Tuff

Brief Overview

In the novel "Tuff," Paul Beatty tells the story of Winston "Tuff" Funches with bold irony and keen observation—a massive, charismatic, and contradictory Harlem resident who, despite his criminal past, decides to run for city council. Set against the vibrant streets of New York, surrounded by eccentric friends, an unconventional family, and absurd circumstances, Tuff searches for dignity and freedom, confronting prejudice, bureaucracy, and his own demons. Beatty masterfully blends satire and social drama, creating a vivid portrait of a hero whose struggle for a place in the world becomes a metaphor for an entire generation.