Chapter 1
1.Reverse It
“We need bullies.”
Chris Rock shares this unsettling perspective in his Netflixstand-up comedy special,Tambourine. He describes the strictno-bullying policy at his daughter’s school, one so strict that any bully will be kicked out of school immediately.
His response?
“And right then, I wanted to take my daughter out of the school.”
Chris Rock has written, produced, directed, and starred in movies and television, but he is best known for hisstand-up. His comedy specialsBring the Pain andBigger and Blacker made him a household name (and one of my favorite comedians). He developed his delivery style by observing his father and grandfather, both preachers. Rock paces the stage, repeats his premise, and often stops suddenly for emphasis. He even has his own catchphrase, “Yeah, I said it!”
Rock believes the world is better with bullies. Bullies prepare children for the harsh realities of adulthood. “Bullies do half the work. That’s right. Teachers doone-half, bullies do the whole other half. And that’s the half you’re going to use.”
He points out that, sure, you may know how to program a