Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)

By: Mindy Kaling

Narrated by: Mindy Kaling, Michael Schur, B. J. Novak

Length: 4 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In this hilarious instant classic, the creator of The Mindy Project and Never Have I Ever invites readers on a tour of her life and her unscientific observations on romance, friendship, and Hollywood.“[Kaling is] like Tina Fey’s cool little sister. Or perhaps . . . the next Nora Ephron.”—The New York Times

Mindy Kaling has lived many lives: the obedient child of immigrant professionals, a timid chubster afraid of her own bike, a Ben Affleck–impersonating Off-Broadway performer and playwright, and, finally, a comedy writer and actress prone to starting fights with her friends and coworkers with the sentence “Can I just say one last thing about this, and then I swear I’ll shut up about it?”

Perhaps you want to know what Mindy thinks makes a great best friend (someone who will fill your prescription in the middle of the night), or what makes a great guy (one who is aware of all elderly people in any room at any time and acts accordingly), or what is the perfect amount of fame (so famous you can never get convicted of murder in a court of law), or how to maintain a trim figure (you will not find that information in these pages). If so, you’ve come to the right book, mostly! With several conveniently placed stopping points for you to run errands and make phone calls, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? proves that Mindy Kaling really is just a Girl Next Door—not so much literally anywhere in the continental United States, but definitely if you live in India or Sri Lanka.

Praise for Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?

“Where have you been all our lives, Mindy?”—Glamour

“Who wouldn’t want to hang out with Mindy Kaling? . . . [Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?] is like a mash note to comedy nerds.”—Time Out New York

“Very funny.”—Boston Globe

©2011 Mindy Kaling (P)2011 Random House

Critic reviews

“She’s like Tina Fey’s cool little sister. Or perhaps… the next Nora Ephron.” (The New York Times)

“The fashion opinions of Kelly Kapoor mixed with a Miss Manners-esque advice column.” (Entertainment Weekly)

“If you love Kelly and think the three minutes or so allotted her on episodes of The Office are too few, you can take home Mindy.” (The New Yorker)

Love it!!

Mindy Kaling is totally awesome!!! The whole family lives her and thus book! I Highly recommend this book. Mindy is clever and an excellent storyteller.

Just OK

Where does Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It was Ok. I am not sure what I was expecting but I had to force myself to finish it. I loved Tina Feys book and hoped the same for this one.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Her start at the Office.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Mindy Kaling and Michael Schur ?

No, better uses of credits.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed a few times.

Fun Audio!

Prior to the publication of Mindy Kaling's book, I did not know her as anything other than Kelly Kapoor on The Office, one of the funniest shows on TV. Even still, I didn't realize the large role she has played in the show's success. She is the "quadruple threat" in Television: actress, writer, director and producer. The new show, The Mindy Project, is her new baby.

IS EVERYONE HANGING OUT WITHOUT ME? is Mindy's story so far. She talks about her relatively normal upbringing, her childhood as a chubby kid, the adolescent who was obsessed with all things comedy, the student at Dartmouth, and the wide-eyed talented anti-ingenue.

She has a self-depricating humor similar to that of Tina Fey, but edgier and all her own. I'm sure being compared to Tina Fey and Amy Pohler is very cool, but she has her own brand of hilariousness, which comes out shining in her book.

Her chapter titles include: "I Am Not An Athlete," "The Exact Level of Fame I Want," and, my personal favorite, "Best Friend Rights and Responsibilities." For almost eight years, Mindy lived with her best girl friends, and their relationships had their own Code of Conduct, including the right and responsibility, "If our phone conversation gets disconnected there's no need to call back. I get it. You get it. We take forever getting off the phone anyway. This was a blessing." (This happens to me and my sister all the time, and it's understood, no call-back needed!) But my personal favorite Best Friend Right and Responsibility, "I will hate and re-like people for you. But you can't get mad at me if I can't keep track." (In my world, this is the equivalent of Friending and Un-Friending someone on Facebook for my best friends. Yes, I have done that, purely out of love. If I have un-friended you on Facebook, chances are high you have wronged my BFF in some way.)

I'm already a huge fan of memoirs and bios narrated by their celebrity authors - Tina Fey, Rob Lowe, Carrie Fisher, you get the idea. So, when I saw Mindy Kaling's book, I knew it would have to be audio for me, but I didn't know when. The when became easy. I had just read a string of really good, heavy books, and I was reading a print YA. I was ready for an audio that would offer me something light and funny - Hello, Mindy!

She's the perfect narrator. Her voice is funny and natural, and not at all annoying. Some actresses have a great voice for dialogue, but alone on an audiobook for 5 hours is not ideal. My only wish is now I want to hear her sing, and there is no singing on the audiobook. Mindy also has appearances on her audiobook by Michael Schur, a writer/producer/director on The Office, SNL, and Parks and Rec, as well as BJ Novak, another actor/writer/producer on The Office and The Mindy Project.

I feel like I'm friends with Mindy now. It's a really good thing I'm not in danger of bumping into her on the street, because she would definitely think I was a stalker by my comfort level.

I highly recommend this audiobook. It's quick, it's funny, and it will give you an appreciation for the comedy genius that is Mindy Kaling.

Love

If you love Mindy's humor then you'll love this back. I listened to this while walking to classes on a large campus and was definitely caught quite a few times cracking up.

A fun listen for fans of The Office

If you're a fan of The Office then you'll enjoy listening to Mindy's stories about the cast and the show itself.

Loved It!

Ive listened to this book & Mindy's first book "Why Not Me" over & over I think shes funny in the most intelligent heartwarming authentic way..Idk any woman who cant relate to her in some way..I love her mini book collection & I hope she continues to share her world with us!

next one is better

I am a late fan of Mindy Kaling as I just started watching her program on HULU. She is so funny and smart I listened to the 2nd book before this one and although this is funny the next one is better, No you don't have to listen in order. The quirky descriptions of her trying to make it as a single female comedy writer/actress are crazy funny
you will be laughing!

Surprisingly good

I wasn’t so sure when I picked up this one but, it is well written and well delivered. Honest and pretty relatable.

Sorry Mindy

I really wanted to like this book and I have it a good try. While I agree with most of the opinions in this book, there are just far, far too many. She lost me on planning her own funeral. I actually stopped listening shortly after that. Just too preachy for my taste.

I wasn't sure

after reading Boddy Pants, Yes Please and Vedwetter: Stories of Courage, Redemption and Pee I wasn't sure. I wasn't as familiar with Mindy and I admit other authors had me biased. But I stayed with her and the story she told was hilarious and one as a kid with an immigrant patent I felt pulled in by her story. A great book!