more about the perspective of Black folks in what can be predominantly white spaces.

Wonderful read. I really enjoyed the book and it's perspective. Own voices are a type of story I absolutely love as I see perspectives from the people that live that reality

Funny, insightful, and thought provoking, this book is a thoughtful extension of the website. Challenging stereotypes of nerds and race, this book is a really a deep dive into the many facets of "nerd culture" within the lens of a person of color. It gives a fresh perspective on many pop culture staples. The essay-style stand alone nature of the chapters make it an easily digestible read and has appeal for teen and adult audiences alike. It also shatters the myth that "nerd-culture" is exclusive to one ethnicity.

I think I can just about stop laughing enough to write this review. Hands down a wonderful collection celebrating the mashup that is Black nerdery. I felt like I could be hanging out in the same room talking with these authors; the writing styles and voices sync perfectly to capture that quintessential corner of where modern pop culture and life meet. So much love for my favorite shows: Food Wars! Avatar, Underworld series.....I could go on. Love, politics, hip-hop, food, sports....the range of topics addressed are plentiful. And while I accept and understand that this is the love child of the authors, my only quip is that I wish we had a female counterpart to their astute observances, even though there are essays in defense of our awesomeness. We are, after all, a part of the Black Nerd community, but maybe that's for volume 2....

It was really annoying to jump through all kinds of software hoops in order to read these essays (no kindle version), but it was always worth it. Sharply observant, trenchantly funny, wistful, hard-hitting, heart-felt, each essay is different from the previous, and always interesting as the authors talk about being people of color in the nerdy end of the fandom pool.

That includes touching on the grim subject of police brutality toward Black people, when a guy just wants to buy a cool sword. Another tough subject is BIPOC representation in the media. While I kept thinking as I read this, “Oh, it was so much worse when I was growing up, SO much worse,” that is hardly an endorsement for the way things are now.

Meanwhile anime, Spiderman, Mario Kart, Simba (and the Disney juggernaut), cons, and life as a black nerd get examined in a funny, opinionated way that is often hilarious.

The narrative voice is awesome, full of heart and humor, sometimes acid humor. This is one of those rare books that I think would be even better as an audio book, especially if read by the authors.

Black Nerd Problems is an insightful and intelligent collection of essays on fandom as it intersects black culture and the experiences of people of color written and presented by William Evans & Omar Holmon. Due out 14th Sept 2021 from Simon & Schuster on their Gallery imprint, it's 304 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

I grew up in a family of comics, gaming, and SF/fantasy nerds (third generation, my grandfather emigrated to the USA and taught himself English by reading comic books). I've experienced gatekeeping and dismissive/rude attitude from fanboys because I'm female, older (or younger), or just other. I'm certainly not saying "I get where the authors of this book are coming from" but I can sing along with the chorus at least. They make so many salient points and they do so with humor and clear vision. They're honest (sometimes brutally so). I found most of the read very funny (Omar's take on why and how he'd survive every horror movie trope had me giggling out loud), some of the essays were uncomfortable (as a white female nerd), and some were valuable for giving me new authors to check out, learn from, and watch. Representation is so important and I hope young nerds get their hands on this book. They're more than welcome at my table.

The essay subjects are varied and wide ranging: comics, fandom, film & TV, books and other print media, art, Art , and, well, being black, and being nerdy, and being black and nerdy. The language is very casual, sometimes rough, linguistically honest, and easy to hear in your head. In fact, I really want to get my ears on the audiobook, narrated by the authors (Audible version).

Five stars. I've not seen a layman accessible non-academic commentary like this anywhere else. This would be a good choice for lovers of ephemera, popular media, social commentary, and, of course, nerds.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

I liked this volume of articles by the duo of William Evans and Omar Holmon. I was not familiar with all of the fictional worlds that they addressed, but I was interested in how they projected their unique perspectives and opinions. You can tell that this duo can really immerse themselves in the fictional worlds that they love.

This is SO entertaining, while also being honest and real about some of the issues black nerds face when consuming the media they love. There's tons of great essays on different fandom issues, which are nice to read just as they are, comparing ideas of who's the best Disney character, why Into the Spiderverse is the best movie ever, and how annoying some anime universes would be to live in. But there's also plenty of reflection on how these various media sources can also reflect on the world we live in, and the systemic injustices within it, and how that impacts black consumption of this media -- escapism can't be escapism if you're constantly reminded of the world you're trying to escape from.

Overall, this was a fantastic, entertaining, and insightful read.

A few interesting pearls of analysis buried in the over-the-top slang, but the rest is sadly glib and rather irritating.

Would love to read this one but it's not available in kindle format :( I can't read other files easily.

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️✨

𝘼𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙞𝙨𝙢, 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙪𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙖 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣’𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙣, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙬𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙮𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙢 𝙤𝙛 𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙪𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝘽𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙛𝙤𝙡𝙠 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚

Black Nerd Problems is a collection of essays expertly combining pop culture, media spanning fandoms, and important commentary on being Black in America.

Written by William Evans and Omar Holmon (creators of the popular website of the same name), Black Nerd Problems can be downright funny. Whether it’s an essay dedicated to why Simba (The Lion King) is utter trash, or why playing Mario Kart can either solidify or destroy your family, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

This book also does not shy away from more somber topics, such as BIPOC representation in the media, being Black in the nerd community, and police brutality. One particularly eye opening (and enraging) essay, was the chapter titled The Sobering Realty of Actual Back Nerd Problems. In it, William describes a situation where he was at Wizard World and wanted to buy a sword from a favorite fandom, but realized it could potentially be unsafe for him, recalling Darrien Hunt. Earlier that month, Darrien Hunt was shot multiple times in the back while running from police officers who deemed him a threat for carrying a fake sword while cosplaying. Where a white person can buy a fake weapon without thinking twice, a BIPOC is not afforded this same luxury, among many, many other things most of us take for granted.

If you’re a nerd, you should read this book. If you’re a person looking to amp up #ownvoices, you should read this book. If you have a pulse and are relatively “with the times” you should read this book 😄

Thanks to @gallerybooks for the eARC in exchange for an honest review


- Kristin📚