• That Is All

  • By: John Hodgman
  • Narrated by: John Hodgman
  • Length: 16 hrs and 37 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (512 ratings)

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That Is All  By  cover art

That Is All

By: John Hodgman
Narrated by: John Hodgman
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Publisher's summary

Audie Award Nominee, Multi-Voiced Performance, 2013

John Hodgman - best-selling author, The Daily Show's "Resident Expert", minor television celebrity, and deranged millionaire - brings us the third and final installment in his trilogy of Complete World Knowledge.

In 2005, Dutton published The Areas of My Expertise, a handy little book of Complete World Knowledge, marked by the distinction that all of the fascinating trivia and amazing true facts were completely made up by its author, John Hodgman. At the time, Hodgman was merely a former literary agent and occasional scribbler of fake trivia. In short: a nobody.

But during an interview on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, an incredible transformation occurred. He became a famous minor television personality. You may ask: During his whirlwind tornado ride through the high ether of minor fame and outrageous fortune, did John Hodgman forget how to write books of fake trivia? The answer is: Yes. Briefly. But soon, he remembered!

And so he returned, crashing his Kansas farmhouse down upon the wicked witch of ignorance with More Information than You Require, a New York Times best seller containing even more mesmerizing and essential fake trivia, including seven hundred mole-man names (and their occupations).

And now, John Hodgman completes his vision with That Is All, the last book in a trilogy of Complete World Knowledge. Like its predecessors, That Is All compiles incredibly handy made-up facts into brief articles, overlong lists, and beguiling narratives on new and familiar themes. It picks up exactly where More Information left off - specifically, at page 596 - and finally completes Complete World Knowledge, just in time for the return of Quetzalcoatl and the end of human history in 2012.

16 Hours. Read by Dick Cavett, Patton Oswalt, Jon Hamm, Paul Rudd, Sarah Vowell, Brooke Shields, Scott Adsit, Robin Goldwasser, Jonathan Coulton, John Roderick, Rachel Maddow, Wyatt Cenac, Stephen Fry, Paul F. Tompkins, and Prominent Ragnarok Denier Dr. Elliott Kalan.

Music by Jonathan Coulton, John Roderick, John Flansburgh, John Darnielle, and Cynthia Hopkins.

©2012 John Hodgman (P)2012 Penguin Audio

What listeners say about That Is All

Average customer ratings
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  • 3 Stars
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Great Highs, Weird Lows

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

I would definitely recommend at least two thirds of this book to a friend, which by itself is easily worth one credit.

If you’ve listened to books by John Hodgman before, how does this one compare?

Not as strong overall as the first two books in the series.

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

The performances by Hodgman, and a cast of others is great as always.

Any additional comments?

This book has some hilarious parts, but suffers in a few areas. First Jonathan Coulton is only in it a short while, which is a bummer, but his part of the book is at least one of the high points. Second the book delves into an oddly depressing, short, autobiographical section that felt kinda out of place, and sort of killed the mood for a while. Third, the 700 X section of this book (700 hobos, and 700 molemen in the previous book) is about one and a half hours of John Hodgman speaking backwards over a music track. Even when I found a youtube video of someone who had kindly reversed the audio to make it understandable, the music kinda drowns out his voice. It's a real bummer that I can't bring myself to listen to it, because I bet it was pretty funny. I'm sure some might appreciate the humor of reversing the names of these 700 dark gods, but I can't imagine even they would sit through that entire section of the book. I have to imagine the book doesn't suffer from this problem, but I could be wrong.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Doesn't Translate From Text To Audio

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I'd like to first state that John Hodgman is my all-time favorite author. Unfortunately the text from this book just doesn't translate well into an audio format. The content is still all there but there is something that is somehow lost while listening to to book. I HIGHLY reccomend READING this book but I'd pass on checking out the audiobook.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

The joke is on you: this book is a dare...

Do you accept the challenge? Keep in mind that this is nearly 17 hours of your life you will never get back!

