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trin's review against another edition
5.0
[author: David Rakoff] is my hero (and one of my many, many gay Canadian boyfriends). He's hilariously funny, but there's real meat to this volume, too. My favorite essays are the one exploring Rakoff's mixed feelings upon deciding to become an American citizen, and the chapter about the Log Cabin Republicans. In the latter Rakoff presents himself as sympathetic to their plight yet understandably completely baffled by gay Republicans' attempts to earn a place inside "the big tent" (the essay's called "Beat Me, Daddy"—and for good reason). There's a humanity to his political commentary that's increasingly rare these days.
savshelfinger's review against another edition
funny
reflective
fast-paced
2.5
Just because you’re gay doesn’t mean you get to call people c*nts and tr*nnies!!
This book felt like reading a podcast. My favorite story was Wildman.
This book felt like reading a podcast. My favorite story was Wildman.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Misogyny
Minor: Transphobia and Fatphobia
kathydavie's review
4.0
A series of 15 essays on the excess in our culture.
My Take
It's well worth reading for Rakoff's use of words as he has a beautiful way of writing whether he's dishing or dashing his topic or himself. In general, he dishes himself, which I suspect is part of what attracts his fans. Each essay addresses a variety of issues as Rakoff leapfrogs from negative to positive and back again. History, politics, environment, consumerism, the shallowness and depth of the individual. And Rakoff. And he makes it work.
I can't agree with the book description as I don't find it "bitingly funny" nor is he "mercilessly skewering". Then again, maybe I'm simply more vicious…*shrugs shoulders*
In this particular book, his essays are the result of his field trips into trying on different roles or simply investigating. There's his short stint as a cabana boy in Miami, exploring life after death and the possibilities of plastic surgery in others, the outrageous excesses of the Concorde with the contrasting down-home qualities of Hooter Air, making fun of our obsession with beautiful food and contrasting it with snobbish superiority over people in homeless shelters, his praise for Steve Brill's naturalist forays into Central Park combine with the Catholic Church and Linnaeus while regretting how out-of-date Brill's ambitions are, and his exploration of fasting with his candid experiences.
I do love his honest willingness to let it all hang out whether it's his decision to become a citizen of the U.S. and what is involved, his grandiose visions of his superior aid as a cabana boy—you can't help but laugh with him as you imagine the same heroic achievements for yourself!
The silliness of hanging around outside for the Today show, the joys of crafting—I can definitely understand how Rakoff feels about this one!, and the craziness of Paris fashion week—his revenge on Karl Lagerfeld was a vicious paragraph. I suspect I most enjoyed his foray into the scavenger hunt, and I do wish he'd finished at the Midnight Madness. His thoughts on the Puppetry of the Penis were both hilariously funny and depressing as it describes the genital origami, blending it with his thoughts on 9/11.
Ooh, Mrs. Bush's comment about ignoring the deaths of soldiers in Iraq seems much on a par with Hilary Clinton's dismissal of the soldiers dying for their country, ignored in Benghazi. It's too bad his insight into the Log Cabin Republicans' strategies had to be right. The years they lost...sigh… I have to go along with Rakoff on Robert Knight. Disgusting and stupid. Christening him as the "Vaginal Punisher" seemed appropriate, jerk.
I found it odd that in one essay he found servitude by others disgusting, but embraces it in yet another.
It appears to be a general theme of excess that refers to America's over-proportionate use of world resources. And he does make a few references here and there, it reads, however, as more of an excess in dreams and fears.
The Cover
The cover could be considered an excess of red—the background—and uncomfortable with the Louis XIVth-style chair. You'd be even more uncomfortable if you were sitting in that chair and watching the hand saw cut a circle in the floor around you!
I'm not sure how the title fits unless Don't Get Too Comfortable is a reminder that Rakoff is holding up a mirror for himself and the reader.
My Take
It's well worth reading for Rakoff's use of words as he has a beautiful way of writing whether he's dishing or dashing his topic or himself. In general, he dishes himself, which I suspect is part of what attracts his fans. Each essay addresses a variety of issues as Rakoff leapfrogs from negative to positive and back again. History, politics, environment, consumerism, the shallowness and depth of the individual. And Rakoff. And he makes it work.
I can't agree with the book description as I don't find it "bitingly funny" nor is he "mercilessly skewering". Then again, maybe I'm simply more vicious…*shrugs shoulders*
In this particular book, his essays are the result of his field trips into trying on different roles or simply investigating. There's his short stint as a cabana boy in Miami, exploring life after death and the possibilities of plastic surgery in others, the outrageous excesses of the Concorde with the contrasting down-home qualities of Hooter Air, making fun of our obsession with beautiful food and contrasting it with snobbish superiority over people in homeless shelters, his praise for Steve Brill's naturalist forays into Central Park combine with the Catholic Church and Linnaeus while regretting how out-of-date Brill's ambitions are, and his exploration of fasting with his candid experiences.
