You Can't Touch My Hair

By: Phoebe Robinson, Jessica Williams - foreword

Narrated by: Phoebe Robinson, John Hodgman

Length: 7 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's Summary

A New York Times Best Seller

"A must-read...Phoebe Robinson discusses race and feminism in such a funny, real, and specific way, it penetrates your brain and stays with you." (Ilana Glazer, cocreator and costar of Broad City)

A hilarious and timely essay collection about race, gender, and pop culture from upcoming comedy superstar and 2 Dope Queens podcaster Phoebe Robinson

Being a black woman in America means contending with old prejudices and fresh absurdities every day. Comedian Phoebe Robinson has experienced her fair share over the years: She's been unceremoniously relegated to the role of "the black friend", as if she is somehow the authority on all things racial; she's been questioned about her love of U2 and Billy Joel ("isn't that...white people music?"); she's been called "uppity" for having an opinion in the workplace; she's been followed around stores by security guards; and yes, people do ask her whether they can touch her hair all. The. Time. Now she's ready to take these topics to audio - and she's going to make you laugh as she's doing it.

Using her trademark wit alongside pop-culture references galore, Robinson explores everything from why Lisa Bonet is "Queen. Bae. Jesus" to breaking down the terrible nature of casting calls to giving her less-than-traditional advice to the future female president and demanding that the NFL clean up its act, all told in the same conversational voice that launched her podcast, 2 Dope Queens, to the top spot on iTunes. As personal as it is political, You Can't Touch My Hair examines our cultural climate and skewers our biases with humor and heart, announcing Robinson as a writer on the rise.

One of Glamour's "Top 10 Books of 2016"
Featured on Refinery 29's list of "The Best Books of 2016 So Far"

Read by the author, and featuring additional narration by Jessica Williams and John Hodgson

©2016 Phoebe Robinson (P)2016 Penguin Audio

Phoebe, You Rock

Would you listen to You Can't Touch My Hair again? Why?

I don't normally write reviews, but after the promos on 2 DopeQueens (which I love), I went to download this audiobook and was a bit astonished that, despite the super high star rating, all the reviews that were showing up were so damned negative!!! I almost didn't download it (I needed something fun to get me through the drive home from family thanksgiving), then I remembered, Phoebe is awesome, and I want to hear what she has to say.I'm a 42 year old divorced white lady. Phoebe says a lot that ring true to me about the experience of being a lady and from knowing POC. She also says a lot of things that I didn't know from the perspective of a POC, that I found enlightening. I am really, really grateful for all that she says. YES, the cadence of this book is a bit rough if you are used to Phoebe from 2 Dope Queens, where she feels just off the cuff. In this audiobook, you can definitely feel that she's reading -- but, she's reading her book, and I'm okay with that. One review I read suggested reading it at 1.1 speed-- unfortunately, my app only broke down to 1.25 - which was okay for awhile (1 chapter), then when I could hear in her voice that genuineness that we know and love, it was weird. YES, she's 31 and the fact that she bemoans being old makes those of us older feel like sorry old sacks. I remember feeling the same way. It's not really a thing that she's her age. It's who she is. Those of us that are now older were there, and remember it, if we're honest. YES, there are a few minor points where things get a bit dry, and, more to the point, feel like Phoebe is reading us a part of her college thesis instead of just engaging us and then backing her points up with facts.THOSE ARE MINOR POINTS, however, given the overall spectacular engagement I felt with Phoebe and this book. I think she brings people in to consider other experiences, explains them with grace and humor, and most of all, makes us laugh while we understand more about our shared human experience. Phoebe, I really enjoyed your book, and your reading of it, even though I'm not the intended audience. And, seriously, screw the assholes who don't get it.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Phoebe, Olivia, John

Would you listen to another book narrated by Phoebe Robinson?

Not unless she wrote it

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

laugh, for sure.

25 people found this helpful

Listening To This Audiobook Was A Good Life Choice

Drop everything and run (don’t walk) to the nearest recording of Phoebe Robinson's You Can’t Touch My Hair. Look, I love essays by funny ladies. You could even say they’re my jam. Well, all my past faves pale in comparison to this hilarious new collection of essays about feminism, race, pop-culture, and being a black woman in America. Phoebe Robinson is funny and poignant literally 100% of the time (how?!), and the audiobook is bananas phenomenal (with tons of ad libs you won’t find in the print version). Listening to this audiobook was a good life choice.

5 people found this helpful

A True Gem!

Phoebe Robinson opens the door to her world in this funny, but real, way.
Her opinions on everything from certain older, white gentleman, to very politically sensitive issues really reach to the core of who we are as a society and raise the question of whether or not we are headed in the right direction. Ant good story can make you think fondly about ups and downs of the characters, but it takes a truly great book to encourage the reader to be introspective, especially without asking direct questions. Thanks Pheobs!
p.s. If you ever come to Colorado on tour, you HAVE to check out The Chocolate Therapist in Littleton, for some wine and chocolate pairing... I get the feeling you would enjoy it.

7 people found this helpful

Listen @ 1.1x speed !!!

Firstly, I loved the contents. As a Mexican immigrant catching up with American culture, with fair skin and a diverse friend group, I found this very informative. As a fan of 2DQ and SMWG, this book did not disappoint.

With regards to the performance, it felt painfully slow and almost gave up and switched it for the print copy. I am a big fan of both if Phoebe's podcasts so I am used to listening to her speech (which I love) but the cadence on the audiobook felt off. I sped it up to 1.1x and voilá!

17 people found this helpful

I'm too old for this book

I definitely struggled to listen to this book. I tried, believe me, I tried. But I'm part of that last group of boomers, born 13 years after the end WWII. I could understand the "don't touch my hair" part because I went through that A LOT of that in the early 70s, when I was wearing a 'fro. White girls would help themselves to touching my hair, until I trained them to stop doing that But that's pretty much where the similarities end. I have two Millennial daughters. Maybe they would enjoy this.

21 people found this helpful

Disappointed

Other Black, Female authors cover the same issues in a more humorous and insightful way. This was the first audible book I didn't listen to twice. I do that in order to catch any missed nuances and subtle points, when coworkers talk while I'm listening to a book. With this book, I don't feel I missed a thing, but as the author mentions a couple times, I already spent my money, so she doesn't care.
please save your money.

2 people found this helpful

Well done Pheebs!

I need Pheobe to write letters to Olivia for the rest of her life. even if they're never published for my reading, it needs to happen. This book was wicked enjoyable and informative. The Rebecca Incident should be required reading for all teachers. How was that situation ever okay!?!? Thanks for bringing to struggles of POCs to light, Ms. Robinson. Your truth will help my daughter find hers. Love it.

2 people found this helpful

Nonstop laughs and all the feeeeels

Phoebe most beautifully and hilariously describes ways in which we all need to lady up and address societal and individual issues such as racial inequities, gender stereotyping, and self care. It's incredible to hear someone openly and positively talking about these crucial issues, and I cannot explain how much I appreciate hearing them from another young woman's perspective. (Oh yeah, phoebe explains the importance of this. Because she's the best.) This book is absolutely necessary for every woman and POC wanting to see their experience reflected back, and should be listened to by everyone to gain perspective but also because it's so freakin' funny! I listened to this book straight through, totally absorbed as if in the best kind of convo with my best friend. Thanks phoebs!! <3

15 people found this helpful

It had potential, but.....

This book feel short. The author's tone and reading method made it sound like she was trying too hard, which makes the book hard to listen to. Secondly, the content of the book goes off in too many directions (with pop culture references and/or side commemts) while making every point. It is just too extra.

4 people found this helpful

Whaaa?!

Major disappointment. No, I don't think she's an "angry black woman" nor do I refute her claims that in a number of ways women of color have it harder in society. This the unfortunate reality we live in at the moment. But her book was written in a tone that strongly sounded like (patting the head of any non person of color), "You'll never understand unless your black" mixed with "but don't even try to understand persons of color (POCs), because it only makes you more pathetic and ignorant".

I honestly finished this book thinking that Phoebe has some deep seated bitterness and anger that she needs to sincerely strip down and examine rather than shellacking it in humor and sarcasm. And no, the angry tone I heard in her book wasn't "angry black lady", but something much deeper.

This book actually made me want to discontinue watching one of my favorite shows.

1 person found this helpful

Funny, insightful, too many Americanisms

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

The book offers readers a unique insight into a variety of issues. The author is unapologetically black, female, smart, funny. Why would she need to apologise for those things, you may ask. You can find the answer to that and many other important questions in this book.

What did you like best about this story?

There were really funny bits but also parts that made you think. She talks about at times having to sugarcoat her opinions with jokes (and make it work) but she is just as good at giving you things straight.

Who might you have cast as narrator instead of Phoebe Robinson and John Hodgman ?

Overall I liked the narration. My only issue was that I thought certain things should never be uttered by anyone over the age of 12. Examples: the 12-second-long "Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuude" half way through the book. I almost stopped there, I was tempted to just read the rest of it. You are American, we get it. It mostly bothered me because to me it felt like an effort to take the edge off jokes that were meant to address serious issues. Considering everything she says about women being punished for being smart and people of colour having to constantly mind white people's feelings, it felt rather contradictory.

Could you see You Can't Touch My Hair being made into a movie or a TV series? Who would the stars be?

Absolutely, preferably a TV show. Obviously Phoebe Robinson should be in it. And U2.

Any additional comments?

You should stick it out and listen to what the author has to say, ESPECIALLY if you feel uncomfortable.

1 person found this helpful

Funny, educational and eye-opening

I am a straight white man living a middle class life in the UK. I know very little about life from a black perspective or a woman's perspective or indeed from any perspective other than the automatically-privileged one that I hold. But I wanted to learn more, one because it's important, and two because as a writer I want to write better black characters.

This book is incredibly insightful and powerful, while also being excellent and witty comedy. It's also incredibly sincere. I liked the free-flowing structure too, especially the parts done as letters to a future female president, and to Phoebe's niece for when she's older. I'm not much of a podcastee, but I will definitely check out Phoebe's other work. She is incredibly talented and I'm now a huge fan.

Thanks for all you do Phoebe, and I'm sorry on behalf of all white men that life is harder for people of colour and for women. I will always be an ally and use my automatic privilege to fight for the cause.

As Phoebe says this book is really just a primer on the black experience, and I intend to learn more.

Funny in parts

I first was introduced to Phoebe Robinson as I listen to Two Dope Queens.

To me this read like an extra long version of the pod.

If you are not familiar with TDQ you may not find this book entertaining. .

I liked the essays particularly the hair one. And the list of mixed race people.

Funny and insightful

Most memorable moments were the chapters about Uppity and the "Angry Black Woman" trope. Loved the pop culture riffs.
(Prince is not biracial fwiw but I'm sure many ppl have pointed this out). Phoebe Robinson is a very personable narrator but maybe a tad heavy on the acronyms hashtag talk. Thankfully her content is gold.
/old

Great

Great story and a wonderful concept would recommend to all dreamers, creators and supporters of Black Women doing the dam thing!!