Satire

Do you accept the challenge? Keep in mind that this is nearly 17 hours of your life you will never get back!

As a fan of John Hodgman's first book, "The Areas of My Expertise" (which is, after all, my favourite audiobook -- period), I felt compelled to both begin and complete this book, even after the disappointment that his second book, "More Information Than You Require", proved to be. Nobody warned me!

Don't get me wrong. There are some bright spots in both the second book and in this third as well, but they are increasingly marginalized amid hours of remarkably unfunny material which fills the rest. I have to give it 3 stars overall because there are some gems in here and some fantastic performances, but I feel somewhat guilty doing so.

Alas, Hodgman is a comedic genius and wordsmith. But what happened here? Like Lucas and the Wachowskis before him, maybe he set the bar too high with "Expertise" and just ran out of good ideas. I know all the jokes and punchlines already, but I still find myself laughing out loud every time -- sometimes in anticipation of a joke I know is coming! Read, listen, or otherwise consume the first book, but steer clear of the rest of the series. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

Almost six years later, this is still my favourite. I listen to it about twice a year, and it never gets old.

This last time my wife and I listened to it together (her first time) on our cross-country move and it had us both laughing out loud. The content, delivery, and variety are brilliant. A perfect mix of witty, dry humour, and clever use of the medium.

I actually got this audiobook for free from iTunes when it was released, but have since repurchased it from Audible for convenience (I can listen to it again any time using the iPhone app!) and out of appreciation for the countless hours of entertainment Hodgman, Coulton, and the others have given me. Thank you!

That is all.

I finally made it to the end. And what an ordeal that was.

Let me be clear: "The Areas of My Expertise" was my first -- and remains my favourite -- audio book to date. I got it for free through some iTunes promotion. I have listened to it, start to finish, at least seven times. And I have since used a credit to purchase it again through Audible.com. It is just that good. And while I realize that it isn't for everyone, I share it with anyone who will listen. The list of state mottos and songs alone is worth the price of admission. And the hobos -- ah, the hobos!

But I hate this book. Perhaps someday, on a lark, after forgetting myself and against my own better judgment I will revisit this title in my Audible library -- all other options having been exhausted. But I did not find "More Information Than You Require" to be funny or even ironically entertaining, with the notable exception of the last two hours of this nearly thirteen hour audio book. For me, the Gervais segment (and I am certainly not a fan of his) and list of moleman names and occupations alone are hilarious enough to earn it a shaky three stars. But the preceding eleven hours were treacherous.

You have been warned!