No Sense in Wishing: Essays on Black Music, Belonging, and Baltimore by Burney, Lawrence
No Sense in Wishing: Essays on Black Music, Belonging, and Baltimore by Burney, Lawrence

No Sense in Wishing: Essays on Black Music, Belonging, and Baltimore

A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: The New Yorker * Kirkus Reviews "Earnest and engaging." --The New...
$22.80 USD
$22.80 USD
Please hurry! Only 106 left in stock
Author: Lawrence Burney
Format: Paperback
Language: English
Subtotal: $22.80
No Sense in Wishing: Essays on Black Music, Belonging, and Baltimore by Burney, Lawrence

No Sense in Wishing: Essays on Black Music, Belonging, and Baltimore

$22.80
No Sense in Wishing: Essays on Black Music, Belonging, and Baltimore by Burney, Lawrence

No Sense in Wishing: Essays on Black Music, Belonging, and Baltimore

$22.80
Author: Lawrence Burney
Format: Paperback
Language: English
Description
A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: The New Yorker * Kirkus Reviews

"Earnest and engaging." --The New Yorker

A personal and analytical essay collection from culture critic Lawrence Burney that is a personal and analytical look at his home city of Baltimore, music from throughout the global Black diaspora, and the traditions that raised him.

There are moments in our lives when we discover an artist, an album, a film, or a cultural artifact that leaves a lasting impression. These moments inform how we understand the world, and ourselves, moving forward.

In a time when music is spurring Black Americans' connection with Africans on the Continent, culture critic Lawrence Burney takes us on a journey from the streets of Baltimore to the concert halls of Lagos, reminisces on seeing his mother perform as the opening act of a Gil Scott-Heron show when he was a child, and sits at a Maryland crab feast with family, assessing how the Black people in his home state have historically improvised paths for their liberation. Burney explores these profound interactions with incisive and energizing prose, offering us a personal and critical perspective on the people, places, music, and art that transformed him.

No Sense in Wishing is a kaleidoscopic exploration of Burney's search for self. With its gutsy and uncompromising criticism alongside intimate personal storytelling, this "powerful collection of essays" (Rolling Stone) is like an album that hits all the right notes, from a promising writer on the rise.

Author: Lawrence Burney
Publisher: Atria Books
Published: 05/26/2026
Pages: 256
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.51lbs
Size: 8.34h x 5.54w x 0.71d
ISBN: 9781668051863

About the Author
Lawrence Burney is a writer, critic, and the founder of True Laurels, an independent magazine covering Baltimore's music and culture scene. His work has appeared in publications such as New York magazine, GQ, and Pitchfork. He has also worked at The Fader, VICE, and The Baltimore Banner. No Sense in Wishing is his first book. Follow him on Instagram and X @TrueLaurels.
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