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No Sense in Wishing
An 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. For fans of Hanif Abdurraqib, Kiese Laymon, and Isaac Fitzgerald.
There are moments throughout our lives when we discover an artist, an album, a film, or a cultural artifact that leaves a lasting impression, helping inform how we understand the world, and ourselves, moving forward. In No Sense in Wishing, Lawrence 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.
In a time when music is spearheading Black Americans’ connection with Africans on The Continent, Burney takes trips to cover the bubbling creative scenes in Lagos and Johannesburg that inspire teary-eyed reflections of self and belonging. Seeing his mother perform as the opening act at a Gil Scott-Heron show as a child inspires an essay about parent-child relationships and how personal taste is often inherited. And a Maryland crab feast with family facilitates an assessment of how the Black people in his home state have historically improvised paths for their liberation.
Taking us on a journey from the streets of Baltimore to the concert halls of Lagos, No Sense in Wishing is a kaleidoscopic exploration of Burney’s search for self. With its gutsy and uncompromising criticism alongside intimate personal storytelling, it’s like an album that hits all the right notes, from a promising writer on the rise.
There are moments throughout our lives when we discover an artist, an album, a film, or a cultural artifact that leaves a lasting impression, helping inform how we understand the world, and ourselves, moving forward. In No Sense in Wishing, Lawrence 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.
In a time when music is spearheading Black Americans’ connection with Africans on The Continent, Burney takes trips to cover the bubbling creative scenes in Lagos and Johannesburg that inspire teary-eyed reflections of self and belonging. Seeing his mother perform as the opening act at a Gil Scott-Heron show as a child inspires an essay about parent-child relationships and how personal taste is often inherited. And a Maryland crab feast with family facilitates an assessment of how the Black people in his home state have historically improvised paths for their liberation.
Taking us on a journey from the streets of Baltimore to the concert halls of Lagos, No Sense in Wishing is a kaleidoscopic exploration of Burney’s search for self. With its gutsy and uncompromising criticism alongside intimate personal storytelling, it’s like an album that hits all the right notes, from a promising writer on the rise.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published July 8, 2025
32 people are currently reading
5489 people want to read
About the author
Lawrence Burney
1 book17 followersLawrence 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
June 29, 2025
Honest and raw. Unafraid to be vulnerable. Good writing and Mr. Burney has a bright future.He shares his thoughts that seemingly, one of his age group wouldn’t want to disclose, but he puts it out there. Reminds me a little of D. Watkins, which of course is high praise. I’ll be keeping my eyes on Mr. Burney.
May 26, 2025
I think this will end up of being one of my top reads of the year. I knew I would love it, but I didn't realize how much I would LOVE it.
This was a wonderful collection of essays that also read like a memoir journeying Burney's life in Baltimore, but also his experiences in places like New York, South Africa, and Nigeria. These stories felt very introspective and thought provoking. and it was so great reading Burney's stories as grew up and the ways in which his mindset on life grew overtime. I especially loved this book because I grew up in the Baltimore area myself, so reading his stories felt so nostalgic and relatable. It's always a joy for me to read a book and be like "yes I know what they're talking about!" and even think back to moments and memories too. I also loved all the stories connecting to music (which was most of them LOL.) It was a bonus when essays brought music and Baltimore together.
I loved the picture that Burney painted of Baltimore as well. Although it is not without flaws, it is truly a great city with so much character and culture.I think that by reading a book like this one people could see really see that.
I think if you're from Baltimore (or even the DMV) you will really enjoy this book. I think that if you are from neither of these places you will still really enjoy this book. If you're a lover of music you will enjoy this book.
Thank you so much to Atria for this e-arc!!!!
This was a wonderful collection of essays that also read like a memoir journeying Burney's life in Baltimore, but also his experiences in places like New York, South Africa, and Nigeria. These stories felt very introspective and thought provoking. and it was so great reading Burney's stories as grew up and the ways in which his mindset on life grew overtime. I especially loved this book because I grew up in the Baltimore area myself, so reading his stories felt so nostalgic and relatable. It's always a joy for me to read a book and be like "yes I know what they're talking about!" and even think back to moments and memories too. I also loved all the stories connecting to music (which was most of them LOL.) It was a bonus when essays brought music and Baltimore together.
I loved the picture that Burney painted of Baltimore as well. Although it is not without flaws, it is truly a great city with so much character and culture.I think that by reading a book like this one people could see really see that.
I think if you're from Baltimore (or even the DMV) you will really enjoy this book. I think that if you are from neither of these places you will still really enjoy this book. If you're a lover of music you will enjoy this book.
Thank you so much to Atria for this e-arc!!!!
June 26, 2025
Pre-Read Notes:
I like essays and essays collections and I particularly like them if they're written by people who have something to teach me about the life I don't live. I find essay collections to be these wonderful little doorways into the writer's worlds. Looking forward to this one!
Final Review
(thoughts & recs) I really enjoyed these essays, I learned so much about Rap music that I didn't know and I really felt Burney's sense of being out of place as he traveled around, looking for himself and his reason for living.
These essays are beautifully written and contain some compelling discussions about music and safety. I recommend this collection to readers of nonfiction, memoir, and essays, and fans of Rap music and its history, and discussions of racism in the US.
Favorite Essays:
1. "Salutations"
2. "My King, My Father"
3. "Bruised" and "The Exchange"
A word about the essays:
1. "Introduction" - All the changes laid out here won’t be flowery and neatly concluded with happy endings. Though they do take place, happy endings are not common in the human experience. I want to be reflective of that universal truth. p14 I like realism so much.
2. "A Very Precious Time" “This ya mother? Miss Vickie? Damn, that’s hard,” my homegirl Jasmine reacted. Others responded similarly, and throughout that day I periodically thought to myself, Damn, I guess my mother is kinda cool. p25 I love writers who write so realistically about family.
3. "Glory" - We met in middle school one day when he complimented me on my olive-green leather Phat Farm varsity jacket with the red wool lettering, and, through small talk (and further verification from our mothers), we realized we were kin. My great-grandmother and his grandmother were siblings, both branches of our rural Virginia family tree that split and headed one state up, only occasionally intersecting. p29 I have never once had an experience like this and I think it's just so beautiful and meaningful!
4. "My King, My Father" - On each play, I sounded it out: LU-CI-FAH! YOU’RE MY KIIIING! YOU’RE MY FA-THAH! The brother from earlier appeared to be correct in his assessment. “Fuck,” I said to myself. “I can’t listen to these niggas no more. They worshipping the devil.” I remember rumors like this going around in the 90s when I was growing up. I remember the Tupac conspiracy theory at the time of his murder, which Burney brings up. Such a great topic.
5. "A Love Letter to Steamed Crabs Piled on a Newspaper" - p43 This title is so fantastic. Stories about food that explore more than what we eat, but how we eat it and why-- these are the food stories I like.
6. "Two Pillars" - I wept in anticipation of the dark cloud that, in response to the loss, was forming above us. Some tears that night came from a selfish place —having to accept that my hopes for this musical movement hitting the world stage were at the risk of expiring. p75 Gorgeous descriptions of a time long past but still rippling outward into our culture and emotions. This is an incredibly sad essay, and it feels only inches away.
7. "Revisiting Ramona" - The Baltimore that exists today, the one I grew up in, and the one my parents grew up in are largely similar, which is to say that, for the greater part of five decades now, the city has been perpetually pulling itself out of a hole, trying to make good on the expired promise of becoming a great American metropolis. p80 An unblinking look at a city.
8. "Fake Different" - A great piece about the desire to both blend in and stand out. Young creatives, more than anything, need to be told yes to their ideas, not inundated with hindsight-driven advice. p106
9. "Good Government Job" - A great piece about work and careers and the choices we make to get to where we're going.
10. "Mr. Mooney and the Complexion for the Protection" - I traveled on my own dime, to prove I was dedicated to getting stories by any means and to potentially convince editors that I might be someone they’d want to bring on for more consistent assignments. p111 It's hard and it takes hustle to break into professional writing.
11. "Bruised" - An intense, beautiful, and agonizing piece on the sacrifices parents make to make the money.
12. "The Exchange" - A brilliant story about parenting in a hard world.
13. "Welcome Home" - When we found the entrance, we were greeted by a young man and a woman who asked whom we were there to see and gestured to the staircase behind them. It was sketchy but in the most delightful way, like we were seconds away from walking into a sex party or an underground gambling ring. p155 Gorgeous descriptions drew me in and kept me there.
14. "Time is Very Precious" - n.a.
15. "MIKE'S WORLD" - We’re all suffering, even those of us who refuse to say so. Perhaps the hope is that the constant onslaught of misery will somehow miraculously vanish. I suspect that won’t be the case. And since it won’t be the case, we are, more than at any other point my memory can produce, in desperate need of our community . Even when sulking feels like the easier option. p179
16. "Salutations" - This is my favorite piece, beautiful and nostalgic.
Notes:
1. content notes: violence against Black people, gaslighting, shootings, murder
Thank you to the author Lawrence Burney, publishers Atria Books, and NetGalley for an accessible digital arc of NO SENSE IN WISHING. All views are mine.
I like essays and essays collections and I particularly like them if they're written by people who have something to teach me about the life I don't live. I find essay collections to be these wonderful little doorways into the writer's worlds. Looking forward to this one!
Final Review
(thoughts & recs) I really enjoyed these essays, I learned so much about Rap music that I didn't know and I really felt Burney's sense of being out of place as he traveled around, looking for himself and his reason for living.
These essays are beautifully written and contain some compelling discussions about music and safety. I recommend this collection to readers of nonfiction, memoir, and essays, and fans of Rap music and its history, and discussions of racism in the US.
Favorite Essays:
1. "Salutations"
2. "My King, My Father"
3. "Bruised" and "The Exchange"
A word about the essays:
1. "Introduction" - All the changes laid out here won’t be flowery and neatly concluded with happy endings. Though they do take place, happy endings are not common in the human experience. I want to be reflective of that universal truth. p14 I like realism so much.
2. "A Very Precious Time" “This ya mother? Miss Vickie? Damn, that’s hard,” my homegirl Jasmine reacted. Others responded similarly, and throughout that day I periodically thought to myself, Damn, I guess my mother is kinda cool. p25 I love writers who write so realistically about family.
3. "Glory" - We met in middle school one day when he complimented me on my olive-green leather Phat Farm varsity jacket with the red wool lettering, and, through small talk (and further verification from our mothers), we realized we were kin. My great-grandmother and his grandmother were siblings, both branches of our rural Virginia family tree that split and headed one state up, only occasionally intersecting. p29 I have never once had an experience like this and I think it's just so beautiful and meaningful!
4. "My King, My Father" - On each play, I sounded it out: LU-CI-FAH! YOU’RE MY KIIIING! YOU’RE MY FA-THAH! The brother from earlier appeared to be correct in his assessment. “Fuck,” I said to myself. “I can’t listen to these niggas no more. They worshipping the devil.” I remember rumors like this going around in the 90s when I was growing up. I remember the Tupac conspiracy theory at the time of his murder, which Burney brings up. Such a great topic.
5. "A Love Letter to Steamed Crabs Piled on a Newspaper" - p43 This title is so fantastic. Stories about food that explore more than what we eat, but how we eat it and why-- these are the food stories I like.
6. "Two Pillars" - I wept in anticipation of the dark cloud that, in response to the loss, was forming above us. Some tears that night came from a selfish place —having to accept that my hopes for this musical movement hitting the world stage were at the risk of expiring. p75 Gorgeous descriptions of a time long past but still rippling outward into our culture and emotions. This is an incredibly sad essay, and it feels only inches away.
7. "Revisiting Ramona" - The Baltimore that exists today, the one I grew up in, and the one my parents grew up in are largely similar, which is to say that, for the greater part of five decades now, the city has been perpetually pulling itself out of a hole, trying to make good on the expired promise of becoming a great American metropolis. p80 An unblinking look at a city.
8. "Fake Different" - A great piece about the desire to both blend in and stand out. Young creatives, more than anything, need to be told yes to their ideas, not inundated with hindsight-driven advice. p106
9. "Good Government Job" - A great piece about work and careers and the choices we make to get to where we're going.
10. "Mr. Mooney and the Complexion for the Protection" - I traveled on my own dime, to prove I was dedicated to getting stories by any means and to potentially convince editors that I might be someone they’d want to bring on for more consistent assignments. p111 It's hard and it takes hustle to break into professional writing.
11. "Bruised" - An intense, beautiful, and agonizing piece on the sacrifices parents make to make the money.
12. "The Exchange" - A brilliant story about parenting in a hard world.
13. "Welcome Home" - When we found the entrance, we were greeted by a young man and a woman who asked whom we were there to see and gestured to the staircase behind them. It was sketchy but in the most delightful way, like we were seconds away from walking into a sex party or an underground gambling ring. p155 Gorgeous descriptions drew me in and kept me there.
14. "Time is Very Precious" - n.a.
15. "MIKE'S WORLD" - We’re all suffering, even those of us who refuse to say so. Perhaps the hope is that the constant onslaught of misery will somehow miraculously vanish. I suspect that won’t be the case. And since it won’t be the case, we are, more than at any other point my memory can produce, in desperate need of our community . Even when sulking feels like the easier option. p179
16. "Salutations" - This is my favorite piece, beautiful and nostalgic.
Notes:
1. content notes: violence against Black people, gaslighting, shootings, murder
Thank you to the author Lawrence Burney, publishers Atria Books, and NetGalley for an accessible digital arc of NO SENSE IN WISHING. All views are mine.
August 1, 2025
"No Sense in Wishing" is a unique blend of media/social criticism and memoir. Burney takes the reader on the journey through his life growing up as a young man in Baltimore in the 90s. He combines events from his early days and the media that impacted him during that time, evoking nostalgia and reflection in the reader.
While our childhoods look different, Burney's prose felt deeply nostalgic for me, which speaks to the universal nature of how humanity shapes identity through cultural products. I was right there alongside Burney as he burned CDs from Limewire, discovering new artists every day. I, too, shared the shifting musical taste as I entered into my early 20s, branching into new genres, getting progressively more experimental and "noisy" (why did we all have an Animal Collective-esque phase in 2010?). There was much I couldn't relate to, but Burney's writing helped me to find the place in time to make the book feel like I was reliving some of the same memories with a new perspective.
I was unfamiliar with some of the music/media Burney covers in the book, so I did some Googling and listening as I went. This helped me contextualize his experiences and made the chapters (especially the ones more centered on music) more engaging. I did find myself more drawn to the chapters that leaned more toward memoir, likely since they require less background knowledge to connect to the themes and topics covered. While I did ultimately enjoy how music was used to connect to a universal aspect of growing up or a commentary about society, our differing backgrounds made it more difficult to find as much enjoyment in these chapters. Some of my favorites in the collection were "Glory", "Two Pillars", "Revisiting Ramona", and "Mr. Mooney and the Complexion for the Protection".
Burney's prose is beautiful and
While our childhoods look different, Burney's prose felt deeply nostalgic for me, which speaks to the universal nature of how humanity shapes identity through cultural products. I was right there alongside Burney as he burned CDs from Limewire, discovering new artists every day. I, too, shared the shifting musical taste as I entered into my early 20s, branching into new genres, getting progressively more experimental and "noisy" (why did we all have an Animal Collective-esque phase in 2010?). There was much I couldn't relate to, but Burney's writing helped me to find the place in time to make the book feel like I was reliving some of the same memories with a new perspective.
