My Planet

Finding Humor in the Oddest Places

By: Mary Roach

Narrated by: Angela Dawe

Length: 4 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

Follow New York Times best-selling author Mary Roach - but be careful not to trip - as she weaves through personal anecdotes and everyday musings riddled with her uncanny wit and amazingly analytical eye. These essays, which found a well-deserved home within the pages of Reader's Digest as the column "My Planet," detail the inner workings of hypochondriacs, hoarders, and compulsive cheapskates. (Did we mention neurotic interior designers and professional list makers?) For Roach, humor is hidden in the most unlikely places, which means that nothing is off limits. Whether she is dwelling on her age or talking about the pros and cons of a bedroom night light - "A married couple can best be defined as a unit of people whose sleep habits are carefully engineered to keep each other awake" - Roach finds a lesson, a slice of sarcasm, or a dash of something special that makes each day comical and absolutely priceless.

In keeping with our mission - curating the best listens in the land - Reader's Digest editors neatly packaged these timeless (and hilarious) Roach essays together for the first time.

©2013 The Reader's Digest Association, Inc. (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Short & Witty

The book is a collection of columns originally printed in Reader's Digest. The subjects vary but are mostly a reflection on daily activities, family relationships, and observations of human interaction. Her wording is clever and phrasing often has a twist or three.

Unfortunately, the narrator's performance doesn't meet the same standard sounding too immature for the material and not conveying the obvious humour in the text.

Laughed out loud!

I did have to get used to the voice but the material is so sharp and funny!

Bad narrator

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Felt the need to emphasize the last word of every SENTENCE. No matter what word it WAS. Couldn't bear it for more than 45 min. Love Mary Roach, but I think I'll get this one in print.

My planet

The book had some humorous moments. I did not like the voice and tone of the reader for this book. It was a little on the annoying side for me. Others may not feel that way. I really loved the author's book "Gulp". It was quite funny, material I could use for teaching science.😜

GLAD I IGNORED THE BAD REVIEW FOR THE NARRATOR.

If you could sum up My Planet in three words, what would they be?

Loved this book Sooooooo much. The narrator was just fine as (IMHO) she captured the scrappy 'stand up comic' type of delivery that helped relate the story. This is one of my favorite books... I love irreverent first and foremost.

What about Angela Dawe’s performance did you like?

She gave it a wise cracking scrappy appeal. I loved it.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Mary Roach's world is so funny.

I loved this. was listening in my car and almost had to pull several times because I was laughing so hard

greatly enjoyed this book

I greatly enjoyed this book. Roach is funny and imaginative.abd it's fast going. I was surprised when bbq it was done.

Read the print version

I love Mary Roach. She is so funny and clever. The stories are great often with laugh out loud bits.

Unfortunately Angela Dawe's narration is, for the most part, just too much. I feel like she is yelling at me. There is a overly emphatic tone to each and every word--with the exception of Chapter 4 where she does a great job mimicking the voice style of an automated call.

Amusing and good

Mary Roach continues to impress, while the narrator seemed to be yelling the words at me. Overall really quite good!

Laugh out loud funny!

Short stories that are a bit dated but so funny. Even if you haven't experienced all of them - you'll get it.