Delete That

(And Other Failed Attempts to Look Good Online)

By: John Crist

Narrated by: John Crist

Length: 6 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

A candid and irreverent look at the ridiculous ways we all try to make ourselves look better online—from a popular standup and internet comedian whose videos have been viewed over one billion times.

“John is one of my top-three all-time favorite comedians, next to me and Foxworthy. Buy this book—you’ll be glad you did.”—Larry the Cable Guy

John Crist wasn’t always recognizable as “the guy from that hilarious video in the grocery store.” Growing up part of a homeschool family of ten in rural Georgia with Mennonite grandparents and a high-school job at Chick-fil-A, he was an unlikely candidate for internet fame. Despite all that, or perhaps because of it, Crist passionately pursued his dream of stand-up comedy.

In his first book, Crist offers heartfelt, laugh-out-loud observations on the absurd ways we all try to make ourselves look better online: like how we all post filtered pictures of our super healthy kale salads but somehow neglect to post about our 1 A.M. Uber Eats Big Mac. Or how quick we all are to post our “I Voted” sticker pictures but fail to post about the ways we vote with our dollars every day in ways that don’t align with our loudly and publicly espoused values.

With self-deprecating wit, Crist chronicles his meteoric rise as an online and stand-up comedian, but he doesn’t gloss over the ways his own life choices did not align with his online image—a gap between perception and reality that eventually led to a stint in rehab.

In Delete That, Crist takes responsibility for his actions, offers some reflections on how to do better, and encourages us all to stop capitulating to the fear of “But what will they think?!” Instead, this book offers a bold invitation to stop curating life and start living it . . . one Nickelback concert at a time.

©2022 Random House Group (P)2022 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“If this book is like everything else John does, it’ll be a bestseller, which irritates me because he’s good-looking, funny, and clever. It’s like he went to the comic buffet and took everything. ‘Hey, John, take one item and move on!’ He’s one of my top-three all-time favorite comedians, next to me and Foxworthy. Buy this book—you’ll be glad you did. Then check out my website for all my tour dates.”—Larry the Cable Guy

“One of the more important interviews I’ve conducted was with John Crist. He’s absolutely hilarious, one of the funniest people I’ve ever met!”—Marty Smith, ESPN host and reporter

“What I saw in you is authenticity and that fascinated me.”—Bert Kreischer

Wow

I'm so very proud of John!!! Airing your dirty laundry takes courage and sure does make it smell better! Great job with the book!

Must Read!!

Transparent. Honest. Refreshing. Serious and Hilarious. My favorite comedian of all time! “When we bring in comedians, the suicide rate (of the troops) goes down” Powerful.

Funny and encouraging

If you’re a fan of John Crist, you know how absolutely hilarious he is. This book is full of laughs but also pulls back the curtain to show who he really is - someone flawed and totally relatable. I can’t recommend this book enough!

Been a fan for years- great story

Been a big fan since one of the first viral videos! Love his honesty in his story and listening to it is like a super long podcast. Great listen for anyone, particularly a Christian who has been through some heavy “battle with the self” challenges themselves. Congrats John!

Thankful for transparency

This book was so refreshing. Hearing the vulnerable and transparent parts of his life was so encouraging. Growing up in a Christian household this was relatable, and yet now as a mom of 3 boys, I was thankful that he wasn’t critical of all that a Christian household can (or should) be.
It has made me think of how I am supposed to be more gracious as well as a human…let alone as a Christian. Thanks John for sharing your heart and experiences with us.

Real

Authentic, funny, and even a little gritty. It's good to hear him doing so well, and I think this is a must listen if you've ever had to recover from a mistake

Honest and real

John brings such a humble and helpful tone. He also makes you laugh and check yourself. I’ve been a fan but now I appreciate John so much more!!

Humbled

I thought John had captured my attention with just his humor, but after this book, I see that there was a message from God on his story & I had to see it in depth. He's captured my attention & respect for who he is & he continues to fight through it all. I saw I am not alone in many of my struggles. The fight is real, but so is our God who is commanding this fight.

This book nails the value of being real

This is a must listen for anyone who is living apart from who they want to be - for whatever reason. If you have been there, like John has (and I have), you will relate to his story. And if you're in the middle of the shame of living a lie, you must listen to realize the freedom of exposing the lie and realizing you're still loved anyway. I'm so glad I listened to John's story of his experience. And I'm so glad he's come through it all with a better sense of self worth.

Like a long Ted Talk with John

I enjoyed this book very much. I appreciated all of the honesty and while I cannot relate to those particular addictions, I found it so related. It helped me to realize I also struggle with seeking live and approval even through church. I particularly found it profound when his therapist banned him from church when they found out how he was getting his mental high from attention. Very interesting story overall. I’m glad John is doing well! He has always brought laughter and happiness into my life and he deserves happiness too.