I was unfamiliar with some of the music/media Burney covers in the book, so I did some Googling and listening as I went. This helped me contextualize his experiences and made the chapters (especially the ones more centered on music) more engaging. I did find myself more drawn to the chapters that leaned more toward memoir, likely since they require less background knowledge to connect to the themes and topics covered. While I did ultimately enjoy how music was used to connect to a universal aspect of growing up or a commentary about society, our differing backgrounds made it more difficult to find as much enjoyment in these chapters. Some of my favorites in the collection were "Glory", "Two Pillars", "Revisiting Ramona", and "Mr. Mooney and the Complexion for the Protection".
Burney's prose is beautiful and
May 31, 2025
Disclaimer: ARC via Netgalley
I should note that I hadn’t heard of every musician that Burney mentions in this essay collection, so I will not be commenting on most of the music criticism in this book.
I’m not quite sure why I accepted the invitation to read a digital ARC of this book. Maybe because it is largely about Baltimore, and the more I can see Baltimore that is a lens that is not Homicide or the Wire, the better.
While some of the essays are focused on music criticism, all the essay carry a strong memoir flavor to it. His essay about fatherhood and coming to terms with step-parents was particularly moving, and did what it set out to do – make me want to see a movie.
What comes across quite strongly, beside the love Burney has for his daughter and family, is how much Burney loves Baltimore. He writes about various aspects of the city – including crabs. In many ways, the essays are a love letter to his city.
There also is a good look at the beef between Kendrick Lamar and Drake, which reading after the Superbowl Half Time show adds another layer to Lamar’s performance. More importantly though, Burney writes of growing up and the feeling of not fitting in – either in your own skin or with those around you.
The best essay is the one that is a book review of Tha Bloc, which expands the love of the city to the various artists, largely unsung outside of the city, as well.
I should note that I hadn’t heard of every musician that Burney mentions in this essay collection, so I will not be commenting on most of the music criticism in this book.
I’m not quite sure why I accepted the invitation to read a digital ARC of this book. Maybe because it is largely about Baltimore, and the more I can see Baltimore that is a lens that is not Homicide or the Wire, the better.
While some of the essays are focused on music criticism, all the essay carry a strong memoir flavor to it. His essay about fatherhood and coming to terms with step-parents was particularly moving, and did what it set out to do – make me want to see a movie.
What comes across quite strongly, beside the love Burney has for his daughter and family, is how much Burney loves Baltimore. He writes about various aspects of the city – including crabs. In many ways, the essays are a love letter to his city.
There also is a good look at the beef between Kendrick Lamar and Drake, which reading after the Superbowl Half Time show adds another layer to Lamar’s performance. More importantly though, Burney writes of growing up and the feeling of not fitting in – either in your own skin or with those around you.
The best essay is the one that is a book review of Tha Bloc, which expands the love of the city to the various artists, largely unsung outside of the city, as well.
September 7, 2025
Easily 4.5/5 stars! I truly enjoyed the mixture of memoir and culture woven throughout the essays. The thoughtful analysis, cultural commentary, and relatable storytelling has made this one of my fav non-fic reads this year. Would also recommend for anyone looking for a unique book focusing on a young man coming of age in Bmore with dreams and aspirations outside of traditional avenues of success (secondary education/entertainment) and anyone who’s a fan of D. Watkins and Hanif.
August 1, 2025
Lawrence Burney is a remarkable thinker and cultural critic, which makes his No Sense in Wishing a pleasure to read. I know next to nothing about rap and affiliated genres, don't know the artists, don't know the music—but he kept me reading thanks to his prose style and and the way he made me determined to see my world more broadly.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss; the opinions are my own.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss; the opinions are my own.
June 9, 2025
4 stars
Frequently, I come to a personal essay collection/memoir because I already have a solid working knowledge of the author. In this case, the collection came to me, and I had no incoming knowledge of the author. I'm so glad that I got to read this and now hope to read much more from Burney.
This collection includes personal experiences with travel, food, relationships, and music, which for me was the standout. Burney connects experiences to their deeper meanings and also does a particularly adept job of pointing out the ways in which we use cultural touch points to understand our identities and each other.
As noted, Burney is new to me but is so accessible and readable that I felt I could jump right in. This is a testament to the author's skill, audience awareness, and general relatability. I'll recommend this widely because I think so many folks of all levels of experience will connect with this perspective.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and SS Atria Marketing for this widget, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Frequently, I come to a personal essay collection/memoir because I already have a solid working knowledge of the author. In this case, the collection came to me, and I had no incoming knowledge of the author. I'm so glad that I got to read this and now hope to read much more from Burney.
This collection includes personal experiences with travel, food, relationships, and music, which for me was the standout. Burney connects experiences to their deeper meanings and also does a particularly adept job of pointing out the ways in which we use cultural touch points to understand our identities and each other.
As noted, Burney is new to me but is so accessible and readable that I felt I could jump right in. This is a testament to the author's skill, audience awareness, and general relatability. I'll recommend this widely because I think so many folks of all levels of experience will connect with this perspective.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and SS Atria Marketing for this widget, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
July 31, 2025
Thank you to Atria Books for the #gifted finished copy of No Sense in Wishing by Lawrence Burney. This powerful collection of essays blends personal storytelling with insightful cultural commentary, exploring Burney’s life, the global Black diaspora, and the traditions that shaped him.
Through electrifying prose, Burney reflects on his experiences in Baltimore and beyond, from his trips to Lagos and Johannesburg to his memories of his mother opening for Gil Scott-Heron. He uses a Maryland crab feast to explore the resilience of Black communities, offering a vivid snapshot of identity, family, and cultural connection.
Each essay in No Sense in Wishing feels like a track on a well-curated album, blending critical reflection with intimate storytelling. Fans of Hanif Abdurraqib, Kiese Laymon, and Isaac Fitzgerald will appreciate Burney’s unapologetic criticism and deep exploration of identity.
This collection is a standout for anyone interested in music, culture, and identity. Highly recommended for its profound insight and emotional resonance.
Through electrifying prose, Burney reflects on his experiences in Baltimore and beyond, from his trips to Lagos and Johannesburg to his memories of his mother opening for Gil Scott-Heron. He uses a Maryland crab feast to explore the resilience of Black communities, offering a vivid snapshot of identity, family, and cultural connection.
Each essay in No Sense in Wishing feels like a track on a well-curated album, blending critical reflection with intimate storytelling. Fans of Hanif Abdurraqib, Kiese Laymon, and Isaac Fitzgerald will appreciate Burney’s unapologetic criticism and deep exploration of identity.
This collection is a standout for anyone interested in music, culture, and identity. Highly recommended for its profound insight and emotional resonance.
July 16, 2025
I didn’t really realize how much of a hip hop nerd I am until I read this book. It was really cool to see the nuances of how someone else has heard the same songs, learned about the same artists, but also have had their own unique experiences with them. I loved the chapter on three 6 mafia and the book of revelations as well as the chapter on Lupe. However what I really enjoyed about this book were the essays regarding Lawrence’s experiences in Baltimore, or about his time juggling being a father, student, and writer. I loved reading essays because I love to gain new perspectives and see the world in a new way. I felt I learned a lot in this book while also getting to nerd out over how someone else thinks it’s so cool that three 6 mafia was on the triplet flow before everyone else. Super excited to read whatever he does next.
August 29, 2025
An enjoyable read, with essays ranging on the impact of Baltimore’s culture on his life and his journey as a writer. I enjoyed the essays that were more about him than pop culture, like Good Government Job & the Exchange, but I also like Mr. Mooney & the complexion for perfection & Glory about Lupe Fiasco.
