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curiosityp's review
This book is very similar to the way he talks on his podcast. He goes off on tangents that eventually end up back at the original topic. Although each chapter/essay has a holiday-themed title, they are not necessarily about holidays. It was a good book but I just couldn't finish it. I have other books that are luring me away.
pictor's review
4.0
The content aligns with the title at most 25% of the time. The rest are mainly Penn's memoires with some philosophical and moral observations mixed in. However Penn has an interesting life, and while I don't agree with everything he believes, I find him intellectually consistent. He's the least hypocritical man I can think of.
brockboland's review
3.0
Entertaining, but probably only if you at least kind of like Penn already. He certainly isn't for everybody.
lckeser7's review
3.0
I agree with Penn Gillette on a great many things, not all the time, but I am usually on board with his religious, philosophical, and political ideas. I think that's a problem sometimes; there's too much "preaching to the converted" and I'm just rehashing ideas that I've gone over before (with guys that Penn will admit are smarter than he is: Hitchens, Dawkins, Harris). What keeps this book from being a waste of time is Penn's storytelling. The guy's lived an interesting life and he's funny.
As good as he is at spinning a yarn, the writing here is repetitive. Everyone has go-to phrases and common adjectives in their personal vernacular, but I got tired of seeing bugnutty and joy on every page.
The premise of the book is the title. That premise is followed through chapters and tangents and anecdotes. The connections between the parts seem tenuous, but make sense in a Penn Gillette sort of way. The message of the whole is simple: be happy, without god, and don't wait for holidays to celebrate, because you're alive today. That's a message I'm okay with, I just wish it didn't have to be repeated for 250 pages.
As good as he is at spinning a yarn, the writing here is repetitive. Everyone has go-to phrases and common adjectives in their personal vernacular, but I got tired of seeing bugnutty and joy on every page.
The premise of the book is the title. That premise is followed through chapters and tangents and anecdotes. The connections between the parts seem tenuous, but make sense in a Penn Gillette sort of way. The message of the whole is simple: be happy, without god, and don't wait for holidays to celebrate, because you're alive today. That's a message I'm okay with, I just wish it didn't have to be repeated for 250 pages.
murray1134's review
3.0
another book of fun stories. I think I liked God, No a little more but still enjoyed this
theartolater's review
4.0
Penn Jillette, after how successful God, No! was, gets a second book, this time with the conceit of using holidays as a backdrop for his stories and advocacy.
If you know Penn Jillette, you know what you're getting - unfiltered opinion, some humor, some heart, and some pretty crazy stories. This book, of course, is no different. He runs the gamut from bizarre early adulthood stories to a few pieces on his Celebrity Apprentice experiences, touches plenty on both the business of magic and atheism, and pretty much succeeds in making a really readable, quick book.
No curveballs here: if you're like me and could probably spend hours listening to Penn talk about anything at all, this book is worth picking up.
If you know Penn Jillette, you know what you're getting - unfiltered opinion, some humor, some heart, and some pretty crazy stories. This book, of course, is no different. He runs the gamut from bizarre early adulthood stories to a few pieces on his Celebrity Apprentice experiences, touches plenty on both the business of magic and atheism, and pretty much succeeds in making a really readable, quick book.
No curveballs here: if you're like me and could probably spend hours listening to Penn talk about anything at all, this book is worth picking up.
stevo's review
2.0
This book would have benefitted greatly from a stronger editorial hand to keep Penn focused on the alleged topic.
Reading his rambling is cute and mostly entertaining, but it distracts from the purported thesis of both chapter and book.
Reading his rambling is cute and mostly entertaining, but it distracts from the purported thesis of both chapter and book.
azhousepro's review
3.0
Didn't like this one as much as God No. Not that it wasn't a decent book, I just wasn't planning on it being so much anecdotes from Penn's life. Still a good read. Just not what I expected.
bigs2021's review against another edition
5.0
Potent
I love Penn's writing and have read all his books. These are not as heathen as they seem! Most of it is a collection of fun stories and many philosophical diversions. But there is also amazing wisdom and insight and I truly enjoy hours style.
I love Penn's writing and have read all his books. These are not as heathen as they seem! Most of it is a collection of fun stories and many philosophical diversions. But there is also amazing wisdom and insight and I truly enjoy hours style.
emilyjackson's review
3.0
Penn Jillette has a great gift for storytelling. He should; he's made a career out of being the talking half of Penn and Teller. While I enjoyed reading this, I didn't enjoy it as much as God, No! I know he was literally just on the show, but a few chapters of this book were dedicated to his stint on Celebrity Apprentice and I just have to admit that I give no shits about that show and I would have rather read more about his career otherwise and more about his philosophical and religious beliefs...which is why I was reading the book in the first place. I think Penn Jillette is a really interesting person and even if I didn't like Las Vegas, I wouldn't mind heading back there to see his show. And I wouldn't mind reading another book of his if he ever writes anything else.