
Black Friend
Essays
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Narrated by:
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Ziwe
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By:
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Ziwe
About this listen
From the writer crowned one of the smartest, funniest voices in modern America, this hotly anticipated debut collection of essays offers “a precious glimpse into how Ziwe’s uniquely fearless mind functions” (New York Magazine).
Ziwe made a name for herself by asking guests like Alyssa Milano, Fran Lebowitz, and Chet Hanks direct questions. In Black Friend, she turns her incisive perspective on both herself and the culture at large. Throughout the book, Ziwe combines pop-culture commentary and personal stories that grapple with her own (mis)understanding of identity. From a hilarious case of mistaken identity via a jumbotron to a terrifying fight-or-flight encounter in the woods, Ziwe raises difficult questions for comedic relief.
From Black Friend’s introduction:
“Today, I learned that my book is ranked as the #1 new release in ‘Discrimination and Racism’ on Amazon. Wow. This is a huge honor, especially considering my stiff competition in the selfpublished manifestos space. Unfortunately, this victory is bittersweet. I worry that people may get the wrong idea and think that I am pro-racism when in actuality, I am indifferent. Still, I’d love to thank everyone who made this possible. I solemnly swear to write the most discriminatory book in American history. I hope I can make you proud.
“Just kidding...I will not marginalize you...unless that’s your kink. This book of essays offers moments of extreme discomfort (and the subsequent growth) in my life around the role of ‘black friend.’ Black friends come in all shapes and sizes. Yet the archetype is often a two-dimensional character meant to support the non-black protagonists’ more complex humanity. Some black friends exist as the comic relief, like Donkey in any of the Shrek movies. Some are the sassy friend, like Louise from St. Louis in Sex and the City. Still others are the inexplicably sagacious companion, like Morpheus in The Matrix. It’s impossible for these individual portraits to reflect my complicated reality. To start, they are fictional. One of them is a talking ass. I do not exist just to move plot. While I am a supportive friend, I am not a supporting character. I am the protagonist of my perfectly imperfect story.”
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
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We all have things in our life that we should know by now, but don’t. Absences in our knowledge and skillset that are frankly shameful in an adult. Things that would be too embarrassing to ask anyone to explain – except our very best friend. Listen in as Mel and Sue tackle their ignorance head on, asking each other to explain something that they still don’t know - but absolutely, as adults, should - from how to parallel park to fully understanding bread (why has it got all those holes in it? What, honestly, is yeast?).
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I laughed until I Cried
- By Sara on 03-25-25
By: Mel Giedroyc, and others
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The Best Man's Ghostwriter
- By: Matthew Starr
- Narrated by: Glen Powell, Nicholas Braun, Ashley Park, and others
- Length: 4 hrs and 37 mins
- Original Recording
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A bad best man’s speech can ruin a wedding. Why do we plan every detail of a perfect day and then give the groom’s idiot best friend five minutes of total power? Enter Nate (Glen Powell), a speechwriter-for-hire who helps people write incredible best man speeches. To keep the best man from embarrassing himself (and the newlyweds), Nate uses his list of don’ts: Don’t mention the exes, don’t be rated R, and don’t bum everyone out. Nate’s system never fails. That is, until he meets Dan (Nicholas Braun).
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SO GOOD
- By Csutty on 09-23-24
By: Matthew Starr
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why does ev8have to be About race?
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I am The Salamander
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In My Remaining Years, by creative juggernaut Jean Grae, debunks the myth that coming-of-age narratives should be reserved for the kids, providing a much-needed rallying cry for those of us still trying to figure it out in our forties. These laugh-out-loud essays cover everything from aging gracefully, what happens when you look for community and almost start a cult, befriending childhood demons, gender fluidity in middle age, the cost of being too fabulous, and the various gymnastics we do to avoid becoming our parents, taking us from her childhood in 1980s NYC to present-day Baltimore.
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Perfection
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What listeners say about Black Friend
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- madison
- 01-02-25
Like talking with your smart funny bestie
The best audiobook narration I’ve experienced. I wish more audiobooks were done in this formatting.
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- Priscilla Dominguez
- 11-30-23
Feel so seen
The last notes about your work resonated with me so much as a first Gen student
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1 person found this helpful
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- Dan
- 02-26-24
Everything
Perfect combination of humor, insight, and goo-goo-ga-ga! Touched on a lot of important subjects while relating to them via her own experiences or takes. Ziwe is hysterical and I loved turning to this when everything in the world feels like it’s falling apart— just the right amount of personal that wasn’t too heavy. Also her narration is so soothing and lovely.
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- Stephen Hanna
- 06-16-24
Ziwe is the GOAT, HISTORY WILL VINDICATE HER !!!
This book makes me mad. I'm mad that her show got cancelled. I'm mad that all I have now is this book and not wonderful clips of her interrogating not just race but concepts of gender and bringing new ways to be funny. I'm also mad that a 19 year old is my hero/role model.
This book was greater than I imagined it would be.
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- Happy
- 10-21-23
Something for everyone
This book has a story for everyone. I was surprised at how much of these stories rang true for me in my own life, but overall the most resounding theme is that we are all sharing in a very messy, but authentically human experience.
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3 people found this helpful
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- Michael Alberto DuBon
- 03-13-24
Ziwe as always is amazing!
Such a great memoir in essays collection! Funny, heartfelt, insightful! She infuses her writing with her signature wit and style while asking important, larger word questions.
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- Lesley Giffels
- 02-21-24
Thoughtful and clever
I love the hilarity interwoven with thought provoking themes and black stories. Ziwe is a treasure.
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- Anonymous User
- 03-02-25
Hilarious and eye opening
Essentially perfect in my opinion, looking forward to more essays by Ziwe. Thank you so much, 15.
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- Amazon Customer
- 11-05-23
amazing book and read
I enjoyed the personal essays and connection to global issues that need to be addressed.
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2 people found this helpful
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- tmaj
- 11-08-23
A modern pioneer
I listened to Black friend in what felt like 2 hours. It was like listening to the best comedy special I've ever heard. I laughed, plotted to out hexes on those who wronged my girl, took notes, rewinded, cried and cried from laughing. Incredible story telling, jokes, reflection and execution. I feel seen and represented.
STOP BEING POOR!
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1 person found this helpful