The Believer magazine presents a compendium of advice from producers, writers, and actors of The Daily Show, Saturday Night Live, Parks and Recreation, The Late Show with David Letterman, The Hangover, and The Colbert Report, along with other musicians, cartoonists, New Yorker writers, and those similarly unqualified to offer guidance.
Here Amy Sedaris describes the perfect murder for unwanted hermit crabs - you will need a piece of meat and a brick. Simon Rich explains how to avoid being found dead in your underwear by firemen - buy some long johns. Zach Galifianakis provides insight into how he changed his name without a social security card - he just started calling himself Adam Zapple, and it stuck. Bob Saget finally illuminates what "friends with benefits" really means - a nonsexual relationship wherein your ex makes monetary deposits into your bank account.
Contributors include:
Rob Baedeker, Anne Beatts, Elizabeth Beckwith, Jerri Blank, Roz Chast, Louis C.K., Mike Doughty, Dave Eggers, Rich Fulcher, Zach Galifianakis, Dan Guterman, Anthony Jeselnik, Julie Klausner, Lisa Lampanelli, Nick Hornby, Sam Lipsyte, Liam Lynch, Merrill Markoe, Rose McGowan, Misc. Canadian rock musicians, Laraine Newman, The Pleasure Syndicate, Bob Powers, Simon Rich, Bob Saget, George Saunders, Kristen Schaal, Paul Scheer, Amy Sedaris, Allison Silverman, Paul Simms, Brendon Small, Jerry Stahl, Scott Thompson, Fred Willard, Cintra Wilson, Weird Al Yankovic, and Alan Zweibel.
©2012 The Believer (P)2012 Random House Audio
"Beyond Horrible. Don't waste your time."
I can't think of a single person who would enjoy this presentation.
Not one of these authors - normally very funny people, some of whom I even know personally - delivered a performance that made me laugh. In fact every moment was cringe-worthy, and I could not even make it through all the authors.
Since there were so many narrators, I doubt that's the issue. Maybe the director is at fault, for creating such uniform suckage?
No. I can't even say,
Normally I have good audiobook experiences and write good reviews. This was just remarkably bad - so bad that I had to write this review. If I can spare one other person from what I went through listening to this book, I have done my good deed for the week.
"If only it could have been funnier..."
I usually listen to audible while driving. Occasionally, I will have a passenger. At these times, I feel bad having them drop in to the middle of whatever book I'm listening to at the time so I put on music. This book would be an excellent alternative for such situations. The whole thing is many short bits with few callbacks. If you don't like the narrator you're hearing now - wait a few minutes. It would be a great way to convince someone that audible ain't your grand mother's books on tape....if only it could have been funnier...
"Must be a fan of the Believer magazine"
Some pretty ugly stuff is said
No
NO, I have not listened to these artists before
Disappointment
Just not a fun listen
"Stupid, not funny, worst audible ever."
This production is nominally a set of advice-column-like questions submitted by Believer readers that are answered in advice columnist style by the contributors, presumably in their own voices. The questions were uninteresting, and the answers were without exception UNamusing. Just not funny or even interesting. I gave up after a few hours of listening that did not raise so much as a chuckle. I abandoned listening to this, and started listening instead to "How to be a woman" by Caitlin Moran, and was relieved to discover that my capacity for appreciating humor, wit, and a very appealing presentation had not been permanently crippled by the Believer garbage. DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY. Very disappointing, because in the past I have enjoyed a lot of humor from the mcsweeneys mill. I only regret that I could not figure out how to give it zero stars in every category.
"Not Funny"
I had high hopes for this book, but it was dumb. I rarely laughed. Not worth your money.
"Not funny"
I don't know anything about the first book or The Believer or any kind of prior knowledge that might have made this book funny. This book was a waste of time and money.
It has a funny title and funny names associated with it, but it is not funny.
The book is set up in a Q&A format. Unfunny questions are asked and unfunny answers are given.