"If you only read one book in your life, it probably shouldn't be this one. However, if you're not operating an inexplicable one-book policy, these stories are funny, touching, and more than worth your time." -- John Oliver
"Josh Gondelman is one of the most original hilarious voices out there today. This book will hook you and make you laugh and laugh." -- Amy Schumer
Emmy-Award winning writer and comedian Josh Gondelman's collection of personal stories of best intentions and mixed results.
Josh Gondelman knows a thing or two about trying--and failing. The Emmy Award-winning stand-up comic--dubbed a "pathological sweetheart" by the New York Observer--is known throughout the industry as one of comedy's true "nice guys." Not surprisingly, he's endured his share of last-place finishes. But he keeps on bouncing back.
In this collection of hilarious and poignant essays (including his acclaimed New York Times piece "What if I Bombed at My Own Wedding?"), Josh celebrates a life of good intentions--and mixed results. His true tales of romantic calamities, professional misfortunes, and eventual triumphs reinforce the notion: we get out of the world what we put into it. Whether he's adopting a dog from a suspicious stranger, mitigating a disastrous road trip, or trying MDMA for the first (and only) time, Josh only wants the best for everyone--even as his attempts to do the right thing occasionally implode.
Full of the warm and relatable humor that's made him a favorite on the comedy club circuit, Nice Try solidifies Josh Gondelman's reputation as not just a good guy, but a skilled observer of the human condition.
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Published: 09/17/2019
Pages: 272
Weight: 0.4lbs
Size: 8.00h x 5.30w x 0.60d
ISBN: 9780062852755
Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 06/10/2019
Library Journal 06/14/2019 pg. 1
Kirkus Reviews 07/01/2019
Booklist 09/01/2019 pg. 24
Shelf Awareness 09/20/2019
About the Author
Gondelman, Josh: -
Josh Gondelman is a comedian and writer who has earned two Peabody Awards, three Emmys, and two WGA Awards for his work on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver on HBO. He is currently a writer/producer for Desus & Mero on Showtime. In the past, Josh has written for Billy on the Street. His writing has also appeared in the New York Times, New York magazine, and the New Yorker. He lives in New York City with his wife and pug.