Reviews - Potresno delo zapanjujuće genijalnosti

1.29k reviews for:

Potresno delo zapanjujuće genijalnosti

My favorite part of this book was the preface including the "rules and suggestions for enjoying this book" and the clever acknowledgments. What's not to like about a random "here is a picture I drew of a stapler"?

The memoir itself rambled but amongst the ramblings, there were incredibly deep and poignant observations. My favorite was "I have no idea how people function without near constant internal chaos. I'd lose my mind" as I completely relate to that.

The critics are right in that the author came across as a "cocky young man" but I tend to be fond of cocky young men so that didn't bother me. I only rolled my eyes a few times at his self aggrandizing but at least it was entertaining.

Overall, his writing style was incredibly witty but blathering. He does manage to ride the line well of describing the experience of losing his parents and how it affected him and his siblings in a respectful and touching way without going into pity or over sentimentalism.

jgremillion's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous funny medium-paced

rdubs24's review against another edition

1.0

I think I probably should have liked it. I'm sure it's a Very Important Book. But it was so pretentious and rambling (yes, the preface does warn you) that it was a fight to finish each sentence.

ayoungreads's review against another edition

1.0

I struggled to get through this. I kept thinking I would reach some sort of revelation. Pushed through because I was stuck on the couch with COVID. Since I am reading it 24 years after publication I wonder if I would have noticed the cringe worthy racist references had I read it in 2000. Not recommended.

julyjo's review against another edition

5.0

This is one of my all time favorite books. It resonated with me so much at the time that I initially read it and it sticks with me today. Heartbreaking. Really fucking funny. Awful. Beautiful.

aleishassant's review against another edition

4.25

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

onelessisnine's review against another edition

4.75

challenging emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

sharpwhit's review against another edition

3.0

Very interesting to read this book at the same time as Tropic of Cancer and note the parallels...not the smutty bits but the stream of consciousness structure...