How to Make White People Laugh

by Negin Farsad

From the acclaimed writer, director, and star of the hit documentary The Muslims are Coming! comes a memoir in essays about growing up Iranian-American in a post-9/11 world and the power of comedy to combat racism.



Negin Farsad is an Iranian-American-Muslim female stand-up comedian who believes she can change the world through jokes. And yes, sometimes that includes fart jokes. In this candid and uproarious book, Farsad shares her personal experiences growing up as the "other" in an American culture that has no time for nuance. In fact, she longed to be black and/or Mexican at various points of her youth, you know, like normal kids. Right? RIGHT?

Writing bluntly and hilariously about the elements of race we are often too politically correct to discuss, Farsad takes a long hard look at the iconography that still shapes our concepts of "black," "white," and "Muslim" today-and what it means when white culture defines the culture. Farsad asks the important questions like, What does it mean to have a hyphenated identity? How can we actually combat racism, stereotyping, and exclusion? Do Iranians get bunions at a higher rate than other ethnic groups? (She's asking for a friend.)

How to Make White People Laugh tackles these questions with wit, humor, and incisive intellect. And along the way, you might just learn a thing or two about tetherball, Duck Dynasty, and wine slushies.

Genres: Humor, Nonfiction, Memoir, Essays, Audiobook, Comedy, Feminism

256 pages, Hardcover

First published June 28, 2016

About the author

Making her parents’ plea for immigration all the easier, Negin Farsad was born in the United States, growing up in the desert of Southern California. She first obtained a Bachelors Degree in Theatre Arts and Government from Cornell University. Her dual interest in the arts and politics continued when she moved to New York City – studying for a Masters degree in Race Relations at Columbia University by day but writing and performing comedy by night. She followed that degree with a second Masters from Columbia at the School of International & Public Affairs with a focus on Urban Management and worked as a senior policy advisor for the City of New York, eventually leaving for full-time uncertainty in the world of performing and visual arts!

Negin was recently named one of the 50 Funniest Women by the Huffington Post. She was also named a 2013 TED Fellow and gave a TEDTalk about her work in Social Justice Comedy (SJC). (SJC isn’t really “a thing” yet, but Negin is forcing into existence!)

As a standup comedian she has opened for the likes of Al Franken and Bobby Lee (Mad TV) in venues ranging from the Laugh Factory in New York, the Comedy Store in Los Angeles, and Town Hall on Broadway. Negin has provided original comedy content for PBS, Pacifica and Sirius Radio stations. She has been an active comedian and producer for over ten years earning a nomination for the Emerging Comics of New York Awards and her own off-Broadway run for the comedy show The Dirty Immigrant Collective. Her solo show Bootleg Islam, which she wrote and performed, has appeared in the DC, Dallas, and Chicago Comedy Festivals among others. Her work has been called “smart, funny, and fascinating” by the Wall Street Journal, a Critic’s Choice by the Chicago Tribune, “a shining exception,” by the Dallas Morning News, and Backstage cheered that it “doesn’t get much funnier than this!”

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF at 39%. I tried to make it to 50%, but frankly, I stopped caring. It started out being funny. It started out being reflective. And it started out being interesting. I especially liked the work she did to counter an anti-muslim campaign on the New York subway system.

After a while, there is only so much of her memoir that held me. Yes, it was hard growing up as one of two muslim families in Palm Springs. Yes, it was hard to be at white-city Cornell. Yes, it was hard to be the only muslim in Black Studies. Yes, I get that.

So, this is not a laugh-out-loud memoir, as the title of the book hints at. I'm quite sure she is funny on stage. But, plodding through her life, is just that, plodding. Perhaps others will find it more interesting than I.

Thanks to NetGalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG YOU GUYS. THIS BOOK.

I'll put up a review once the readathon is over. But in the meantime, GO READ OR LISTEN TO THIS BOOK. It's amazing. It's HYSTERICAL. Probably the funniest audiobook I have ever listened to, and that is a high mark to meet. If you're looking for a funny palate cleanser during the #24in48 Readathon, grab this from Audible. You will not regret it. Run, don't walk.

[Shawn Mooney (Shawn Breathes Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Negin Farsad, an Iranian-American, calls herself a social justice comedian. (This is just one of the intriguing hats she wears: she's also a documentary film-maker and a podcaster.)

