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I might be slightly rounding up a bit just because I find Bell so compelling and charismatic as a person, but it's complicated. When he says "awkward thoughts" he's not entirely exaggerating. Some of these essays take you on a real ride narratively, going forward and backward in time and rambling a bit. In a way, he encapsulates the strengths and the weaknesses of some of the best natural storytellers. The Sophia Petrillos of the world may hold you a bit hostage, but you can't help but be engaged because their charm carries the day, and you could say the same for him.
Some comedians have a presence where they are most at home on stage and have their slick sets and go-to schticks, but my instinct about Bell based on his book, and his social media presence, is that he's something even more versatile than that; a person who is just naturally funny. He talks a lot about his stuttering rise in comedy and it makes a lot of sense that he found his footing in podcasts and talk shows where his longer-form storytelling skills are given more space to shine. Definitely worth reading, particularly in conjunction with Phoebe Robinson, who combines her own pop culture "blerd" vibe while making sharp observations about race and privilege in America.
Some comedians have a presence where they are most at home on stage and have their slick sets and go-to schticks, but my instinct about Bell based on his book, and his social media presence, is that he's something even more versatile than that; a person who is just naturally funny. He talks a lot about his stuttering rise in comedy and it makes a lot of sense that he found his footing in podcasts and talk shows where his longer-form storytelling skills are given more space to shine. Definitely worth reading, particularly in conjunction with Phoebe Robinson, who combines her own pop culture "blerd" vibe while making sharp observations about race and privilege in America.