Tough Sh-t

Life Advice from a Fat, Lazy Slob Who Did Good

By: Kevin Smith

Narrated by: Kevin Smith

Length: 5 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

Profane, honest, and totally real advice from comedian and director Kevin Smith - one of America's most original voices....

Take one look at Kevin Smith: He's a balding fatty who wears a size XXL hockey jersey, shorts, and slippers year-round. Not a likely source for life advice. But take a second look at Kevin Smith: He changed filmmaking forever when he was 24 with the release of Clerks, and since then has gone on to make nine more profitable movies, runs his own production company, wrote a best-selling graphic novel, and has a beautiful wife and kids. So he must be doing something right.

As Kevin's millions of Twitter followers and millions of podcast listeners know, he's the first one to admit his flaws and the last one to care about them. In early 2011, he began using his platform to answer big questions from fans - like "What should I do with my life?"- and he discovered that he had a lot to say. Tough Sh-t distills his four decades of breaking all the rules down to direct and brutally honest advice, including:

• Why he has accepted Ferris Bueller as his personal savior, and what the Tenets of Buellerism can teach about hiding in plain sight and lip-syncing in the face of danger
• Why it's really fun to eat but not so fun to be fat
• What to do about people who don't like your policies ( for starters, tell them to pucker up and smooch your big ol' butt)
• What Kevin's idol Wayne Gretzky can teach us about creativity and direction

For anyone who's out of a job, out of luck, or just out of sugary snack foods, Tough Sh*t is an unabashedly honest guide to getting the most out of doing the least.

©2012 Kevin Smith (P)2012 Penguin Audio

Listened to it twice already, can't get enough!

What did you love best about Tough Sh-t?

I love how frank and candid he is, he's real, honest and a true human f'n being! I like the way he reads it, the way his sense of humor is similar to my own.

What’s an idea from the book that you will remember?

Go where the "puck" is going to be.

Any additional comments?

His podcasting website is incredible and I suggest Hollywood Babble On and his show with Scott Mosier. Even though those aren't books, the shows are similar to this audio book recording, except sometimes with an audience.

great book

any fan of his podcasts will feel like they are experiencing a longer version of them. he writes like he speaks and is thoroughly entertaining.

What I needed to hear.

I can never get enough Kevin Smith, the man is a genius. He spouts truth about life and how one should live. Dont be afraid to be ones self, live creatively encourage others to do there best. This totally helps me with my writers block.

Kevin Smith Wins Again

If you could sum up Tough Sh-t in three words, what would they be?

Honest, uncensored hilarity.

What other book might you compare Tough Sh-t to and why?

I can't think of any, but if you have listened to any of Smith's Q&A's, you'll know pretty much what to expect from this book. He's honest, he's vulgar, and he tells his story in a way that only he could.

What does Kevin Smith bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Smith is a dynamic storyteller, and he does a great job reading his own material. I suspect I would have heard a lot of it in his "voice" had I read a hardcopy, but this was just great.

Any additional comments?

I really enjoyed this selection. It think it offers more to aspiring writers/film makers, but it was still a terrific listen for me. I've been a fan of his for years and years, so I knew what to expect. This might be a little too vulgar for those that aren't familiar with his stuff, though.

review

yes yes yes yes yes 7rs yes yes yes yes this can be 20 (?) words to describe my review of the book that makes me think about my life a bit more than I normally do.

Very funny ! A must for smith fans !

Where does Tough Sh-t rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Very high , can see myself listening to it again !

What did you like best about this story?

That it's true !

What about Kevin Smith’s performance did you like?

I guess because it's his life , him telling it makes it better !

funny and inspiring - with swear words

Let me start off this review by saying that I am a fan of Kevin Smith. I’ve seen all of his movies, listen to his podcast, am a regular attendant at his Hall H panel at Comic-Con every year, and even visited his comic shop, Jay and Bob’s Silent Stash, back when they had a location in Los Angeles. When I heard that he had a new book coming out, I knew that it would be funny and entertaining, like the man himself.

Tough Sh*t: Life Advice from a Fat, Lazy Slob Who Did Good, is partly and inspirational tome and part biography. In it, Smith chronicles his rise to indie fame with his first film Clerks and his film industry education at the hands of Harvey Weinstein. Smith leaves no rock unturned and chronicles each of his films, from Clerks, which was funded by credit cards and sold at Sundance, to his newest film, Red State, which he sold the rights to himself for $20 and took on tour through indie movies houses across the U.S.

A lover of all things pop culture, Smith’s book is peppered throughout with references to comics, Batman, Wayne Gretsky, and John Hughes, all of which had a large impact on his life. Smith also gets into the nitty gritty of life in Hollywood, telling of his falling out with Harvey Weinstein as well as the story of which star on the set of Cop Out was a nightmare to work with (hint – it wasn’t Tracy Morgan). But the book isn’t all film and Hollywood gossip. Smith talks extensively about his family, namely his father, wife Jenny and their daughter Harley Quinn (best name ever!). Smith may be the most humble man in Hollywood as he makes it clear that much of his success and sanity are due to the support and talent of his friends and family.

Through all of these life lessons and experiences, Smith’s message is clear – if a fat guy like him can make a living doing what he loves, then so can you. Smith encourages you to dream big and “follow your whimsy.” Life may not turned out the way you planned, Smith says, but keep an open mind and it may turn out to be a slightly different and more over the top version of what you were aiming for. In an age of cynicism, following your dreams may sound too idealistic, but Smith has his own unlikely and inspirational story to hold up as an example. He’s built an empire just by being himself.

Smith is the perfect narrator for his own book and I couldn’t imagine anyone else doing it justice. For the past few years, Smith’s been doing a weekly podcast and it’s clear that he’s comfortable behind the mic. Already funny on the page, his words take on a whole new life coming from the source (especially the cuss words). Smith speaks with charm and enthusiasm and his attitude is infectious. I actually wanted to stay at the gym a little longer just so I could keep listening (and it takes a lot to keep me at the gym, folks). The audiobook is also peppered with little asides from Smith as he reads – little side notes not in the book that are an added bonus of getting the audiobook.

Fans of Kevin Smith will no doubt be highly entertained by this book. If you've been listening to Smith for a long time like I have, some of the stories may be familiar. But this doesn't detract from the book because Smith has a way of never telling a story the same way twice. I'd recommend this for fans of Kevin Smith and those with an open mind who don't mind some crude language and humor.

A Splendid Journey with Kevin Smith

Kevin Smith gives superb aural in this self-narrated audiobook. He puts you right in his living room as he tells stories of how he arrived to become a z-list celebrity in his quest to "just make some movies with his friends." I couldn't recommend it more, so sit back, relax, and join Kevin Smith (and his dogs) on a nostalgic ride through the back alleys of tinsel town. AUDIBLE 20 REVIEW SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY

It is Tough Sh-t

I loved everything about the book. I would listen to it again! Kevin Smith is hilarious! It is a must!

Great book

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, it was an interesting read giving you an indepth perspective and some real life advice from someone that is not trying to be "a teacher"

Who was your favorite character and why?

There are no characters, so I guess Kevin Smith. But when he mimicked his wife I laughed every time.

What about Kevin Smith’s performance did you like?

I always love how real Kevin Smith is. He recognizes that he's just a regular guy. He might be rich and recognizable, but he's still just a dude.

What’s an idea from the book that you will remember?

Look for where the puck is going to be. And, Bruce Willis is a dick

Any additional comments?

Love Kevin Smith! (hated clerks)