A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius

By: Dave Eggers

Narrated by: Dion Graham

Length: 13 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

Dave Eggers scored a worldwide phenomenon with this memoir that topped national best-seller lists and has since become a staple for summer reading and book clubs. A compelling voice for Generation X, Eggers hererecounts his early 20s, caring for his younger brother after their parents’ unexpected deaths and his endeavors in a variety of media.

©2000 David K. Eggers (P)2010 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

“Not just for the MTV-fan age group, this is a very entertaining, well-written book.” ( Booklist)

Bridge Between Stream of Consciousness & PoMo Lit

You can't write a book like this without JD Salinger. You also can't get the genius of George Saunders without this work. So as a bridge connecting Tenth of December to The Catcher in the Rye, I am very grateful for its existence. As for its own merit, it was honest and rambly and self-pitying and desperate and depressing and irritating -- with what ended up to be very little heart. Or at least it didn't translate into heart for me. Being disgruntled with life and the lemon-throwing machine it can be only transcends it if the characters can overcome and grow from how they handle the challenges.

Hard to listen to, gave me anxiety

Continued waiting for some character development to happen in this book, but it never came. Disappointed after listening to the whole story.

Toxic. Nauseating. Absolutely amazing.

An incredible work of staggering self-centerdness by a genius who knows it. Not a joyful read. But a great one.

Self Absorbed Pablum

I am a little surprised to see so many glowing reviews. This is supposed to be the story of a young adult who takes on the care of his younger brother — only the brother seems one dimensional and a distraction from the real storyline which appears to be the author’s inability to understand why he isn’t the center of everyone’s universe. He’s suffered, after all. He’s totally aware of his attempt to emotionally manipulate society at large and is either mocking himself or mocking everyone else about it.

This is one of those book club selections that I had to force myself to finish

Great Book not right for everyone

Excellent narration is the cap to the fascinating and enjoyable novel. As much as I enjoyed this novel, I can see that many people would really not appreciate it. This is largely an inner stream of consciousness and there are a lot of four letter words and frank thoughts about sex and death. In the first chapter involving a death from cancer I was literally laughing and crying and nauseated and uplifted at the same time. I don’t mean alternately, I mean at the very same instant. This is pretty unusual writing. I was thinking Gen-X meets James Joyce. The characters, even some very minor characters, are quite well presented. If you want a story where the protagonist faces adversity only to take heart and overcome, you might not want this book (but maybe you should read it anyway). The characters do change, but not in pat ways, instead in the ways people really change. The protagonist is often not very likeable, yet he is human and the beauty of his existence sporadically flashes through. I am nearly as far as it gets from being a Gen-Xer but I really liked this book. The narration more than does justice to the text, shouting and crying, mumbling and enunciating when the writing called for it.

Exceptional performance by Dion Graham

A heartbreaking story of a young man's struggle told in a very captivating and funny way and that's why author is worthy of being called 'staggering genius'.

I would have given it 3 stars for being a good memoir but giving one extra star just for the best preface I have read in a long time and making me laugh every few pages.

Yeah, it is a strange book.

Loved it, but took awhile to finish. Great narration, will listen again. Surprising. The Gospel of Dave Eggers.

What a trip!

Loved this book, really unique in my experience. I kept wondering which psychiatric diagnosis would best apply to the narrator!

It was hard to move onto another book after this!

I loved this book. I could relate to his inner monologue and found myself laughing many times throughout the book. I read a few negative reviews and I can see how one might take issue with the following aspects: the narrator, focus on death, and as one reviewer called it, "breathless, non-stop chatter." First, I can understand how one might dislike Dion Graham, he is certainly over the top at times. Personally, I like his narration in this book, I thought he suited the material. In reference to the focus on death, it's completely relevant to the story line. Finally, the "non-stop chatter" could get annoying if you're not into that style. Personally, I tend to have the same attention deficit disorder type thought process so it worked for me. I thought it was well written and engaging, I highly recommend this book.

What a f-ing hipster

Possibly the best audiobook I've bought so far. Hillarious, honest and self aware, the narrator suits the text perfectly.