More Information Than You Require

De: John Hodgman

Narrado por: John Hodgman

The New York Times bestseller by Famous Minor Television Personality John Hodgman—The Daily Show's "Resident Expert" and the "PC" in the iconic Apple ads—picks up exactly where his first book left off. In fact, "the new volume is in every way a continuation of Areas of My Expertise, except in the ways it's clearly superior." (The Onion AV Club)

In 2005, John Hodgman published his first compendium of Complete World Knowledge, The Areas of My Expertise, a handy volume of fake trivia and made-up facts. Hodgmania was born. Virtually overnight, John Hodgman was whisked from tweedy obscurity to the high ether of minor celebrity. And from his strange new vantage point as a Famous Minor Television Personality, Hodgman realized that there is some world knowledge yet to be documented. And so he returned to exactly where he had left off—namely, page 256 of the paperback edition of The Areas of My Expertise. And he brought with him: MORE INFORMATION THAN YOU REQUIRE. Which, naturally, begins on page 257. Like its predecessor, More Information Than You Require consists of brief articles, overlong lists, frighteningly complex charts, and beguiling narratives on new and familiar themes such as:

THE PAST (because there is always more of it)
THE FUTURE (because they say there is still some left)
MOLE-MEN (including a list of 700 Mole-man names)
GAMBLING, THE SPORT OF THE ATHSMATIC MAN (including hermit crab racing)
CRYPTOGEOGRAPHY (including Canada)
HOW TO BE A FAMOUS MINOR TELEVISION PERSONALITY (Hint: Go on television)

AND NOW, the relatively pocket-sized and inexpensive paperback edition includes even more.

MORE INFORMATION THAN YOU REQUIRE, updated to include the very latest in implausibility.

PLUS!: This paperback edition includes a special self-expanding fold-out edition of THE TAXONOMY OF COMPLETE WORLD KNOWLEDGE, which you have probably never seen before because it has been carefully hidden. UNTIL NOW.

Look out for John Hodgman's latest book, Vacationland, available from Viking in Fall 2017.©2008 John Hodgman; (P)2009 Penguin Audiobooks

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

Not what I expected

I gave up about 1/2 way through. it wasn't what I expected and I wasn't really entertained. A few funny moments and an easy enough book to listen to occasionally, just not my cup of tea.

Best in the series!

Would you consider the audio edition of More Information Than You Require to be better than the print version?

I would, but there's reason to have both. The audio version of the book has a lot of interesting additions and extras. I love seeing an author giving you a reason to own both the print and audio versions, it allows me, the fan, the ability to own multiple pieces of the work. I feel like I have the complete addition by having both.

What did you like best about this story?

Hodgman is hilarious. His imagination and humor are second to none, and fit perfectly into this format. He really found his stride with the series in this book.

Which scene was your favorite?

Hard to say, every bit in this book was solid.

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!

A very good book with a fewer bad jokes than good

A few jokes aged a bit poorly, but a lot of jokes that didn't. Worth reading.