In a January 2016 TED talk with the characteristically memorable title "A Highly Scientific Taxonomy of Haters," Farsad enumerates what constitutes social justice comedy:

1. It mustn't be partisan
2. It must be inviting and warm
3. It must be funny but sneaky.

I call bullshit on #1. By its very nature, social justice leans left. Name me a conservative comedian whose material goes there.

The first 30-40% of this book was pee-my-pants funny and brilliant because Farsad's humor was inviting, warm, and sneakily hilarious. As was the final chapter. Her experience of being an American Muslim in the post-September-11th era and her bold activism keep you laughing so hard that you don't realize the depth at which you're being educated: that's the sneaky part.

Based on those entertaining and informative sections, around half of the book, Negin Farsad has become my go-to source for decentered wisdom on race in America. I have fallen in love with her on the page, and shall follow her career until one of us kicks the bucket.

Disappointingly, though, most of the rest - which was mostly about stuff other than race - was unfunny, preachy, and - when it related to more personal topics such as her love life - often cringemakingly whiney.

She shouldn't have to stick to one topic: of course not. But my praise would be unqualified had she only included the well-marinated funny stuff.

Because of all that was so deeply successful here, I suspect she just needs to to marinate her material more. I am certainly rooting for her to do so, and count myself among her legion of fans.

[Taryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Negin Farsad definitely knows how to make this white person laugh. She’s bold, irreverent, and on a mission to educate America about Muslims. Her methods, which she calls “social justice comedy,” are delightful. Instead of approaching people with anger or impatience, she is all about making connections. Like the time she stood outside a Mormon church with a “Hug a Muslim” sign (she had many takers), or the time she and a documentary film crew talked to a man with an enormous Confederate flag displayed in his yard. Encounters that you might expect to be contentious end up being warm and friendly.

Of course, like any stand-up comic, Farsad has dealt with her share of detractors and trolls (sometimes within her own demographic), and she writes honestly about those experiences. However, she has a remarkable capacity for optimism—she believes people can change their minds, and that one of the best ways to change minds is through personal conversation and connection. Her winsome cheerfulness was my favorite part of the book. I have a hard time staying positive in the face of ignorance and bigotry, but Farsad showed me there is a better way to respond to closed-minded people.

Farsad’s humor is in the same vein as Key and Peele, the Comedy Central show starring Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, now in reruns. (If you haven’t watched it, get thee to YouTube!) Her perspective as an outsider to the black/white dichotomy of American culture echoes the sense of alienation that Key and Peele, both biracial, have expressed to hilarious effect in their sketch comedy. I would love to see a collaboration between the three of them—Key and Peele are already creating some sophisticated commentary on race and culture, but with a feminine angle, they’d be unstoppable.

Other highlights: her list of sorority girl names (my favorite: Langley Pleats), her the-lady-doth-protest-too-much insistence that she’s totally over being rejected by Yale, and at the end of the book, an exquisitely timed reference to her enthusiasm for honey mustard.

With regards to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy. On sale May 24!

More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com

[JZ · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I grow up, I want to be like Negin.

She is smart, funny, and tells some amazing stories. She's innovative and knows how to spread it around. It took a while to listen and think about all that she says here. Funny, yes, but so very serious about serious things. From TED talks to Hug a Muslim, from stand-up comedy to patriotism, she covers a wide range of topics that, yes, made me laugh, but made me think more.

Oh, yes, and she's brave. And bold. We need more of that. Brava!

[Sheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I heard an interview somewhere about six weeks ago with Farsad and really liked the idea of social justice comedy. Certainly it is true that good comedy is the truth stated in surprising and sometimes enlightening ways; I was excited by her case against the MTA and her idea for The Muslims Are Coming comedy tour. I put the book on reserve with my library and found her podcast.

After listening to 3-5 episodes of her podcast, I was less enamored. I found her comedic voice to be slightly patronizing and simplistic; she is an intelligent woman, but her voice (in the podcast) was less interesting and intelligent than I wanted it to be: she came across as more "rom-com" chick than I thought was necessary. And of course, writing this I have the blaring red light going off in my head: A WOMAN CAN BE INTELLIGENT AND THOUGHTFUL AND STILL REALLY CARE ABOUT THE COLOR OF HER NAIL POLISH OR WHETHER OR NOT HER SHOES MATCH HER BAG. Of course, yes, but in my experience the extent to which one pays attention to one's shoes and bag is indirectly related to the extent to which one pays attention to other, more global matters; after all there is only so much time in the day.