Overall I’m not a big enjoyer of essays just because there can tend to be ones I dislike but that’s just a personal opinion. I thought author did good job picking his stories, even if I did feel some disconnect from Baltimore being the through line. I picked this up bc I was drawn to cover & title & was surprised no tidbit about the photo or Disney world. Author is a good writer, even if some verbiage went over my head
Favorite Quotes:
“The cool thing to do here is to rejoice”
Overall I’m not a big enjoyer of essays just because there can tend to be ones I dislike but that’s just a personal opinion. I thought author did good job picking his stories, even if I did feel some disconnect from Baltimore being the through line. I picked this up bc I was drawn to cover & title & was surprised no tidbit about the photo or Disney world. Author is a good writer, even if some verbiage went over my head
Favorite Quotes:
“The cool thing to do here is to rejoice”
July 14, 2025
#26
The Good
I. Black masculinity ~it felt like a memoir at times the music followed and shaped with the journey/contours of his life. Part of that is him being a Black dude from Baltimore which meant you got to explore Black male music expression through his perspective. The Black male perspective is not shown as much as it needs to be, so it was good to see it focused on in here.
II. Thinking & Discussion I was able to have on: Regionality, Black masculinity, Black male expression, music history, musical taste, art, religion and more
III. Approachable style of writing
IV. Getting to experience someone musical history and relationship with music. Seeing their relationship from a kid to an adult and even seeing how they view music now through their daughter’s relationship with music.
The Bad
I would love to see a deeper exploration of art through his eyes. I think that in certain cases the reflection felt like it hit what is usually the conclusion. It seemed safe but this is generally a personal complaint. Instead of digging deeper into having discussions from particular perspective (music) they hit on discourse outside their field. In my opinion it can be a safety net not to comment on more pressing controversial divisive conversations happening in these fields.
The Meh
I do question if there was a bit of a disconnect because his playlist is not my playlist.
Thoughts
I. Music & Shaping:
A. Personal: What does the music you enjoy say about you? What is your music history? How has that history informed you today?
B. Collectively: How has Black American history shaped music? How is Black American beliefs shaping music now?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmY92...
(I don't understand how add videos or image to goodreads so click on the link. comment on video: yes, I can understand him lol. I also can understand Ryan Coogler who is not southern.)
C. Regionally: We rarely get to see regionality which I connect with the uncomfortableness around Americanness and history with Black Americans enslavement.
-There is a whole discussion about why people degrade the south and southerness so hard.
Why is there an obsession with not sounding country (aka like a slave or backwoods or whatever)? Are we sucking out the voice of people by trying to enforce this rigid uniform style of “proper” voice?
-One of the major places you get to see free regional expression (in sound/culture) when it comes to Black people is music- this book specifically made me realize this.
(Image: Montero (Call Me By Your Name) by Lil Nas X)
D. Religiously: This is a whole conversation I would love to see explored more in general. Again, the music we are listening to says something about us. So many moments I have seen there be an aversion to Black people exploring angels & demons & horror imagery. There is an impression that the only answer to an artist’s intention to exploring these imagery/themes is to be demonic thus these artists are not at all ever trying to express anything else. It is interesting that there is such an aversion when Black people love horror.
E. Discoverability: One of those experiences that I could relate to with the author is while growing up trying to get other Black people to explore outside the mainstream. It is interesting in a way that now with the internet you are coming up with people being exposed to infinitely more music than in the past. It is not an anomaly to meet a Black person who listens to all kinds of different music. Is there an actual difference in the willingness of music exploration then & now?
II. Male Centricness
A. Starting off this book I thought about how male centric it is. One of the things that was emphasized in my brain from reading this book is that music is a major space for Black men to express themselves freely and how rare it is to get the Black male perspective. There is a duality with gender conversations like the current conversations about (white) women being overwhelmingly present in fiction vs Black men lack presence in fiction. I came out of this appreciating that it centered Black men because there were so many conversations that we were able to have.
B. Recommendations: I read mostly young adult then middle grade and lastly adult fiction, so my recommendations are going to be that.
Keynan Masters and the Peerless Magic Crew
{1} Keynan Masters and the Peerless Magic Crew Davaun Sanders ~ The main character Keynan uses poetry to perform his magic. In general the black magical crew use art to perform their magic.
Promise Boys
{2} Promise Boys by Nick Brooks- First of all, it is an actual mystery. Second, it represents the way that many Black boys are seen in adolescence (and adulthood).
Devil Is Fine
{3} The Devil is Fine by John Vercher – adult fiction, similar to American Fiction it deals with publishing industry and legacy.
Black Boy Joy
{4} Black Boy Joy by Kwame Mbalia – an anthology of 17 stories celebrating Black boyhood.
Pritty
{5} Pritty by Keith F. Miller Jr. – Young adult Black queer characters and rival gangs. There is an exploration of Black masculinity. Also, the story is written in AAVE.
Another list that focuses specifically on adult fiction: African Americans – Men’s Experience – Fiction, African Americans – Fiction & Literature, Books | Barnes & Noble®
-Do we have that many Black male teens trying to be rap stars in fiction now?
-In general, I would enjoy seeing an essay collection that explores Black female music in a similar way as this book.
III. Not everyone has the same long line of my family or friends has lived in one neighborhood but there is a feeling of place with music.
If you want to see review with video and images embeded click on my blog link: https://themollyweather.wordpress.com...
I won this on goodreads from Atria Books
The Good
I. Black masculinity ~it felt like a memoir at times the music followed and shaped with the journey/contours of his life. Part of that is him being a Black dude from Baltimore which meant you got to explore Black male music expression through his perspective. The Black male perspective is not shown as much as it needs to be, so it was good to see it focused on in here.
II. Thinking & Discussion I was able to have on: Regionality, Black masculinity, Black male expression, music history, musical taste, art, religion and more
III. Approachable style of writing
IV. Getting to experience someone musical history and relationship with music. Seeing their relationship from a kid to an adult and even seeing how they view music now through their daughter’s relationship with music.
The Bad
I would love to see a deeper exploration of art through his eyes. I think that in certain cases the reflection felt like it hit what is usually the conclusion. It seemed safe but this is generally a personal complaint. Instead of digging deeper into having discussions from particular perspective (music) they hit on discourse outside their field. In my opinion it can be a safety net not to comment on more pressing controversial divisive conversations happening in these fields.
The Meh
I do question if there was a bit of a disconnect because his playlist is not my playlist.
Thoughts
I. Music & Shaping:
A. Personal: What does the music you enjoy say about you? What is your music history? How has that history informed you today?
B. Collectively: How has Black American history shaped music? How is Black American beliefs shaping music now?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmY92...
(I don't understand how add videos or image to goodreads so click on the link. comment on video: yes, I can understand him lol. I also can understand Ryan Coogler who is not southern.)
C. Regionally: We rarely get to see regionality which I connect with the uncomfortableness around Americanness and history with Black Americans enslavement.
-There is a whole discussion about why people degrade the south and southerness so hard.
Why is there an obsession with not sounding country (aka like a slave or backwoods or whatever)? Are we sucking out the voice of people by trying to enforce this rigid uniform style of “proper” voice?
-One of the major places you get to see free regional expression (in sound/culture) when it comes to Black people is music- this book specifically made me realize this.
(Image: Montero (Call Me By Your Name) by Lil Nas X)
D. Religiously: This is a whole conversation I would love to see explored more in general. Again, the music we are listening to says something about us. So many moments I have seen there be an aversion to Black people exploring angels & demons & horror imagery. There is an impression that the only answer to an artist’s intention to exploring these imagery/themes is to be demonic thus these artists are not at all ever trying to express anything else. It is interesting that there is such an aversion when Black people love horror.
