That's How They Get You

One of People’s Best Nonfiction Books of the Summer
One of The Millions’ Most Anticipated Books of Spring
One of Ebony’s Great Reads from Black Authors this June

“Rounds up crackling, hilarious and often rage-tinged insights from some of the best Black writers and performers today. . . . You won’t want to miss it.”—People

“Read slowly, savor.”—Chicago Tribune

“One of summer’s hottest new anthologies.”­—The Grio

“A wild mix of narratives, jumping from themes and styles, coming from some of the biggest names in Black writing right now, coalescing into an engaging read of quick and punchy entries. . . . I found myself laughing hard and laughing often.”—Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

“Read this book. It’s an excellent collection.”—The Miami Times

“A pioneering collection.”—The Millions

“Young’s wit and honesty make this a summer read that’s as entertaining as it is thought-provoking.”­—Pittsburgh City Paper

“Young has a wicked sense of humor and a vast vocabulary of invective, both of which are put to good use in this anthology. . . . Funny bones, raised fists, scorching insights into the biz, delicious insults, and much more are to be had here.”—Kirkus

“It’s so great curling up with folks who again and again make me laugh out loud. So needed right now—and always.”—Jacqueline Woodson, National Book Award finalist for Another Brooklyn

“That’s How They Get You joins Hokum and Honey, Hush! in the handful of truly multi-dimensionally Black humor anthologies by multi-dimensionally Black humorists on my shelf. This extremely funny collection is a Damon Young house party where all the genres are invited: the storytellers, poets, journalists, comics, professors, and professional shit-talkers—no, actually none of the genres are invited, only brilliant Black people united by the gift of gab and jab.”—Terrance Hayes, National Book Award-winning author of Lighthead

“A completely absorbing collection, hilarious and moving.”—Amy Sedaris

“Reading That’s How They Get You felt illicit in the best way, and brought back for me how I used to sneak into my father’s record collection to listen to his Richard Pryor albums knowing full well I could get punished for doing so. Like Pryor’s work, this collection is a riot and risqué, but also revelatory. The last essay in particular will make you chuckle before you say, in all seriousness, ‘g*ddamn.’ That’s How They Get You is both a gut-punch and funny as f*ck.”—Robert Jones, Jr., New York Times bestselling author of The Prophets

“A buoyant, beautiful book bursting with big names, big guffaws, and big emotions. Laugh out loud funny? Please. I busted my goddamn gut. Humor—in all its many forms—is one of God’s great gifts, and it is on fine, kaleidoscopic display in this triumphant, artful collection.”—Isaac Fitzgerald, New York Times bestselling author of Dirtbag, Massachusetts