Podcasts > NPR's Book of the Day > New books by Damon Young and Dennard Dayle take different routes to humor

New books by Damon Young and Dennard Dayle take different routes to humor

By NPR (podcasts@npr.org)

NPR's Book of the Day explores two distinct works that use humor to examine complex themes. The first is an anthology curated by Damon Young titled "That's How They Get You," which features comedic essays about Black American life. Through personal stories about parenting, marriage, and individual insecurities, the anthology's contributors demonstrate how humor emerges from vulnerability and serves as both a coping mechanism and a means of authentic expression.

The episode also covers Dennard Dayle's satirical Civil War novel, which follows a teenage flag twirler who switches sides between Union and Confederate forces. Through a combination of slapstick humor and cultural references, including an imaginative flag-twirling showdown with Betsy Ross's daughter, the novel uses absurdist elements to examine the complex perspectives that shaped the Civil War and its ongoing impact on American society.

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New books by Damon Young and Dennard Dayle take different routes to humor

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New books by Damon Young and Dennard Dayle take different routes to humor

1-Page Summary

Purpose and Themes of "That's How They Get You" Anthology

Damon Young has curated "That's How They Get You," an anthology of comedic essays that explores Black American life through the lens of vulnerability. Young asserts that Black American humor uniquely reflects the true nature of America, emerging from a place of honesty and vulnerability.

Humor In Exploring Tough Topics for Black Americans

The anthology delves into personal topics like parenting, marriage, and individual insecurities, with shame serving as a recurring theme. Young believes that the most poignant humor emerges from exploring these vulnerabilities. The collection demonstrates how humor serves as both a coping mechanism and a medium for Black Americans to express authentic perspectives in a society that often demands stoicism.

Standout Essays and Contributors

The anthology features several notable contributions. Young's personal favorite essay explores his relationship with his teeth and Invisalign, weaving together themes of shame, class, and self-image. Hillary Crossley Coker contributes a powerful piece blending heartbreak and humor in her story about experiencing a miscarriage, while Dee Watkins reflects on parenthood and legacy through an essay about diaper duty and his father's struggles with addiction.

Satirical Novel "Dodging a Cannonball"

The discussion shifts to Dennard Dayle's satirical novel about the Civil War, which follows Anders, a 15-year-old flag twirler with delusions of grandeur. Through Anders' misadventures - including switching sides between Union and Confederate forces - the novel employs both slapstick humor and sophisticated cultural references. A highlight includes a flag-twirling showdown between Anders and Wendy Ross, daughter of Betsy Ross, which combines highbrow references with physical comedy. Dayle uses this absurdist lens to examine the complex perspectives and motivations that shaped the Civil War, suggesting that the struggle to form a "more perfect union" continues to evolve.

1-Page Summary

Additional Materials

Actionables

  • You can explore your own life experiences through humor by starting a personal journal where you write about daily events with a comedic twist. This practice can help you process emotions and find levity in difficult situations, similar to how the essays in the anthology use humor to deal with personal and societal issues. For example, if you had a challenging day at work, write about it as if it were a sitcom scene, finding the humor in the absurdity of everyday frustrations.
  • Create a themed dinner discussion with friends or family where each person shares a story from their life that combines humor with a serious topic. This mirrors the way the essays blend heartbreak and humor, allowing you and your guests to connect on a deeper level while also enjoying the cathartic benefits of laughter. For instance, someone might share a funny anecdote about a date that went wrong but also reveal the lessons they learned about self-worth and expectations.
  • Engage with historical events through a creative project, like writing a short story or creating a comic strip, that uses satire or absurdist elements to reflect on the past. This approach can deepen your understanding of history while also allowing you to express your unique perspective, much like the satirical novel mentioned uses humor to comment on the Civil War. You could choose an event from history that interests you and reimagine it with exaggerated characters or ridiculous scenarios that highlight the absurdities of historical narratives.

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New books by Damon Young and Dennard Dayle take different routes to humor

Purpose and Themes of "That's How They Get You" Anthology

Damon Young curates an anthology of comedic essays titled "That’s How They Get You," crafted to encompass the diverse experiences and the unique humor found within Black American life, particularly stemming from vulnerabilities.