E. Discoverability: One of those experiences that I could relate to with the author is while growing up trying to get other Black people to explore outside the mainstream. It is interesting in a way that now with the internet you are coming up with people being exposed to infinitely more music than in the past. It is not an anomaly to meet a Black person who listens to all kinds of different music. Is there an actual difference in the willingness of music exploration then & now?
II. Male Centricness
A. Starting off this book I thought about how male centric it is. One of the things that was emphasized in my brain from reading this book is that music is a major space for Black men to express themselves freely and how rare it is to get the Black male perspective. There is a duality with gender conversations like the current conversations about (white) women being overwhelmingly present in fiction vs Black men lack presence in fiction. I came out of this appreciating that it centered Black men because there were so many conversations that we were able to have.
B. Recommendations: I read mostly young adult then middle grade and lastly adult fiction, so my recommendations are going to be that.
Keynan Masters and the Peerless Magic Crew
{1} Keynan Masters and the Peerless Magic Crew Davaun Sanders ~ The main character Keynan uses poetry to perform his magic. In general the black magical crew use art to perform their magic.
Promise Boys
{2} Promise Boys by Nick Brooks- First of all, it is an actual mystery. Second, it represents the way that many Black boys are seen in adolescence (and adulthood).
Devil Is Fine
{3} The Devil is Fine by John Vercher – adult fiction, similar to American Fiction it deals with publishing industry and legacy.
Black Boy Joy
{4} Black Boy Joy by Kwame Mbalia – an anthology of 17 stories celebrating Black boyhood.
Pritty
{5} Pritty by Keith F. Miller Jr. – Young adult Black queer characters and rival gangs. There is an exploration of Black masculinity. Also, the story is written in AAVE.
Another list that focuses specifically on adult fiction: African Americans – Men’s Experience – Fiction, African Americans – Fiction & Literature, Books | Barnes & Noble®
-Do we have that many Black male teens trying to be rap stars in fiction now?
-In general, I would enjoy seeing an essay collection that explores Black female music in a similar way as this book.
III. Not everyone has the same long line of my family or friends has lived in one neighborhood but there is a feeling of place with music.
If you want to see review with video and images embeded click on my blog link: https://themollyweather.wordpress.com...
I won this on goodreads from Atria Books
July 19, 2025
This novel, while it is written about music and culture, covers lots of ground regarding systemic racism in America.
While discussing two artists Moose and Scoota he states how they "both recounted experiences with the juvenile justice system—a system created by the State of Maryland, which allocated more funds in Baltimore City to the creation of youth jails than public schools". This is just one example of what is meant by systemic racism.
He goes on to describe "the Baltimore that exists today, the one I grew up in, and the one my parents grew up in are largely similar...domestic steel manufacturering declined rapidly, and, as a result... Bethlehem Steel slowed production, reducing its workforce. Blockbusting—the practice of scaring white people into selling their homes by inspiring fear of other races moving in so the property can, then, be sold for more to the new non-white buyers—becane prevalent... the Inner Harbor was a postindustrial wasteland... Those challenges came to a boiling point during my upbringing in the nineties and 2000s, a time when the city was dealing with further divestment in Black communities... the number of children from my generation with hazardous levels of lead poisoning in their systems from toxic paint chips was staggering; our rate of violence always flirted with being the nation's top... In the last decade, while making headlines for having one of the more corrupt police forces in the country, Baltimore has experienced unprecedented levels of murder... all while city officials attempt to accelerate the prospects of gentrification."
"Few homegrown companies in Baltimore can employ enough people to turn the tide. One exception is Under Armour, which unabashedly supports the local police department and has displaced drives of longtime residents to build a corporate oasis, while simultaneously leaning on the city's Black youth to give it cultural legitimacy as a lifestyle brand."
It is plainly obvious to anyone with any sense that America has risen to it's place in the world through systemic racism, by using and abusing people of colour in almost every way possible.
There is so much in this book about music and how it gives a sense of belonging when the powers that be seem to be doing everything they can to hold them down and push them out. But it also gives them a global voice to speak out about the injustices that are continuously happening all around them.
He finishes with one last essay titled Salutations where he writes " Love to the people of Gaza and the West Bank and the Congo and Haiti and Sudan. People whose public executions—being burned alive, their children shot at point-blank range, their only remaining hospitals burned, and their access to nutritional sustenance denied—have been put on Main Street for us all to see, though many will still pretend that they don't see what's in front of them. Instead, they try to find ways to both-sides the situation when, really, it's one side, which is the side of humanity and the side of decency and the side of not displacing people because you have a passionate bloodlust for domination."
The US is known for maligning BIPOC individuals and groups as being violent, but as this selection of essays makes abundantly clear is that they are simply trying to survive in a world where the system is rigged for them to fail, where they are made the scapegoats of the true violent individuals—the white powers that be— who will do and say anything in the pursuit of domination.
While discussing two artists Moose and Scoota he states how they "both recounted experiences with the juvenile justice system—a system created by the State of Maryland, which allocated more funds in Baltimore City to the creation of youth jails than public schools". This is just one example of what is meant by systemic racism.
He goes on to describe "the Baltimore that exists today, the one I grew up in, and the one my parents grew up in are largely similar...domestic steel manufacturering declined rapidly, and, as a result... Bethlehem Steel slowed production, reducing its workforce. Blockbusting—the practice of scaring white people into selling their homes by inspiring fear of other races moving in so the property can, then, be sold for more to the new non-white buyers—becane prevalent... the Inner Harbor was a postindustrial wasteland... Those challenges came to a boiling point during my upbringing in the nineties and 2000s, a time when the city was dealing with further divestment in Black communities... the number of children from my generation with hazardous levels of lead poisoning in their systems from toxic paint chips was staggering; our rate of violence always flirted with being the nation's top... In the last decade, while making headlines for having one of the more corrupt police forces in the country, Baltimore has experienced unprecedented levels of murder... all while city officials attempt to accelerate the prospects of gentrification."
"Few homegrown companies in Baltimore can employ enough people to turn the tide. One exception is Under Armour, which unabashedly supports the local police department and has displaced drives of longtime residents to build a corporate oasis, while simultaneously leaning on the city's Black youth to give it cultural legitimacy as a lifestyle brand."
It is plainly obvious to anyone with any sense that America has risen to it's place in the world through systemic racism, by using and abusing people of colour in almost every way possible.
There is so much in this book about music and how it gives a sense of belonging when the powers that be seem to be doing everything they can to hold them down and push them out. But it also gives them a global voice to speak out about the injustices that are continuously happening all around them.
He finishes with one last essay titled Salutations where he writes " Love to the people of Gaza and the West Bank and the Congo and Haiti and Sudan. People whose public executions—being burned alive, their children shot at point-blank range, their only remaining hospitals burned, and their access to nutritional sustenance denied—have been put on Main Street for us all to see, though many will still pretend that they don't see what's in front of them. Instead, they try to find ways to both-sides the situation when, really, it's one side, which is the side of humanity and the side of decency and the side of not displacing people because you have a passionate bloodlust for domination."
The US is known for maligning BIPOC individuals and groups as being violent, but as this selection of essays makes abundantly clear is that they are simply trying to survive in a world where the system is rigged for them to fail, where they are made the scapegoats of the true violent individuals—the white powers that be— who will do and say anything in the pursuit of domination.
May 13, 2025
Book Review: No Sense in Wishing: Essays by Lawrence Burney
Lawrence Burney’s No Sense in Wishing is a striking debut essay collection that blends cultural criticism, memoir, and urban sociology through the lens of Baltimore’s vibrant yet often overlooked creative landscape. As a seasoned culture critic and founder of True Laurels, Burney brings a sharp, insider’s perspective to his examinations of music, film, and community dynamics, offering both a love letter to his city and a nuanced critique of how art shapes identity in marginalized spaces. The collection stands out for its ability to weave personal narrative with incisive cultural analysis, though some essays feel more fully realized than others.
