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jess_mango's review
3.0
3.5 out of 4 stars-- a fun read, but not as entertaining or insightful as essays by David Sedaris or Dan Savage.
jenniferstringer's review
3.0
Not what I was expecting, but that's not the book's fault. A book of essays of a writer's experiences - things like a ride on the concord, taking part in a "cleansing" fast, covering a supermodel photo shoot in the Caribbean. I see that some have called him a David Sedaris wanna-be, and I can see that. Unfortunately,it lacks Sedaris's wit.
breevee's review
3.0
Rakoff writes such lovely sentences, that even though I wasn't terribly interested in some of the essays in this book that didn't have to do with politics, it was still a delight to sit back and listen to him talk about his life in his own beautiful words.
patrickwadden's review
4.0
This book is written so poignantly and cleverly that I dare not attempt to surmount that cleverness and poignancy in this review with floral language and references that would make Merriam Webster grab for an atlas.
So I will simply say, I really enjoyed this book. The scenarios it contains, Rakoff's narrative of it's retelling and it's loose thematic chain connecting each piece.
So I will simply say, I really enjoyed this book. The scenarios it contains, Rakoff's narrative of it's retelling and it's loose thematic chain connecting each piece.
amchan's review
3.0
Not bad! However, I thought it would delve a bit more into our wealth-income gap, rather than an individual's exploration into American culture's indulgences.
nicoleankenmann's review against another edition
4.0
Audiobook: 04hr 36m
Instantly familiar from his work on This American Life and other such podcasts, the voice of David Rakoff kept me amused and engaged throughout this poignant, irreverent and deeply honest sociopolitical monologue. I felt like I was at the best kind of cocktail party ever, one where the conversation was sparkling, informative and regularly laugh-out-loud funny, and absolutely nothing was required of me.
Rakoff's tone is what you might expect if Eeyore suddenly and successfully left the 100 Acre Wood for a career in standup comedy. He has a knack for juxtaposition that highlights absurdity beautifully. He shies away from nothing and censors his opinions only when doing so makes a stronger point than saying things directly would be able to do. He's whip smart and knows it.
I'm glad that he was spared the political world of Trump, considering what he wrote here about Bush -- but I think the online discord surrounding the last President of the United States would have been just a little bit lighter had he been around to help with the democratic skewering.
Instantly familiar from his work on This American Life and other such podcasts, the voice of David Rakoff kept me amused and engaged throughout this poignant, irreverent and deeply honest sociopolitical monologue. I felt like I was at the best kind of cocktail party ever, one where the conversation was sparkling, informative and regularly laugh-out-loud funny, and absolutely nothing was required of me.
Rakoff's tone is what you might expect if Eeyore suddenly and successfully left the 100 Acre Wood for a career in standup comedy. He has a knack for juxtaposition that highlights absurdity beautifully. He shies away from nothing and censors his opinions only when doing so makes a stronger point than saying things directly would be able to do. He's whip smart and knows it.
I'm glad that he was spared the political world of Trump, considering what he wrote here about Bush -- but I think the online discord surrounding the last President of the United States would have been just a little bit lighter had he been around to help with the democratic skewering.
itsolivia's review
3.0
The deal: The subtitle of this is “The indignities of coach class, the torments of low thread count, the never-ending quest for artisanal olive oil, and other first world problems.” That about sums it up. It’s a satirical, albeit well-researched take on said “first world problems,” with topics ranging from the Concorde to cryonics to South Beach cabanas.
Is it worth it?: Eh, sure. Some of the chapters I genuinely enjoyed out of pure fascination, but I tended to lose focus whenever Rakoff got philosophical. This is probably a fault in me, and not in the book.
Pairs well with: first class airfare, a nose job, Martha Stewart
B-
Is it worth it?: Eh, sure. Some of the chapters I genuinely enjoyed out of pure fascination, but I tended to lose focus whenever Rakoff got philosophical. This is probably a fault in me, and not in the book.
Pairs well with: first class airfare, a nose job, Martha Stewart
B-
harvio's review against another edition
4.0
- not quite as funny as his first book 'Fraud', but many, many smile-worthy moments (if only a few guffaws)
- from the jacket: "...a Wildean satire of our ridiculous culture of overconsumption."
- Rakoff flies on one of the last Supersonic Concorde Flights
- Rakoff flies 'Hooter's Airlines'
- Rakoff works as a Cabana Boy at a South Beach Florida Hotel
- Rakoff travels to an exclusive, remote, private island off the coast of Belize to watch a Playboy Model Photo Shoot
- Rakoff attends Parisien Fashion Shows and sees $100,000 dresses and many celebrities
- I forgive him for forfeiting his Canadian Citizenship to become an American - if only because he calls Barbara Bush a "stupid fucking cow."
- from the jacket: "...a Wildean satire of our ridiculous culture of overconsumption."
- Rakoff flies on one of the last Supersonic Concorde Flights
- Rakoff flies 'Hooter's Airlines'
- Rakoff works as a Cabana Boy at a South Beach Florida Hotel
- Rakoff travels to an exclusive, remote, private island off the coast of Belize to watch a Playboy Model Photo Shoot
- Rakoff attends Parisien Fashion Shows and sees $100,000 dresses and many celebrities
- I forgive him for forfeiting his Canadian Citizenship to become an American - if only because he calls Barbara Bush a "stupid fucking cow."
adamrshields's review against another edition
2.0
Short review: There are some funny parts, but honestly the subtitle is much better than the rest of the book. I gave up about 1/3 of the way in.
Longer review on my blog at http://bookwi.se/comfortable-rakoff/
Longer review on my blog at http://bookwi.se/comfortable-rakoff/
ckausch's review
4.0
Funniest book I have read in a long time! David Rakoff starts out his book by detailing his decision to become an American citizen and what that involved (he's originally Canadian but has lived here forever) - hilareous! From there, his essays cover everything from living in a post-9/11 NYC to flying on the Concorde vs flying on Hooters airline, Paris couture shows, Playboy photoshoots, and Midnight Madness games in NYC. I HIGHLY recommend checking this out! (He's sometimes compared to David Sedaris, but I find Rakoff much more funny!)