• More Information Than You Require

  • By: John Hodgman
  • Narrated by: John Hodgman
  • Length: 12 hrs and 43 mins
  • 3.9 out of 5 stars (1,116 ratings)

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More Information Than You Require  By  cover art

More Information Than You Require

By: John Hodgman
Narrated by: John Hodgman
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Publisher's summary

Welcome to the paperless (or "audiobook") edition of More Information Than You Require, a further compendium of COMPLETE WORLD KNOWLEDGE assembled and illumined by John Hodgman, a Famous Minor Television Personality. It contains all of the half-truths, fake trivia, amazing made-up facts, and molemanic lore as the paper edition, narrated here almost entirely by Resident Expert John Hodgman, occasionally interrupted by this veritable extravaganza of illustrious and sometimes presumptuous guests: Dick Cavett, Jonathan Coulton, Zach Galifianakis, Ricky Gervais, Ira Glass, Robin Goldwasser, Rachel Maddow, Paul Rudd, Paul F. Tompkins, and Sarah Vowell.

PLUS: This recording includes ALL 700 MOLE-MAN NAMES as they were written and subsequently performed LIVE BEFORE A STUDIO AUDIENCE in an underground lair in Brooklyn, N.Y.

©2008 John Hodgman (P)2009 Penguin Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"In every way a continuation of Areas of My Expertise, except in the ways it's clearly superior....More Information Than You Require is exactly the tonic for these truth-challenged times: a transformation of pedestrian reality through the enlightened power of imagination and insatiable list-making." (The Onion A/V Club)
"I love this book so much I nearly read it." (Justin Long)

What listeners say about More Information Than You Require

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

John Hodgman

I got the distinct feeling reading this book in dead tree that he'd almost intended it to be heard rather then written. It is exactly that. The audio book is nearly a show performance with guest stars Jonathan Coulton, Rachel Maddow and others joining in. Hodgman snipes with his "troubadour" constantly, yet the obvious fondness for the material shines through. It is clear and side-achingly funny the entire go. The book is shockingly content packed, and probably one of my favorite audio books in my collection all ready. If you enjoyed the first book, do not hesitate. You will enjoy the material. If you didn't like the second book, try it in audio format. If you didn't enjoy either book, you're soul is worn out. Go down to the local SoulHut and get a new one. Preferably one in a bigger size.

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25 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Great performance

I call it a performance because it is not just an audiobook being read, it has the feeling of a comedy skit being performed. I would often listen to audiobooks on the tram to work, but I couldn't with this one. I would burst out laughing too often and receive some crazy looks. Absolutely funny. Well worth the credit. Hihgly recommend.comedy

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

This book is certainly no "Going Rogue"

... Thank god it's not. This audio book is so funny. I enjoy the quick random humor. If you do not understand deadpan, sarcastic, witty humor then this book is not for you. If you enjoy NPR, This American Life, The Onion, the daily show, Found Magazine or if you simply enjoy watching Sarah Palin speak (merely for ironic purposes of course) then this is the book for you.
There are a couple points where it is a little dry, but honestly I was laughing so loud I had to shut my office door. Really this book is the way to go.
For those of you who don't quite understand what this book is about let me lay it out very simply, it's a book about lies. Do not take it seriously! He made up all the facts. So if you want to hear some really funny "mostly lies" then this is the way to go.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Must have for any listener of any age

I knew this was a good purchase the minute I played the audio book. Hodgman's tongue-in-cheek humor throughout the book will make people around you stare at you as you laugh out loud as if you're crazy. There is so many content and little things in just one sentence, that you can listen to it time after time and still find it interesting. Including the added bonus of Coulton and others, this is more then just some guy reading a book to you, but an actual performance. I would recommend this book to anyone.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Unbelievable...

Any additional comments?

I had previously read this book before purchasing it on Audible and it STILL had me in hysterics. This is a definate MUST OWN if you have ANY bone of humor in your body.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Magnificent Nerd Humor

Hodgman is great! His fake “information” is delightfully imaginative and intelligent. He is joined by several guests in his narration of the book's first half, all of whom add to the high spirits. Numerous “Easter eggs" show up for those who happen to be familiar with a particular field of knowledge. I really enjoyed these when I got them, but I'm sure I missed many.

The second half of the book consists of his “It Happened Today” daily calendar (previously podcast) and an enumeration of literally hundreds of identifiers of “molemen”. This half is best appreciated in small doses as it can be a bit much when taken in large quantities.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

I made it.

I finally made it to the end. And what an ordeal that was.

Let me be clear: "The Areas of My Expertise" was my first -- and remains my favourite -- audio book to date. I got it for free through some iTunes promotion. I have listened to it, start to finish, at least seven times. And I have since used a credit to purchase it again through Audible.com. It is just that good. And while I realize that it isn't for everyone, I share it with anyone who will listen. The list of state mottos and songs alone is worth the price of admission. And the hobos -- ah, the hobos!

But I hate this book. Perhaps someday, on a lark, after forgetting myself and against my own better judgment I will revisit this title in my Audible library -- all other options having been exhausted. But I did not find "More Information Than You Require" to be funny or even ironically entertaining, with the notable exception of the last two hours of this nearly thirteen hour audio book. For me, the Gervais segment (and I am certainly not a fan of his) and list of moleman names and occupations alone are hilarious enough to earn it a shaky three stars. But the preceding eleven hours were treacherous.

You have been warned!

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

"Look at me, I'm funny"

Listening to this book is like being trapped at a dinner party with a guy who thinks he's a lot wittier than he really is.

I agree with the other reader reviews that label this audiobook as tedious, self-indulgent, and most of all, unfunny.

For what it's worth, I'm someone who would generally fall right into Hodgman's demographic. I like non-sequitur, deadpan, sarcastic humor -- and I don't think I even chuckled during the 5+ hours of this that I forced myself through.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

HIlaarious--If you have a sense of humor.

John Hodgman, and his companions on this audio, deliver an amazing performance of dry wit. Hodgman's satiric fake trivia book is only heightened when delivered in this easy-going performance, seeming more like an episode of This American Life than an audiobook reading. If you are a fan of the dry humor of The Office you will very much enjoy this audiobook.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Wow! This is hilarious and brilliantly performed.

This is hilarious. John Hodgman and his slew of guests make this the best audiobook of humor that I have ever heard. Look at the narrator list to see the who's who of those that stop in. I own the book and yet these performances make the material ten times funnier plus there is the added scripted improve that goes above and beyond the page. I will listen to this again next week.

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5 people found this helpful