The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! đ
scaryslut's review against another edition
3.0
I'm definitely glad I read it, but it wasn't a life changing, coming of age book or anything. It was just a memoir of a somewhat relatable, likable guy struggling in his college and post-college years. There's some genuine humor in spots too. However, it did take me much longer than expected to read because it wasn't very compelling.
Its worth a read, but don't expect it to be your favorite book ever.
Its worth a read, but don't expect it to be your favorite book ever.
thecatconstellation's review against another edition
funny
reflective
fast-paced
3.75
I listened to the audiobook, and I enjoyed listening to Ryan talk about his experiences. It felt like listening to a friend recount their past. While relatable and funny, I found the tone of the text a bit off putting at times.Â
quintonraymond's review against another edition
4.0
Couldnât read in public because I couldnât stop laughing. A good reminder to love yourself and that being a millennial is the best/worst.
laurenash's review against another edition
3.0
"College kids aren't tired from staying up all night studying or partying. They're tired from not having the slightest idea who they are."
I used to read Thought Catalog alllllll the time when I was at the peak of my quarter-life crisis, so I knew of Ryan O'Connell/his writing style/and the way he jokes. I was surprised to see that he had written a book and even more surprised that we had it at the library. I didn't know that he has cerebral palsy. Actually, I don't know anyone in real life who has it--except for me. Yep. He described more problems/effects of the CP than I have experienced, but it's a similar feeling of "do I tell people or...?" Mine's not as "bad" as it could be and otherwise not really obvious, I suppose, because no one's ever asked me about it. One kid in high school told me that I ran weird. WHO DOESN'T? Anyway, all of that side information is to say this: I have a really hard time with him dropping the word "retard" so often and so flippantly. A lot of what he said was funny and/or elicited a light laugh, but things like that left a bad taste in my mouth.
I used to read Thought Catalog alllllll the time when I was at the peak of my quarter-life crisis, so I knew of Ryan O'Connell/his writing style/and the way he jokes. I was surprised to see that he had written a book and even more surprised that we had it at the library. I didn't know that he has cerebral palsy. Actually, I don't know anyone in real life who has it--except for me. Yep. He described more problems/effects of the CP than I have experienced, but it's a similar feeling of "do I tell people or...?" Mine's not as "bad" as it could be and otherwise not really obvious, I suppose, because no one's ever asked me about it. One kid in high school told me that I ran weird. WHO DOESN'T? Anyway, all of that side information is to say this: I have a really hard time with him dropping the word "retard" so often and so flippantly. A lot of what he said was funny and/or elicited a light laugh, but things like that left a bad taste in my mouth.
roughclub's review against another edition
3.0
3.5/5
I listened to the audiobook, read by the author. It was very funny, it made me laugh out loud in public. I really agree with the review that said it felt like a âshort book or a long blog postâ. I disagreed with a lot of Ryanâs generalizations about millennials but still found the book somewhat relatable.
I listened to the audiobook, read by the author. It was very funny, it made me laugh out loud in public. I really agree with the review that said it felt like a âshort book or a long blog postâ. I disagreed with a lot of Ryanâs generalizations about millennials but still found the book somewhat relatable.
sarahreads2222's review
Cannot relate to all of the millennial commentary that is so heavy in this bookÂ
crowrey's review
5.0
"I feel strange looking at their photos like Iâm supposed to have found my tribe, because I donât feel a kinship with them at all. Itâs that feeling that Iâm not disabled enough to identify with other people who have handicaps but also not ânormalâ enough to pass in the able-bodied world."
I inhaled this book in a single day. Special, the show based on this book, holds a - well - special place in my heart ever since it first came out. Being white and cishet, I never really thought about lacking representation of myself in media. And then I watched the first five minutes of Special and instantly went "Oh. Oh. That's me. This guy is me. I haven't seen myself on TV before actually. I needed this."
So I finally got around to reading the actual autobiography 3 years later and all the same feelings came rushing back but tenfold. Thousandfold. Ryan talks about living with CP in a way that mirrors my own thoughts on it to a T with all the joys of internalized ableism and the self-perception issues and the need of the outside world to pity you.
It's witty, it's clever and it shows what it really, truly means to be disabled when you're not the poster image for inspiration porn. I'll most likely keep coming back to this book. And I'll have to rewatch the show.
I inhaled this book in a single day. Special, the show based on this book, holds a - well - special place in my heart ever since it first came out. Being white and cishet, I never really thought about lacking representation of myself in media. And then I watched the first five minutes of Special and instantly went "Oh. Oh. That's me. This guy is me. I haven't seen myself on TV before actually. I needed this."
So I finally got around to reading the actual autobiography 3 years later and all the same feelings came rushing back but tenfold. Thousandfold. Ryan talks about living with CP in a way that mirrors my own thoughts on it to a T with all the joys of internalized ableism and the self-perception issues and the need of the outside world to pity you.
It's witty, it's clever and it shows what it really, truly means to be disabled when you're not the poster image for inspiration porn. I'll most likely keep coming back to this book. And I'll have to rewatch the show.