God-Level Knowledge Darts. Desus Nice & The Kid Mero. 2020. Random House. 210 pages. [Source: Personal copy & public library.]
Anyone who is remotely familiar with the unique brand of comedy offered up by Desus and Mero won’t be shocked or disappointed by the knowledge darts they drop in their literary debut. The same irreverence they deliver on their podcast and late night show is presented in God-Level Knowledge Darts, complete with the back and forth that is their signature.
The topics on which they offer advice range from parenthood, relationships, recreational drug use, personal finances, and even toxic masculinity. While some of the advice teeters on the edge of legality and good sense, they do drop some insightful and useful lessons that are rooted in experience (they did that so hopefully you won’t have to go through that). If you need to spice up a boring relationship, they’ve got you. Not sure if the the possibility of NFL stardom outweighs the risk of CTE? It’s in here. Trying to figure out how to how to finesse when the rent is late? That’s here, too. And if you find yourself unable to avoid the bookings, beloved? They have some best practices for you to take note of.
I was initially worried that Desus and Mero would lose some of their voice in translation. Luckily, that’s not the case. Mero is still pretty (like egregiously?) flagrant, and Desus manages to be the (relative) voice of reason when he gets too outlandish. This plays out in a more engaging way in the audiobook, but the contrast is impossible to miss in the book — Mero writes in all caps throughout. The typographic difference is addressed early on, and while it might be jarring to adjust to, it’s not particularly noticeable after a few chapters.
I appreciated that this book is far more personal than they’ve been on some other platforms. Admittedly, I’m not as into their podcast, but I’ve been a devout viewer of their shows on Viceland and Showtime, and follow their social media accounts. The depth into which they delve in their lives, past and present, is refreshing and relatable. It feels honest, and even if there are embellishments, at least they don’t feel outright false or impractical.
While I started reading this book, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Desus & Mero narrate the audiobook. I alternated between the two and thoroughly enjoyed the audio version, complete with cameos from Mero’s wife Heather and Mero’s voice impersonations. There are only slight differences from the text, and these variations usually serve to preserve their voice and translate better while listening.
I may be a bit biased, but this was a hilarious read. It’s rare for me, but I found myself laughing out loud frequently. That made this a quick read/listen, and is a book that easily has replay/reread potential. I definitely recommend this, and wouldn’t be mad at a second volume at all.
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