Burney’s greatest strength lies in his prose—energizing, precise, and rich with the rhythm of someone deeply attuned to the sonic textures of his subjects. Whether dissecting a rap album’s thematic layers or tracing the socio-political undercurrents of neighborhood block parties, his writing pulses with an urgency that mirrors the creative energy he documents. Particularly compelling are the essays that bridge the personal and the analytical, such as reflections on how specific songs or films became lifelines during pivotal life moments. These pieces transcend mere criticism, becoming meditations on how culture functions as survival.
Structurally, the collection oscillates between short, punchy commentaries and longer, more ruminative pieces. While this variety showcases Burney’s range, it occasionally disrupts the book’s flow; a tighter thematic throughline could have elevated the work from strong to exceptional. Some essays also assume a level of familiarity with Baltimore’s cultural history that may leave general readers seeking more context. Nonetheless, Burney’s voice remains consistently engaging—warm yet unflinching, scholarly without sacrificing accessibility.
Rating: 4.3/5
Section Scoring Breakdown:
-Cultural Analysis: 4.5/5 – Fresh perspectives with occasional niche references
-Narrative Voice: 5/5 – Distinctive and compelling throughout
-Structural Cohesion: 3.8/5 – Uneven pacing between essay formats
-Emotional Resonance: 4.5/5 – Powerful personal stakes in critical writing
-Originality: 4.7/5 – Fills gaps in contemporary cultural criticism
Thank you to NetGalley and the author, Lawrence Burney, for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Lawrence Burney’s No Sense in Wishing is a striking debut essay collection that blends cultural criticism, memoir, and urban sociology through the lens of Baltimore’s vibrant yet often overlooked creative landscape. As a seasoned culture critic and founder of True Laurels, Burney brings a sharp, insider’s perspective to his examinations of music, film, and community dynamics, offering both a love letter to his city and a nuanced critique of how art shapes identity in marginalized spaces. The collection stands out for its ability to weave personal narrative with incisive cultural analysis, though some essays feel more fully realized than others.
Burney’s greatest strength lies in his prose—energizing, precise, and rich with the rhythm of someone deeply attuned to the sonic textures of his subjects. Whether dissecting a rap album’s thematic layers or tracing the socio-political undercurrents of neighborhood block parties, his writing pulses with an urgency that mirrors the creative energy he documents. Particularly compelling are the essays that bridge the personal and the analytical, such as reflections on how specific songs or films became lifelines during pivotal life moments. These pieces transcend mere criticism, becoming meditations on how culture functions as survival.
Structurally, the collection oscillates between short, punchy commentaries and longer, more ruminative pieces. While this variety showcases Burney’s range, it occasionally disrupts the book’s flow; a tighter thematic throughline could have elevated the work from strong to exceptional. Some essays also assume a level of familiarity with Baltimore’s cultural history that may leave general readers seeking more context. Nonetheless, Burney’s voice remains consistently engaging—warm yet unflinching, scholarly without sacrificing accessibility.
Rating: 4.3/5
Section Scoring Breakdown:
-Cultural Analysis: 4.5/5 – Fresh perspectives with occasional niche references
-Narrative Voice: 5/5 – Distinctive and compelling throughout
-Structural Cohesion: 3.8/5 – Uneven pacing between essay formats
-Emotional Resonance: 4.5/5 – Powerful personal stakes in critical writing
-Originality: 4.7/5 – Fills gaps in contemporary cultural criticism
Thank you to NetGalley and the author, Lawrence Burney, for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 14, 2025
I've followed Lawrence Burney's writing (and personality, via social media) online for nearly a decade now. Though we've never met, he has always felt like a friend in the ways that people would make genuine friendships via online communities in the early aughts. But when I saw he was writing this book, I genuinely didn't know what to expect.
No Sense in Wishing is a fresh take on memoir that probably won't but should come with a soundtrack (or playlist). It is a collection of personal essays that ultimately reveal how the music he's listened to has shaped him—whether he loved it or not. But it's also a really unique spin on a coming-of-age tale. And I think this work might be just as engaging for young Black boys growing up in Baltimore or the DMV as people like me: middle-aged Black women from the Bay Area.
Burney laces the pages with a blend of prose and slang through sentence structures that prove his journalistic merits are well deserved. While so much of this book is Burney recollecting on the role music has played throughout his life, there are elements of it that feel like an investigative journalist report. It's not just that Burney *felt* a particularly way about a song or artist, he digs deeper to understand what the rest of the world was feeling about that same song or artist at the same time. It's a memoir, it's personal, but it also can be seen as a history lesson.
And just like what made me follow him all those years ago, there's great song recommendations in here too. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
No Sense in Wishing
No Sense in Wishing is a fresh take on memoir that probably won't but should come with a soundtrack (or playlist). It is a collection of personal essays that ultimately reveal how the music he's listened to has shaped him—whether he loved it or not. But it's also a really unique spin on a coming-of-age tale. And I think this work might be just as engaging for young Black boys growing up in Baltimore or the DMV as people like me: middle-aged Black women from the Bay Area.
Burney laces the pages with a blend of prose and slang through sentence structures that prove his journalistic merits are well deserved. While so much of this book is Burney recollecting on the role music has played throughout his life, there are elements of it that feel like an investigative journalist report. It's not just that Burney *felt* a particularly way about a song or artist, he digs deeper to understand what the rest of the world was feeling about that same song or artist at the same time. It's a memoir, it's personal, but it also can be seen as a history lesson.
And just like what made me follow him all those years ago, there's great song recommendations in here too. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
No Sense in Wishing
July 12, 2025
In his debut essay collection, No Sense In Wishing, Lawrence Burney takes a magnifying glass to the political and economic climates of the 1990s up through 2024 and examines how they affected not just the development of Black culture but also the lives of individual artists in a way that humanizes their darkest moments and highlights the complexity of their triumphs. He covers hip-hop, TV, food, film, stand-up comedy, literature, and more. When his attention turns to music, Burney inspires readers to give the albums of this era another listen by explaining in vivid, emotional detail the profound effects many artists had on his perception of Blackness, masculinity, economic liberation, Southernness, love for one's hometown, American history, and the African diaspora while seamlessly modeling how one can enrich one's own experience of culture by juxtaposing it against those same topics.
The highlights of this book lies are when Burney weaves analysis of media into his own self reflections, unveiling and critiquing his own flaws and fears. When this weave is combined with Burney's accounts of how Black Americans and Black Africans face the same challenge of forging one's own identity while pursuing global success, the result is a tapestry depicting how music is a vast web connecting intimate moments across oceans and decades. When the reader finishes this book, he or she will have a crystalline understanding of why culture matters and how each individual's experience of culture is unique, beautiful, and true.
The highlights of this book lies are when Burney weaves analysis of media into his own self reflections, unveiling and critiquing his own flaws and fears. When this weave is combined with Burney's accounts of how Black Americans and Black Africans face the same challenge of forging one's own identity while pursuing global success, the result is a tapestry depicting how music is a vast web connecting intimate moments across oceans and decades. When the reader finishes this book, he or she will have a crystalline understanding of why culture matters and how each individual's experience of culture is unique, beautiful, and true.
June 18, 2025
At first glance, I have little in common with Mr. Burney. He's a black man.I am a white woman, at least 25 years his senior. He's a liberal, a single father, and smokes weed. I am a married, childless, conservative who never got into smoking weed, as it only makes me hungry. He's into rap and hip hop. I'm into country and trop rock. But, I wanted to read this book because we both grew up in Baltimore and music, film, and the arts had a big influence on our lives.
