Mia Arden's latest novel, titled 'How to Stop Being a N**i,' offers an extremely humorous look at negative behavior and the necessity of taking responsibility.
Book Review
Mia Arden's book title, 'How to Stop Being a N**i,' may cause hesitation in potential buyers. However, upon starting to read, the reader encounters that the language of the work may require even more consideration. The author does not shy away from using profanity such as P$#s, f##k, and vark, which might seem harsh to a more conservative reader.
Nevertheless, the further the reader progresses through the book, the less desire they have to ask Arden to soften the language. The novel is written in Caps language, and this language is an integral part of its identity, reflecting the characters' manner of speaking, jokes, insults, and relationships.
At the beginning of the book, there is a glossary that helps understand what the term 'n**i' means. The answers include a description of a person who disregards others' feelings and lacks empathy, as well as 'a k@k person.' The reader is even given the option to add their own definitions or notes.
The central character is named Lucian. He is 45 years old, a DJ, a lover, and a drinker. His relationships are on the verge of collapse; he is disappointed with his job and still clings to the glory days behind the DJ decks. In a TikTok video, Arden describes him as a 'classic n**i'—selfish, jealous, neglectful of family, and deceitful.
Lucian decides to change and believes that nine steps will help him get rid of his 'n**iery.' This is where the author masterfully plays with the self-help genre. The book contains questionnaires, exercises, and even a typology of 'n**iers,' including types such as The Joller, The Deluxe n**i, The Baas, and The Vark.
Some questions in the book have a distinctly all-caps flavor. For example, it asks whether the reader attended a barbecue without their own drink and food, or returned someone else's car with an empty tank, underpaid a waiter, or drove too slowly in the fast lane. At first, the reader laughs, and then begins mentally ticking off the corresponding points.
As the book progresses, the questions become more uncomfortable, touching upon prejudices in relationships and how people treat each other. At this point, the book ceases to be just crude humor. Another pleasant element is the playlist accompanying each chapter. Among the songs chosen by the author, which subtly resonate with each chapter, one can name Bill Withers' 'Lean on me,' 'Livin' it up,' performed by Bill LaBounty, and 'Superwoman' by Karyn White.
For the author, the playlists somehow softened the effect of all the profanity, changing the reading rhythm and creating a soundtrack to Lucian's story. Lucian's relationship with his father lends a more serious tone to the book, as Lucian confronts not only who he has become but also the baggage that led him to this state.
Arden asserts in her TikTok that 'on a deeper level, n**iery is a measure of morality.' This probably best explains what lies beneath all the humor. Although profanity may not suit everyone, there were moments when its excess hindered the narrative, and the self-help mechanism itself sometimes seemed overly insistent.
However, Arden achieves an unexpected result: she engages the reader. The definitions, questions, and exercises constantly shift the reader's attention from Lucian to their own behavior. If curiosity matters, Arden has already captured the interest of several potential readers. The book generated interest in the editorial room, and many colleagues await the opportunity to read a copy.
The author concludes that 'there is a little bit of n**i in each of us,' and perhaps that is why everyone wants to read this book.