This dude, Baratunde Thurston is awesome.  Funny as hell, smarter than a 5th grader and bold enough to say what the rest of us are thinking.  Qualities that I like in an author.  Actually I’ve never met him (yet…you know there is like 1 degree of separation between all black people in the world, true fact, so this only a matter of time), but I would imagine that we would get along just swell, laughing and slamming back beers while munching on hot Cheetos, talking and pontificating about all those around us, including ourselves.   (Minus the beer and hot Cheetos – you know I don’t get down like that.   More like a glass of unsweet tea and some kale chips, but the sentiment is the same.)

I read his book How To Be Black while on vacation in Hawaii (I know! I know!  I still have to blog about that!) and couldn’t put it down until I finished.  It’s an absolutely brilliant book!

My husband had been telling me to read it because he knew I would enjoy it, but in spite of my best intentions it set on my bedside for awhile.  However when I saw this video of my husband (see, 1 degree of separation) interviewing Baratunde, I just had to read the book.  It’s a long video, but when you have a moment, it’s worth your time.  It’s definitely more entertaining than your favorite reality TV show, so put down the remote and watch this instead.  And then go buy the book.

Never again will I eat watermelon in public the same.

*If you are in Atlanta, go see Baratunde at Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, September 1st at 10:00 a.m.  If you live on planet earth, go buy the book and read it.