You Can't Be Serious

By: Kal Penn

Narrated by: Kal Penn

Length: 9 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

The star of the Harold and Kumar franchise, House, and Designated Survivor recounts why he rejected the advice of his aunties and guidance counselors and, instead of becoming a doctor or “something practical,” embarked on a surprising journey that has included confronting racism in Hollywood, meeting his future husband, and working in the Obama administration, in this “incredibly joyful and insightful” (Kiefer Sutherland) memoir.

You Can’t Be Serious is a series of funny, consequential, awkward, and ridiculous stories from Kal Penn’s idiosyncratic life. It’s about being the grandson of Gandhian freedom fighters, and the son of immigrant parents: people who came to this country with very little and went very far—and whose vision of the American dream probably never included their son sliding off an oiled-up naked woman in the raunchy Ryan Reynolds movie Van Wilder…or getting a phone call from Air Force One as Kal flew with the country’s first Black president.

“By turns hilarious, poignant, and inspiring” (David Axelrod, New York Times bestselling author), Kal reflects on the most exasperating and rewarding moments from his journey so far. He pulls back the curtain on the nuances of opportunity and racism in the entertainment industry and recounts how he built allies, found encouragement, and dealt with early reminders that he might never fit in. He describes his initially unpromising first date with his now-fiancé Josh, involving an 18-pack of Coors Light and an afternoon of watching NASCAR. And of course, he reveals how, after a decade and a half of fighting for and enjoying successes in Hollywood, he made the terrifying but rewarding decision to take a sabbatical from a fulfilling acting career for an opportunity to serve his country as an Obama White House aide.

Above all, You Can’t Be Serious shows that everyone can have more than one life story. The book “is insightful, funny, and instructive for anyone who’s ever grappled with how they fit into the American dream” (Ronan Farrow, New York Times bestselling author), and demonstrates that no matter who you are and where you come from, you have many more choices than those presented to you. And okay, yes, it’s also about how Kal accidentally (and very stupidly) accepted an invitation to take the entire White House Office of Public Engagement to a strip club—because, let’s be honest, that’s the kind of stuff you really want to hear about.

©2021 Bhai, Inc. All rights reserved. (P)2021 Simon & Schuster Inc. All rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"Penn has created a unique, honest performance, very different from the standard celebrity tell-all. This is an enjoyable and informative listen delivered by a pop-culture figure who's all grown up." — AudioFile Magazine

The book is so much more

I don’t understand, the hyper focused all over the news about his sexuality and coming out in the book. The book has so much more to offer he is so much more than his sexuality. Hearing the behind the scenes to the white house and Hollywood and how hard he work to get to where he is now should also be part of the headlines. The racism is something many of us know and it’s still happening, but hearing his personal struggles and how he tells the story makes you feel like you are there in that moment wishing you could do something about it. He is a great story teller and funny of course.

I laughed until I had a childish accident!!

I want to have Kal over for dinner, and tell him to bring his parents and Josh. It is just the most charming book by one of the very best Americans ever born here. I almost never feel a kinship with people I never met, but Kal speaks to my heart like we were siblings…but I am waaaaaay older than him. I started to be a bit sad as I neared the end of the book…like you feel when you find that a good friend is moving to the opposite coast. Kal has a good heart, a razor-sharp wit, a face you fell in love with at first glance, and a world view that gives me the type of hope for our planet that I have seldom seen. Treat yourself to a most enjoyable ride with Kal, and remember to savor the sweet, crazy, goofy, intelligent, earnest, and hysterically funny world of this adorable man.

So many laughs and great stories!

This book had me laughing out loud so many times! I was inspired by Kal's stories of working in the White House. Kal is truly a great storyteller and is respectful even to those he had disagreements with. I also enjoyed learning about his experiences breaking cultural expectations, from what he should major in at college to how he should play a role for film. What a great read.

Just incredible

Another amazing memoir. Kal Penn is articulate, smart, funny, and honest. It’s been a pleasure to follow his life endeavours and I feel I have learned a lot about certain topics such as diversity, public service, Hollywood lifestyle, and of course, inside jokes at the White House haha. Great book.

Funny and Engaging

I loved every minute of this book. I am so glad Kal read it himself!

Awesome!

This was one of the best stories I’ve ever heard.
Kal Penn is so dynamic, funny and moving. His story is amazing. I loved every minute of this book.

loved it

tears and smiles throughout. enjoyed Kalpen's personal reading of it very much and glad he decided to do that.

Hashtag Sexy Face

Kalpen, what an amazing book, the best part was your voice reading it. I found times sitting in my truck waiting to get out to not miss anything, also wearing my Bluetooth headphone to listen at work. You’ve led a great life, and it sucks you’ve had the roadblocks, glad it didn’t stop you!

Honest And Insightful

I throughly enjoyed the glimpse into Kal Penn’s life and memories. I felt the disappointments, enjoyed the acknowledgments and cheered the successes he shares in his memoir. I am grateful he narrated the book leaving me feeling that he was here in the room sharing his life with my husband and I.

Definitely worthy of anyone’s time and very enjoyable!

Great read

Funny, moving and well written. I really enjoyed listening. I would love to hear some of the of the d*ck jokes that I am sure were edited out.