In May 2016, Askaripour gave up weekend partying and started writing: articles, a blog, and his first novel. That August, he quit his job and finished his manuscript in four and a half months. From there, the path was about “figuring out how to be a writer,” he says. “I had no training, no MFA, and wondered sometimes what I was doing—if maybe I should stay in tech. What I did was read more and write more. I wrote two books in a year, just trial and error.”
— Louisa Ermelino, Publishers Weekly (7.10.20)
An SDR leader sought after by the top sales orgs in the country
—
a true top performer
—
quits to become a storyteller. That’s Mateo Askaripour’s story
—
or at least part of it.
My long time friend Mateo joins us LIVE today to discuss his transition, his new book Black Buck, and more.
— Jake Dunlap, Jake + Friends (7.20.20)
With a complex yet accessible plot, rich characters and Askaripour’s sharp wit, Black Buck is a page-turning satirical examination of corporate racial struggle. And with its tips and tricks for achieving success in white-dominated spaces, the book also acts as an instruction manual for Black and brown corporate climbers.
— Langston Collin Wilkins, BookPage (12.8.2020)
“Mateo Askaripour is not trying to be divisive when he says his debut novel, “Black Buck,” was written just for Black readers, though white readers are welcome to “come along for the ride.”
— Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times (1.29.2021)
NPR's Scott Simon talks to Mateo Askaripour about his satirical debut novel, Black Buck.
— NPR Weekend Edition (1.2.2021)
“One of the things that made me most curious is Buck’s hero’s journey, which has many twists and turns but most memorably a dissent into corruption, skirting the edges of substance abuse and a curious path to moral and physical rehabilitation that hinges on his willingness to uplift otherwise neglected people of color.”
— Danielle Prescod, BET (1.4.2021)
“I immediately connected to Mateo Askaripour’s debut as a novelist. In our conversation, we talked about some of the constructs we place around the idea of being a good ‘literary citizen’ or a ‘starving artist’ and questioned how much of that is rooted in whiteness.”
— Chris Kubik, Porter House Review (1.4.2021)
"'Black Buck' is raw and intimate — and a title I knew our book club readers needed to read as we begin this new year with a fresh start."
— Jenna Bush-Hager, The TODAY Show (1.5.2021)
“This is one of the buzziest novels of the new year, and I, for one, couldn't put it down. The Amazon Editors named it one of the Best Books of the Month for January, and I was lucky enough to chat with Askaripour about his novel.”
— Al Woodworth, Amazon Book Review (1.5.2021)
“Askaripour’s own experience as the director of sales development at a startup at age twenty-four informs the novel, which skewers the vertiginous world of tech startups while exploring intersections of ambition and race.”
— Liz Button, The Rumpus (1.5.2021)
“Author Mateo Askaripour speaks with Nando Vila on The Conversation about his new novel Black Buck.”
— Nando Vila, The Young Turks (1.12.2021)
“Mateo Askaripour shares a mixtape of his inspirations, from Malcolm X to McKinsey & Company, that fueled his razor-sharp satire on race and corporate America, ‘Black Buck.”
— Amy Maoz, Pocket (1.13.2021)
“In this episode, Courtney Balestier talks to Mateo Askaripour, author of Black Buck, about writing from personal experience while also leaving room for invention, managing plausibility, and what we learn from the novels we don’t sell.”
— Courtney Balestier, WMFA (1.13.2021)
“Black Buck is the debut novel of Crown Heights author Mateo Askaripour. Critics have heaped praise on the newly released book – part satire but more survival guide for Black people – that examines corporate racism in a comedic way.”
— Nigel Roberts, BK Reader (1.13.2021)
“Mateo Askaripour’s first novel, Black Buck (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Jan. 5), takes place largely in an office building at 3 Park Ave. in Manhattan: a big, ungainly tower that sits diagonal to the street.”
— Laurie Muchnick, Kirkus Reviews (1.13.2021)
Mateo Askaripour, author of the novel 'Black Buck', discusses the parallels between main character Darren's development and the minority experience, as well as what readers of all backgrounds can learn about microaggression in the workplace.
— Nora Ali, Cheddar TV (1.13.2021)
The PEN Ten is PEN America’s weekly interview series. This week, Jared Jackson speaks with Mateo Askaripour, author of Black Buck (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2021).
— Jared Jackson, Pen America (1.14.2021)
“In Black Buck, Mateo Askaripour uses a gregarious Black salesman in an all white company to satirically take down corporate America. Through sharp-witted humor and a lot of heart, Askaripour sheds light on the microaggressions and blatant racism Black men and women go through on a daily basis.”
