Failure Is an Option

An Attempted Memoir

De: H. Jon Benjamin

Narrado por: H. Jon Benjamin

“Writing this funny requires immense talent.”
—AV Club


H. Jon Benjamin—the lead voice behind Archer and Bob's Burgers—helps us all feel a little better about our own failures by sharing his own in a hilarious memoir-ish chronicle of failure.

Most people would consider H. Jon Benjamin a comedy show business success. But he'd like to remind everyone that as great as success can be, failure is also an option. And maybe the best option. In this book, he tells stories from his own life, from his early days ("wherein I'm unable to deliver a sizzling fajita") to his romantic life ("how I failed to quantify a threesome") to family ("wherein a trip to P.F. Chang's fractures a family") to career ("how I failed at launching a kid's show").

As Jon himself says, breaking down one's natural ability to succeed is not an easy task, but also not an insurmountable one. Society as we know it is, sadly, failure averse. But more acceptance of failure, as Jon sees it, will go a long way to making this world a different place . . . a kinder, gentler place, where gardens are overgrown and most people stay home with their pets. A vision of failure, but also a vision of freedom.

With stories, examples of artistic and literary failure, and a powerful can't-do attitude, Failure Is an Option is the book the world doesn't need right now but will get regardless.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“His craft, and what makes him such an inspired and singular voice, is to make it look easy… That it’s decidedly not that easy is part of the gag; writing this funny requires immense talent.”
—AV Club

“It’s that voice … Had me laughing out loud.”
—The New York Times

“Benjamin’s stories run the gamut from personal to professional and will leave you laughing out loud and embracing your own failures.”
—HelloGiggles

“Benjamin’s unique take on the classic ‘fail until you succeed’ self-help industry looks to be as self-deprecating and absurd as his best work.”
—Brightest Young Things

“Irreverent, edgy and hilarious…recommend to all who need a respite from stress and a good laugh.”
—Booklist

“Benjamin is up-front and funny as he recounts his unsuccessful launch of a kids’ late-night TV talk show (tentative title: 'Midnight Pajama Jam') and documents his parental shortcomings (bad idea: babysitting an infant in a video arcade). Yet failure 'doesn’t mean the end of something,' Benjamin writes. 'Often, it’s a springboard toward something better.' He delivers these and other words to live by with concision, wit and a stand-up’s sense of timing.”
—Book Page

"Thank you for sending me a copy of the book."
—Amy Poehler

"Will try and get a quote back to you soon."
—David Cross

Automatic reply: Anderson is out of his office from December 21-22. For urgent requests, please email [redacted].
—Anderson Cooper

"Dream big and tomorrow will be brighter."
—Quotes.com

"Believe in yourself and others will follow."
—Inspirationalquotes.com

Drowns out the sound of screaming babies

I didn’t learn anything, but this book did make me laugh so hard I snorted in a public airport and started crying tears of unbridled joy upon listening to Jon’s life stories. It also completely covered the sound of the screaming baby on my flight.

Food for (my) ears

I love Bob from Bob’s Burgers. Jon Benjamin’s voice has such a nice cadence, he can talk about anything. But his stories are more than anything, they’re rich and hilarious. Food for ears.

How I failed to write a useful review

The writing is not bad, it being voiced by Archer is what got it to 3 stars. There is never a real point to anything brought up, it seems to be both trying to hard and lazy at the same time. H. Jon Benjamin has definitely lived through some crazy things, but I'd rather watch Archer reruns than read this book again. This is the first book review I've given, so I guess it inspired me to do that. Read it or don't read it, this review is basically the cliff notes.

can do no wrong

h jon benjamin is a god amongst mortals and can do no wrong. much recommend. such failure

H Jon is AMAZING

I’ve been a fan of H Jon’s work for a while now. When I read someone talking about this book I thought “Eh… not a fan of audiobooks so much, but I’ll download. I’m sure it won’t disappoint me” Boy was I RIGHT!
His reading pace is SO GOOD and the jokes are so on point and smooth within the lines.
Highly recommend.

The hilarity and delivery

I still think about this book weekly and it's been 4 years since I listened. To breathe some life into a road trip, turn to this title and laugh for hours.

Loved it!

Very entertaining and a comedic take on his past and laugh-out-loud moments. I must admit to some bias given that I’m a close friend of a member of his family and knew Jon in Worcester (and his mom/dad and sister) when he was growing grew up close in age to my children.

failed at being a failure

fantastic, hilarious, great voice acting. a must listen to any fans for Bob's Burgers or Archer!

It's H. Jon benjamin love it or hate it.

Filled with laughs . It was just as absurd as i expected it to be.

Funniest book I have ever read!

I love Archer and Bobs Burger and this book exposed the man who does the voices for the characters I love. I discovered that H. Jon Benjamin is a talented comedian and a funny writer and this book was the funniest I have ever read with some valuable life lessons. Thank You