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

By: W. Kamau Bell

Narrated by: 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 Audio

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)

Things W. Kamau Bell Wished He'd Said To People

Great listen.
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.

He might be my patronus

Hearing his perspective on life, the challenges he's faced and the honesty with humor I felt so seen.

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.

Really good.

W. Kamau Bell does a great job narrating his own book, as one would expect. I highly recomend.

A Brotha' like my own

The way Kamau tells his story is very similar to a lot of black males like myself. As Kamau says his self earlier in this book, "You are not alone."
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.

this awkward black man is awesome and smart.

I really enjoyed this book. it was funny and informative. I give it 5 stars

great book

an eye opening look at being black in America. Kamal is a great author and television personality.

Showbiz Experience

I am a big fan of Kamau. I appreciate his kindness and vulnerability. The showbiz stories were very interesting, I want to go back and watch his old shows now that I know what he was experiencing behind the scenes.

riveting

I didn't want to stop listening to this book. Kamau is funny, brilliant, and completely relatable. He also provides a lot to think about in regards to race and gender in America. I'll be listening to this one again.

Great Book

Really enjoyed Kamau's wit and prospective. He is a great story teller. Everyone should read this book for his spot on view prejudice in America.

Not what I expected, in a good way!

An interesting story on carrer struggles, family, fatherhood, mixed race marriage, truth and honor, and great self introspection. Well written and well read all while being riddled with witty and often silly humor. Thoroughly enjoyed it.