— Adam Vitcavage, Debutiful (1.15.2021)
“Mateo Askaripour's debut novel ‘Black Buck’ focuses on a young Black man named Darren Vender. He quits his Starbucks job to join New York City’s hottest tech startup, Sumwun. Darren is the only Black person at the company and after a grueling first week of training, he reinvents himself as ‘Buck,’ a tough-as-nails salesman. The book has been described as ‘The Wolf Of Wall Street’ meets ‘Sorry to Bother You’ meets ‘Fight Club.’
— Doug Gordon, Wisconsin Public Radio (1.15.2021)
“Mateo discusses Black Buck, using a creative format to tell the story, fiction’s incredible power to teach empathy and understanding, his unique (and very cool) cover and the story behind it, having his novel chosen for the Read with Jenna book club.”
— Cindy Burnett, Thoughts from a Page Podcast (1.15.2021)
“In the course of a 30-minute phone interview, Mateo Askaripour dropped my name — actually, my nickname — six times: ‘Liz, I don’t have an M.F.A.’ and ‘To go back to answering your question directly, Liz,’ and so forth. The effect was disarming, not smarmy.”
— Liz Egan, New York Times Book Review (1.21.2021)
“The building that Darren works in, first at Starbucks and then at Sumwun, is 3 Park Avenue, which is also where your publisher HMH is located.”
— Maris Kreizman, The Maris Review (1.21.2021)
“Just a few years ago, author Mateo Askaripour was sitting among a pile of rejection letters for novels he had written. As he questioned his ability to write, it dawned on him that he was avoiding the themes that were closest to his personal life: race, sales and startups.”
— Tom Power, CBC's q w/ Tom Power (1.21.2021)
“Black Buck is a crackling, satirical debut novel about a young man given a shot at stardom as the lone black salesman at a mysterious, cult-like, and wildly successful startup where nothing is as it seems. We spoke with author Mateo Askaripour about the inspiration for Black Buck, discovering the joy of audiobooks, and more!”
— Kelsey Norris, Libro.Fm (1.21.2021)
“After pivoting to publishing fresh off a successful tech-sales career, Mateo Askaripour's debut novel, Black Buck — about a Black man thrust into the start-up world — nabbed him a six-figure book deal.”
— Seija Rankin, Entertainment Weekly (1.25.2021)
“What is the line between recklessness and self-confidence? This is the core question Grant and Brooke are exploring in this week’s episode. They’re joined by guest Mateo Askaripour, who certainly has experience with both—and who speaks to what’s to be gained by risking it all, and the reality that even the most confident of writers can and will lose faith along the way.”
— Brooke Warner & Grant Faulkner, Write-Minded (1.25.2021)
“The guys get caffeinated, distantly, with Mateo Askaripour to talk about his fantastic debut novel, Black Buck. They chat about telling your own story even if someone else is telling a similar one, about weaving life into art, and about how fiction is more fun. Plus, an out-of-print classic for Book Club that deserves to be brought back: Sam Greenlee’s The Spook Who Sat by the Door.”
— Drew Broussard & Christopher Hermelin, So Many Damn Books (1.26.2021)
“Mateo Askaripour, the author of “Black Buck,” Jenna Bush Hager’s book club pick for January, joins TODAY with Hoda & Jenna to discuss his debut novel and take questions from readers.”
— The TODAY Show (1.28.2021)
“A Starbucks chain plays a major role in 'Black Buck,' a new novel by Mateo Askaripour. We talk with the author on week's Nerdette, plus we take a look at how GameStop could affect the future of capitalism.”
— Greta Johnson, Nerdette on WBEZ Chicago (1.29.2021)
"One of the things that really stands out is Buck’s uniqueness in this situation. He’s pulled into this startup company, Sumwun, by the CEO who sees something in him, kind of like what happened to you—someone saw something in you.”
— Mitzi Rapkin, First Draft Podcast (2.1.2021)
“This week's episode I sit down in chat with the now NYT Bestselling author of Black Buck, Mateo Askaripour! It was a good time. Yes, we talked a little bit about his book but really set and chatted about life. We talked college, being a creator, growing up, work, and etc. I hope you enjoy.”
— Joy Melody Woods, Morning Joy (2.1.2021)
“For February, Black History month, team All Of It has selected a novel for our Get Lit with All Of It book club that has been described as a cross between the films, “Sorry to Bother You” and “The Wolf of Wall Street.” Author Mateo Askaripour joins us to preview his debut novel, Black Buck, which tells the story of a man who becomes the first Black employee at a New York start-up and hatches a plan to help young people of color infiltrate America’s sales force.”
— Get Lit Preview w/ Alison Stewart, All of It on WNYC (2.4.2021)