Anthology Explores Black Humor, Reflecting Diverse Black American Experiences

Damon Young Highlighted Honest, Clear, Reckoning Black American Humor From Vulnerability

Damon Young asserts that Black American humor is unparalleled in its ability to reflect the true nature of America. The humor, as Young describes, is born from a place of honesty and vulnerability that offers a clear-eyed reckoning of life in America. This anthology is his effort to represent the range of this humor and show how it emanates from the depths of vulnerability.

Anthology Explores Parenting, Marriage, and Shame Through a Black Lens

Shame Is a Theme as Contributors Explore Their Vulnerabilities and Insecurities

The book delves into personal topics, such as parenting, marriage, and even the intricacies of Invisalign, always with an undercurrent of shame. Damon Young believes that great humor emerges from exploring and diving into personal shames and insecurities. According to Young, it’s within these explorations that the anthology’s contributors find their most poignant humor.

Anthology's Humor a ...

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Purpose and Themes of "That's How They Get You" Anthology

Additional Materials

Actionables

  • Start a personal humor journal to explore your own vulnerabilities and insecurities. By writing down moments in your life where you felt vulnerable or faced insecurities, and then trying to find a humorous angle to these stories, you can begin to see your experiences in a different light. This practice can help you process emotions and potentially share these stories with others for mutual healing and laughter.
  • Create a private audio diary to document and reflect on daily experiences through a comedic lens. Use your phone's voice recorder to capture thoughts and events that you find challenging or embarrassing. Later, listen back and identify opportunities to inject humor into these narratives. This can be a tool for personal growth and a way to develop your sense of humor.
  • Engage in candid conversations with friends about topics that ...

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New books by Damon Young and Dennard Dayle take different routes to humor

Humor In Exploring Tough Topics for Black Americans

Humor is not just a source of laughter; it also serves as a powerful tool for coping, communicating, and expressing authenticity, particularly for Black Americans dealing with difficult topics.

Humor Helps Black Americans Cope and Communicate Reality

Humor can often diffuse the weight of reality and makes tough subjects more approachable.

Black American Humor Finds Levity and Absurdity in Adversity

Black American humor typically finds the levity and absurdity in adversity, serving as a coping mechanism and a medium to explore tough experiences. Young's objective with the anthology was to draw out stories that used humor naturally, allowing readers to find a sense of comfort and something to resonate with amid the gravity of serious life issues.

Contributors Use Humor to Confront Complex Emotions Like Grief From Miscarriage or Parenthood Anxieties

Damon Young highlights the contribution of Hillary Crossley Coker, who addressed the complexity of experiencing a miscarriage intertwined with reflections on marriage. He emphasizes the necessity of humor that springs from her experience, acknowledging the pain and difficulty of such moments. Despite dealing with loss, one still has to continue living, being present for loved ones, and fulfilling responsibilities. Humor becomes a mechanism to confront and manage the blend of emotions such as grief and anxiety, which are often associated with parenting and other aspects of personal life.

H ...

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Humor In Exploring Tough Topics for Black Americans

Additional Materials

Actionables

  • Start a personal humor journal to explore your emotions through comedy. Write down daily experiences that were challenging and try to find a humorous angle to them. This practice can help you process emotions in a lighter way and may lead to insights about your resilience and coping mechanisms.
  • Create a private meme or comic strip about a tough situation you've faced. Use free online tools or apps to visually express the levity you can find in adversity. Sharing these with trusted friends or keeping them for yourself can be a therapeutic way to acknowledge and manage complex emotions.
  • Host a ...

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New books by Damon Young and Dennard Dayle take different routes to humor

Standout Essays and Contributors In "That's how They Get You" Anthology

The anthology "That's How They Get You" features essays that offer deep insights into the themes of shame, vulnerability, heartbreak, humor, parenthood, and legacy. Contributors like Damon Young, Hillary Crossley Coker, and Dee Watkins provide raw and resonant narratives that speak to universal human experiences.

