
The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell
Tales of a 6' 4", African American, Heterosexual, Cisgender, Left-Leaning, Asthmatic, Black and Proud Blerd, Mama's Boy, Dad, and Stand-Up Comedian
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Narrated by:
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W. Kamau Bell
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By:
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W. Kamau Bell
You may know W. Kamau Bell from his new Emmy-nominated hit show on CNN, United Shades of America. Or maybe you've read about him in The New York Times, which called him "the most promising new talent in political comedy in many years." Or maybe from The New Yorker fawning over his brand of humor writing: "Bell's gimmick is intersectional progressivism: he treats racial, gay, and women's issues as inseparable."
After all this love and praise, it's time for the next step: a book. The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell is a humorous, well-informed take on the world today, tackling a wide range of issues, such as race relations; fatherhood; the state of law enforcement today; comedians and superheroes; right-wing politics; left-wing politics; failure; his interracial marriage; white men; his upbringing by very strong-willed, race-conscious, yet ideologically opposite parents; his early days struggling to find his comedic voice, then his later days struggling to find his comedic voice; why he never seemed to fit in with the black comedy scene...or the white comedy scene; how he was a black nerd way before that became a thing; how it took his wife and an East Bay lesbian to teach him that racism and sexism often walk hand in hand; and much, much more.
©2017 W. Kamau Bell (P)2017 Penguin AudioListeners also enjoyed...




















Critic reviews
"Although the text version is an interesting, if curiously structured, work, the audiobook allows Bell a more apt platform for his offbeat intelligence and idiosyncratic voice. The experience of listening to the text, which clocks in at 10 hours and 31 minutes, is like being the sole patron in a comedy club while Bell performs a marathon stand-up routine.... [T]he audiobook allows a listener to hear the jokes as they were meant to be delivered." (The New York Times Book Review)
"Bell...tackles everything from racism to his life growing up as a Blerd (Black nerd) to his struggles to find his comedic voice in this illuminating memoir." (Entertainment Weekly)
“With insight and aplomb, stand-up comedian Bell recounts his career arc.... Those unfamiliar with Bell’s work or expecting a lighthearted read from a popular comedian will be surprised by the book’s breadth and depth.... This informative read will be illuminating and worthwhile for aspiring comedians and general readers.” (Publishers Weekly)
Featured Article: 55+ Quotes for Whenever You Need a Little Encouragement
We all have bad days and dry spells. We all experience moments of disappointment, sadness, and self-doubt. And occasionally, we all need an encouraging word—or several—to lift our spirits, boost our confidence, and fill us with hope. Straight from the works of best-selling and widely admired authors, here's a collection of positive and reassuring words you can turn to anytime you're in need of support.
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Flowed well.
Clearly insightful and poignant.
Relatable, yet I found myself thinking why didn't he just do that one thing, or tell that one person XYZ, but that's easier said than done.
Things W. Kamau Bell Wished He'd Said To People
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Witty, human, nerdy, and so exacting in his thoughts about why certain things resonated with him in life, and why I might just have loved watching the Incredible Hulk as much as I did as a kid.
He might be my patronus
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Really good.
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We listened to, and did things that where deemed "not black enough" in our era of growing up.
I wasn't an only child like Kamau, but life had definitely put very similar experiences in our paths.
I feel like I could have wrote the same exact things in parts of this book.
There's youth, coming of age, tragedy, triumph, and a few repeats of success and failure.
I'm glad I got to listen to someone else's version of a life like this.
I've never seen his shows or met him, but he articulated his book very well.
Thanks Kamau.
A Brotha' like my own
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this awkward black man is awesome and smart.
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great book
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Showbiz Experience
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riveting
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Great Book
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Not what I expected, in a good way!
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