The Areas of My Expertise
by John Hodgman
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Book Reviews of The Areas of My Expertise
Book Review: Rubbish :(
Summary: 1 Stars
This is simply the worst book I've bought in a long time. I didn't find it remotely funny. Previously I've bought other books by Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert and found them to be hilarious so I expected this to contain the same kind of clever satire that the other two authors have used to great effect. Instead I get a list of a couple of hundred hobo names and a phases of the moon chart for werewolf transformations.
Seriously, I appreciate that you've done some ads for Apple and get a semi-regular stint on the Daily Show but this is just cack. Awful, I want my $5 back.
Book Review: Randomized orderliness
Summary: 5 Stars
Hodgman has a perfect pen for the art of brilliant randomness. I enjoyed this book from cover to cover as his sense of humor is precisely on the same vector as my own. I would highly recommend this reading if you enjoy a delightful mix of clever factual fabrications and the juxtaposition of quick "makes you think' humor and sharp, scholarly diction. I've bought 5 copies as gifts for acquaintances that I like as well as those that I don't, in hopes that they will learn not to take life not quite so seriously. Thank you John.Book Review: Don't read in public
Summary: 5 Stars
Areas of My Expertise is hilarious. It meanders at a wonderful pace. I joke with my kids about hobos, so I've read some of the hobo passages and hobo names to them. My only complaint is that you shouldn't read it in public, as laughing like a maniac on the subway is frowned on at 6:00am. I can imagine that Hodgeman was beat up or ridiculed in middle school by the other kids, as he was probably geeky and somewhat obtuse then, too. The fact that he didn't conform is to his credit. He is who he is, and this book is a lot of fun.Book Review: Total world knowledge is at your fingertips. Suck it Britannica!
Summary: 5 Stars
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.
Book Review: Very funny book
Summary: 5 Stars
This book was very funny. John Hodgman weaves together real facts with cleaver fiction. Some of the puns fall flat, but a lot of the book is really funny and witty. If you're a fan of John Hodgman, writing, acting, or a fan of his appearances on The Daily Show I strongly recommend you buy and read this book, you won't regret it. I'm looking forward to buying his follow-up book More Information Than You Require.