A hilarious, razor-sharp skewering of America’s workforce; it is a propulsive, crackling debut that explores ambition and race, and makes way for a necessary new vision of the American dream.

Black Buck was born out of the mind of Mateo Askaripour. Some people, including Mateo’s mother, says it’s a good book, but we’ll leave that for you to decide.

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) published Black Buck in January 2021, and Mateo is excited as hell about it. Here’s a fact that will make you believe in a higher power: the Midtown office where Black Buck is set is not only the office that Mateo worked in, but also where HMH has its New York offices. Upon reading the book, the folks at HMH thought Mateo had chosen that building on purpose, as a way of making them like the book, but no, it was only fate at work.

In addition to giving interviews, fireside chats, hosting workshops, and doing other activities related to Black Buck, Mateo is working on other projects, helping to raise awareness and funds for Defy Ventures, and feeling immense gratitude for everyone who supports the book. His favorite pastimes include watching music videos and movie trailers ad nauseam, drinking copious amounts of yerba mate, and dancing in his apartment. He lives in Brooklyn, and you can follow him on Instagram or Twitter at @AskMateo.

And, if you were wondering, it has been Mateo writing about himself in third person this entire time. He slightly regrets it. Please support Black Buck 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