Paul Beatty Books in Order

Paul Beatty is a contemporary African-American author known for his incisive and satirical works that capture the complexities of black American life. Born in 1962 in Los Angeles, Beatty holds an MFA in creative writing from Brooklyn College and an MA in psychology from Boston University. He rose to prominence in the 1990s as the first-ever Grand Poetry Slam Champion of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, a title that led to a book deal and the publication of his debut poetry collection, Big Bank Takes Little Bank. He has since released Joker, Joker, Deuce and appeared on MTV and PBS. Beatty has received grants from the Foundation for Contemporary Arts Grants to Artists Award and edited the anthology Hokum, showcasing African-American humor. His novels, The White Boy Shuffle and Tuff, have garnered critical acclaim, with The New York Times praising Beatty's "satirical heat" and Time Magazine taking notice of his work.