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evirae's review against another edition
I am a big fan of Penn & Teller on stage and on HBO. Whereas I thought the title of this book would be telling about its contents, I was sorely mistaken.
Vulgar without adding anything and as appealing as being presented with an unwashed phallus, the story has little to do with atheism or spirituality and seems to be Penn simply vomiting prose until the word count justified publication for profit while knowing that the majority of readers wouldn't be able to stomach it past chapter one.
Vulgar without adding anything and as appealing as being presented with an unwashed phallus, the story has little to do with atheism or spirituality and seems to be Penn simply vomiting prose until the word count justified publication for profit while knowing that the majority of readers wouldn't be able to stomach it past chapter one.
dylanrostek's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to give this four stars, in fact I did at first, but I can't.
It's a four star read in my opinion. It's funny and keeps you entertained all of the way through with stories from Penn's life about friends, family, and situations. However, I believe the title is misleading. I guess he covered his bases with the "Other Magical Tales" part but it isn't the book on Atheism that it sort of sells itself as. Is this bad? No, as I said it is highly entertaining and it does touched the subject quite a lot but if you pick this book up expecting the book to be about atheism you may be disappointed.
If you pick up this book simply expecting to read funny and touching anecdotes from the life of a man who has done some really crazy stuff and who touches on politics and religion at times, you should definitely enjoy it.
It's a four star read in my opinion. It's funny and keeps you entertained all of the way through with stories from Penn's life about friends, family, and situations. However, I believe the title is misleading. I guess he covered his bases with the "Other Magical Tales" part but it isn't the book on Atheism that it sort of sells itself as. Is this bad? No, as I said it is highly entertaining and it does touched the subject quite a lot but if you pick this book up expecting the book to be about atheism you may be disappointed.
If you pick up this book simply expecting to read funny and touching anecdotes from the life of a man who has done some really crazy stuff and who touches on politics and religion at times, you should definitely enjoy it.
cdeane61's review against another edition
3.0
I thought this would be more of a "here are the reasons I'm an atheist" type of book, but its really just a series of stories and musings on his life, in and out of show-business.
It is interesting, and at times funny, but mostly just an "I am what I am" memoir of sorts.
Fact is, Jillette is a bit of an asshole, but then again, aren't we all? At least he has the wherewithal to present himself as he sees fit, with little or no remorse.
It is interesting, and at times funny, but mostly just an "I am what I am" memoir of sorts.
Fact is, Jillette is a bit of an asshole, but then again, aren't we all? At least he has the wherewithal to present himself as he sees fit, with little or no remorse.
idrumgood's review against another edition
5.0
I was surprised how funny Jillette was in writing. Though his crude humor was still present, somehow in print it seemed less raunchy and more clever. His take on the 10 Commandments gave shape and purpose to what otherwise would be a bunch of random stories. It made me laugh and it made me cry (well, get a little misty if not all-out balling), and I plowed through it faster than any book in recent history. Highly recommended.
theonionboy's review against another edition
2.0
I have read a few of Penn's books, watched many of his TV series, and listened to his podcasts. He loves a story and will do ANYTHING to have a good story. But (even by his own admission in this book) he takes so long to tell one that it becomes infuriating. That happens in this book, and it really takes away from the experience. That was why I had to stop listening to his podcasts. He takes 40 minutes to tell a 5 minute story, which just kills it for me. He even takes 7 minutes to plug his advertisers, and feels that is better than a 30 second, professionally produced commercial.
Anyway, this book started off with a theme or structure, but rambled away from it so many times for so long that it lost it. Between tangents he would mention the next of the 10 commandments that he was deconstructing and re-writing as an atheist. I respect and enjoy his well-thought out opinions, I just struggle with his storytelling style.
His language and stories are so foul that I wonder if he does it just for shock value, or to prove that he is not beholden to the religious self proclaimed keepers of morality.
This book would probably get a better reaction if it was clearly promoted as a collection of his ramblings on topics somewhat tied to atheism.
Anyway, this book started off with a theme or structure, but rambled away from it so many times for so long that it lost it. Between tangents he would mention the next of the 10 commandments that he was deconstructing and re-writing as an atheist. I respect and enjoy his well-thought out opinions, I just struggle with his storytelling style.
His language and stories are so foul that I wonder if he does it just for shock value, or to prove that he is not beholden to the religious self proclaimed keepers of morality.
This book would probably get a better reaction if it was clearly promoted as a collection of his ramblings on topics somewhat tied to atheism.
ksbookjunky's review against another edition
4.0
I love Penn and I love hearing his stories (atheism related and not) but the objectivist philosophy he speaks of is just as much a religion as those he despises. Other than that it is witty and fun and a very fast read: only one afternoon for me.
irisameliaink's review against another edition
3.0
Regarding 3 stars: I think I was searching for more answers than this book intended to give.
Hilarious book. So frank, raunchy — love it. Just makes me want to see P&T live even more.
Hilarious book. So frank, raunchy — love it. Just makes me want to see P&T live even more.
weaselweader's review against another edition
4.0
Great entertainment but academically unconvincing!
There's a lot of things to be said for Penn Jillette's outrageously irreverent, unrepentingly profane, gut-bustingly hilarious and heartfelt blue-collar paean to his atheist heroes - Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins. As a reader who professes himself to be a profoundly anti-religious but rather deeply committed deist, I found myself befuddled by Jillette's insistent refusal to admit the possibility of the state of agnosticism as something that could legitimately squeeze in between theism and atheism.
That said, any potential reader could fairly ask whether the reading was worth the time or if I enjoyed the book. The answers ... yes and yes, absolutely yes and yes!
Paul Weiss
P.S. This is an old review that I discovered I had neglected to post. I have since "graduated" to full atheism but nothing changes about the comments. I find nothing objectionable about non-religious agnostic deism and feel that it definitely has a place on such a spectrum.
There's a lot of things to be said for Penn Jillette's outrageously irreverent, unrepentingly profane, gut-bustingly hilarious and heartfelt blue-collar paean to his atheist heroes - Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins. As a reader who professes himself to be a profoundly anti-religious but rather deeply committed deist, I found myself befuddled by Jillette's insistent refusal to admit the possibility of the state of agnosticism as something that could legitimately squeeze in between theism and atheism.
That said, any potential reader could fairly ask whether the reading was worth the time or if I enjoyed the book. The answers ... yes and yes, absolutely yes and yes!
Paul Weiss
P.S. This is an old review that I discovered I had neglected to post. I have since "graduated" to full atheism but nothing changes about the comments. I find nothing objectionable about non-religious agnostic deism and feel that it definitely has a place on such a spectrum.
kmg365's review against another edition
4.0
I listened to the audio version, which for this particular title, presented a few difficulties. I'm not bothered by salty language, and I was expecting more than a few four letter words in this title. Turns out there are SO many four-letter words-- and those words are delivered with such exuberance-- that I felt it necessary to turn my car stereo OFF every time I was in a drive-thru. Didn't want the fine people at the credit union calling the po-po.
Penn strays off topic quite a bit, but you won't care, because his stories are great. Whatever you do, don't stop reading before you get to the blow dryer story.
Penn strays off topic quite a bit, but you won't care, because his stories are great. Whatever you do, don't stop reading before you get to the blow dryer story.