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Tepper Isn't Going Out  By  cover art

Tepper Isn't Going Out

By: Calvin Trillin
Narrated by: Calvin Trillin
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Publisher's summary

Murray Tepper would say that he is an ordinary New Yorker who is simply trying to read the newspaper in peace. But he reads while sitting behind the wheel of his parked car, and his car always seems to be in a particularly desirable parking spot. Not surprisingly, he is regularly interrupted by drivers who want to know if he is going out.

Tepper isn't going out. Why not? His explanations tend to be rather literal: the indisputable fact, for instance, that he has 20 minutes left on the meter.

Tepper's behavior sometimes irritates the people who want his spot. ("Is that where you live? Is that car rent-controlled?") It also irritates the mayor - Frank Ducavelli, known in tabloid headlines as Il Duce - who sees Murray Tepper as a harbinger of what His Honor always calls "the forces of disorder."

But once New Yorkers become aware of Tepper, some of them begin to suspect that he knows something they don't know. And an ever-increasing number of them are willing to line up for the opportunity to sit in his car with him and find out.

Tepper Isn't Going Out is a wise and witty story of an ordinary man who, perhaps innocently, changes the world around him.

©2001 Calvin Trillin
(P)2001 Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Trillin is a highly accomplished storyteller as well as a humorist and a memoirist, and this oddly titled novel is by far his funniest and sunniest yet." (Publishers Weekly)
"By dint of Trillin's fertile and humorous imagination, the book emerges as a refreshing and completely likable jape." (Library Journal)

What listeners say about Tepper Isn't Going Out

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Dog Stopping Funny

I walk dogs while I listen and I was laughing so loudly that my dogs kept stopping and turning around to see what had gotten into me. I tried to explain it to them but I don't think they ever understood. What a hoot this book is.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Constantly entertaining

Very funny. As a former New Yorker I enjoyed every minute of it.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

To park or not to park...

Simply one of the most entertaining books I have read or listened to this year. Mr. Trillum delivery is dry but laced with humor and grace as he explores the ordinary life of Tepper as it turns very extraordinary by the most unusual of circumstances. His acerbic wit casts its gaze on all aspects of our modern life - work, family, politics and much more. Tis a book to curl up with in any convenient parking spot and enjoy.

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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

An absolute classic.

I've read/listened to this book many times, and each time I discover something new; a small detail or nuance in the story line or dialogue that makes me glad I read it again. This book should be required reading for everyone!

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2 people found this helpful

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

kansas city meets new york city

what are the midwestern male virtues ?
stoicism / dependability / humility
being useful in the face of adversity

and the virtues of new york jewish males ?
shrewd / shrill / clever / read the fine print
unruffled in the face of adversity

who could possibly have a foot in both worlds ?
well his name is calvin " call me bud " trillin
he has written a small humble shrewd book to prove it

the main character lives life on this own terms
the world wants to press him into its' mold
he resists in a stubborn thoughtful way

the book is a parable for grown men
it is a primer on how to live an authentic life
trillin tells you the hard truth with a sly wink

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

Not recommended for those who do not live in cities where finding parking is a daily challenge, especially in front of one's own home. As a result, any profoundness, or humor is lost to me for the most part.

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2 people found this helpful

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

Brilliant NYC Story

Loved it! The authenticity of a NYC reality and its humanizing effect on all who have lived it. wonderful layers of human complexity, storytelling and subtle layers of humor! Great story and great reading!

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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

Calvin Trillin at His Best!

Charming and subtle story that provides insights into life in America's busiest city. A one-of-a- kind book with a surprising conclusion.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Disappointed...

After reading all the reviews touting how humorous this book was, I must admit, I'm quite disappointed. I didn't "laugh out loud" or even giggle. I equate this book to reading a human interest story in the newspaper; you read it, for a moment think,"hmm okay interesting" then you move on. The ending left me wondering "that's it?" Though the descriptions of the city area are quite good and whisked me away to NYC, they do not make up for the weak storyline. Perhaps this is a book you should read only when you are circling the West Side looking for a parking spot.

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1 person found this helpful

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

A truly NY Problem - Alternate Side Of The Street Parking

Calvin Trillin has captured the details & ramifications of owning a car in NYC but not a garage. Truly delightful narrative. He always captures life in NYC. Also loved “Family Man”.

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