I Hate Everyone...Starting With Me

By: Joan Rivers

Narrated by: Joan Rivers

Length: 4 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” (Elizabeth Barrett Browning, 1850)

“How do I hate thee? How much time do you have?” (Joan Rivers, here, about two-ish)

Joan Rivers is a groundbreaking, award-winning, internationally renowned entertainment goddess. She’s also opinionated - especially when it comes to people she hates. Like people who think giving birth is a unique achievement. Or well-adjusted - a.k.a. boring - ex-child stars who don’t even have a decent addiction.

With all of her diverse experiences, it stands to reason that Joan has seen, done, said, and heard a lot of hateful things. Thank god, she took notes.

Here - uncensored and totally uninhibited - she give the best of her worst to First Ladies, closet cases, hypocrites, Hollywood, feminists, and overrated historical figures. And even when letting herself have it, Joan doesn’t hold back in this honest, unabashedly hilarious love letter to the hater in all of us.

©2012 Joan Rivers (P)2012 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"More punch lines per paragraph than any book I’ve read in years." (The New York Times)

"Often hilarious, often shocking, totally politically incorrect." (Liz Smith)

"She holds nothing back." (The Washington Post)

Typical Joan

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I would recommend it to friends that I know enjoy Joan's comedy.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

I wanted it to go on a little longer.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Joan Rivers?

Yes!

Was I Hate Everyone...Starting With Me worth the listening time?

Yes. It's only a few hours long.

It's Joan - what else do you expect?

As usual - the queen of mean does it again. She's rude but you can't help but enjoy.

It was ok.

I LOVE Joan Rivers and that's why I bought the book. I love that she narrates the book so it is told the way she intended it to be read. That's a plus. However, there isn't that much of a story. There is *some* story but not that much. For example, I definitely enjoyed learning about her past, her childhood, her early career, etc... This I found really very interesting. However, there isn't a lot of substance to the book overall and at times all the "I hate..." can feel a bit too negative. Having said all that, if you love Joan Rivers this is a nice book, definitely very funny at times, and also very interesting at times. Her comedic genius definitely comes through but overall - just ok.

Never thought I'd hate Joan Rivers, but. . . .

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Joan Rivers offered very few engaging stories. While she's know for insulting others (a la Don Rickles), the shots taken at the handicapped and mentally ill were mean and not funny.

What was most disappointing about Joan Rivers’s story?

There was not much substance to the book. It did not even come across like a well-crafted monologue.

What aspect of Joan Rivers’s performance would you have changed?

I'm accustomed to -- and I enjoy -- Joan Rivers' spontanity. The book was delivered in a very scripted manner. She did not even sound as if she were enjoying her own performance.

Did I Hate Everyone...Starting With Me inspire you to do anything?

Yes. Not to pick up any other book by Joan Rivers.

Brilliant

Would you consider the audio edition of I Hate Everyone...Starting With Me to be better than the print version?

Don't know, not having read it

Who was your favorite character and why?

Why Joan of course

Which scene was your favorite?

There are no "scenes", but I loved each and every chapter

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

Laugh, Joan made me laugh out loud, several times, felt a bit silly, but there was no one to see me

Any additional comments?

I just loved this audio book, Joan Rivers is one of the very few comedians I enjoy. I even watch a show about fashion only because she is the star.
I can't wait for the next book

Very funny, but not for sensitive ears.

I think Joan Rivers is hilarious. I love the way she is no-holds-barred, taking a swipe at everyone, including herself. The title of the book it pretty accurate: Joan does hate everything. This book is a very, very long list (borderline rant) of Joan's pet peeves. It's not for people who can't abide very colourful language and if there is anything that offends you it's probably in this book. There are also a number of crude jokes. However, Joan's reading of it is fabulous. I can't imagine anyone else being able to do this book justice. You'll laugh out loud all the way through (and probably blush a few times as well).

Very Joan Rivers

If you could sum up I Hate Everyone...Starting With Me in three words, what would they be?

Funny, sinful, embarrassing.

What did you like best about this story?

She doesn't hold back. Sometimes I was ashamed to read (and enjoy) some of the stuff. Most of the book I've quoted to others. It was a welcome break from all the serious books I read.

Which scene was your favorite?

Tipping!

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

No

Funny but really feels like a list

i enjoyed this book intermittently but it feels like just a list at times. Joan Rivers was a hilarious and talented woman and it's not a bad purchase to listen to occasionally but certainly not all at once.

The New Queen of Mean

If you dislike Joan Rivers, you'll hate this book. Otherwise, it feels like a romp through a card catalog of her life's work, in which she skewers just about every sacred cow you can imagine, up to and including the abuses of modern technology. It seems rare to hear Joan Rivers without a live audience, but this is an energetic read through a dense thicket of barbed observations that leave no one unscathed. Potty mouth? You bet. On target? Flawlessly.

Some Laughs, Not Many

Where does I Hate Everyone...Starting With Me rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Near the bottom.

Has I Hate Everyone...Starting With Me turned you off from other books in this genre?

Not necesaryly, just puts more scrutiny on the author's future books.

Which character – as performed by Joan Rivers – was your favorite?

Joan being Joan

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

None what so ever.