Without Feathers

By: Woody Allen

Narrated by: Woody Allen

Length: 2 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

Now in audio for the first time, Without Feathers is narrated by Woody Allen himself. Here they are 16 of the funniest tales and ruminations ever recorded, by one of the great comic minds of our time. From "The Whore of Mensa", to "Fabulous Tales & Mythical Beasts", to "No Kaddish for Weinstein", old and new Allen fans will laugh themselves silly over these sparkling gems. A small sample: "Getting through the night is becoming harder and harder," writes Allen in his "secret" journal. "Last evening I had the uneasy feeling that some men were trying to break into my room to shampoo me."

Without Feathers delivers more of Allen's New Yorker-style humor. Worthy stand-outs include "If the Impressionists Had Been Dentists", a genius piece that puts oral surgery in a whole new, much more exciting light. Throughout, Allen grapples in his wildly inventive way with the targets that obsess him: death, God (or lack of God), women (or lack of women), intellectuals, the arts, and even wildlife.

There is a distinct romantic strain that runs through much of his writings, which the author describes as "either Byronic or moronic". Allen is forever at war with the universe and claims unequivocally that he is "at two with nature". His artistic ambition, as he puts it, is to "forge in the smithy of my soul the uncreated conscience of my race. And then see if I can get them mass-produced in plastic."

Woody Allen's short-story collections Without Feathers, Side Effects, Getting Even, and Mere Anarchy are available separately or together as part of The Woody Allen Collection.

Listen to Without Feathers, Getting Even, Mere Anarchy, and Side Effects - or all four in The Woody Allen Collection.

©1986 Woody Allen (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Throughout my life, literally thousands of people have made me feel inadequate, but none more so than Woody Allen." (Larry David, Producer, Writer, Actor)
"Woody Allen brought modern comedy to the cinema screen." (Ricky Gervais)

Strange

Purchase only if you like disjointed humor. I listened for a short time and will delete. I like Woody Allen for his humor but this goes beyond my limited comprehension.

Disappointing

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I found the humor surprisingly irritating and unfunny considering I have always enjoyed Woody's films. Something did not quite work here. Have not reads it all yet.

Has Without Feathers turned you off from other books in this genre?

A little.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Did not sound sufficiently relaxed or confident considering this is Woody's genre.

Dribble

Don't waste your money. This story was self indugent and boring. There wasn't really any story, just Woody Allen reading his shopping list. Sicofants will like this story.

Inside Jokes, I Guess

What disappointed you about Without Feathers?

If you like the New Yorker's "Shouts & Murmurs" section, you might like this. I say that because the writing here reminds the deadpan style that section seems to favor.
I have never once laughed at Shouts & Murmurs. On the rare occasions when I start something there, I never finish it.
I'm not going to finish this, either.

What was most disappointing about Woody Allen’s story?

It's just not funny. It's a bunch of non sequiturs and inside jokes about psychoanalysis and people failing to get electrocuted when they stick their noses in light sockets. I do like Woody Allen's movies, so I'm not sure why I don't like this. It just seems sort of dumb to me, which is the way I feel about Shouts & Murmurs (see above.) But the New Yorker sells. Somebody must like it. Just not me.

What three words best describe Woody Allen’s performance?

Woody Allen Deadpanning.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Boredom, mystification, growing disappointment for about 20 minutes or so followed by , indifference and the choice to try something else. I just returned "Too Big to Fail" because Sorkin is a despicable shill for the banksters and I didn't want him to have my money. I didn't feel that I could get a refund on this in good conscience, at least so soon after getting a refund before, because after all, they do offer an advance listen. But I kind of wish I hadn't bought it.

Any additional comments?

If you're not really sure you love "Shouts & Murmurs," don't buy this.

Woody Allan's narration?

I like the book a lot (I have it in printed version as well), but the narration is quite difficult to follow (at least for me as non-native English speaker). It's a continuous stream of words, hard to guess where the paragraphs finish.