As a fan of John Hodgman's first book, "The Areas of My Expertise" (which is, after all, my favourite audiobook -- period), I felt compelled to both begin and complete this book, even after the disappointment that his second book, "More Information Than You Require", proved to be. Nobody warned me!

Don't get me wrong. There are some bright spots in both the second book and in this third as well, but they are increasingly marginalized amid hours of remarkably unfunny material which fills the rest. I have to give it 3 stars overall because there are some gems in here and some fantastic performances, but I feel somewhat guilty doing so.

Alas, Hodgman is a comedic genius and wordsmith. But what happened here? Like Lucas and the Wachowskis before him, maybe he set the bar too high with "Expertise" and just ran out of good ideas. I know all the jokes and punchlines already, but I still find myself laughing out loud every time -- sometimes in anticipation of a joke I know is coming! Read, listen, or otherwise consume the first book, but steer clear of the rest of the series. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Industrial Drivel

Would you try another book from John Hodgman and/or John Hodgman?

Not after the intellectual assault of "That is All".

Would you ever listen to anything by John Hodgman again?

Only in small snippets, what is what Mr. Hodgman should stick to the 2 min monologue.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of John Hodgman?

John works well as a narrator of his own stuff. His side kick and other cameo appearances were interesting, but the whole thing was like eternally listening to someone tell a joke and waiting for the punch line, which never comes.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

It was an exercise in self discipline, since I bought the thing, I had better listen to it. But it was an arduous task. The primary redeeming quality is that it has an end.

Any additional comments?

I was disappointed that john found it necessary to resort to profanity. He obviously has not mastered the art of comedy without gratuitous vulgarity.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The best one out of the 3

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

This is by far the best entertainment i have in audio format. It is the best out of the 3, it's like he perfected his performance throughout the books. Must listen!

What was one of the most memorable moments of That Is All?

The jock story involving snowballs! True nerdom

What about John Hodgman’s performance did you like?

his comedic style is very much in tune with my own.

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

No way! Way too long and i wanted to last as long as possible! i listened to it while i drove. It was great!

Any additional comments?

I hope you do more Judge John Hodgman! Maybe a JJHO audiobook!

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Zenith of World Knowledge Conclusively Achieved!!

In this eagerly awaited final volume of his compendium of world knowledge, Hodgman has reached the apex of his career (and finale if, as he predicts, the world will end with Ragnarök on 12/21/2012).

Hodgman's skill at creating and describing a delightfully ridiculous version of reality never fails to please. His mock serious narration of the "facts," together with the contributions of various guests, including Paul Rudd, Jonathan Coulton, Jon Hamm, Rachel Maddow, Paul F. Tompkins, Dick Cavett, and Brooke Shields, makes for a delightful listen.

Hodgman addresses issues that are admittedly tough for him, such as wine and sports, but he valiantly soldiers on, relying on just enough actual facts for the listener to start wondering where the real stuff stops and the fantastical begins.

A large part of the pleasure of this audiobook is Hodgman's own wonderfully dry narration which, along with the guest commentaries, makes for the perfect, and very funny, audiobook experience.

Magnificent nerd humor--make sure you catch it before Ragnarök!

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

His best yet

What did you love best about That Is All?

Funny, thoughtful, beautifully written -- some truly lovely passages in here, tucked in among fake facts and outright comedy.

What other book might you compare That Is All to and why?

His previous two.

Which character – as performed by John Hodgman – was your favorite?

He plays himself. So: that one.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Great start, slow middle, bloody long finish...

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

The first part of this story was brilliant. The references were funny but.... towards the middle where it jumps into a short story not associated with the actual story, the enjoyment factor started to plummet...

I would certainly listen to the first half but maybe skip the second.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Made the second half more like the first...

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderfully comic rantings of a sick mind

Mr. Hodgeman has a knack for making up silliness and sharing it with us, his minions.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

do not purchase

can I get a refund? this was a waste of a credit. do not purchase this mess

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