Paddle Your Own Canoe

One Man's Fundamentals for Delicious Living

By: Nick Offerman

Narrated by: Nick Offerman

Parks and Recreation actor Nick Offerman shares his humorous fulminations on life, manliness, meat, and much more in his first book.

Growing a perfect moustache, grilling red meat, wooing a woman—who better to deliver this tutelage than the always charming, always manly Nick Offerman, best known as Parks and Recreation’s Ron Swanson? Combining his trademark comic voice and very real expertise in woodworking—he runs his own woodshop—Paddle Your Own Canoe features tales from Offerman’s childhood in small-town Minooka, Illinois—“I grew up literally in the middle of a cornfield”—to his theater days in Chicago, beginnings as a carpenter/actor and the hilarious and magnificent seduction of his now-wife Megan Mullally. It also offers hard-bitten battle strategies in the arenas of manliness, love, style, religion, woodworking, and outdoor recreation, among many other savory entrees.

A mix of amusing anecdotes, opinionated lessons and rants, sprinkled with offbeat gaiety, Paddle Your Own Canoe will not only tickle readers pink but may also rouse them to put down their smart phones, study a few sycamore leaves, and maybe even hand craft (and paddle) their own canoes.

Entertaining listen

I listened to this in one sitting. I couldn't stop. Partly because Nick Offerman has a hypnotic voice, and partly because I was simply curious about what he had to say. He is a fascinating man that legitamately loves his life.

I reccomend it highly. It seems many people wanted a book written by Ron Swanson, but I prefer this. There is a depth of charm and wisdom that wouldn't be there had this book been on meat and scotch.

Ron Swanson

If you could sum up Paddle Your Own Canoe in three words, what would they be?

Funny nonstop listen

What did you like best about this story?

It was narrated by nick offerman

Have you listened to any of Nick Offerman’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Just as entertaining as his well written character.

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

I laughed and felt his passion for life.

Any additional comments?

Please narrate more books nick. Genius.

I get it, don't listen or give credence to jerks

A bit too zealous in its anti-zealotry for much of the beginning of the book, but even so worth a listen. More asininity than you would expect from an aspiring Mark Twain, it is still an honest autobiography that deservedly focuses most of its praise on his family upbringing, and his friends key to his success. That, along with the great value of his own persistence, hard work and just dumb luck make for an entertaining telling of a classic Hollywood story. Worth a listen. but with a lot of profanity.

awesomeness abounds

Of course it was awesome,funny, manly, and badassery (I know that's not a real word but Nick Offerman is the kind of man that creates new words by just being himself.)

I want to have a drink with this Man.

What did you love best about Paddle Your Own Canoe?

Nick's view on life I totally resonate with; i.e. his thoughts on plastic surgery, Roundup, building something, and the love of a fantastic woman.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Duh! Nick

Which scene was your favorite?

When he heard form the producer of Parks and Recreation that he landed the part.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

We he stopped caring about acting and was happy with his life.

Any additional comments?

I would love to sit at an old Irish bar (the one with all the incredible woodworking in it) have a scotch and BS with Mr Offerman