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renatasnacks's review against another edition
4.0
This is the book that contains that much-quoted essay about how "if you want to enjoy the rewards of being loved, you also have to submit to the mortifying ordeal of being known." That's pretty much the high mark of this collection. Overall, it's an enjoyable essay collection with a lot of killer sentences in it. There's some self-reflection that is a little bit cringey, but that's the point of it, I suppose?
calendric's review against another edition
5.0
Tim Kreider, as always, manages to find the little things in my head that I didn't know anyone else knew, and put them down on paper. He's one of my absolute favorite writers and delivers in spades in this new book.
failedimitator's review against another edition
5.0
There are two or three essays in here that are minor Kreider, but the vast majority of them are great. And another two or three — Strange Situation, for example — are fucking phenomenal!
Second Reading:
Read this a second time and it's phenomenal. Even the essays that I thought were kind of weak and didn't really work for me the first time really shined this time around. There isn't a single essay here that feels just like a filler. Every single one says something at once deeply personal, but also something generally relatable. It's a 10/10 book and I can't recommend it more.
Second Reading:
Read this a second time and it's phenomenal. Even the essays that I thought were kind of weak and didn't really work for me the first time really shined this time around. There isn't a single essay here that feels just like a filler. Every single one says something at once deeply personal, but also something generally relatable. It's a 10/10 book and I can't recommend it more.
jasonben10's review
3.0
Deeper and more melancholic vibes than his first but still the same great observational comedy going on. Lots of relationship analysis in this one and his reflections.
In the story about the longest partnership in his life - his cat, " An unshared life feels scarily as if it might not be occurring" p. 137
Interesting passage from the story about him teaching a writing course at a college, "I could understand, in principle at least, why priests are required to be celibate: when you don't want anything from someone, you can give yourself freely, without fear. I liked being in a position for the first time in which I could help someone, dispense advice and encouragement, be generous without an agenda. Where I had the power to be kind." p. 171
Certainly not as impactful as his first book but nonetheless I think there is some interesting brooding going on here, perhaps much later in life a revisit would be rewarding. Good second to last essay about his God thoughts btw.
In the story about the longest partnership in his life - his cat, " An unshared life feels scarily as if it might not be occurring" p. 137
Interesting passage from the story about him teaching a writing course at a college, "I could understand, in principle at least, why priests are required to be celibate: when you don't want anything from someone, you can give yourself freely, without fear. I liked being in a position for the first time in which I could help someone, dispense advice and encouragement, be generous without an agenda. Where I had the power to be kind." p. 171
Certainly not as impactful as his first book but nonetheless I think there is some interesting brooding going on here, perhaps much later in life a revisit would be rewarding. Good second to last essay about his God thoughts btw.
mugren's review
1.0
I liked the style of writing, but I hated the content. I have another book by him that I’m still looking forward to reading.
tyardnol's review
3.0
I adore Kreider's other collection of essays, We Learn Nothing, but this one fell short for me. Each story ties back to a relationship in Kreider's life and this theme is limiting. Kreider's views on love and relationships wander between juvenile and reductive. There are moments of dark humor and raw honesty but it can't make up for a writer whose outlook on love I vehemently disagree with.
wint's review
4.0
incredibly funny. made-me-chuckle-out-loud funny. i picked it up after reading one of his very good articles about the unexpected spread of the "terrifying ordeal of being known" bit on tumblr, whose original essay i didn't know was also in this book.
i already liked his prose a lot, but certainly didn't expect to find it as relatable as it is, well, at least as much as a 18 year old woman can relate to the problems of a (at the time) 46 year old man, but a lot of the musings about existential dread, political anxieties and general loneliness hit specially hard, for reasons that forgo explanation.
i already liked his prose a lot, but certainly didn't expect to find it as relatable as it is, well, at least as much as a 18 year old woman can relate to the problems of a (at the time) 46 year old man, but a lot of the musings about existential dread, political anxieties and general loneliness hit specially hard, for reasons that forgo explanation.
junkiehumpback's review
4.0
Some stories, amazing - some, dragged but all took a unique perspective on a very relatable feeling.