A review by cymo01
Paddle Your Own Canoe: One Man's Fundamentals for Delicious Living by Nick Offerman

3.0

This was a gift, otherwise I never would have considered it. I've never seen Nick Offerman in his most well-known role, so I read the book not really knowing who he is or seen him perform. I found the book entertaining. He's not an author so his writing style is folksy conversational with more than a little blue language. And he's not really a comedian, so don't expect a lot of jokes and funny lines. There is humor and a couple of laugh out loud moments. I really enjoyed hearing about his career as a largely struggling actor and his life on the farm. The courtship of his wife not so much. He works hard, plays hard, loves his friends and family, is intelligent and seemingly well-read (at least plays), can tell a pretty good story, and can build things out of wood. He seems like a nice, interesting guy. Offerman is clearly riding the crest of his popularity with this book. But who can blame him? The book is of most value for young people starting out an acting career. It's a nice case study of the process with some useful insight into what to expect at auditions, getting parts, and all the while staying upbeat. He intersperses each chapter with his take on how people - men in particular - should behave. I don't disagree with much of what he said though your mileage may vary. I guess if you like the Ron Swanson character, this book is for you. Otherwise, it's a show business reminiscence.