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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
“Hey, it’s John Hodgman!”
John Hodgman used to spend a considerable amount of time on TV. He’s played, in his words, all sorts of “sexless weirds” in TV and commercials alike. He spent time on The Daily Show as, among other things, a deranged billionaire. He left his Daily Show role behind as Trump rose to power, as there is nothing funny anymore about criminally insane rich people. He isn’t spending too much time on TV at the moment; it’s been years since he was the PC of Apple ad fame, and while he pops up in weirdo character roles, his shows don’t tend to last. The “hey, it’s John Hodgman”s are fading, but he still holds onto the perverse joy of being recognized. Being seen and known makes him happy, and listening to him tell his tales makes me happy, so here we are! Looking out for each other!
This recording has been keeping me slow-and-steady company since June 21st- the second day of summer. The husband and I listen to it while we’re driving around, and we have not been doing too much driving this year. We finally finished it on Saturday while driving out to Vermont; we left New Hampshire for the first time since early March to see my parents in middle-of-nowhere VT- the first people that we have seen outside of work in just as long. Getting out was bittersweet; as was finishing this long-loved book.
Hodgman, who is an amazingly open and honest person despite his often curmudgeonly characters, has found himself looking for his value; his star power has fallen he’s mad at animals on Instagram who get better seats at awards shows than he does- and he isn’t booking the roles that he used to. His career has changed, the world has changed, his kids are getting older and he’s said goodbye to an ancient pet. What can he hold onto?
The answer, my friends, is his frequent flier status with his “beloved airlines”! He’s racked up countless miles flying back and forth across the country, and while strangers may not be stopping him in the street with “hey, it’s John Hodgman!”, the staff at “beloved airlines” know him, love him, and give him all of the perks of his rank; he is obsessed with meeting and keeping the highest level of the rewards program, and he goes to bonkers lengths to hold onto his…MEDALLION STATUS! The status gets him perks, preferential treatment, and access to a secret lounge. That’s what he needs right now- a secret room where he is not only invited, but expected to be.
I get it, man. We all need something, and frequently that something is excessively silly but still SO important. I am not interested in chatting with celebrities; I don’t need a selfie, I don’t want an autograph, and I don’t need a story to tell…but if I saw John Hodgman, I would give him a HUGE “Hey, it’s John Hodgman!” and for a moment, we could both be happy.
John Hodgman used to spend a considerable amount of time on TV. He’s played, in his words, all sorts of “sexless weirds” in TV and commercials alike. He spent time on The Daily Show as, among other things, a deranged billionaire. He left his Daily Show role behind as Trump rose to power, as there is nothing funny anymore about criminally insane rich people. He isn’t spending too much time on TV at the moment; it’s been years since he was the PC of Apple ad fame, and while he pops up in weirdo character roles, his shows don’t tend to last. The “hey, it’s John Hodgman”s are fading, but he still holds onto the perverse joy of being recognized. Being seen and known makes him happy, and listening to him tell his tales makes me happy, so here we are! Looking out for each other!
This recording has been keeping me slow-and-steady company since June 21st- the second day of summer. The husband and I listen to it while we’re driving around, and we have not been doing too much driving this year. We finally finished it on Saturday while driving out to Vermont; we left New Hampshire for the first time since early March to see my parents in middle-of-nowhere VT- the first people that we have seen outside of work in just as long. Getting out was bittersweet; as was finishing this long-loved book.
Hodgman, who is an amazingly open and honest person despite his often curmudgeonly characters, has found himself looking for his value; his star power has fallen he’s mad at animals on Instagram who get better seats at awards shows than he does- and he isn’t booking the roles that he used to. His career has changed, the world has changed, his kids are getting older and he’s said goodbye to an ancient pet. What can he hold onto?
The answer, my friends, is his frequent flier status with his “beloved airlines”! He’s racked up countless miles flying back and forth across the country, and while strangers may not be stopping him in the street with “hey, it’s John Hodgman!”, the staff at “beloved airlines” know him, love him, and give him all of the perks of his rank; he is obsessed with meeting and keeping the highest level of the rewards program, and he goes to bonkers lengths to hold onto his…MEDALLION STATUS! The status gets him perks, preferential treatment, and access to a secret lounge. That’s what he needs right now- a secret room where he is not only invited, but expected to be.
