Tough Sh-t

Life Advice from a Fat, Lazy Slob Who Did Good

By: Kevin Smith

Narrated by: Kevin Smith

Length: 5 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

Profane, honest, and totally real advice from comedian and director Kevin Smith - one of America's most original voices....

Take one look at Kevin Smith: He's a balding fatty who wears a size XXL hockey jersey, shorts, and slippers year-round. Not a likely source for life advice. But take a second look at Kevin Smith: He changed filmmaking forever when he was 24 with the release of Clerks, and since then has gone on to make nine more profitable movies, runs his own production company, wrote a best-selling graphic novel, and has a beautiful wife and kids. So he must be doing something right.

As Kevin's millions of Twitter followers and millions of podcast listeners know, he's the first one to admit his flaws and the last one to care about them. In early 2011, he began using his platform to answer big questions from fans - like "What should I do with my life?"- and he discovered that he had a lot to say. Tough Sh-t distills his four decades of breaking all the rules down to direct and brutally honest advice, including:

• Why he has accepted Ferris Bueller as his personal savior, and what the Tenets of Buellerism can teach about hiding in plain sight and lip-syncing in the face of danger
• Why it's really fun to eat but not so fun to be fat
• What to do about people who don't like your policies ( for starters, tell them to pucker up and smooch your big ol' butt)
• What Kevin's idol Wayne Gretzky can teach us about creativity and direction

For anyone who's out of a job, out of luck, or just out of sugary snack foods, Tough Sh*t is an unabashedly honest guide to getting the most out of doing the least.

©2012 Kevin Smith (P)2012 Penguin Audio

hilarious

a must for any fan, ever had a book read by a fat guy in an overcoat?

I was not expective to be entertained - I WAS!

If you could sum up Tough Sh-t in three words, what would they be?

Better than expected.

What did you like best about this story?

Here is a guy that claims to be very ordinary - even below average - yet he pursues his passions and succeeds. It is a great modern tale for those that feel conformity is the only pathway in life. True, conformity is" a" pathway but Kevin Smith's experiences show loving what you do and doing it despite obstacles can lead to a full and wonderful life. And this guy can write!

What about Kevin Smith’s performance did you like?

He wrote it so he was able to convey all the verbal nuances that added mightily to the listener. This was more like a conversation than him reading something. Very well done.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

If uncontrollable laughter is "moving" then, yes, that are hundreds of these moments.

Any additional comments?

Highly recommended. Required reading/listening for anyone that is not the prom king, football QB, most handsome, born-with-a-silver-spoon, but is otherwise living with a feeling of inadequacy. Kevin Smith is a real life nerd super hero.

Loved the "advice", read by the author

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes - if they were a fan of Kevin Smith

What was one of the most memorable moments of Tough S--t?

Learning how Kevin Smith became a fan of movies

Which character – as performed by Kevin Smith – was your favorite?

Kevin Smith - but hearing him imitate is wife was funny too

What insight do you think you’ll apply from Tough S--t?

Believe in myself

Any additional comments?

Great Book

Kevin Smith is an intellectual comedian.

Replayed 3 times and only had it for 5 weeks. Kevin Smith is very interesting and great to listen to.

Such a inspiration

I've always loved Kevin Smith's attitude the guy never takes no for an answer. I found this book very inspirational in my own life

Just what you think it is.

Any additional comments?

The thing I love about memoirs read by authors is how much it is like they are telling their stories directly to you. This is exactly that.

Funny Sh*t!

What did you love best about Tough Sh-t?

Great comedic insight into the inner workings of the movie industry and a coming of age book while working in the '90s-'00's. That is funny Sh*t! Listen only if you aren't offended by the word vernacular word for semen, and/or you like Kevin Smith movies.

What other book might you compare Tough Sh-t to and why?

No idea.

Have you listened to any of Kevin Smith’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

What insight do you think you’ll apply from Tough Sh-t?

There is some Tough Sh*t and you need to have some humor to get through it. There are some great Zen-like insights. Jennifer Swaback Smith has the patience of a nun to put up with Kevin. Great stories.

Funniest biography that I've read in a long time..

His candid stories about Bruce Willis, Southwest Air,
George Carlin and his wife are so darn funny!!

Crass and profane, but still inspiring

I listened to the audiobook, which is read by Smith and captures his personality and humor, so I recommend that over the print version. My first and biggest impression of this book: wow, this guy is crass. Lewd and crass. Like a sleazy high school boy. If you can look beyond the constant sleazy sex, sexual fluid, and sexual organ references, and excessive profanity, the book does have some worthwhile, uplifting messages: namely, if you believe in your dream and follow that dream, you can make it a reality.

On the basis of motivation and inspiration, my best friend bought this for me and insisted I read it. I’m neutral on Smith and his work – I really liked Clerks, and I recall enjoying Chasing Amy, but I haven’t seen all his films and I’m okay with that – I’m not into stoner flicks. This book would certainly be more enjoyable for a fan of Smith’s work. There is a lot of name-dropping of movies, actors, directors, and others in the movie biz, and since I don’t take much interest in that world, a lot of it was lost on me. Smith sums up his life and work, sharing humorous anecdotes. He actually did make me laugh out loud a few times, which I appreciate. It’s not a long book, so I suppose it was worth the listen (or the read).

Flabtastic

Love your shtick, always have. Keep up the good work. Truly, the spoken Word is everything