D.L. Hughley’s books reviewed

As a stand-up comedian, D.L. Hughley is a leading light in African-American comedy and one of the world’s most popular comedic actors.

But far from being just a comedian, Hughley is also a talented author. This article digs into the five books he’s published and why you should read them.

D.L. Hughley’s biography

Born in 1963 to Audrey and Charles Hughley, D.L. Hughley grew up in South Central Los Angeles, California. According to IMDBPro, Charles was an airline maintenance worker, while Audrey was a homemaker.

It’s fair to say that he had a difficult upbringing. At one point, he was a member of the infamous Bloods street gang.

Gang life caught up to him as a young adult. Following the murder of his cousin, Hughley left the Bloods and focused on turning his life around. He went back to high school, where he earned his GED.

From there, Hughley started working for the Los Angeles Times as he honed his burgeoning comedy style. By the time the early 1990s rolled around, he was ready to start his career as an entertainer.

His first role was as the host of Comic View of Black Entertainment Television (BET). He then made guest appearances on several shows before he starred as himself in The Hughleys.

That show’s four-year run brought Hughley national acclaim. He started appearing in films, such as Spike Lee’s The Original Kings of Comedy and the Inspector Gadget series. Audiences also laughed along as he played John Wilson in Scary Movie 3.

In the late 2000s, he enjoyed a short stint on a CNN show named D.L. Hughley Breaks the News. According to IMDB, he also served as executive producer, as well as the star of The D.L. Hughley Show until 2020. A guest stint on CBS’s Hawaii Five-0 is also on his resume.

Through it all, he continued his work in stand-up. A 1994 appearance on HBO Comedy Half-Hour gained national acclaim. In addition, he’s created a host of comedy specials, including the following:

• D.L. Hughley: The Endangered List
• D.L. Hughley: Reset
• D.L. Hughley: Clear

Still active today, Hughley has also appeared in The Daily Show, Heartbeat, The Fix, and Premium Blend. He also starred as Tenspot in the volleyball comedy Cloud 9 and was the host of TBS’s Trust Me, I’m a Game Show Host.

If you want to keep up with what Hughley is doing today, you can catch him on Instagram using the tag @realdlhughley.

A review of D.L. Hughley’s books

The star of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip and the YouTube channel D.L. Hughley GED Section has several books to his name.

I Want You to Shut the F*ck Up

Despite its confrontational title, I Want You to Shut the F*ck Up is surprisingly insightful. Hughley takes on the notion of the American Dream, showing why the United States isn’t as great as many people think.

Hughley doesn’t shy away from controversy. He compares the American public to addicts. However, while the book is cynical, it offers valuable lessons on a post-racial society and the role of civil rights.

How Not to Get Shot

Hughley takes on race relations in this hilarious book. Remixing the “advice” that white people give to black people about not getting shot, Hughley flips the script to give that same advice back.

Think of the book as a translation guide for the supposed “insight” of white people. Take it with a grain of salt, and How Not to Get Shot will have you in stitches (figuratively).

How to Survive America

Written alongside Doug Moe, How to Survive America sees Hughley create his own survival guide for black people.

He confronts many of the health challenges black people face, in addition to digging into the root causes of those challenges. Though polarizing, this satirical work makes you rethink the perception that black people are supposedly not as healthy as others.

Black Man, White House: An Oral History of the Obama Years

D.L. Hughley may not be the first name that comes to mind when you think of political biographers. But in Black Man, White House, he delivers his own unique take on Barack Obama’s stint in the Oval Office.

The book is far more than a comedy tome, however. It features interviews with Obama and a host of his colleagues on both sides of the party line.

Surrender, White People!

Peace is the answer to all problems. At least, that’s what Hughley suggests in this satirical book that makes a case for white people making peace with other races while the going is still good.

Again, Hughley brings his comedic take to race relations in a book that is far more intelligent than its premise may make it sound.

Listen to D.L. Hughley audiobooks with Speechify

Hughley’s explosive wit is one of the many reasons why he’s still one of the biggest names in stand-up comedy. With Speechify Audiobooks, you can listen to many of his best books.

Speechify Audiobooks has a library of over 60,000 titles. Unlike other services, you don’t have to pay a monthly subscription to access those books. Instead, you sign up for free and can buy the books you want to listen to whenever you want.

With Speechify, you can start with D.L. Hughley’s bibliography. Find How to Survive America; Black Man, White House; Surrender, White People!, and How Not to Get Shot on the platform today. Best of all, you get your first book free when you sign up.

FAQ

What is D.L. Hughley’s net worth?

According to Celebrity Net Worth, D.L. Hughley has a net worth of about $10 million.

Why did the D.L. Hughley show get canceled?

According to TV One, the show was canceled because it wasn’t sustainable. Rumor has it that Hughley working on too many projects at once may have been to blame.

What is Hughley’s ethnicity?

D.L. Hughley is African-American.

How many children does D.L. Hughley have?

D.L. Hughley has three children with his wife, LaDonna Hughley. The children’s names are Kyle, Tyler, and Ryan.

What is D.L. Hughley’s height?

D.L. Hughley is 5 feet 7 inches tall.

Is D.L. Hughley in a fraternity?

Hughley is an honorary member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity.