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slow_reader_never_giveup's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.0
I will always remember Norm MacDonald and how he trolled OJ Simpson for years after the Nicole Brown Simpson murder. He’s mostly funny, but this audiobook got a bit long in the tooth by the end. Some of the longer running bits are outdated, and I do think he apologized for that before he died. Ultimately, this is a quick listen (or read) that shouldn’t be taken too seriously.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Rape, and Transphobia
noahpech's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
4.5
If you are a fan of Norm you will be a fan of this book. Don't expect an actual biography or memoir. I attempted to read it prior and couldn't get into it, but chose instead to listen to Norm read the book and it was amazing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
kthealey's review
dark
funny
reflective
fast-paced
4.25
A story within a story, paced like a fever dream with looney tunes logic, interjected with what norm would probably describe ironically as his life’s “highlights”.
As a disclaimer, I loved this book. He really dug deep & was able to hit you in a million unexpected ways with hard truths about the cruelty of the world, interlaced with jokes that are essentially someone getting pied in the face or stepping on a rake. norm as a character is cruel, obnoxious, stupid, and hateful, making a caricature of himself as the villain in his own life, often because it’s hilarious.
My biggest complaint was the out of place and frankly dated “jokes” l at the expense of a trans woman, making her out to be an aggressively masculine liar and manipulator. Norm loves a joke where the punchline is somebody’s unwittingly done something gay, but this just comes off as offensive and like a terrible stereotype from an 80’s movie… embarrassing for a book released in 2016. He loves to poke fun at fragile masculinity, but only with the satisfaction that it’s just a joke and everyone can go back to the comfort of being a straight cis man when the punchlines been told.
It’s disappointing to know your hero would treat you like a circus attraction, especially after an entire soul baring journey like this.
As a disclaimer, I loved this book. He really dug deep & was able to hit you in a million unexpected ways with hard truths about the cruelty of the world, interlaced with jokes that are essentially someone getting pied in the face or stepping on a rake. norm as a character is cruel, obnoxious, stupid, and hateful, making a caricature of himself as the villain in his own life, often because it’s hilarious.
My biggest complaint was the out of place and frankly dated “jokes” l at the expense of a trans woman, making her out to be an aggressively masculine liar and manipulator. Norm loves a joke where the punchline is somebody’s unwittingly done something gay, but this just comes off as offensive and like a terrible stereotype from an 80’s movie… embarrassing for a book released in 2016. He loves to poke fun at fragile masculinity, but only with the satisfaction that it’s just a joke and everyone can go back to the comfort of being a straight cis man when the punchlines been told.
It’s disappointing to know your hero would treat you like a circus attraction, especially after an entire soul baring journey like this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Transphobia, Stalking, and Suicide attempt
jamesmalik's review
funny
reflective
slow-paced
2.0
This was painful. I've been burnt twice now this year by boring celebrity Memoirs. And this wasn't even an actual memoir! It's Norm Macdonald telling unrelated whacky stories in his usual dry way, seemingly without any punchlines. I can recognize some of it to be funny but I never really do actually find it funny which is disappointing. Norm has always been one of the most unique comics. I love watching him, I remember nights where unbeknownst to me I've spent 5 hours just watching Norm Clips on Youtube. Maybe one day I'll try and pick this up again, I couldn't complete it to the end but I read more than half of it already. RIP Norm.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape