There's Nothing in This Book That I Meant to Say

By: Paula Poundstone

Narrated by: Paula Poundstone

Length: 5 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

Part memoir, part monologue, with a dash of startling honesty, There’s Nothing in This Book That I Meant to Say features biographies of legendary historical figures from which Paula Poundstone can’t help digressing to tell her own story. Mining gold from the lives of Abraham Lincoln, Helen Keller, Joan of Arc, and Beethoven, among others, the eccentric and utterly inimitable mind of Paula Poundstone dissects, observes, and comments on the successes and failures of her own life with surprising candor and spot-on comedic timing in this unique laugh-out-loud book.

If you like Paula Poundstone’s ironic and blindingly intelligent humor, you’ll love this wryly observant, funny, and touching book.

©2006 Paula Poundstone. All rights reserved (P)2006 HighBridge Company; 16 9

Critic reviews

"Paula Poundstone pokes fun at her tabloid woes in wry - and occasionally pointed - tales about life in the comedy trenches as a single mom....[She] has a lively sense of the absurd." (Variety)
"Poundstone makes self-involvement entertaining in her memoir-cum-history." (Publishers Weekly)

I LOVE THIS BOOK

Where does There's Nothing in This Book That I Meant to Say rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Paula Poundstone is so honest and real and I totally fell in love with her and her life and her perspective on all things Just listen and laugh.... so good.

I laughed so hard, I couldn't catch my breath.

Paula's book is a stream of consciousness weaving of her life and its elements with notable people from history: Sitting Bull, Beethoven, and Helen Keller, among them. During her telling of Sitting Bull, her litany of "Indian names" for her children and pets and the stories that earned them their names had me doubled over more than once, laughing so hard, I began to understand how people can die laughing. I couldn't breathe!
If you like Paula's comedy, this book is must!

It is what it is

I think she meant for out to be just what it is: disjointed, random, lukewarm. It had some chuckles, some interesting facts.

Genuine, Entertaining, Educational

I loved this book. It brought together many of the things I love. I love to learn things without having to study them. I love to hear genuine stories, especially from parents who aren't afraid to be honest about the challenges of raising kids, and I love goofy comedy. I have listened to this book many times and I'm anxiously awaiting a sequel.

There's no greater gift than laughter!

Paula, I love your mind! I don't know anyone else who can pack so many hilarious observations into a single paragraph. Saw you in Buffalo, read your books - all I can say is "Thank You"!

Clever comic. smart humor

This woman is smart and funny. Her view on all topics is honest, funny and very honest. I'm so glad she doesn't stoop to the level of many comics who depend on sex and vulgar to get laughs.

Clever and funny

Would you listen to There's Nothing in This Book That I Meant to Say again? Why?

I would listen to the Beethoven and the Wright Bros. chapters again.

What was one of the most memorable moments of There's Nothing in This Book That I Meant to Say?

The back-and-forth between historical figures and her own life is smart, interesting and funny. Never irreverent or disrepectful.

Any additional comments?

Paula is a funny, funny lady who deserves the kind of recognition as a comic she used to have. This book is smart, funny and a good listen. We shared it on a road trip with three generations and everyone had something to laugh at. Notable for a modern-day comic: There are just a handful of words that would make your grandmother blush.

Hilarious

What did you love best about There's Nothing in This Book That I Meant to Say?

Paula's wry wit.

What was one of the most memorable moments of There's Nothing in This Book That I Meant to Say?

Paula's observation on the lack of present day court musicians and other related legal system musings.

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

This is the first time I've listened to a book by Paula Poundstone, but it won't be the last.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Adventures in sobriety and parenting

Brilliant fun!

Just about a laugh per sentence! As always Paula’s brilliance shines through in this raw & smart comedy album!

Great book

What a great book! Paula Poundstone is both touching and funny in this memoir. I have always been a fan of hers and this book left me wanting more.