I was not disappointed. No Sense in Wishing is a great debut book. It's filled with essays of times from his childhood on, and the cultural arts that have influenced his life. His essays are so descriptive, that I could picture the scenes in my head. He writes with a passion rarely seen in this type of book. I did get a somewhat better understanding of what it was like growing up in Baltimore as a black child as opposed to a white child, even though both our families were probably considered, if not poor, then low middle class.
My favorite essay is "A Love Letter to Steamed Crabs Piled onto a Bed of Newspapers." It evoked so many happy memories from my childhood. The "Salutations" were so much from the heart and were a perfect ending to the book. In that essay he writes about the most celebrated figures from where we're from as being those who speak directly to the hearts of the people and their hometown roots. Mr. Burney has definitely done that! #GoodreadsGiveaways
I was not disappointed. No Sense in Wishing is a great debut book. It's filled with essays of times from his childhood on, and the cultural arts that have influenced his life. His essays are so descriptive, that I could picture the scenes in my head. He writes with a passion rarely seen in this type of book. I did get a somewhat better understanding of what it was like growing up in Baltimore as a black child as opposed to a white child, even though both our families were probably considered, if not poor, then low middle class.
My favorite essay is "A Love Letter to Steamed Crabs Piled onto a Bed of Newspapers." It evoked so many happy memories from my childhood. The "Salutations" were so much from the heart and were a perfect ending to the book. In that essay he writes about the most celebrated figures from where we're from as being those who speak directly to the hearts of the people and their hometown roots. Mr. Burney has definitely done that! #GoodreadsGiveaways
September 6, 2025
"No Sense in Wishing" is a mesmerizing essay collection that feels like sitting down with a close friend who also happens to be a brilliant cultural critic. Lawrence Burney takes us on an intimate, kaleidoscopic journey, from his Baltimore roots to the vibrant creative scenes in Lagos and Johannesburg, while weaving in music, art, and family stories that shaped him.
What I loved most was Burney’s ability to connect the personal with the global. His reflections on seeing his mother perform at a Gil Scott-Heron show, or sharing a Maryland crab feast with family, are heartwarming yet layered with insightful commentary on history, culture, and identity. His exploration of music and its power to link Black Americans with Africa is particularly poignant, and his prose hits all the right notes, witty, incisive, and deeply human.
For fans of Hanif Abdurraqib or Kiese Laymon, this book feels like a masterclass in balancing personal narrative with cultural critique. I closed the final essay feeling moved, inspired, and eager to revisit albums and cities with a new perspective. Absolutely a five-star read.
What I loved most was Burney’s ability to connect the personal with the global. His reflections on seeing his mother perform at a Gil Scott-Heron show, or sharing a Maryland crab feast with family, are heartwarming yet layered with insightful commentary on history, culture, and identity. His exploration of music and its power to link Black Americans with Africa is particularly poignant, and his prose hits all the right notes, witty, incisive, and deeply human.
For fans of Hanif Abdurraqib or Kiese Laymon, this book feels like a masterclass in balancing personal narrative with cultural critique. I closed the final essay feeling moved, inspired, and eager to revisit albums and cities with a new perspective. Absolutely a five-star read.
June 18, 2025
Lawrence Burney’s No Sense in Wishing is a lively, heartfelt essay collection about the city of Baltimore and what it means to belong. Burney, a local journalist and founder of True Laurels magazine, writes about his own life and the people around him—family, friends, neighbors—using Baltimore as both setting and subject.
Instead of telling one story, the book jumps between personal memories, reflections on music and art, and honest looks at the city’s struggles and strengths. Burney’s style is direct and warm, mixing sharp observations with real emotion. He’s especially good at making readers care about overlooked people and places.
I love Burney’s honesty and his ability to tie his own experiences to bigger ideas about race, art, and community. The only real downside is that the book’s essay format can feel a little scattered, but it fits the messy, vibrant spirit of Baltimore.
If you like essays about identity, culture, or just want to see a city through a new lens, this is worth your time.
Instead of telling one story, the book jumps between personal memories, reflections on music and art, and honest looks at the city’s struggles and strengths. Burney’s style is direct and warm, mixing sharp observations with real emotion. He’s especially good at making readers care about overlooked people and places.
I love Burney’s honesty and his ability to tie his own experiences to bigger ideas about race, art, and community. The only real downside is that the book’s essay format can feel a little scattered, but it fits the messy, vibrant spirit of Baltimore.
If you like essays about identity, culture, or just want to see a city through a new lens, this is worth your time.
Read
July 4, 2025Lawrence Burney's exhilarating and deeply personal essay collection, "No Sense in Wishing," deftly weaves together cultural critique, memoir, and travelogue.
Burney's writing is insightful, candid, and honest, and his exploration of music, identity, and family is full of emotional depth. The way Burney ties together personal anecdotes with broader cultural discussions about the music scenes in Lagos and Johannesburg, or stories of growing up in Baltimore, makes for a thought-provoking and enjoyable read.
What stands out most is how effortlessly Burney balances storytelling with analysis. He makes each essay feel like a piece of a larger narrative, whether reflecting on the impact of his family relationships or analyzing how Black Americans are able to connect with African music. Rather than just feeling like a collection of random thoughts, these essays build on each other, giving readers a deeper understanding of the author’s life journey.
"No Sense in Wishing" is a fantastic debut that blends intimate reflection and cultural commentary for an incredibly engaging read.
Burney's writing is insightful, candid, and honest, and his exploration of music, identity, and family is full of emotional depth. The way Burney ties together personal anecdotes with broader cultural discussions about the music scenes in Lagos and Johannesburg, or stories of growing up in Baltimore, makes for a thought-provoking and enjoyable read.
What stands out most is how effortlessly Burney balances storytelling with analysis. He makes each essay feel like a piece of a larger narrative, whether reflecting on the impact of his family relationships or analyzing how Black Americans are able to connect with African music. Rather than just feeling like a collection of random thoughts, these essays build on each other, giving readers a deeper understanding of the author’s life journey.
"No Sense in Wishing" is a fantastic debut that blends intimate reflection and cultural commentary for an incredibly engaging read.
April 11, 2025
No Sense in Wishing is a collection of essays by journalist Lawrence Burney about his home town of Baltimore.
Lawrence reflects on his upbringing, with a heavy influence of music throughout. He writes about black culture in Baltimore. He details about his visit to Africa, significant to his story because of both his roots & his passion for music. He talks about the fond memories he associates with the smell of a seafood boil.
He also discusses deliberate systematic changes intended to further the socioeconomical gap, and other struggles that Black Americans face due to the racism weaved into the fabric that the United States was founded on.
No Sense in Wishing invites the reader to witness Baltimore from Burney’s perspective, using both his personal and journalistic experience. His passion for music is palpable throughout the book. For me, a person of pallor, his essays opened my eyes to a perspective other than my own privileged lived experiences.
Lawrence reflects on his upbringing, with a heavy influence of music throughout. He writes about black culture in Baltimore. He details about his visit to Africa, significant to his story because of both his roots & his passion for music. He talks about the fond memories he associates with the smell of a seafood boil.
He also discusses deliberate systematic changes intended to further the socioeconomical gap, and other struggles that Black Americans face due to the racism weaved into the fabric that the United States was founded on.
No Sense in Wishing invites the reader to witness Baltimore from Burney’s perspective, using both his personal and journalistic experience. His passion for music is palpable throughout the book. For me, a person of pallor, his essays opened my eyes to a perspective other than my own privileged lived experiences.
