Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Simon Rich is one of those humor writers whose name you see over and over. Publishing funny stories often enough to have a recognizable name, even if just among New Yorker subscribers, is pretty impressive in 2024. New Teeth, Rich's previous collection, remains my favorite of his works, but this new collection had some great stand outs as well (particularly Mario reflecting on the deterioration of-a his body after 40 years of jumping on stuff and bashing bricks with his head)
funny
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
First finished read of 2025 ✔️
First Simon Rich book ✔️
Will read more Simon Rich this year (probably)! Favorite stories were: Mario, The Emperor’s New Clothes, and Goliath!
First Simon Rich book ✔️
Will read more Simon Rich this year (probably)! Favorite stories were: Mario, The Emperor’s New Clothes, and Goliath!
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
would listen to John Mulaney read my econ textbook. learning simon rich went to dalton was a devastating moment for me.
I saw Simon Rich promoting this book on Late Night with Seth Meyers a couple months ago and it sounded hilarious. The essay they talked about was Mario (“it’s-a me! Mario”) - now 40 - and his aging woes. The synopsis describes it as “Glory Days mourns the death of youthful innocence and hails the beginning of something approximating wisdom.” There are poignant stories as well as absurd and silly, yet all tend to have a wistful theme behind them.
Overall it’s a great concept and I certainly enjoyed some more than others. I really liked “The City Speaks” (spoken from the POV of NYC) and “Participation Trophy”. “Mario” and “Minutes” also gave me a good chuckle. Part humour, part reflective and part melancholic - it reminded me of the vibes of Christopher Moore at times.
Overall it’s a great concept and I certainly enjoyed some more than others. I really liked “The City Speaks” (spoken from the POV of NYC) and “Participation Trophy”. “Mario” and “Minutes” also gave me a good chuckle. Part humour, part reflective and part melancholic - it reminded me of the vibes of Christopher Moore at times.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Funny, and often quite poignant
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I listened to the audiobook which is is narrated by John Mullaney. For some stories his voice shined, others I think took away from the humor of the story. I do think that the audiobook was a great way to read these goofy, wacky stories.
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes