Tough Sh-t: Life Advice from a Fat, Lazy Slob Who Did Good

Look even if you???re only vaguely familiar with Kevin Smith work you can???t go wrong with this book. It is absolute gold. You???re going to be charmed by Smith???s witticisms and colorful pro???s, which range from hardcore nerd humor to a surprisingly wide knowledge of historic figures (the guy really is funny). I???m defiantly going to recommend this to everyone I meet, especially because it???s saved my sanity during finals week. Where I???ve been working full time on campus, and buried under a literal mountain of research essays. In addition, the fact that Kevin Smith decided to narrate this book himself adds to the flavor and really gives it a stand out performance.

First, a warning: this book contains more naughty language and downright profane sentiment than any book I've read in a long, long time - maybe ever! If you're familiar with Kevin Smith's work, then you're already acclimated to the language. If you're new to the "View Askewniverse," proceed at your own risk. ;-)

That being said, I'm a huge fan of Kevin Smith. I love his gift for dialogue and characterization, his talent for giving a sparkle to minutiae, and the sweet heart that beats behind an undeniably dirty mouth. Most of all, I love the fact that he is an ordinary guy who's made it big by making art. This book was just as touching, inspiring and hilarious as a fangirl could've wished. Here are some of my favorite quotes from the book:

"As much as you want to walk your own path you're terrified of standing apart. Because the pack offers security, normalcy, convenience, protection and identity. So here's the tough sh*t: security, normalcy, convenience, protection and identity? They're opiates you've got to wean yourself off before you can be an individual. You can't stand out if you're blending in."

"In the face of such hopelessness as our eventual unavoidable death, there is little sense in not at least trying to accomplish all of your wildest dreams in life."

"If you're alive, kick into drive. Chase whimsies. See if you can turn dreams into a way to make a living, if not an entire way of life."

"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take."

Any fan of Smith will enjoy this book. Those who aren't fans will likely find themselves entertained and inspired. I'll definitely be reading this one again.

Kevin Smith is a funny guy and loves to talk so it's no surprise that he narrates this book and he does it well.

If you're a fan looking for anything new I doubt you'll find it here as if you've listened or watched his Q&A shows and podcasts this book is pretty much the same thing, which is not a surprise but I might of hoped for more new material.

I never do reviews (grammer and spelling suck) After listening to this book a asked why not!!!
This book is great and I will share with others

To Kevin,

Thank You!

I like Kevin Smith despite myself - - and him. The essence of this guy is a really sweet, funny, and ridiculously smart "artist" as he insists on calling himself and others. The need to slip into 6th grade boy humor and more swear words per square inch then you can believe possible doesn't prevent even a quasi-prude like me from really enjoying the person who lies at the heart of this "artist." If you've seen and liked any of his films like Chasing Amy or Clerks (or my personal favorite: Dogma) then you'll really like this book as well. What makes it more special is that he occasionally goes off script and you get that spontaneous humor that makes him so entertaining. If you like his movies, you'll like this man, and you'll like this book and agree with him: he's an artist.

Kevin Smith likes to talk, he's funny and has A LOT to say about life, making "films", comics, family, friends, and whatever else the f**k he wants to talk about(he is quite vulgar which I find refreshing sometimes).

The end, but I don't want to spoil it. I got tears, and if a F**king Kevin Smith book makes you cry, then it is worth a listen.

Kevin Smith

Try something, be encouraging to my kids, and swear a lot.

Some of the stories I have already heard told on various blogs or SMODCASTS(Kevin Smith's podcast Network) so it was slightly repetative. But not everyone reads his blogs or listens to his SMODCASTS(which you should, if you enjoy this book).

Kevin Smith seems like a real heartfelt guy with a passion for people. He can't be "friends" with everyone, it seems like if he could he would! Instead he does the next best think and shares his heart and mind with the world hoping he might reach that one person that might otherwise not have had some encouragement. That's pretty effin cool.

Yes, I would definetly consider the audio edition to be heads and tails above the print version. Kevin Smith is an awesome story teller and what better than to hear, him thell you his story.

The too fat to fly chapter was very memorable because i never knew the entire story, untill now.

Hmmm when he does his "Jen" voice cracks me up!

Be yourself and follow your dreams!

Buy this audio book!

You will laugh.

Ummm. Probably not. Not sure I need more detail about his life. This was a nice review and whats happened to him thus far.

He is the perfect person to read his own writing. His self deprecation and tone just adds to the humor.

That any loser can be successful. If you work hard you might get lucky and all your dreams can come true. It might not happen but at least you will be in a position to take advantage if it does.

Always be yourself.

Good easy read. Nothing earth shattering. Just a nice normal dude relating the peaks and valleys of his interesting life. He is a weird mix of self deprecating and cocky at the same time. His parents taught him to be humble and he employs it well. I do think its funny that his admission of regular pot smoking roughly coincides with his decision to take the easier road of just talking for a living as opposed to continuing on the harder path of writing and creating stories. I hope it works for him. I for one will never listen to one of his podcasts but would gladly see one of his movies. But I am not his core customer. And by god does he know them well.

I love Kevin Smith and have always enjoyed his movies, especially his early ones. He’s a New Jersey guy like myself. He is a huge hockey fan like myself. And like myself, he is a huge George Carlin fan.

He is a great writer and I loved hearing about the making of his movies and especially loved hearing about his saga with Bruce Willis. I also loved hearing about Wayne Gretzky. I may need to purchase that book too now.

In any event, this is a great book and is very funny right from the very beginning up until the very end.

Smith also does a great job narrating too. Two thumbs up!!

I was impressed/shocked at how brutally honest and open Kevin Smith is. Yeah, I've seen most of his movies, but that writing was always telling a story about other people. When writing about himself he is, if anything, even less reserved.

Kevin Smith is a passionate man, and if you've ever seen a single film of his you know he can write a jaw dropping monologue. It is in the final chapter of 'Tough Sh-t' when Smith's writing becomes the most impassioned, and it is all about his wife and family. He tells you in gory detail that he is the luckiest fat guy on earth when he writes about his wife Jen. It was inspirational to know that love like that can exist.

Also, he is completely unreserved in making clear the people in his life who have helped, and those who have been complete d-bags, dedicating two chapters to Bruce Willis and how incredibly difficult and damaging it was to work with the star of Die Hard.

Not other than his movies