Seriously...I'm Kidding

By: Ellen DeGeneres

Narrated by: Ellen DeGeneres

Length: 3 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

With the winning, upbeat candor that has made her show on of the most popular and honored daytime shows on the air, beloved talk show host and comedian Ellen DeGeneres shares her views on life, love, and American Idol. 

"I've experienced a whole lot the last few years and I have a lot to share. So I hope that you'll take a moment to sit back, relax and enjoy the words I've put together for you in this book. I think you'll find I've left no stone unturned, no door unopened, no window unbroken, no rug unvacuumed, no ivories untickled. What I'm saying is, let us begin, shall we?" 

Seriously...I'm Kidding is a lively, hilarious, and often sweetly poignant look at the life of the much-loved entertainer as she opens up about her personal life, her talk show, and more. 

Praise for Seriously...I'm Kidding 

"DeGeneres's amiably oddball riffs on everything from kale to catwalks to Jesus will make fans smile." (People) 

"Whatever the topic, DeGeneres's compulsively readable style will appeal to fans old and new." (Publishers Weekly) 

"Fans will not be disappointed...[DeGeneres's] trademark wit and openness shine through and through." (Kirkus)

©2011 Ellen DeGeneres (P)2011 Hachette

Not so much.

I LOVE Ellen...but this book is just boring. About what you would expect to get if someone sat down behind a mic without a script and wanted to kill 3 hours. A few funny parts, but mostly blah. Disappointed!

Does Audible give refunds?

Any additional comments?

Let me preface: I'm a BIG fan of Ellen. This book, however, was horrible. It was filled with non-sense and ramblings. I skipped entire chapters, multiple times. I do not need to hear Ellen's random thoughts as she sits on a beach. I can do that myself. For free. And I definitely don't want to hear it as I'm on a crowded bus, during my commute.

I thought this would be more thought-provoking, laugh-out-loud funny. Instead it was Ellen digressing in these tangents that annoyed me and didn't even make sense. Have a good listen to the sample first. It doesn't get any better than this, trust me.

I'm disappointed I spent my Audible credit on this. I want my money back.

Love her voice, but expected more insight

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The depth of her stories. I wanted to get to know her better. I bought this book because as a person I find her so appealing. But the book left me wanting more. I felt like listening to Ellen's wonderful voice but a scrpt from Seinfield.

Has Seriously...I'm Kidding turned you off from other books in this genre?

I heard Tina Fey Bossy Pants before and expected a similar experience. The book left me dissapointed. I am now listening to other genre, but it is partly before, aside from Tina and Ellen, none of the other female comediants of my generation appeal me as much as these two. I would listen to another book by Ellen, hopefully deeper and just as funny.

What about Ellen DeGeneres’s performance did you like?

She has a unique voice. Just listening to her voice made me smile.

Do you think Seriously...I'm Kidding needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

YES. But not to follow-up, but to show the real potential of Ellen as a writter. It left me feeling like this was not the best she could do.

Exactly what you would expect from Ellen

Where does Seriously...I'm Kidding rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This book is light and funny and I couldn't really tell what the story was. Probably because she's a comedian and her point is to be entertaining. Not a serious book. It's perfect if you are looking for a light, easy, quick read that will make you smile.

What about Ellen DeGeneres’s performance did you like?

She's funny! She speaks funny and writes funny. When you get to hear both at once...it's even better!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Rambling...

really like ellen but felt like a waste of my time

Would you try another book from Ellen DeGeneres and/or Ellen DeGeneres?

i might reluctantly try another, however only after many many consistently elated reviews

Would you ever listen to anything by Ellen DeGeneres again?

see above

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

no

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

On balance, this book is positive, light and even plainly silly. In all, these three hours go by well, fast! So that's why I give 5 stars for performance. Ellen maintains the momentum well. She is an engaging speaker.

Any additional comments?

perhaps the title says it all, seriously i'm kidding - that is that there were some funny moments more towards the beginning. The middle just seemed downright page filler. In the absence of more hilariousness, the redeeming factor might have been some somewhat more serious insight into her life and her thoughts and feelings etc. This was my first book by Ellen so I really knew nothing about her before today. I now know that she is neat, punctual, hard working, persistent, affable, did not go to college, thick skinned, positive, good, kind, honest, does not cook, does not clean, loves her wife etc. I didn't get much sense of depth. Sometimes I thought she was going to say something meaningful but I couldn't be sure whether she was serious or not?!! In the middle of the book she really lets you into her stream of thought consciousness. Although I don't know that I'd call it a stream. It is a whirlwind of anecdotal thoughts organized into brief chapters. Average chapter length might be 2-3 minutes. Some 'chapters' are 1-2 sentences. And, then it's over and I'm just like, huh. I like Ellen a lot from what I've seen. She is very positive and more than a bit silly and I wish her well with her show and as an author and modeling etc.
I never much liked seinfeld or family guy or simpsons... maybe you should just wait for more reviews to decide, if you are on the fence. since I don't watch her show, if you do and you love it maybe then you will also appreciate this book. It just wasn't so great for me.

Not as Funny as it Should Be...

