World Books Arranged Into Funny Things
See a Problem?
Thanks for telling us about the problem.
Friend Reviews
Community Reviews
Notable to the audiobook:
* John Hodgman reads the whole book
* Jonathan Coulton plays music (incl. State Songs!)
* A Bonus CD of John Hodgman reading all 700 hobo names with Jonathan Coulton playing music the entire time.
* "Were You Aware Of It?" interludes
* Guests
* Asides from John Hodgman
Notable to the audiobook:
* John Hodgman reads the whole book
* Jonathan Coulton plays music (incl. State Songs!)
* A Bonus CD of John Hodgman reading all 700 hobo names with Jonathan Coulton playing music the entire time.
* "Were You Aware Of It?" interludes
* Guests
* Asides from John Hodgman
Note: The rest of this review has been withheld due to the recent changes in Goodreads policy and e
I dunno, maybe I just shouldn't read humour. American humour anyway - British humour I am perfectly capable of sitting down and reading and laughing my ass off. But most American humour, in written form? Not so much. At most, there's a wry smile, a "that was kinda fun." I'm quite sure it would be different if I'd heard this read aloud, which people told me (too late) was the way to read Bossypants.Note: The rest of this review has been withheld due to the recent changes in Goodreads policy and enforcement. You can read why I came to this decision here.
In the meantime, you can read the entire review at Smorgasbook
...more
What I did find amusing, however, was the "voice" of the book, as Hodgman chose to be the ultimate voice of authority, but for some parallel world in which only he lives. Like Borges's classic short story, "Tlon Uqbar Orbis Tertius," some of what Hodgman describes here is verging so close to the truth, but not quite there, that it doesn't seem too hard to believe, and thus make real. Hodgman seems an ambitious enough humorist, and while I didn't care for this book so much, I'd be willing to give him another try in the future.
...more
And then came John Hodgman.
Better known as the 'PC Guy' from Apple commercials, Hodgman gave an interview on NPR several months ago. He was freakin' hilarious. Part of his hilarity stemmed from his combination of entirely serious Pythonesque (well, Chapman and Cleese-esque) delivery, and part stemmed from the seemingly ra
There are very few books that make me laugh out loud. I blame much of this on my sense of humor - since I tend towards nonsense and bizarre humor, most books just leave me cold.And then came John Hodgman.
Better known as the 'PC Guy' from Apple commercials, Hodgman gave an interview on NPR several months ago. He was freakin' hilarious. Part of his hilarity stemmed from his combination of entirely serious Pythonesque (well, Chapman and Cleese-esque) delivery, and part stemmed from the seemingly random topics of his research.
For instance, hobo studies.
This book is just chock full of goodness. It's like one of those Bathroom Reader books on drugs. Funny stuff for smart folks, or folks who want to seem smart when they bring up hobo studies at parties.
...more
The audiobook edition is all the excellent parts of the "paste and page" edition plus added material like songs by Jonathan Coulton, a guest appearance by Paul Rudd, and banter between Jonathan and John. Hodgman reads his book exactly as it needs to be read, dry and deadpan, with the subtlest pedantic emphasis here and there when the need arises. As vital a purchase as the book itself, and definitely louder.
...more 
Some of the useful information, which I will no doubt be constantly referring, include, the phases of wolf-man transformation, hobo signs, and state mottos.
I have heard that some believe this book to be a hoax, or s
Of the many books of world knowledge I have read, The Areas of My Expertise was by far the most daring, truthful and also the only book of world knowledge that I have read. Many truths are unveiled, mysteries revealed and forgotten bits of knowledge brought once more into the light.Some of the useful information, which I will no doubt be constantly referring, include, the phases of wolf-man transformation, hobo signs, and state mottos.
I have heard that some believe this book to be a hoax, or some sort of humorous joke. These people, no doubt, are working for those who wish that true world knowledge remain secret. Hodgman himself, may give this impression, and I believe wrote the book to reveal to his hobo comrades that the time to overthrow the government has come once again. This theory was confirmed to me when he signed my book at the Fitzgerald theatre and placed upon the title page the hobo sign signaling that very action.