I get it, man. We all need something, and frequently that something is excessively silly but still SO important. I am not interested in chatting with celebrities; I don’t need a selfie, I don’t want an autograph, and I don’t need a story to tell…but if I saw John Hodgman, I would give him a HUGE “Hey, it’s John Hodgman!” and for a moment, we could both be happy.
As a weird, only child from coastal Maine with a job I love that sends me traveling all over the country, the book makes me feel very seen. From observations about the video game / faux-family psychology of airline frequent flyer programs and becoming a "regular" at a hotel (and the simultaneous exhiliration and alienation of an itinerant lifestyle) to John Hodgman's life lessons from odd jobs, this memoir has a lot of insights that I related to. This book made me think critically about my own life in the way a great memoir can.
And to clarify, although this book is hyper-relatable for my own weird life, the book's larger messages - about kindness, empathy, curiosity, and being open to adventures but also honest with yourself and not letting yourself get too carried away from the relationships that really matter in your life - are much more universal.
And to clarify, although this book is hyper-relatable for my own weird life, the book's larger messages - about kindness, empathy, curiosity, and being open to adventures but also honest with yourself and not letting yourself get too carried away from the relationships that really matter in your life - are much more universal.
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
I love Hodgman’s style so much. He draws insightful lessons from strange or mundane experiences with wonderful characterization.
Just as enjoyable as [b:Vacationland: True Stories from Painful Beaches|34347433|Vacationland True Stories from Painful Beaches|John Hodgman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1500032088l/34347433._SX50_.jpg|55422815], although a bit more broad in scope and including material about Hodgman's acting career. The chapter devoted to past jobs is too long and got a little dry after a while, but everything else is reliably humorous. I especially like it when Hodgman gets more serious; the portions covering his personal experience with the 2016 election and its aftermath are definite highlights in this regard.
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Thanks very much to PRHaudio for this free audiobook/listen of Medalion Status by John Hodgman
Growing up I always got a kick watching John on The Daily Show. His amusing take on normal daily life experiences is really reminiscent of David Sedaris
Super funny and without really any comedic structure but told in away that makes you laugh. This is a great book. I regret not reading #vacationland before but now I can go back and get the references. If you love satire and funny people pick up this book today!
5 out of 5 books
Growing up I always got a kick watching John on The Daily Show. His amusing take on normal daily life experiences is really reminiscent of David Sedaris
Super funny and without really any comedic structure but told in away that makes you laugh. This is a great book. I regret not reading #vacationland before but now I can go back and get the references. If you love satire and funny people pick up this book today!
5 out of 5 books
Have I read anything else from this author? Yes, I read [b:Vacationland: True Stories from Painful Beaches|39391175|Vacationland True Stories from Painful Beaches|John Hodgman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1523750810l/39391175._SX50_.jpg|55422815] last year.
Was this book better than this author's other book(s)? I thought Vacationland was hilarious, and this is very much in the same vein. If you liked one, you'll like the other.
Was this book enjoyable? Very much so. I laughed out loud at several points, and at other points, I didn't laugh but I did say the word "Ha." Which I do sometimes when I'm amused by a particularly pointed sarcasm.
Did I learn anything new from this book? I learned that life in a small Maine town isn't necessarily accurately portrayed in the novels of Stephen King. And that John Hodgman has a cordial relationship with E.B. White's grandson.
Where did I get this book? I borrowed it from my local library using the Libby app.
Do I recommend this book to other readers? Yes, if they have a sense of humor.
Was this book better than this author's other book(s)? I thought Vacationland was hilarious, and this is very much in the same vein. If you liked one, you'll like the other.
Was this book enjoyable? Very much so. I laughed out loud at several points, and at other points, I didn't laugh but I did say the word "Ha." Which I do sometimes when I'm amused by a particularly pointed sarcasm.
Did I learn anything new from this book? I learned that life in a small Maine town isn't necessarily accurately portrayed in the novels of Stephen King. And that John Hodgman has a cordial relationship with E.B. White's grandson.
Where did I get this book? I borrowed it from my local library using the Libby app.
Do I recommend this book to other readers? Yes, if they have a sense of humor.
Would that I could give this 5 1/2 stars. Guess I need to go back and give 4 1/2 to Vacationland now?