You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
355 reviews for:
Gumption: Relighting the Torch of Freedom with America's Gutsiest Troublemakers
Nick Offerman
3.73 AVERAGE
355 reviews for:
Gumption: Relighting the Torch of Freedom with America's Gutsiest Troublemakers
Nick Offerman
3.73 AVERAGE
When it says “unabridged” on the cover, they mean it. I love Nick Offerman, but this book is long winded and self-involved, both of which he freely admits to numerous times. Got roped in at the beginning, and by the time he lost me I was almost halfway through and couldn’t give up, but I wish I would have.
TLDR: just flip through your chapters of interest, no need to read the whole book
TLDR: just flip through your chapters of interest, no need to read the whole book
I am biased, but STILL, this is an intelligent, funny and thought-provoking read!
Other reviews have been thorough in lauds and criticism, so I'll be fairly brief.
I recommend this book if you want to get to know Nick Offerman better: who a person looks up to, and why, says a lot about that person. I enjoyed hearing Nick Offerman talk (and often, gush) about people he considers great Americans, and why. I often felt like I was having a beer with him and listening to his stories and thoughts on a variety of issues. He turned me on to a few people I didn't know much about and I'm planning to learn more. Definitely planning to read Wendell Berry and George Saunders in the near future. I was also delighted to hear his enthusiasm for Willie Nelson's Red Headed Stranger, one of my all-time favorite albums.
That said, although I'm glad to have read this book, I don't want to read it again and am not going to widely recommend it. Sometimes preachy, often rambling, and rife with tangential asides, as an editor I probably would have cut out about half of the book. This was a book trying to be (a) Nick Offerman's memoir of his personal experience of a series of famous figures, (b) a commentary on social justice issues, and (c) a summary of Americans with gumption (the stated purpose of the book). At times this melange succeeded, although often it felt disjointed.
Nick Offerman does have a way with words, for better or for worse. It's obvious he loves language and enjoys using interesting and often disused words in place of those more common. His use of language often charmed me, but sometimes it felt like too much: as a kid when I discovered the thesaurus for the first time, I took great pleasure in going through an essay and replacing every word I could with a more interesting word, and this felt a little like that at times.
+1 for the great book on tape - I think listening to Offerman tell his story in his own voice added a lot.
I recommend this book if you want to get to know Nick Offerman better: who a person looks up to, and why, says a lot about that person. I enjoyed hearing Nick Offerman talk (and often, gush) about people he considers great Americans, and why. I often felt like I was having a beer with him and listening to his stories and thoughts on a variety of issues. He turned me on to a few people I didn't know much about and I'm planning to learn more. Definitely planning to read Wendell Berry and George Saunders in the near future. I was also delighted to hear his enthusiasm for Willie Nelson's Red Headed Stranger, one of my all-time favorite albums.
That said, although I'm glad to have read this book, I don't want to read it again and am not going to widely recommend it. Sometimes preachy, often rambling, and rife with tangential asides, as an editor I probably would have cut out about half of the book. This was a book trying to be (a) Nick Offerman's memoir of his personal experience of a series of famous figures, (b) a commentary on social justice issues, and (c) a summary of Americans with gumption (the stated purpose of the book). At times this melange succeeded, although often it felt disjointed.
Nick Offerman does have a way with words, for better or for worse. It's obvious he loves language and enjoys using interesting and often disused words in place of those more common. His use of language often charmed me, but sometimes it felt like too much: as a kid when I discovered the thesaurus for the first time, I took great pleasure in going through an essay and replacing every word I could with a more interesting word, and this felt a little like that at times.
+1 for the great book on tape - I think listening to Offerman tell his story in his own voice added a lot.
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
I started reading this book because a group of Illinois libraries are having a Zoom author talk. When I went to log it on Goodreads, I noticed I read this a few years back.
The book is read by the author and he does a very good job. It's a nice friendly book and you learn a lot of trivia about the history and some of his idols. It would be a great book because for a car trip or for listening to while working around the house. Each person is a self-contained story, so if you have to take breaks, this book works well. Actually, this book is best read in small portions. At times the author strays into "fangirl" mode, completely gushing over the subject, other times he gets very crumudgeny. Both are fine and add personality to the narration, however, it's better in small portions.
The book is read by the author and he does a very good job. It's a nice friendly book and you learn a lot of trivia about the history and some of his idols. It would be a great book because for a car trip or for listening to while working around the house. Each person is a self-contained story, so if you have to take breaks, this book works well. Actually, this book is best read in small portions. At times the author strays into "fangirl" mode, completely gushing over the subject, other times he gets very crumudgeny. Both are fine and add personality to the narration, however, it's better in small portions.
I mean, on the one hand this is Nick Offerman narrating an audiobook and there is definitely something soothing about the man behind Ron Swanson speaking melodically to you about AMERICA. On the other, there were definitely times I felt well, hello older generation. Nick Offerman is a very old school dude, as I am sure he would say, in probably those words. He's very work with hands, grr technology is ruining things. And I mean, at a certain point its just like whelp, life is changing. People communicate in different ways. Video games are fun. Get over it. Also, physical books are good, but some people like ebooks and in fact its easier for certain people to read on them. He strikes me at times as a very privileged dude making assumptions based on his life-listen, man. Not everyone can just work in a woodshop. Sometimes finding your passion outside of work, and working to support that passion is okay. I'm kinda tired of the above-it-all LOVE YOUR WORK thing and only then have you achieved some kind of life-vana. Guess what? Not everyone is lucky enough to get to that point. Maybe someday. But maybe paying bills and being with your family is what you want. Thats not a bad thing. Not everyone is a Ron. Some people are Jerrys, and while that may seem like an insult, he actually really enjoyed his life and had a lovely one that he wanted. I don't know. Thats a rant for another day.
This is entertaining if you want to listen to him talk about people he likes, and rant about the evils of cell phones and how its good to read books and know long words. I think he's an interesting person who cares a lot, and he's a famous person I would like to have a beer with, you know? He obviously loves his wife and Parks, and makes that obvious. I love Parks too, and Mr. Offerman, even if we disagree on some things-I thinks thats pretty good common ground.
This is entertaining if you want to listen to him talk about people he likes, and rant about the evils of cell phones and how its good to read books and know long words. I think he's an interesting person who cares a lot, and he's a famous person I would like to have a beer with, you know? He obviously loves his wife and Parks, and makes that obvious. I love Parks too, and Mr. Offerman, even if we disagree on some things-I thinks thats pretty good common ground.
While this wasn't my favorite of Offerman's books, it did introduce me to yet some more authors I want to check out, and helped to broaden the view of people he'd already introduced me to in other writings. It was a fun read, for sure!
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
dark
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
I had high hopes for this book. Love me some Nick Offerman. I was thoroughly disappointed with its contents. It felt like a very judgy, self pedestaling, left-wing propaganda piece. I was hoping to learn fascinating information about the characters presented within but the intent fell short as it had a "I'm better than you and here's why" vibe. Rather disappointing. There were some funny bits throughout, but the book didn't leave a great taste in my mouth
I absolutely loved this book. Nick's powerful use of his extensive vocabulary paints a most enjoyable landscape chocked full of wit, factoids, and astute observations. So much depth to this man's character.