This was my first introduction to the team behind the website, Black Nerd Problems. The book is plagued by some of the same things that I have encountered with other blog-to-book publishing, the tone of the website doesn't translate well into a bound and written form. This is not a dig at the content, I found it enjoyable but had I not received an advance copy, I don't think that I would purchase the book, instead, I'd be a loyal follower of content on the website.

Also, I felt that there is definitely an age range for the reader or either I'm not hip and nerdy enough to appreciate the content.

BLACK NERD PROBLEMS: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book is HILARIOUS. Conversational in tone, William Evans and Omar Holmon take us on a black nerd journey. I haven’t felt so seen since Issa Rae’s Awkward Black Girl.

NOTE: I was provided an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you, Net Galley, for a digital ARC.

This book was like a long conversation with two old friends. Evans and Holmon talk about everything from pop culture to social justice, and how the two intertwine. I loved reading their opinions on different fandoms, even the comics and shows I haven't read or watched yet. Their opinions on nerd culture weave flawlessly with their own personal experiences as well as their social commentary. I learned a lot from this book, not only about the authors and the world, but about myself as well.
This is a book I'll definitely be picking up again, if not to thumb through and read my favorite essays. I particularly enjoyed the "Craig of the Creek" essay and the "Raising the Avatar" essay. These guys are funny and I found myself laughing out loud several times throughout the book, but they also know how to be serious, and I'm not ashamed to admit I shed a few tears.
I'll be recommending this book to friends and family, and if you're reading this review, I'd recommend it to you as well (especially if you're a nerd like me). In fact, I'm probably going to buy a copy of this book for my dad for Christmas once it hits shelves because I really want to share it with him in particular.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3946680575

This collection of essays is all heart. Relatable, heartbreaking, heartlifting, hilarious, insightful, opinionated, and absolutely fantastic. The authors touch on everything nerdy from gatekeeping nerddom to hot takes about Spiderman to what it means to be Black in the nerd community. It's serious and poignant, but there's also a long thing about how Simba from The Lion King is a tool. 

Most importantly, this book focuses on the elephant in the room: BIPOC representation in the media — specifically, traditionally nerdy media. Black Nerd Problems is about a single group of people — Black nerds — but this book is inclusive. It's welcoming to all levels of nerdiness, Black, White, whatever, but it also has backbone. These authors have something important to say and they stand by their serious-slash-hilarious words.

Taken either as a whole or as individual essays, the book is fantastic and I learned some things. I learned some hard truths about Disney, some cool characters that deserve more attention, and a lot more. "Mario Kart Reveals Who You Truly Are" is painfully relatable and "Raising the Avatar" had me tearing up. The one about Craig of the Creek made my heart positively soar! 

I was afraid I wouldn't get this book because I don't do comic books or anime. I don't know Naruto from Avatar (I know how that must have hurt some of you readers!) but I shouldn't have worried. Some highly-specific references were presented clearly enough that even I could follow along. And wow, I think it's safe to say these guys are real nerds. There are some seriously obscure references in here! Total mixed media and cross-cultural, cross-fandom references left and right. 

Really, a collection of essays like this all comes down to balance. And Black Nerd Problems has it. Perfection.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the authors for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Black Nerd Problems is an incredible series of essays from a website that I honestly had not heard of prior to getting a review copy from Simon and Schuster. The collection features Omar Holmon and William Evans reflections on just about everything in nerd culture, from comics to movies to television series, and then manages to seamlessly integrate cultural, political, and social commentary into the essays and examine a broad spectrum of what it means to be Black fanboys while existing in America. The most engaging aspect of these essays is the voice that these two writers bring to the page – and their ability for their voice to jump off the page is astonishing and a lot of fun.

The audience for this book is huge. I am a white nerd myself. I am also an educator who often grapples with addressing the state of race in America in my classroom on a daily basis. Holmon and Evans’ examination of heavy topics from Black Lives Matter to the true impact of the meaning and casting choices of Hamilton (and even the lack of said choices in Mad Men) provides a much-needed everyman's entry into the discourse. Teamed with an astonishingly deep love of comics and our culture, Holmon and Evans have a collection here that delights but also reflects much of what makes our country beautiful. The humor in these pages is difficult to truly capture in how well these pieces are executed, and overall, it is a remarkably curated collection about books, art, comics, film, television, literature, and our nerdish culture. A great read, and I look forward to diligently following and diving into the vast content on their website from here out, sharing it with my friends, and using their voice in my classroom.

Black Nerd Problems will be released by Simon and Schuster in September 2021, and will be available everywhere. Their website featuring many, and perhaps all of these essays and many more, is BlackNerdProblems.com

This book was hilarious and relatable. I will definitely recommend. It touched on everything a black nerd has to endure.

THIS BOOK WAS FANTASTIC!

It was legit everything I needed, and even though I may or may not be the target audience IT WAS PERFECTION!

I preordered the book midway through chapter 3, because sometimes when you know... YOU KNOW. I legit am praying to the nerd gods that they do a full cast audiobook where they read their own chapters, so I can order that as well.

Not only is the book hysterical and jam packed with so much nerdy information, recommendations, and opinions.. I’ve also taken so much more from it. As a teacher (a white teacher) I now have a list of material to add to my bookshelves so BIPOC children can see themselves represented authentically and positively (i WILL track down the list of comics from: What Happens To A New Fictional Black Character Deferred? And of course, Miss Monica Rambeau!!!....yeah, i have a list). This ranges from comic books, to clips i can show in class, and posters I can have made.

It made me think so much deeper about so many things around racism, social justice, and how I still have many privileges and don’t realize the many, many, MANY struggles BIPOC go through (enter chapter titled: “The Sobering Reality of Actual Black Nerd Problems” & also “For Dark Girls Who Never Get Asked to Play Storm”).

Aside from the education I definitely got from this book, my favorite chapters are absolutely: “Mario Kart Reveals Who You Truly Are”(100%) & I thoroughly enjoyed “How My Black Ass Would Survive Every Horror Movie”- I was legit cackling and nodding my head at every word. But legit, what made me laugh so hard I had tears and my husband had to come in and ask what was so funny? “Blade II Still Has The Most Disrespectful Superhero Fades My Black Ass Has Ever Seen.” WATCH THE YOUTUBE VIDEO AS PER DEMANDED! You will not regret it.

Ok, ok, ok. I’ll stop. But I 10/10 would recommend this book, for anyone. Even if you don’t think you’re a nerd, there is something in this book for you! Omar & William - THANK YOU!

This book is such a fun read. Some controversial pop culture opinions mixed in with media critique and commentary specific to the black community. What I like about this book and most own voices reads is that it's written in a way that is engaging and familiar. The essays in this book cover topics ranging from Batman, Gohan, Spiderverse, Game of Thrones and more. The chapters that were on media I don't know much about or don't like, I still enjoyed. Obviously if you aren't a consumer of "nerdy" pop culture this may not be the book for you, but it is a fun read if you have any opinion at all on the media selected.