I do not know if Hodgman mistakenly wrote the sign due to weariness or due to my name, Sharky Sharp-Tooth Woodwittler, thought that I was one of his hobo generals.
I would recommend this book for anyone who likes history, truth, and books of lists. Also hobos.
That is all.
...more
Fortunately, since one book of this kind could never satisfy (even though, at the time of its publication, it contained COMPLETE WORLD KNOWLEDGE), Hodgman is hard at work on its sequel (More Information than You Require) and has promised a third volume as well (That Is All).
...more
* it is possible to sell a book of total nonsense
* one can put a funny spin on The Great Depression
* I should be more suspicious of the large black squirrel population in my home town.
I was mildly disappointed that there wasn't more about pirates in this thing encyclopedia of total world knowledge. Apart from that, I would say that this is not a book to be missed, even if it is a little heavy on the hobos.
I learned several important things from The Areas of My Expertise:* it is possible to sell a book of total nonsense
* one can put a funny spin on The Great Depression
* I should be more suspicious of the large black squirrel population in my home town.
I was mildly disappointed that there wasn't more about pirates in this thing encyclopedia of total world knowledge. Apart from that, I would say that this is not a book to be missed, even if it is a little heavy on the hobos.
...more
I like the fictional almanac concept. I always thought almanacs were really weird (though appealing in their weirdness) and Hodgman basically uses roasting the almanac as his humor vehicle here.
I especially liked the literature jokes, but the hobo section was extensive, as was the states section. The book relied a lot on ta
I read this because my husband owns the book but sadly I didn't think it was as funny as he did. This might be might fault, I think some of the jokes flew right over my head.I like the fictional almanac concept. I always thought almanacs were really weird (though appealing in their weirdness) and Hodgman basically uses roasting the almanac as his humor vehicle here.
I especially liked the literature jokes, but the hobo section was extensive, as was the states section. The book relied a lot on tables and long lists (700 hobo names for example). Just wow.
...more 
Random, Fascinating and Utterly Unreliable Information, 22 Oct 2006
"An almanac of random, fascinating and utterly unreliable information -- Hodgman has the gift of being outrageously but quietly convincing. He begins at the absolute outer edge of credibility and, as if he is holding your hand, walks you over the edge into a very funny mix of reality and nonsense. Take hobos, for instance -- or as Hodgman refers to it, the "hobo movement in the United States." He discusses at length hobo hiero
Random, Fascinating and Utterly Unreliable Information, 22 Oct 2006
"An almanac of random, fascinating and utterly unreliable information -- Hodgman has the gift of being outrageously but quietly convincing. He begins at the absolute outer edge of credibility and, as if he is holding your hand, walks you over the edge into a very funny mix of reality and nonsense. Take hobos, for instance -- or as Hodgman refers to it, the "hobo movement in the United States." He discusses at length hobo hieroglyphics, the only hobo Cabinet member in U.S. history and Walker Evans, who Hodgman describes as being a secret agent posing as a photographer in order to assassinate prominent hobo leaders." NPR
John Hodgman tells us that there has only been one murder in the history of the space shuttle. This took place in 1984. The astronaut, the planner, the engineer, the cocktail waitress and the librarian were all suspects. I cannot tell you who did commit the murder, but it is well known. He discusses hunting and cooking your own polar bear steaks. Julia Child knew this subject well. Also a chapter on Daves Ultra Hot Hot Hot Sauce-which are packaged in little coffins and promises your death. These little known and untrue facts are yours for the asking. These and so many other subjects that would take me all day to discuss are told in amazing detail by John Hodgman. Each chapter has its own charm, or well, its own place.
This is not a book for children. There are obscene words and stories and facts that children would not understand. In fact, there were some parts of this book I did not understand, but, all in all, it had me in stitches from one chapter to the next. The author works for television "The Daily Show' and appears on NPR"s "This American Life". John Hodgman is a graduate of Yale, and is a former literary agent. It appears he was so humorous that he needed to take his humor to an audience who would appreciate him. This book is so amusing you may not be able to read it in one sitting; less you disable yourself from being doubled-over with laughter.