And so, I wondered how much of her "girly girl voice and comments" were authentic and how much was cultivated to appeal to the white girls that she is trying to make laugh. It felt rather condescending. I stopped listening to the podcast and chalked her up as having an interesting idea, doing good work, but not quite appealing to my sense of humor.

A few days ago, her book came in and since it was here I decided to read it. I have mixed feelings. The beginning was very much in that patronizing voice, she even includes fake graphs to humor-ize the science (make it less threatening?). However, somewhere around the middle she stopped trying to be funny and started talking about her ideas and those are pretty good. So the 3 star rating is rather a mix between my 1 star reaction to her comedic voice and a 5 star reaction to her actual material.

First, I love her social justice stunts (suing MTA and the Muslims are Coming tour) and I agree 100% that comedy is a great way to reach the masses. Personally, as a white woman I understand some oppression (I'm not a man), but I also enjoy many benefits of the status quo (I'm white). I feel like revolution-talk is scary for those in power, but we have to have some actual tough discussions to get through the awful place that American society has reached at the moment. I fell like real understanding might occur through comedy and I am so glad she is educating the masses in this way; as she says "you attract softer punches when you're wearing a clown nose."

I also loved her discussion of the immigrant kid experience: both that good grades were assumed, not celebrated and that immigrants give birth to patriots. Again, this is just her individual experience (and anecdotal friend group experience), but it makes sense and fits with my schema as well: people come here to work hard and try to make better lives. They don't leave their country of origin because they are LAZY. They leave their country of origin because they have hope. The burden of doing better in the next generation is squarely placed on the kids' shoulders. Instead of fighting immigration in this country, we should be welcoming it.

I have frequently commented that the feminist and anti-racism fights need to study the LGBTQ community. When I was in high school (early 90s), mainstream America still made comments like "that's so gay" and understood gender to be binary. Here we are not yet 30 years later and while LGBTQ folks are not safe or welcome everywhere, the accepted viewpoint is that individuals are individuals, gender is a continuum and we can love and have sex with whomever we want. This is a huge change in a relatively short time. Farsad nods to this when she talks about the haters that can change their minds and cites the roughly 30% supporting gay marriage changing to roughly 30% opposed to gay marriage in a 14 year period.

Finally, I liked her invective for minority groups to come together (especially in that it was sandwiched into her hierarchy of minorities in which Blacks are first, Hispanics--or Mexicans as she always refers to them; I am certain that not all of the Latinx people she knew were Mexican--are second and all of the rest of the colored hyphen-Americans are third) to fight oppression. This makes total sense to me. Again, I am a white person watching from the outside, but I am sympathetic (and learning to be empathetic) and wanting change. I have wondered frequently about the hatred between minorities and the extreme racism that we see between groups. All Americans need to embrace change together.

Overall, it was a good read because I learned a lot (5 star for the content), but I just couldn't get into her voice.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny take on the serious issues of immigrants, racism, and other-ness in the United States written and read by an Iranian-American Social Justice Comedian. A nice break from super serious reading, but also a funny and thoughtful look at the Muslim American experience in this country during a time when muslims are often discriminated against as being all radical, terrorists, etc. Now off to look up her TED talk.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

For more reviews, visit www.ebooksandcooks.com

Farsad is certainly an interesting comedian and filmmaker. She is an Iranian-American who grew up primarily in Palm Springs, California. She has degrees from Cornell University (undergraduate in government and theater) and Columbia University (graduate in African-American Studies). She defines her niche as social justice comedy.

Her mission as a social justice comedian is to introduce ideas that change social consciousness using humor. Much of the book is spent discussing her time introducing Americans to Muslims in a non-threatening way, her upbringing, and her place in America as a “third thing”.

She talks a lot about iconography of Muslims and how that has shaped Americans’ feelings towards them. She makes points that Muslim women are seen as covered, Muslim men are seen obsessed with beards and guns, and all Muslims are seen as praying all the time. She gives ideas about how these icons can be turned around to show a more inclusive view of all Muslims. An example of a change in iconography in the American consciousness was when The Cosby Show brought African-American stories into white households. Many shows in the 1990s began bringing gay and lesbian characters into the mainstream media and that has changed the dialogue around LGBTQ civil rights.

