I Drink for a Reason

Yes, the audiobook had many additions to the book that were hilarious, but it gets really preachy, so I'd have to recommend it to someone very open minded.

There wasn't any story. It was a collection of essays.

LOTS of things. He ad-libbed a whole lot, and there were TONS of changes (an entire chapter was put to music, special guest stars etc) that made it SO much better than the book.

The first few chapters are classic Cross. Reminiscent of the type of brilliant riting that made Mr. Show so hilariously innovative. Introspective and imaginative rants about life and how ridiculous people can be. I especially enjoyed the Network Executive Meeting chapter.

There is no story. This is mostly a stream of consciousness attempt to fill enough pages to qualify as a book. As a long-time David Cross fan, I was disappointed. Using the book to respond to a blogger's comments is just self indulgent. The blogger's "voice" was an INCOHERENT synthesized effect that became increasingly frustrating as it went on, as you can only make out about HALF of what it says.

I enjoyed his intonations when he was reading the chapters, and the various characters that he portrayed. I liked the "extras" where he chides the listener for purchasing the audio book instead of the hard copy. While it was an innovative idea, having a band perform the chapter about "A Free List of Quirks for Aspiring Independent Filmmakers" was just AWFUL. The song was tedious and lacked any real form or melody, and it goes on for SO LONG that it becomes arduous to listen to. I would qualify it in the genre of "depressing goth music to slash your wrists to." Next time get someone snappier like BareNaked Ladies or They Might Be Giants.

No. For the love of god, no. Half of this book was witty and heartfelt, but the rest was just filling space. It gives the impression that he just did this for the money. Of course, that's why MOST people publish a book these days, so I shouldn't be so shocked. If this book weren't one of my FREE trial membership downloads, I would feel VERY cheated indeed.

If David Cross is obsessive enough to ever seek out and read the reviews for this audio book, then I'd like to apologize for being so harsh. I WANTED to like this. I've enjoyed almost all of your previous works. I did laugh a few times at this. But you lost me at "A Free List of Quirks." If that's the kind of music YOU enjoy, then it was presumptuous of you to subject your listeners to that.

I've purchased David's albums and sought out his performances on tv, film and at live venues. I've sympathized with him when he complained that Fox failed to promote Arrested Development and when he complained that Patton Oswalt had unfairly picked on him for taking soulless gigs like Alvin, even as he peddled his relentlessly pedantic anti-corporate point of view. I love and believe everything David does, says...is. No, wait - sorry, not everything. I don't dig it when he sh*ts on his audience, repeatedly, for choosing to listen to, rather than read, his book. Specifically, I despair a bit when a guy who has made his living doing stand up and voice over work in kid flicks like "Kung Fu Panda" and "Alvin and the CGI Money Things" berates his audience for wanting to hear, rather than read, his book. It is an amusing book - some great stuff. What David fails to appreciate, however, (perhaps willfully) is that his delivery brings something unique to his work. Wait, did I say work? Sorry, I meant shtick...or bits. David's bits are so inexorably tied to his delivery, I can't imagine reading his work. Like Sedaris, it loses around, I don't know...half? Let's say half the entertainment value. When Sedaris does his Billy Holiday impression in his story about confronting homosexual bigotry while taking guitar lessons as a teen, the content is elevated by the performance. So too when Cross did his gay black assistant to OJ Simpson bit back on Joe Frank's show (long time ago). Neither would have translated well to the printed page. Hey, did I mention I paid for this audiobook? Yeah, I did. Did I mention that I read more books than the two to which I listen on a monthly basis? I do. Did I mention that many folks listen to books on their commute, trapped in their cars or crammed into subway trains? Have you ever tried to read a hardback on an NYC subway during rush hour? No? Well, try it, I'll wait...Way to lose a fan, jerk.

If the book was entertaining or funny.

I have been a fan of Cross for years, seen him do stand-up, loved his stand-up CD "Shut up you F***in baby!" and listened to it many times.
But this book was absolutely boring! Didn't laugh once. And Im sad to say he came off as sort of obnoxious :(

Definitely- I will keep checking out his stand-up.

hmmm... no?

I am a David Cross fan but this was fingernails on a chalkboard. There was no organization to this. It just seemed to be stream of consciousness. I listened to the whole thing, but I was constantly checking to see when the pain would end.

Horribly not funny. I listened for about an hour and could not go on. I can not imagine listening for another 5 hours... wish I could get a refund.

Save your money for a different book.

Painful! The first hour and a half was great and funny, then he had a "robot" read some of it - which was not understandable. Not long after that, he had a band sing six pages of a list he had made of character ideas for indy movie directors. The idea was derivative - I've heard that on Adam Carolla - indy movie ideas... plus you couldn't understand what the band was saying. It was obvious that he was getting bored with his book, so he felt he had to put music and robot to it. We stopped 2 1/2 hours in. Also, at the beginning, the audio wasn't recorded well. You won't like it if you get it.

If it was not so vengeful against other people

I do think he is funny sometimes and I do enjoy his voice. But as for things he has written no way in hell, he is just to bitter for me.

His voice is fine.

Some of the names he makes up did make me laugh a little

Just not really sure why he wrote this book other then to tell the world how much he hates Jim Belushi and anything that the rest of the world likes.

Loved this book and enjoyed it so much more with the narration by David Cross. He also added his own little comments here and there that were not in the book which made it extra special.

A comic genius, Cross is witty, hilarious and has always been one of my favorite comedians. And, there are many times in this book, where his brilliant comedy undoubtedly, proves me right... and his narration of his own book, makes it that much funnier for the most part. With that said though, the audio book version can at times be almost unbearable to listen to as Cross constantly points out how one should be reading his book rather than listening. At first it funny but by the ninth or tenth time it's outright annoying. Even still, great whether reading or listening!!