"And while Hodgman may hope as we leaf through the pages, we will gain a better understanding of the world - "perhaps not the world exactly as it is today, but as it may be someday" - one will undoubtedly come away baffled by how such madness can be spun so clear-headedly. Perhaps, though, the only way to truly describe "The Areas of My Expertise" lies in Hodgman's final words: that is all. " Book Review
For those of you who appreciate humour- highly recommended. prisrob 10-21-06
...more
"Expertise" is itself an odd compendium; it is, as Hodgman puts it, "a collection of f
John Hodgman, he of the Daily Show and the Mac/PC ads, is a funny guy to be sure. His essay on his home state of Massachusetts in "State by State" is clever and well-written, and when I saw him interviewed by Tom Perrotta at the Boston Book Festival, Hodgman was hilarious, quick-witted and off the cuff. His first book, "The Areas of My Expertise", reflects that sense of humor, although not as well as in person."Expertise" is itself an odd compendium; it is, as Hodgman puts it, "a collection of fake trivia". Basically it's a compilation of lists, charts, and short articles of data that Hodgman has made up. As you might expect from the author, the humor is dry and often absurdist, which is typically in my wheelhouse.
Unfortunately, it's pretty hit-or-miss. He does well when twisting an old theme; a hotel tipping chart starts off with advice on concierge and bellboy gratuities, and then goes onto magicians, lullabyists, and the differences between regular and 'feral' turn-down service (the latter involves leaves and twigs in place of bedding). He also explains to the reader how to win a fight (including, among other tactics, attack ads in which you accuse your opponent of masturbating out of windows). But for every winning entry, there seems to be a gag that goes on way too long; Hodgman draws out recurrent tangents on werewolves, prophets, and squirrels past their breaking points. And he is positively obsessed with hobos; hobo names like "Illinois Obama" and "Yum Yum Sinclair Snowball Eater" are funny, but do we need 700 of them?
This is certainly more of a bathroom reader than a piece to be read straight-through, and I did laugh out loud a few times, but ultimately even a book to be paged through randomly should have a higher ratio of funny bits, especially if it's already on the slender side. Perhaps Hodgman works best in small doses, and perhaps his follow-up book "More Information Than You Require" is stronger. But after seeing the man in person and reading some of his other writing, I was expecting more from this collection.
...more
Hodgman can best be described as a character comedian. I first became aware of Hodgman through his guest spots on "The Daily Show with John Stewart." During these guest pieces, Hodgman played the role of exceedingly wealthy and eccentric billionaire with no common sense or regard for the common man. His projected lifestyle was both outlandish and cartoonish in a delightful way that satirized the obnoxiously academic and rich members of our society. Published in 2005, "The Areas of My Expertise" is an early incarnation of Hodgman's comedic persona. In it, Hodgman is a former literary publisher who advises the reader on how to publish a book and what such a book can include. From then, Hodgman present information and anecdotes that suggests he is privy to such valuable and secretive information that he has chosen to publish for a profit. While the current isn't fleshed out all the way, you can definitely sense the beginning of the character's development.
...more
The book is strange and tries to inject political and geographical humor that would be hard to understand if you weren't somewhat aware of the truths regarding these things.
I will probably never listen to it again, well, maybe just the minute long sections on NJ and ME because I can kind of relate to them and they were giggle inducing.
Oh yeah, and the
This was hard to get through at some points. The moments of amusement caused me to giggle a quick, surprised giggle and then I was quickly over it.The book is strange and tries to inject political and geographical humor that would be hard to understand if you weren't somewhat aware of the truths regarding these things.
I will probably never listen to it again, well, maybe just the minute long sections on NJ and ME because I can kind of relate to them and they were giggle inducing.
Oh yeah, and there are some bizarrely, slightly amusing parts about exaggerated hobo lore.
