Scan barcode
ashufnagle's review against another edition
5.0
This book is as thoughtful as it is hilarious...(and that’s saying something as I was literally howling with laughter as I read this). John Hodgman is so painfully self-aware— yet somehow he strikes a delightful balance between tender irony/sarcasm and just plain recognition of the anxieties that come with getting older and trying to find your footing the in the world.
Mix all that together and what do you get? Insightful Comedy.
Bring on the next one, John!
Mix all that together and what do you get? Insightful Comedy.
Bring on the next one, John!
bekster129's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
christiana's review against another edition
4.0
I felt just the right age to appreciate this book, especially the chapter about first owning their house in Massachusetts. I listen to John’s podcast, Judge John Hodgman, which I think added to my enjoyment of this book. I’m curious/sure about the audio (which I hear chatter that he narrates)!
albertico66's review against another edition
4.0
Beautiful short stories from the Judge John Hodgman --- got me all self-reflecting
khuizenga's review against another edition
3.0
As in most comedic presentations, some hit home and others fell flat for me. I came to the book for the description of painful beaches, and these were the highlights since I am particularly fond of "nature tried to kill me" stories. I listened to the audiobook too, and this probably helped a lot of the humor since Hodgman was reading it himself. This was a great listen when commuting to and from my own painful beaches.
maa_pix's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book immensely. It didn't hurt, I'm sure, that I'm somewhat of a doppleganger of Hodgman: close in age, close in background, close in our views on life. (I have less fame and money, though.) The book presents different snapshots from his life in western Massachusetts and coastline Maine, and is in many ways a pleasing ramble more than a specific treatise with an objective.
As I was reading the book, my thought was, "This reminds me a lot of Mike Birbiglia." When I got to the closing acknowledgments, I found Birbiglia was the first one Hodgman calls out as an inspiration for the book. Hodgman is a bit less neurotic and a bit more intellectual than Birbiglia, but the flavor is much the same. He has a pension for a self-depreciating point of view, but never takes it too far or relies on it too much. He overall seems to have a generous outlook on other people (at least in the long term). Only his negative takes on the Great Lakes and fudge rubbed me the wrong way, but those minor shortcomings were easily forgiven.
This book made me laugh out loud more than once. That's one of the best recommendations I can give. Plus it's a short book, so even if you don't fully take to Hodgman's writing, it won't cost you much to give it a try.
As I was reading the book, my thought was, "This reminds me a lot of Mike Birbiglia." When I got to the closing acknowledgments, I found Birbiglia was the first one Hodgman calls out as an inspiration for the book. Hodgman is a bit less neurotic and a bit more intellectual than Birbiglia, but the flavor is much the same. He has a pension for a self-depreciating point of view, but never takes it too far or relies on it too much. He overall seems to have a generous outlook on other people (at least in the long term). Only his negative takes on the Great Lakes and fudge rubbed me the wrong way, but those minor shortcomings were easily forgiven.
This book made me laugh out loud more than once. That's one of the best recommendations I can give. Plus it's a short book, so even if you don't fully take to Hodgman's writing, it won't cost you much to give it a try.