To introduce a more inclusive view of Muslims, she and other comedians put on shows throughout the South and Southwest called “The Muslims Are Coming!” The shows were free and drew audiences interested in learning more about Islam and the breadth of Muslim views in America. They also went to the center of town and hugged anyone who wanted to hug them. She believes by introducing white Americans to people with different backgrounds, the white Americans are more likely to be accepting of diversity. I agree with her.

As a kid in Palm Springs, she wanted to be Mexican. They were the largest minority group, and she wanted to identify with them. This identification with other minority groups continued in college and graduated school when she began to identify more with black people. She took on their social justice struggles as her own without realizing that this exact “white versus black” dynamic was taking away knowledge of “third things” like her.

She defines “third things” as people who have heritage from more than one country. They could be Iranian-American like her, British-Sudanese, Belgo-Iraqi, or Jamaican-American. The point she makes is that “third things” have largely been left out of the dialogue about race in America. She wants people to realize that “third things” have a unique place in America as ambassadors of their parents’ culture and supporters of American culture. She encourages white people to recognize both cultures when addressing these citizens and to not be afraid to ask about their relationship with both cultures. She also implores “third thing” people to open up bridges of understanding with white Americans.

This is just a small smattering of the interesting points she makes in this five star book. She talks about dating, interfaith relationships and friendships, traveling to Iran, relating to more religious Muslims, taking on haters, her time as a TED fellow, and immigrants’ feelings about the American experience. I highly recommend this book.

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very funny and lighthearted book that's kind of a combination of memoir, manifesto, and instructional book for minorities on interacting with white people. At times, this combination made it hard to pin down just who Farsad intended her audience to be: sometimes the book was very much directed at white readers, while at other times she offered advice for POC.

The end result is a bit scattershot and I often felt that Farsad was being entirely too gosh-darn NICE. I mean, she definitely comes from a philosophy that education and niceness will bring the bigots around, which is the case for some people, but at times it was frustrating because she doesn't seem to at all want to talk about the people who are just never going to like her. And maybe that's ok, maybe it's important to just focus on the minds who can be changed. But I would have liked to see a little bit more about how she gets through a day knowing that some minds will never change.

Anyway, this was well worth reading and I'll be seeking out her stand-up because she's straight-up hilarious.

[Candice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this now!

And give a copy to every white person you know. This book is funny and smart, but still can get you fired up to write some letters to your local congressmen. Negin is extremely relatable and doesn't hide her feelings. She's fighting the good fight to make people understand what it's like to be, as she calls it, a "third-thing American." It's important to read other people's experiences, especially those people who don't look like you. It helps us learn empathy so hopefully we can make this a better world. Overall, this book is hilarious and you will be highlighting every page to quote to your friends.

[Kathrin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mostly funny and very thought provoking. I really enjoyed this!

[CrystalIsReading on StoryGraph · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw this book come through processing at my library, and was excited to read it, so I put a hold on it, and entered to win a copy here on Goodreads. And I won! I was so excited--normally I can take awhile to getting around to reading a book in my possession, but not this time. Maybe it was the eye-catching cover, or the timeliness of the message, or the promise of humor injected into often sad and serious topics, but I was really interested. And the book did not disappoint. I'll admit that Negin's jizz jokes got a little old after awhile--the humor she uses to keep audiences engaged with the greater subject matter is a little crass and juvenile for my taste, and her constant sarcastic asides could be annoying. but the subject matter was thoroughly engrossing. Things I'd never thought about before, the experiences of the "other" minorities here in the US, and especially the experiences of women from those groups. Like the ridiculously limited race options for the US census, as just one example. Open hostility. Online hatred (not new, but always a new level in horrifying, for me). Subtle slights. Being passed over for opportunities. And the thing is, that even while I didn't love Negin's particular brand of humor, having the subjects presented in a humorous fashion really did help to make the subjects more easily comprehended. I guess they were dumbed down--but reading them made me feel smarter, as well as occasionally amused, and left with a desire to try to continue to do better for EVERYONE in this country.
Thank you, publisher, for giving me a change to read this right away. It was worth it, and I'm making sure to pass it around to all my friends now that I'm finished, to get them engaged too. The subject matter can only be MORE relevant after our last horrific shooting in Orlando.