~*~*~*~*~
I am listening to the audiobook version of this book, purchased online, not actual compact disc.
I understand the compact disc version includes six (6) discs and were I listening to it by those means I would be nearly halfway through the second disc.
This piece is comprised of ramblings, untruths staged as researched facts and interesting musical ditties played by another gentleman that has the occasional dialogue with John.
The audiobook version is altered, shortened, sometimes seemingly impromptu and, I'm sure, just as strange as the book itself. John will get tired of reading or referencing portions of the book and tell you to refer to it yourself should you feel so inclined/be so interested.
It is enjoyable and amusing. I'm interested in how it turns out, what with it having no actual beginning, middle or end. At one point in the beginning John suggests you take all of the discs, throw them in the air and then play them at random as you grab. This is suggested as a means by which to further his insistence that you think for yourself and act on only your impulses... letting fate fall as it may.
...more
Well, let me tell you, it is pretty bad. He makes hobos humorless. The book starts out well enough, but around the middle of the first chapter he states, clearly, that he is going to make almost everything up. Ok, that can work. However if
I really wanted to like this book. I think Mr Hodgman is hilarious on the Daily Show and I was hoping for some truly side splitting laughs. Plus he has a whole chapter on hobos and seems to have a werewolf fetish, how could this be bad? He even mentions ninjas!Well, let me tell you, it is pretty bad. He makes hobos humorless. The book starts out well enough, but around the middle of the first chapter he states, clearly, that he is going to make almost everything up. Ok, that can work. However if you are going to make it up, you best have some type of grounding. You need to pull in things that relate but are not quite right. You can't simply pull in the kitchen sink and hope for the best. Simply making up things like the Hobo King and the Hobo war on America aren't inherently funny. Describing hobos as if they were subhumans also isn't helping with the laughter. Nor does saying that FDR put the polio virus into the water in order to stop the hobo army. This really wasn't funny.
Making Chicago a mythical city that rises from the water also isn't funny. It makes no sense. If you are lying simply to lie, the humor tends to get lost. I don't think this fact got into the equation for this book.
Take for example the funniest line in the book. This line takes place in the last section on the states and talks about how Idaho and Oregon tried to form a super state - Or-Ida. Now that was hilarious since it had some grounding. The ninja section was also funny in a haha kind of way. There were a few funny tables towards the front but the laughs, small as they were, were few and far between.
The book was disappointing. I still love Mr Hodgman on TV but I don't think I'll read any more of his written works.
...more The audiobook edition is all the excellent parts of the "paste and page" edition plus added material like songs by Jonathan Coulton, a guest appearance by Paul Rudd, and banter between Jonathan and John. Hodgman reads his book exactly as it needs to be read, dry and deadpan, with the subtlest pedantic emphasis here and there when the need arises. As vital a purchase as the book itself, and definitely louder.
...more
But here's the catch - it's still kind of funny. You get to reading, and you just sit there and shake your head because none of it makes any sense, but you keep reading, and the sheer ridiculousness starts to get to you. When you're reading his 400-entry list of hobo names, you start giggling once you get past the first hundred.
This book is NOT for everyone. You've got to be in a mood for something well-written but completely silly.
...moreThis was enough of a career for any human.
But then he wrote a book of COMPLETE WORLD KNOWLEDGE entitled THE AREAS OF MY EXPERTISE and was asked to appear on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, where he continues to provide commentary as the show's Resident Expert. Now, at 37, he has unexpectedly become a Famous Minor Television Personality, appearing as the "PC" in a series of television ads for Apple brand computers, and accepting guest roles as "the person wearing glasses" in a variety of films and TV shows, including "Battlestar Galactica," a show he once wrote about as a journalist.
From time to time, he is asked to explain his professional life, and in particular, the effect of this dramatic and surprising change of fortune, and typically, he finds he cannot do it.
...moreOther books in the series
Related Articles
Welcome back. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account.
Source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24807.The_Areas_of_My_Expertise
0 Response to "World Books Arranged Into Funny Things"
Post a Comment