For the "street cred" that Ellen has a number 1 talk show host and great stand-up comic I expect more from her. I LOVE Ellen so I was so sadly disappointed in the fact that I couldn't even force myself to finish this book. It is boring and I hate to admit it...Stupid. There isn't even a common thread that makes it a story here. It sounds more like she promised a book and then when she didn't have anything to say that hadn't already been said she simply scribbled random thoughts on the page and tried to tie them together somehow. I was seriously disappointed, but I still love her and will watch her show daily, which IS Entertaining and Funny!

Very Entertaining!

Would you consider the audio edition of Seriously...I'm Kidding to be better than the print version?

Absolutely! Hearing Ellen narrate the book made it so much more entertaining and funny as she has such a unique personality.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Seriously...I'm Kidding?

I don't have a favorite. I liked that she covered so many topics.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This book made me laugh out loud as I was driving down the road.

She has nothing to say

Would you try another book from Ellen DeGeneres and/or Ellen DeGeneres?

No

Would you ever listen to anything by Ellen DeGeneres again?

Probably not.

What does Ellen DeGeneres bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Hearing it read by her seems more funny than reading it.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Some tiny funny bits.

Any additional comments?

No

Better live

Would you try another book from Ellen DeGeneres and/or Ellen DeGeneres?

I love Ellen! But no.

What was most disappointing about Ellen DeGeneres’s story?

The book feel flat for me, I just did not find it funny or engaging in strictly audio form and did not finish. Part of the joy of Ellen is how she interacts with others and her audience, that was definitely missing. The type of material that Ellen does best just doesn't work the same without interactions with others and the visual effects of Ellen's facial expressions and body language.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Ellen DeGeneres?

No one, she is the best at doing her own material.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

I still love Ellen.

Thought it would be funnier.

What disappointed you about Seriously...I'm Kidding?

It was not as funny as her show. Maybe the ambience during the show makes her funnier.

What was most disappointing about Ellen DeGeneres’s story?

It started out well but fizzled toward the end.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

The narration was OK.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Seriously...I'm Kidding?

Quite a few after two-thirds of the book.

Any additional comments?

I still like her humor, just not in book form.

Too Silly

Really gutted about this book. She's so funny! But I wanted abit more info about her life not silly noises, and loads of info about how I should live my life. I though it was an autobiography?

Fluff. Pleasant fluff, but fluff nonetheless.

Would you try another book written by Ellen DeGeneres or narrated by Ellen DeGeneres?

Narrated? Definitely. I enjoy Ellen's patter and I'm a big fan of hers. The performance was the saving grace of these three hours.

Written? Well... that's another story. There's nothing to this book. There are a few funny bits, of course, but probably fewer than you'd get watching one episode of her show (or binge watching clips on YouTube). She also tries to bring forward her thoughts on positivity and self-worth, but never gets beyond the surface or says anything that couldn't fit on a greeting card.

Its like she tried to write a memoir, a self-help book, and a comedy book all at once, but didn't trust her audience to stick with her for more than a few hours. What you're left with is a disappointing jack-of-all trades with no depth or direction.

I wouldn't absolutely rule out another book by her, but I'll be very suspicious of future offerings, which is a shame. I know she can do better.

Friendly drivel

I thought I’d try this as a bit of light relief from the thrillers or serious novels I usually get. Ellen as a narrator is good; her voice is warm and engaging. Unfortunately the book itself is pure drivel. I expected after the glib introduction that it would settle down to some kind of interesting context, but it doesn’t, she skips through wise cracks on a number of topics without really saying anything at all. I gave up after chapter 7 and fast forwarded in the hope that I hit on something worthwhile. I didn’t. Very disappointing.

Not funny

Not the book I was hoping for. Little chapters that sometimes made no sense. I was disappointed by the content.

I Didn't Think I Could Love Her More

Absolutely Loved it. I would recommend it to anyone and tell them they're bound to enjoy it.

Funny and easy listen

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

Good for a laugh and gives a few points on which to think on. It was read like an extension of her monologues. Not to expect a deep, thought provoking serious novel which looks greatly into Ellen's personal life or anything like that or even following any story line of sorts. It was an overall light, relaxing, funny, random and enjoyable book to listen to and there were many moments which made me laugh throughout the book. The narration by Ellen herself added humour and a warmth to the book which i greatly enjoyed listening to it from beginning to end.

Great listen for any fan of Ellen

Seriously...good

Really enjoyed this, Ellen is a favourite of mine, but im not one for autobiographies or anything like this normally but as it was ellen thought id give it a listen and am so glad I did. I enjoyed this book very much, made me laugh out loud and was very interesting and can honestly say loved it from start to finish well worth a listen and with Ellen reading it makes it even better.

Those swimming little endorphins.

It bright up the day. Getting your focus away from what could make you feel upset.

It is for everyone that want just to relax with the book .

woman only

very disappointed it's should be aimed at female market only. didn't enjoy at all. Egotistical

Very funny at moments but ultimately, disappointing.

Ellen is a very, very funny woman. And parts of this book live up to that. However, much of it felt a bit like “phoning it in”. Chapters consisting of two sentences may be funny to her, but after the tenth, the joke wears very thin. Half of the book sounds like the discombobulated ramblings of a Cocaine addict (certainly not the case of course), which is funny, but really needed reigning in. More pith and substance and less hubristic ‘lite n’ low’ would have made it much more memorable.