Notes from the End of Everything

By: Robert Pantano

Narrated by: Robert Pantano

Length: 2 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

The writer and creator of the YouTube channel and production house Pursuit of Wonder brings you his debut book, Notes from the End of Everything.

After being diagnosed with a brain tumor, writer John Gallo spends his time confronting his lifelong sense of fraudulence, regret, and self-misunderstanding, all while loosely chronicling the development of his cancer.

Formed out of a collection of journal-like essays posthumously discovered on his computer, we follow Gallo’s mind as he ruminates on concepts and theories of time, being, death, anxiety, creativity, despair, isolation, happiness, wonder, absurdity, and other eternal themes of life — big and small.

The work carries a tone of existentialism as well as a culmination of other complimentary and sometimes contradictory philosophies that meld into a modern, accessible take that is simultaneously dark and hopeful.

©2020 Robert K. Pantano (P)2020 Robert K. Pantano

Robert Pantano, you’ve done it again!

When words fall flat at the true meaning of things, it is hard to express just how much this story made me feel and pushed me to explore the depths of my vices, I explored this work as I explore all Robert Pantano works, watching the sun set over the bay while simultaneously enjoying the last warmth the sun has to offer for the day. The ways the story makes you truly interpret the man’s life and compare it to your own in depth and with complete honesty is something I didn’t know was possible. I look forward to the next!

All time favorite!

Loved it. I haven't felt so related to in all my life. Thank you for the amazing feeling of feeling understood and not alone.

Enjoyed listening to author

Definitely worth purchasing. I found the book to be very eye opening and exhilarating. Thank you

One of the best books I've ever read

I complete hundreds of audiobooks each year, and I encounter plenty of "Good" ones and maybe a few "great ones." Then there's books like this. At the time I'm writing this review, I'm not sure how widely-known this book is, but people will still be reading it long into the future. I know this, because it was so good, I stopped half-way through my first listen and started over again. That's how good it was. If I had to compare it to anything, it's Bukowski meets Vonnegut meets Louis Ferdinand Celine, and even that doesn't quite capture it. I kept bookmarking parts of it, but each line is a bookmark. Ok, enough gushing. Narration was great. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will keep rereading it over the years.

we all live the same lives

I always enjoy the work by "pursuit of wonder" on YouTube, as Robert Pantano has a great voice. while listening to John Gallo's notes its easy to lose yourself in his words. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys philosophy, existentialism, and literature.

simply mindblowing

it is so unbelievably dofficult to comprehend how great this book is. when it ends it makes me just want more. i lose myself in the words

More of the same-and that's a good thing

If you usually like Robert Pantano's work, it's unlikely you'll be disappointed here. Further exploration of his usual themes involving death and acceptance thereof, in his usual tone and timbre. I will say that does him a disservice at times in this audiobook example, as at times his typical pace of exploration can outrun you. I found myself pausing and scrubbing back more than a few times, but was always glad that I did anyway.
On a secondary, more personal note, I started listening to this the day my grandmother died, just over a week before her birthday. it was very sudden and unexpected, and unfortunately I was out of town for work. I'd be lying if I said I didn't have a lot of moments where I had to stop listening to just process, but I'm very glad that I bought and listened to this at the time I did. Going through the thought processes of a man who knows he is a few steps from the end of his road is a very hard pill to swallow in the immediate wake of a loved one's death, but it brought to mind the many times she had talked with me for hours about the life she had lived. her last partner died about two years ago, and my grandfather will have passed 10 years ago tomorrow, as of writing this. she has had quite a bit of time to process her twilight years, and outside of the pain of advanced age, she was happy. she spent time with her children, reconnected with family members after years of fighting, watched her great grandchildren come into this world, take first steps, and my own daughter was able to sit and talk, read with her, and tell my grandmother she loved her. I don't normally get emotional like this, but she was a wonderful woman who was able to bring just about anyone together. She was my rock, and she will be missed- but I know she was ready. I listened to the bulk of this book on the flight home to attend her memorial, and I don't think I would have been as stable or accepting otherwise. To Robert- thank you for your work. I'm glad I stumbled on your channel a year ago, and I'm really glad you took the time to produce this recording. To anyone who might read this review- for the incredibly low price? You really can't get much more value.

I love this book

I love this book its a great transference of media on part of the author love his YouTube channel Pursuit of Wonder

Philosophical Fiction

As a fan of the author’s youtube channel, this book is a great summary of his philosophy in life. It’s a morbid, gritty reality that many people don’t even realize they need. It’s also a quick read. I would recommend this to anyone, as I feel everyone can benefit from it. The combination of philosophy and fiction really bring it home for me. It’s thought provoking and fun to listen to. 5 stars.

A life-changing story for the 21st Century.

It's an amazing journey into the mind of the soul and what it means to be alive.