The Sellout

The Sellout cover
Good Books rating 4.23
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Technical
  • ID: 8979
  • Added: 2025-12-22
  • Updated: 2025-12-30
  • ISBN: 9781786070166
  • Publisher: Simon and Schuster
  • Published: 2016-03-24
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

Winner of the Man Booker Prize, Paul Beatty's The Sellout is a laugh-out-loud satire that delves into the absurdities of race, class, and inequality in modern America. The novel follows the narrator, a man from the fictional town of Dickens, California, who becomes the subject of his father's racially charged psychological studies. After his father's untimely death, the narrator sets out on a mission to reinstate slavery and segregate his local high school, leading to a trial that reaches the Supreme Court. /n/nWith its trademark absurdist style, The Sellout is both outrageous and deeply entertaining, offering a scathing indictment of our times. Beatty's sharp wit and incisive commentary make this a must-read for anyone interested in the complexities of American society. The novel has been praised for its profound insights and hilarious moments, making it a standout in contemporary literature.

Reviews
Elizabeth Reads Books · Elizabeth · 2020-07-14
craftily 4.00

This book is a craftily curated satire about what it means to be black in America, feeling like a rejection of the White Gaze from a black voice.

Elizabeth finds the novel to be a clever and curated satire that delves deeply into the complexities of being black in America. They appreciate how the book rejects the White Gaze, offering a unique and authentic black perspective. The reviewer also highlights the book's ability to tackle serious issues with a blend of humor and insight, making it a powerful and thought-provoking read. The novel's unique voice and perspective are particularly praised, making it a standout piece of contemporary literature.


Quick quotes

    This book is a craftily curated satire about what it means to be black in America.

    To me, this novel felt like a rejection of the White Gaze from a black voice.

    It's a powerful and thought-provoking read that tackles serious issues with a blend of humor and insight.

Readability · 2017-04-17
wickedly 4.20

The book is wickedly funny, unremittingly clever, and provides an alternative view of racism that is rich and lively.

The reviewer describes the book as wickedly funny and unremittingly clever, offering an alternative view of racism that is both rich and lively. They appreciate the book's ability to tackle serious issues with a blend of humor and insight, making it a powerful and thought-provoking read. The reviewer also highlights the book's unique voice and perspective, which challenge and subvert harmful cultural stereotypes. The novel's ability to tackle serious issues with humor and insight is particularly praised, making it a standout piece of contemporary literature.


Quick quotes

    It was wickedly funny, unremittingly clever and as lively as a hyperactive three-year-old.

    Providing an alternative view of racism, rich with humor and insight.

    The Sellout is a powerful and thought-provoking read that challenges and subverts harmful cultural stereotypes.

The Guardian · 2015-03-04
galvanizing 4.50

This novel is a funny and daring satire that subverts harmful cultural stereotypes with a wicked wit and unique characters.

The reviewer highlights the novel's sharp wit and daring approach to satire, which effectively challenges and subverts harmful cultural stereotypes. They appreciate the unique characters and the way the story speaks a pop-philosopher patois, making it both entertaining and thought-provoking. The novel's ability to tackle serious issues with humor and insight is particularly praised, making it a standout piece of contemporary literature.


Quick quotes

    Powered by a wicked wit, with characters who speak a pop-philosopher patois, this is a funny and daring novel that subverts harmful cultural stereotypes.

    A galvanizing satire of post-racial America.

    This is a novel that dares to say what others won't, and it does so with style and substance.