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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
Overall a good book. Nick Offerman's narration is superb. 5 STARS for the audio quality and performance. But as a book, I think it was mis-marketed a bit because while it did have this man's fundamentals for delicious living, it also had a lot of actor-memoir to it. And while some acting-related stories did exemplify his take on [delicious] life, it was less of a guidebook for how others could integrate deliciousness into their own life, and more about how Offerman's fundamentals happened to work out really well for him in his life and career.
Writing this review makes me sad. Truly sad. You see, I'm a big fan of Nick Offerman in his most readily identifiable role as Ron Swanson, Director of the City of Pawnee's Parks and Recreation Department, in the NBC sitcom "Parks & Recreation." I look forward to hearing what witticism will emerge from behind his Sam Elliott-esque moustache and then seeing it endlessly retweeted in my Twitter feed for the next week.
When I saw that he had written a book, I really expected that droll, yet witty, persona to come out as he shares his views on life based on his upbringing in rural Illinois and his ascension through his life on stage and then the small and big screens. I was very much looking forward to it and happy as a pig in slop when I received it this past Christmas.
Yeah, his wit was there. He was mostly funny in his book, I suppose. Well, what I read of it anyway. Y'see, it turns out that Ron Swanson doesn't quite translate as well in long written form. He's great for quips and brief, yet oddly inspiring, mini speeches to his fellow P&R characters like Leslie Knope, April Ludgate, Tom Haverford, et al. But as a 300+ page book? Not so much.
A while back, I remember reading something from Elmore Leonard in which he stressed that if you can use one word instead of five, opt for brevity. Another time, during a speaking engagement, David Sedaris told us that the death of good writing is when a writer goes back and tries too hard to embellish their own words with new, bigger, and fancier ones. Kinda akin to thesaurus writing, I'd say. Insofar as I can tell, Offerman violated both of these guidelines. Handily. I just couldn't get over how overwrought his language was and how many times he seemed to refer to a word-of-the-day desk calendar while writing. It's almost as though he was taking his University of Illinois drama degree and shoving it down my throat.
I'm sorry, Ron, er, Nick. I love you on "Parks & Recreation," but I just could not get past the halfway point of your book. While it may not be fair to review a book I didn't finish, I think it's important to share this fact with other readers.
And if this review seems a bit heavy handed and overwrought and embellished with instances of anti-brevity, well, you know who to blame. It's contagious.
Wait, what's another word for "contagious"?
When I saw that he had written a book, I really expected that droll, yet witty, persona to come out as he shares his views on life based on his upbringing in rural Illinois and his ascension through his life on stage and then the small and big screens. I was very much looking forward to it and happy as a pig in slop when I received it this past Christmas.
Yeah, his wit was there. He was mostly funny in his book, I suppose. Well, what I read of it anyway. Y'see, it turns out that Ron Swanson doesn't quite translate as well in long written form. He's great for quips and brief, yet oddly inspiring, mini speeches to his fellow P&R characters like Leslie Knope, April Ludgate, Tom Haverford, et al. But as a 300+ page book? Not so much.
A while back, I remember reading something from Elmore Leonard in which he stressed that if you can use one word instead of five, opt for brevity. Another time, during a speaking engagement, David Sedaris told us that the death of good writing is when a writer goes back and tries too hard to embellish their own words with new, bigger, and fancier ones. Kinda akin to thesaurus writing, I'd say. Insofar as I can tell, Offerman violated both of these guidelines. Handily. I just couldn't get over how overwrought his language was and how many times he seemed to refer to a word-of-the-day desk calendar while writing. It's almost as though he was taking his University of Illinois drama degree and shoving it down my throat.
I'm sorry, Ron, er, Nick. I love you on "Parks & Recreation," but I just could not get past the halfway point of your book. While it may not be fair to review a book I didn't finish, I think it's important to share this fact with other readers.
And if this review seems a bit heavy handed and overwrought and embellished with instances of anti-brevity, well, you know who to blame. It's contagious.
Wait, what's another word for "contagious"?
I don't know Nick Offerman well, having not watched a lot of the shows he's been on, so I think I'd thought this would be more light-hearted. I certainly didn't disagree with him, we clearly have similar political views, but it was a little too preachy.
Raw masculinity:toxic masculinity ratio so off the charts we love it
The first thing to remember is that Nick Offerman is not Ron Swanson.
There are some great similarities, and certainly he projects a similar earthy / by your bootstraps vibe... it's written in a like style to Swanson's speech patterns. It's a challenge to not hear his voice when reading the text. I have heard that the audio version of this book is narrated by him, and can only imagine it flows better in that form.
He touches on a number of subjects, and I agree with a goodly amount of them. There's a solid live and let live philosophy there, and he surely praises his wife to the sky.
When he's preachy, it can be a bore. When he's on point, and not just standing on a soapbox, it can be quite enjoyable in parts.
Like his stand-up comedy, this book has some seemingly misplaced or unneeded profanity. Sometimes it feels that he is putting words in for some effect that isn't being delivered to me.
I give it a solid meh. Didn't much take to it, but I didn't hate it. If between 1 and 2 stars, (2 being "it was ok") I'll err on the side of charity, and say 2.
I was disappointed.
There are some great similarities, and certainly he projects a similar earthy / by your bootstraps vibe... it's written in a like style to Swanson's speech patterns. It's a challenge to not hear his voice when reading the text. I have heard that the audio version of this book is narrated by him, and can only imagine it flows better in that form.
He touches on a number of subjects, and I agree with a goodly amount of them. There's a solid live and let live philosophy there, and he surely praises his wife to the sky.
When he's preachy, it can be a bore. When he's on point, and not just standing on a soapbox, it can be quite enjoyable in parts.
Like his stand-up comedy, this book has some seemingly misplaced or unneeded profanity. Sometimes it feels that he is putting words in for some effect that isn't being delivered to me.
I give it a solid meh. Didn't much take to it, but I didn't hate it. If between 1 and 2 stars, (2 being "it was ok") I'll err on the side of charity, and say 2.
I was disappointed.
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Hilarious! Love his unique style!
A few LOLs, but mostly interesting because his time in Champaign-Urbana overlapped mine. That, and he's married to KAREN (Megan Mullally) who is one of my favorites :)
I bought this book for my dad for a gift a few years ago, mostly because I view my dad as the 'Ron Swanson' in my life (and yes, I understand Nick Offerman is not COMPLETELY Ron Swanson)...and had never once opened the book for myself. I decided to read it after my dad had finished it, and to my horror, on the first page Offerman talks about cunnilingus and I about died. Overall, the book was a pleasant read. Offerman's life really was interesting to read about, a lot of his experiences unexpected and unbeknownst to me. However, I had hoped for it to be funnier and a little less crass. I enjoyed it, but had I read it before giving it to my dad, I probably wouldn't have gifted it to him. With that being said, my dad has invested in Offerman's other books, so maybe it was a better fit than I thought???
Read across the states - Illinois
Hilarious and honest, Nick Offerman mixes life lessons with humor in a quick but compelling read. Must read for any fans of Offerman or Parks and Rec.
Hilarious and honest, Nick Offerman mixes life lessons with humor in a quick but compelling read. Must read for any fans of Offerman or Parks and Rec.
3.5 stars. Had some great laugh out loud moments, but slow and tedious at others. Had to speed up to 1.5x towards the end. But I live this guy and want to hang out in his wood shop.
Also, the audition process he described isn't unlike how I felt my experiences interviewing for PhDs were. lol
Also, the audition process he described isn't unlike how I felt my experiences interviewing for PhDs were. lol