[Moie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Are you a formally educated POC who understands both the pains and joys of a "hyphenated identity" but also says something like "I don't get involved in politics"? If so, this book is for you!

----
This is a rare book that I would (and have) casually recommend(ed) to friends and family alike. This is not a how to book on white allyship, or (IMO) a book to make white people laugh. Instead, it is a book focused on the personal narrative of a POC (Farsad herself) that illuminates things of which everyone-- especially fellow Americans, hyphenated or otherwise-- should be aware.

Farsad humorously sticks holes in the divisions between POC in this book without being very combative in a way that would, I have to admit, put some people off. I'm generally used to more "combative" narratives, but even I found Farsad's ability to laugh at the situation around her while effecting change to be refreshing. This book will ask you to take a look within yourself, POC or white, and look at your own internalized beliefs about others... but while laughing!

My only real qualm with this book is the title, actually. There's a lot of potential in this book to reach out to the very people I start this review talking about (the "apolitical" POC), but this title pushes them away before they even open the book. Otherwise, Farsad does a great job on being inclusive, other than her many snide jokes about education-- which I appreciated, but does push away a certain subset of people.

How to Make White People Laugh is a book that'll reach most formally educated folk, however they identify racially/ethnically/politically. I'd even go so far as to say that I'd love to live in an America where everyone has fully read this book. It's that good.

[Arianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this wondering if I had a double life as a woman named Negin Farsad with a successful comedy career. Every word sounded like it had come out of my mouth, and as a fellow "hyphenated American", it was almost scary to read something that I connected to and understood so completely.

Farsad speaks to all Americans who have to check "white" on the census even though we're really not, to all of us who have been confused about our place in a country so split between black and white, to all of us who have wondered "Can you write a book with both parentheticals where you talk to yourself and footnotes to cite real facts?".

Race relations in this country obviously have a long way to go, especially for those who are not black or hispanic. Farsad questions why all minorities don't work together when we're all getting marginalized. Why aren't we? Simply meeting people, as Farsad does with her comedy, and talking to them is the key to a more unified future.

I can't wait to give this book to anyone who will read it, because it is not only a look into the situation of the unrecognized Third Things in America, it is laugh out loud hilarious and will definitely bring a smile to your face.

[And to all non-Third Thing people wondering if this book is for them, let me explain; there will be parts of this book you don't understand, but there is more you will. Farsad is an American. She likes the same stuff you do. There's race relations mixed in with Iranian quirks melded with feminism and a questioning of rich America. You'll like it, I promise.]

[Christine Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the privilege of hearing Negin speak at Book Riot Live last weekend and the book does not disappoint. Negin shares about her experience with Islamaphobia in America as an Iranian-American but in a comedic way that inspires action even from people who don't normally consider themselves "activists". I particularly enjoyed listening to the audiobook because she narrated it and had neat ways of narrating the footnotes and graphic components

[Jeanne]

I have mixed feelings and need to marinate on this for a bit before writing a review.

[Christine Irvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yep, I read the whole book in one day (just in case you were wondering)! The text is written in an easy-to-read style, but the subject matter is quite serious.

Author Negin Farsad is not only a writer and a director, she is also a stand-up comedian and what she calls her "hyphenated" identity, as in she is an Iranian-American-Muslim. As a comedian, she tries to change people's perceptions of race, particularly that of Iranians, and of faith, particularly that of Muslim, through her jokes and activism.

In this candid look at her life, Farsad explores the concepts of race and faith and prejudice and stereotyping, using anecdotes from her own life. She is forthright in her manner of delivery, not shying away from a subject because it may be difficult to talk about.

She also addresses the issue of being Muslim. She emphatically states that just because you are Muslim (which she is) doesn't mean that your are a radical extremist or a terrorist (which she emphatically isn't). She deplores the notion that many people think that the two terms, Muslim and terrorism, go hand-in-hand. They don't. Let's be clear about that.

Farsad writes with a style that is humorous but still very serious. At the end of the book she asks the reader to speak up when they see something that needs to be changed. She cites several examples: The US census currently has only five categories for a person to declare their race. There are many, many people who don't fit into any of those categories. She wants to see more choices on the census forms. She also advocates for changing Hollywood's portrayal of people, black, white, Latino or any other race. Films produced in Hollywood (and elsewhere) should reflect a more accurate picture of whatever race/religion/gender is being depicted.

It seems I have a knack for selecting books about people who were born in America, who are therefore Americans, but whose parents are from other countries, making them "hyphenated Americans." By this I mean, Farsad calls herself and Iranian-American because she was born in the USA, but her parents are Iranian; the person who wrote DOUBLE CUP LOVE (a book I recently reviewed) refers to himself as Taiwanese-Chinese-American because he, too, was born in the USA, but one parent is from Taiwan and the other is from China. I find it interesting that they both felt a struggle to fit into "white" culture, or a culture that doesn't reflect their heritage.

My only complaint about this book is the amount of swearing throughout the text. I realize she is just being herself, and writing the way she talks, but I ask you: Is it really necessary to swear in order to get your point across? I don't believe it is. You may think differently.

[Shazia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah ok so I actually finished reading this book like, months ago. And I was putting off reviewing it because I wanted to actually review it but now it's been so long I don't think I even remember everything I wanted to mention in my review. Luckily (?) I took some notes so I'm going to try to decipher them and type up a sort of review now.

I ended up really liking this book. I was hesitant about it in the beginning, especially when Negin started talking about how she related to black people. I was fully expecting it to be problematic, just like when some other non-black poc I know try to defend their usage of the n-word, for example. But! it fortunately didn't go that route and I was glad. There were actually certain parts in this book that I felt like I related to Negin and her experiences growing up. I especially appreciated her explanation of a "Third Thing" identity because it so described something I've felt but never really thought about or read about before.

There was one line I wrote down I wanted to share because it made me roll my eyes and I'm pretty sure Farsad was not being sarcastic in this section of the book. "...Besides, all women suffer from sexism--if we get rid of that, we could free up the white ladies to fight against Islamophobia, right?"

Ugh, no! Like, actually what? Does she really think white women as a group would actually help other minorities? As if discrimination and inequality from men is really the only thing that's stopping them from doing anything to help others? Weren't white women actually a huge demographic that voted for Trump to become president? She then goes on to say that being a woman and being a person of color is "the same fight" but that's just not true. But who knows, maybe that section of the book was satirical because she is a comedian and the book is mostly funny. But I just don't remember getting that kind of vibe when reading that paragraph.

I don't want to end this review on a bad note so uh, here's another sentence about how I actually liked the book. I liked it!

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only thing keeping this from 5 stars was that it was a TEENY BIT slow in parts. Really it's like 4.5 stars I don't know why I'm being so stingy.

Negin Farsad is very funny, very warm and very smart. This book has actual facts in it that are supported by footnotes. Sometimes I watch Last Week Tonight and laugh while also feeling kind of smart and definitely learning stuff. This book is a similar experience. I felt like I was at a sophisticated wine and cheese party where the host spoke eloquently about defending her thesis but also there were some fart jokes.

In short, Ms. Farsad is JUST your kind of girl. She is exactly what you want to be friends with. I'm pretty sure we could be besties but she is smarter than me, so maybe I'll be the pretty one. #nailedit

You will be amazed at the perfect balance of jokes, serious stuff and totally legit charts. As an author, Ms. Farsad is like the conductor of an orchestra. The string section is social justice. The woodwinds are penis jokes.

You almost can't go wrong with this book. I'd recommend it to anyone. Even if you don't really like it all that much, it is short and there are pictures. <3

[SazkyReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This seems to be a "love it or hate it" book. Well...this is a 'loved it' review!

If you want to read about identity, the social construction of race, intersectionality, systemic violence, discrimination, and othering in a conversational tone, then this is it. Farsad discusses complex issues and concepts under the veil of humor which makes the book highly accessible. This is the practical book of thinking about such things without feeling attacked or wanting to gauge your eyes out over dry academic theory. To really have fun with it, voice it as a stand-up comedy routine when reading.

While some people may pessimistically say that the intended audience for this book is unclear, I think there's a takeaway for everyone. After all, everyone plays a role in perpetuating racism or, prejudice.

As a first generation immigrant that has a lot in common with the author, I'm going to give this book to my mom so she can get a little taste of what it was like for me to grow up in North America.

[Briar's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Negin Farsad's comedy-memoir book is absolutely fantastic!

I really enjoyed this novel! It gives a wonderful insight to the life of an Iranian-American, being a comedian, and of culture.

Negin does a great job at explaining culture with a hint of comedy in it. Discussing culture can be a very boring topic, but this book spices it up and makes the conversation lighter! I really did enjoy how Negin explains her culture and her life, and I would definitely pick up another book like this! She also includes many funny lists that show her comedic nature (Ex list of Sorority girl names, totally priceless!!).

This book isn't all sunshine and rainbows, but Negin manages to put an exciting and happy spin on all of her darker times!

Honestly, I hope she writes another book! I don't know what about, but she really should!

Five out of five stars! Hilarious, insightful and beautifully written!

I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

closer to 3.5 but rounding down. Timely discussion of how to promote tolerance and fight Islamophobia by getting to know people who are different. It would have been better for me if it didn't keep referencing some mysterious pdf that I didn't figure out how to access until just now, and couldn't have looked at even if I had figured out how to access it earlier because I was driving. I feel that if your book depends heavily on visuals, then it might not be a great choice to make it an audiobook. Still, I appreciated the message, even if I think I'm feeling too pessimistic to receive it properly right now.

[(a)lyss(a) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I remember thinking, Maybe I should try being white? I mean, what does it really entail - wainscoting?"

This book is part memoir and part social justice manifesto.

Negin Farsad shares her voice as an Iranian-American, Muslim, and a comedian. She shares why she identifies as a hyphenated American and shares her struggles and victories of being a brown woman in Southern California and the rest of the world.

Farsad is funny and poignant and shares heartfelt insights on being the child of immigrants while navigating the culture she was put in. It's a great book for anyone to get you thinking.

[Haley Mathiot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was clever and hilarious, and there were lots of great stories. Farsad brought a lot of heavy topics to the table, but in a way that showed the problem without pointing fingers and hating. I laughed the whole time and really enjoyed myself. Farsad referenced her documentary and comedy show The Muslims Are Coming quite a bit. I have totally added it to my To-Watch list. See the trailer below. - See more at: http://www.thelifeandlies.com/2016/07...

[Zee Monodee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Got the feeling the author was trying a little too hard to drive her point across ... Like, you're Muslim and non-White and also non-Black - okay, we get it; you don't have to keep harping it every single time at every single juncture in every little aspect of your life! I'm a Muslim myself, and I hoped this book would be more along the lines of inclusion and 'Muslims are normal people, too', but in trying too hard to point out that she was 'different' everywhere, well, heck, she does turn out to be different and not inclusive pretty much at all.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and light-hearted memoir/ reflections on her hyphenated identity, her affinity with others’ struggles, and how being female and Muslim affect her career. The parts that made me legitimately laugh out loud was in the chapter on college at Cornell, and the part where she said, “I don’t give a flying fuck or an earthbound one either.” There were a couple moments that made me think, like about systemic segregation in housing at Cornell and about domestic terrorists. This book reminded me of Luvvie’s Do-Better Manual. Her own reading of the audiobook was vibrant.

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Negin Farsad is an Iranian-American comedian who wrote a book! It’s SOOOO funny! I laughed out loud! I listen to her podcast (Fake the Nation)! I love her and you might too!

Some things to look forward to:
- Fake statistics like corporate office demographics in Manhattan based on a sample size of 1
- Learning what a TED conference is really like (free Popchips!)
- Life in Palm Springs aka imitating the Taco Bell chihuahua to make Mexican friends

What I’m trying to say is the book is really excellent!

[Anne Libera · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. A lot. Negin Farsad is a girl comedian so we have that in common and I want to be her best friend (or at least add her to the amazing ranks of young female comedians that I know and enjoy spending time with). But also, she has something to say and she says it with huge compassion and positivity. So I also want all the young female comedians that I know and enjoy spending time with to read this book. And she's funny.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has some humorous parts, but not really in a laugh out loud sort of way. There are also some thoughtful meditations on race and social justice, but there are also glib musings, and the whole book feels a little disorganized. Farsad shines best when talking about her life as a marginalized female Muslim comic.

[Holly Acker · Rating 4 out of 5]

i’m bad at reading syllabi ahead of time and did not realize I had to read this entire book before tomorrow until today! however, it was an easy read & fairly entertaining AND it got me closer to my goodreads goal so I can’t complain….