Damon Young's Essay on His Teeth and Invisalign Showcases the Anthology's Theme of Shame and Vulnerability

Damon Young's essay stands out as his favorite in the collection, presenting a narrative that is both personal and universally relatable. Through his stream-of-consciousness storytelling, Young delves deep into his relationship with his teeth and his experience with Invisalign. His narrative weaves together themes of shame, class, and self-image, allowing readers to engage with the complexities of social perception and personal identity.

Hillary Crossley Coker's Essay on Miscarriage Blends Heartbreak and Humor, Showing Black Americans Finding Levity In Dark Moments

Hillary Crossley Coker brings a compelling blend of heartbreak and humor to her essay on experiencing a miscarriage. Her writing captures the resilience of Black Americans in finding levity amidst somber moments. Coker explores the dynamics of grief and the expectation to power through pain as she navigates her roles as a partner and colleague amidst personal tragedy. Her story provides a lens into the strength ...

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Standout Essays and Contributors In "That's how They Get You" Anthology

Additional Materials

Actionables

  • You can explore personal themes of shame and self-image by starting a private journal where you document your feelings about aspects of your appearance or social status that you typically avoid discussing. This could include writing about your own experiences with dental work, fashion choices, or any other physical attributes that have impacted your self-esteem, similar to how Damon Young discussed his teeth and Invisalign.
  • Create a personal resilience narrative by writing a story or letter to yourself that combines elements of sorrow and humor, akin to Hillary Crossley Coker's approach to discussing miscarriage. This could be about a challenging time in your life where you found unexpected moments of laughter or lightness, helping you to recognize your own strength in dealing with adversity.
  • Reflect on your legacy and parental influence by drafting ...

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New books by Damon Young and Dennard Dayle take different routes to humor

Satirical Novel "Dodging a Cannonball" and Its Main Character

"Dodging a Cannonball" is a satirical novel that humorously examines the Civil War through the eyes of its protagonist, Anders, a 15-year-old flag twirler with delusions of grandeur.

Novel's Protagonist: Deluded 15-year-Old Anders Seeks Glory As a Civil War Flag Twirler

The protagonist, Anders, is a character with limited experience and skewed viewpoints, trying to make sense of the social chaos of the Civil War. He sees his role as a flag twirler, maintaining morale and performing for the soldiers, as the most critical aspect of the conflict. With a substantial ego, Anders sees himself as the Mozart of flagpole spinning. His desire to survive leads him to twirl for the Union, switch sides to the Confederates, and eventually rejoin the Union with an African American regiment.

Anders' Misguided View Humorously Highlights the War's Absurdity

The character of Anders, in his misjudgment about the importance of flag twirling, adds a comedic layer to the war's depiction in "How to Dodge a Cannonball." Dennard Dayle employs the absurdity of Anders' adventures to underline the Civil War's inherent absurdities.

Slapstick and Physical Comedy in War: Anders Meets Flag-Twirling Wendy Ross

Physical comedy is a prominent aspect of the novel, particularly in the showdown between Anders and Wendy Ross, an expert flag twirler and the daughter of Betsy Ross. Their encounter is portrayed through flag twirling maneuvers filled with both slapstick and highbrow references.

Anders vs. Wendy Ross Flag-Twirling Showdown: A Blend of Highbrow and Lowbrow Elements

The spectacle between Anders and Wendy Ross involves highbrow and lowbrow elements. It features moves like "walk the eagle," a "varial flag spin," and a "Delaware crossing," echoing a dance battle that combines sophisticated cultural references with slapstick comedy. Dayle's description likens th ...

Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary

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Satirical Novel "Dodging a Cannonball" and Its Main Character

Additional Materials

Actionables

  • Explore the impact of perspective by writing a short satirical story from the viewpoint of an inanimate object involved in a historical event. This exercise will help you understand how different perspectives can shape the narrative of history, much like Anders' skewed viewpoint on the Civil War. For example, you could write from the perspective of a teacup during the Boston Tea Party, humorously narrating the event and its significance.
  • Use physical comedy to break the ice in social situations by learning a simple, humorous routine. This could be a playful dance or a mock-serious ceremonial act that you can perform at parties or gatherings, similar to the flag twirling showdown in the novel. It's a way to engage with others and create a shared moment of laughter, which can be a powerful tool for connecting with people.
  • Reflect on your personal identity and cultural background by creating a coll ...

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