Manhood for Amateurs

De: Michael Chabon

Narrado por: Michael Chabon

“Chabon has always been a magical prose stylist, adept at combining the sort of social and emotional detail found in Philip Roth’s Goodbye, Columbus stories with the metaphor-rich descriptions of John Updike and John Irving’s inventive sleight of hand. . . . As in his novels, he shifts gears easily between the comic and the melancholy, the whimsical and the serious, demonstrating once again his ability to write about the big subjects of love and memory and regret without falling prey to the Scylla and Charybdis of cynicism and sentimentality.”
— Michiko Kakutani, New York Times

“Wondrous, wise and beautiful.”
— David Kamp, New York Times Book Review

The bestselling and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Werewolves in Their Youth, Wonderboys, The Mysteries of Pittsburgh, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, and The Yiddish Policemen’s Union Michael Chabon “takes [his] brutally observant, unfailingly honest, marvelously human gaze and turns it on his own life” (Time) in the New York Times bestselling memoir Manhood for Amateurs.

©2009 Michael Chabon; (P)2009 HarperCollins Publishers

profound

I had moments where I laughed so hard and others where I stopped while I was running on the trail and sat and wept as the images of my life, my own kids, my own father swept over me. What a profound writer and thinker. Outstanding!!!

Awesome Book!

I don't think that the other reviewers actually read this book. Perhaps it is because Michael Chabon and I were born around the same time and have lived some similar experiences, but I thought this book was fantastic. I kept thinking as I would read a particular passage,"yes...I wish I had thought of that" or "I wish I could write like that". It is beautifully written essays about life that are remarkably ordinary and profound at the same time. I love his reading voice too. This is a book that I have now listened to several times and I will keep it on my ipod for a long time hence as well. Thoroughly delightful.

Enjoyable, fun and thought provoking!

This was a quick read book of essays by and about author Michael Chabon's life.

Chabon was surprisingly revealing. (I found myself wondering if I were Michael Chabon's kid, would I want to read something that talks so frankly about my parent's sex life or pot-smoking habits? But, that's part of what makes it interesting.) And, while it seemed kind of light weight and quick-to-digest at the time, even after several weeks I still find myself thinking about and talking about some of his essays with others.

I especially enjoyed the essay about the clock of the long now and how when we were growing up, people actively talked about and imagined the future - what it would be like, look like, the new ways in which people would interact with technology. Chabon said that now, no one thinks about the future - perhaps because daily life is all changing so fast.

Enjoyable, fun and thought provoking!

Brilliant!

These essays capture what it is to be human, mortal, sentient and sensitive. There's no better writer working today.

Wonderful

Where does Manhood for Amateurs rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Manhood for Amateurs ranks in the top tier of audiobooks I've listened to thus far.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Manhood for Amateurs?

I especially loved the piece on pockets and pocketbooks

What about Michael Chabon’s performance did you like?

He read it as if he had read it because he had and it worked well.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, that would be ridiculous.

Any additional comments?

Chabon's life hasn't been more amazing than other people, but his expressions of his feelings and experiences are wonderful. His writing illuminate so many great points about life and being a person amongst a huge society.

Amusing ruminations by a charming &bright neurotic

I tried this one because I enjoyed The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay so much.
It was a pleasure to hear him tell his stories, in his own words - his life experience that helped shape that magnificent story.
The only thing I didn't really care for was the "series of short stories" aspect of it. Why I expected a solid through-line or a planned out story arc I don't know, other than I really admired it in his other book. I will certainly be checking out his other books, but eventually - not right away. I need to be ready to hear about another terrible death of a dog.

Wonderful

A friend, who helps you consider your roles as a man, son, brother, husband, and father--and to see the beauty and humor therein

Oh Boy...Did I relate to this book!

If you grew up in the 70's or Early 80's like I did. This book is filled with great storytelling , thoughtfulness and honesty to those moments when we as men realize we don't know it all and our Dad's didn't either. Learning that to most son's our dad is a hero, invincible, unchanging, and steadfast. But this book put great light on things for me. To learn to forgive my father for things he didn't understand, to enable my son to be who he is and not what I think he should be. I THANK Michael Chabon for writing this book, it made me chuckle at times, even cringe, especially THINK about how I raise my son.

Everything, and everything

I love everything, Michael Chabon ever did, but I think I love this the most. His voice in my head, mirroring my own, answering questions. I had no idea I was about to ask an incredible book and incredible performance by its author.

A funny and warm narrative

As a long time fan of Michael Chabon and his wife Ayelet Waldman, I felt some trepidation reading his memoir. But my hestitation soon evaporated as I entered into his funny and insightful memories and thoughts.
Mr. Chabon narrates his own story giving it more depth and feeling. He is a funny smart and modest man living a full life as a father, husband and writer.
His insights are worth listening to and this audio book was a pleasure to listen to.