Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
Better than John Hodgman's earlier book Vacationland, and occasionally even has flashes of deep insight - or I just imagined those.
I enjoyed this. Not quite as much as Vacationland, but a good bit nonetheless. Hodgman has a voice I quite like, and he can definitely spin a yarn. The stories within are best when they are about people and relationships. I found the stories that focused on fame or politics a bit strained and less relatable, even though I pretty much agree with the author on most things. Still, a fun read, and recommended if you like this sort of thing.
All of the secrets of Beloved Airlines and an entree into clandestine rooms in airports, colledges and the benefits of diamond status. Told in classic Hodgman story-telling style, this breezy read is very entertaining.
Wanted to like this more but it's really just a collection of random musings.
I love John Hodgman. He is funny, and irreverent, and makes me laugh out loud even when I am riding the bus and people are staring. I don’t even care. His books are excellent, especially when he reads them to you. 5 stars, would absolutely recommend.
His dry humor comes through the pages as vividly as it does on screen.
I love John Hodgman, and I loved this book. It manages to be both really funny and have a great sense of humanity as well. There were many moments that made me laugh out loud and many moments that made me tear up with the way he just sees the world and other people with such wisdom and kindness. He has such a distinctive writing voice and I highly recommend this book, especially for fans of the Judge John Hodgman podcast.
“If you HAD to get thrown in Disney Jail, what would be the best way to go out?”
If you enjoyed Vacationland, you will also enjoy Medallion Status. I promise.
If you enjoyed Vacationland, you will also enjoy Medallion Status. I promise.
Hodgman is a good, conversational writer, but it feels like he wrote Medallion Status despite using his best stories in Vacationland, his last book. That’s not to say the Beloved Airlines stories or the secret societies aren’t interesting, but there’s a lack of a through line through it all. He tries to tie a bow at the end, relating one membership to another, but it feels like a passing observation rather than a grand conclusion. A good read, though.
Droll, fun, sardonic and perceptive....when the going gets weird, the weird turn pro. Highly recommended.