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orangerful's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars - I've only seen one of Mike Birbiglia's stand-up specials, but it was enough to know what his voice sounded like so I could hear him as I read this collection of stories from him life. I alternated between laughing so hard I couldn't breath to wanting to give Mike a big old hug. He is just sharing his life story and being honest, and the humor comes from that honesty, not some forced punchline.
Having read this and listened to Patton Oswalt's "Zombie Spaceship Wasteland", I have to say I enjoy reading about the careers of stand-up comedians...but I'm not sure I would ever want to be one! Thanks for making me laugh, boys.
Having read this and listened to Patton Oswalt's "Zombie Spaceship Wasteland", I have to say I enjoy reading about the careers of stand-up comedians...but I'm not sure I would ever want to be one! Thanks for making me laugh, boys.
bethreadsandnaps's review against another edition
3.0
This really isn't a laugh-out-loud type of humor book. It's not even a chuckle-to-yourself type of humor book. It's a little more thoughtful, and while it has some humorous anecdotes, there's an undertone of sadness to many of the vignettes.
literallykristen's review against another edition
5.0
This was one of the funniest books I've read in a long time. I was literally laughing out loud! I kept saying "you have to read this" to my husband and I didn't want to put it down.
The only thing that did bother me was how it jumped around a bit. It wasn't a deal breaker or anything, but it was a little distracting sometimes. I think it might have to do with Mike's ADD...idk. That didn't stop it from being a funny book. I think hearing him read bits of it on This American Life made it funnier for me because I knew his delivery. Overall, it was a funny book and it really surprised me with a few serious and thoughtful parts that I wasn't really expecting. If you're in the mood to laugh, do yourself a favor and read this book! It won't disappoint (or at least I hope it won't!)
The only thing that did bother me was how it jumped around a bit. It wasn't a deal breaker or anything, but it was a little distracting sometimes. I think it might have to do with Mike's ADD...idk. That didn't stop it from being a funny book. I think hearing him read bits of it on This American Life made it funnier for me because I knew his delivery. Overall, it was a funny book and it really surprised me with a few serious and thoughtful parts that I wasn't really expecting. If you're in the mood to laugh, do yourself a favor and read this book! It won't disappoint (or at least I hope it won't!)
lauraa06's review against another edition
3.0
I love Mike Birbiglia from This American Life, and this is a funny set of essays, loosely tied together as a memoir. He is a master of self-deprecating, deadpan humor.
sbaunsgard's review against another edition
4.0
Short essay/memoir from comedian Birbiglia. Funny in places, but overall, is more on the thoughtful side. Some of the material I had heard previously on This American Life.
stenaros's review against another edition
4.0
This was sitting on the shelf of the library right next to Bossypants and I grabbed them both. Both were laugh-out-loud funny. Some of this book were things expanded from bits I heard of Birbiglia's act, some were stories new to me. I loved reading his response to reviews published in student publications and his tour of college campuses of the northwest. Matt got to hear that one read aloud.
brockboland's review against another edition
4.0
Entertaining and funny, but a lot was from his stand-up routine
ashleywh's review against another edition
3.0
While the book was highly entertaining, I had already heard most of the stories in his stand-up. Hearing him tell the stories is better than reading them.