July 31, 2025
Lawrence Burney writes:
“I was zooming from taking classes, working at the bank, and picking my daughter up from my grandmother Bert, who ran a day care out of her house. On mornings after parties, when I worked my bank teller job, people I saw at warehouse functions the previous night would shuffle up to the counter, not recognizing who I was, though I’d been right next to Abdu while they conversed with him. I was incognito. Sometimes, while running their information to initiate a deposit, I’d notice accounts with balances above $20,000 – kids in their early twenties presumably set up to succeed by their moneyed, white families. The same people would bum pizza and perform financial hardship. The insight helped quell my imposter syndrome, emphasizing that I was from a different universe, and, if anything, my edge was that I could not be attached to one sect of society but, rather, was navigating many in the pursuit to elevate myself.”
“I was zooming from taking classes, working at the bank, and picking my daughter up from my grandmother Bert, who ran a day care out of her house. On mornings after parties, when I worked my bank teller job, people I saw at warehouse functions the previous night would shuffle up to the counter, not recognizing who I was, though I’d been right next to Abdu while they conversed with him. I was incognito. Sometimes, while running their information to initiate a deposit, I’d notice accounts with balances above $20,000 – kids in their early twenties presumably set up to succeed by their moneyed, white families. The same people would bum pizza and perform financial hardship. The insight helped quell my imposter syndrome, emphasizing that I was from a different universe, and, if anything, my edge was that I could not be attached to one sect of society but, rather, was navigating many in the pursuit to elevate myself.”
August 14, 2025
3.5 stars
This was part memoir, part history and the social commentary was very impactful. I wished it had an accompanying playlist, since Burney’s descriptions of the artists and music were very vivid and made me want to listen along. Since I am not a huge music buff, I sometimes got lost in the details and parts of the stories went over my head. Yet, I appreciated how the author described the relevance of each musical style and artist to his own life. My favorite stories were about Burney’s childhood and his journey as a new parent. I also was intrigued with his discussion on conspiracy theories and people wanting to find their ancestral links. The last few chapters moved slowly and I lacked the background to truly understand the narrative, while also feeling like he was intellectually ahead of me and I struggled to keep up. Definitely a unique and interesting book for the right audience!
This was part memoir, part history and the social commentary was very impactful. I wished it had an accompanying playlist, since Burney’s descriptions of the artists and music were very vivid and made me want to listen along. Since I am not a huge music buff, I sometimes got lost in the details and parts of the stories went over my head. Yet, I appreciated how the author described the relevance of each musical style and artist to his own life. My favorite stories were about Burney’s childhood and his journey as a new parent. I also was intrigued with his discussion on conspiracy theories and people wanting to find their ancestral links. The last few chapters moved slowly and I lacked the background to truly understand the narrative, while also feeling like he was intellectually ahead of me and I struggled to keep up. Definitely a unique and interesting book for the right audience!
August 22, 2025
Really beautiful, heartfelt, introspective and vulnerable collection of essays. The essays don’t feel like isolated thoughts but like they are in conversation with each other. Each essay building off of what came before it to form an overall narrative journey about growing up in Baltimore and finding yourself and connecting to community.
It's a journey that has a special focus on music, art, and culture but also brings in discussions on Black masculinity, fatherhood, identity, Blackness, queerness, community, conformity, artistic expression, hip hop culture, nerd culture, belonging, the Black diaspora, settler colonialism, creeping colonial mentality, and of course Baltimore, Baltimore, and Baltimore.
The last essay leaves you with both a sense of appreciation and a moment to bear witness. Lawrence Burney is a talented writer and I'm sure he'll have more to say in the future and I'll be interested to read it.
It's a journey that has a special focus on music, art, and culture but also brings in discussions on Black masculinity, fatherhood, identity, Blackness, queerness, community, conformity, artistic expression, hip hop culture, nerd culture, belonging, the Black diaspora, settler colonialism, creeping colonial mentality, and of course Baltimore, Baltimore, and Baltimore.
The last essay leaves you with both a sense of appreciation and a moment to bear witness. Lawrence Burney is a talented writer and I'm sure he'll have more to say in the future and I'll be interested to read it.
September 4, 2025
To echo the words from the last essay of this book: Love to Lawrence Burney.
After finishing his book, I carry gratitude. Gratitude for the stories he shared and the way he let us into his mind. Gratitude for the thoughtfulness he’s poured into his words, and the honesty that makes them feel alive.
His writing has given me new music to listen to, new documentaries to watch, and new stories to hold onto. More than that, it has reminded me that the streets, people, and memories of Baltimore and beyond are worthy of reverence and love.
It’s inspired me to look deeper at myself and my communities, to find meaning in the corners and lessons in the everyday. For that, I am filled with gratitude.
After finishing his book, I carry gratitude. Gratitude for the stories he shared and the way he let us into his mind. Gratitude for the thoughtfulness he’s poured into his words, and the honesty that makes them feel alive.
His writing has given me new music to listen to, new documentaries to watch, and new stories to hold onto. More than that, it has reminded me that the streets, people, and memories of Baltimore and beyond are worthy of reverence and love.
It’s inspired me to look deeper at myself and my communities, to find meaning in the corners and lessons in the everyday. For that, I am filled with gratitude.
August 8, 2025
This review will be biased because it's written by my cousin, but I deserve to be. Watching Lawrence organize his music events, his zine, developing his career as a music writer is nothing short of an inspiration and reading No Sense in Wishing feels like the payoff to years of being in his vicinity, finally getting a look into his mind and scene, taking in his observations and rich palette of the black diaspora and Baltimore culture. From his obsession to Lupe Fiasco, his truncated breakdown of Baltimore's redlining, and his journey into alt-music scenes, Burney is a genius at pulling the reader into his world with astute wit and insight as the tool with which he guides.
August 29, 2025
Interesting memoir/essays tied to artists and how they shaped his life and the understanding of it all.
The essays delve into how culture and society affected his life. Each essay meanders through so many sections of his life as well as introduced a lot black artists. I found myself hunting down the artists and listening as I read.
At times thought provoking, others very raw about his life, and others delving much deeper than necessary on details of these artists. You could definitely tell which he felt much more connected to based on how much he wrote about them.
I won this in one of the giveaways.
The essays delve into how culture and society affected his life. Each essay meanders through so many sections of his life as well as introduced a lot black artists. I found myself hunting down the artists and listening as I read.
At times thought provoking, others very raw about his life, and others delving much deeper than necessary on details of these artists. You could definitely tell which he felt much more connected to based on how much he wrote about them.
I won this in one of the giveaways.
June 28, 2025
Really enjoyed this more than I expected as I usually do not read nonfiction/essays but a personal goal of mine this year was to expand into new genres and I’m very glad I chose to read this one.
Honest collection of essays that read like a memoir. I have my favorites from this collection, but even the ones that don’t stand out as much were enriching and felt true to self. A real look into life growing up in Baltimore to exploring roots in Lagos through music. If Burney has further published work, I will definitely pick up.
Honest collection of essays that read like a memoir. I have my favorites from this collection, but even the ones that don’t stand out as much were enriching and felt true to self. A real look into life growing up in Baltimore to exploring roots in Lagos through music. If Burney has further published work, I will definitely pick up.
March 28, 2025
"There's immense power in the ability to circumvent obstacles by surveying what's in front of you, nurturing it, and watching it materialize into something that'll live beyond any of our biodegradable human cavities. There's even more power in keeping that eternal knowledge harnessed to guide you when everything else feels cloudy."
Such an enjoyable read. Would definitely recommend!
Thank you to the author and goodreads for the giveaway.
Such an enjoyable read. Would definitely recommend!
Thank you to the author and goodreads for the giveaway.
June 13, 2025
I finished this book in just a few days! It was really interesting and easy to get into. Each chapter was written like its own story, which made it really compelling and kept things interesting the whole way through. I enjoyed the authors views on culture, music, and life in Baltimore. Won this book from a giveaway, and i'm very grateful because it was a wonderful book that I will be reading again!
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