I do love his honest willingness to let it all hang out whether it's his decision to become a citizen of the U.S. and what is involved, his grandiose visions of his superior aid as a cabana boy—you can't help but laugh with him as you imagine the same heroic achievements for yourself!
The silliness of hanging around outside for the Today show, the joys of crafting—I can definitely understand how Rakoff feels about this one!, and the craziness of Paris fashion week—his revenge on Karl Lagerfeld was a vicious paragraph. I suspect I most enjoyed his foray into the scavenger hunt, and I do wish he'd finished at the Midnight Madness. His thoughts on the Puppetry of the Penis were both hilariously funny and depressing as it describes the genital origami, blending it with his thoughts on 9/11.
Ooh, Mrs. Bush's comment about ignoring the deaths of soldiers in Iraq seems much on a par with Hilary Clinton's dismissal of the soldiers dying for their country, ignored in Benghazi. It's too bad his insight into the Log Cabin Republicans' strategies had to be right. The years they lost...sigh… I have to go along with Rakoff on Robert Knight. Disgusting and stupid. Christening him as the "Vaginal Punisher" seemed appropriate, jerk.
I found it odd that in one essay he found servitude by others disgusting, but embraces it in yet another.
It appears to be a general theme of excess that refers to America's over-proportionate use of world resources. And he does make a few references here and there, it reads, however, as more of an excess in dreams and fears.
The Cover
The cover could be considered an excess of red—the background—and uncomfortable with the Louis XIVth-style chair. You'd be even more uncomfortable if you were sitting in that chair and watching the hand saw cut a circle in the floor around you!
I'm not sure how the title fits unless Don't Get Too Comfortable is a reminder that Rakoff is holding up a mirror for himself and the reader.
jess_mango's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 out of 4 stars-- a fun read, but not as entertaining or insightful as essays by David Sedaris or Dan Savage.
jenniferstringer's review against another edition
3.0
Not what I was expecting, but that's not the book's fault. A book of essays of a writer's experiences - things like a ride on the concord, taking part in a "cleansing" fast, covering a supermodel photo shoot in the Caribbean. I see that some have called him a David Sedaris wanna-be, and I can see that. Unfortunately,it lacks Sedaris's wit.
breevee's review against another edition
3.0
Rakoff writes such lovely sentences, that even though I wasn't terribly interested in some of the essays in this book that didn't have to do with politics, it was still a delight to sit back and listen to him talk about his life in his own beautiful words.
patrickwadden's review against another edition
4.0
This book is written so poignantly and cleverly that I dare not attempt to surmount that cleverness and poignancy in this review with floral language and references that would make Merriam Webster grab for an atlas.
So I will simply say, I really enjoyed this book. The scenarios it contains, Rakoff's narrative of it's retelling and it's loose thematic chain connecting each piece.
So I will simply say, I really enjoyed this book. The scenarios it contains, Rakoff's narrative of it's retelling and it's loose thematic chain connecting each piece.
amchan's review against another edition
3.0
Not bad! However, I thought it would delve a bit more into our wealth-income gap, rather than an individual's exploration into American culture's indulgences.
nicoleankenmann's review against another edition
4.0
Audiobook: 04hr 36m
Instantly familiar from his work on This American Life and other such podcasts, the voice of David Rakoff kept me amused and engaged throughout this poignant, irreverent and deeply honest sociopolitical monologue. I felt like I was at the best kind of cocktail party ever, one where the conversation was sparkling, informative and regularly laugh-out-loud funny, and absolutely nothing was required of me.
Rakoff's tone is what you might expect if Eeyore suddenly and successfully left the 100 Acre Wood for a career in standup comedy. He has a knack for juxtaposition that highlights absurdity beautifully. He shies away from nothing and censors his opinions only when doing so makes a stronger point than saying things directly would be able to do. He's whip smart and knows it.
I'm glad that he was spared the political world of Trump, considering what he wrote here about Bush -- but I think the online discord surrounding the last President of the United States would have been just a little bit lighter had he been around to help with the democratic skewering.
Instantly familiar from his work on This American Life and other such podcasts, the voice of David Rakoff kept me amused and engaged throughout this poignant, irreverent and deeply honest sociopolitical monologue. I felt like I was at the best kind of cocktail party ever, one where the conversation was sparkling, informative and regularly laugh-out-loud funny, and absolutely nothing was required of me.
Rakoff's tone is what you might expect if Eeyore suddenly and successfully left the 100 Acre Wood for a career in standup comedy. He has a knack for juxtaposition that highlights absurdity beautifully. He shies away from nothing and censors his opinions only when doing so makes a stronger point than saying things directly would be able to do. He's whip smart and knows it.
I'm glad that he was spared the political world of Trump, considering what he wrote here about Bush -- but I think the online discord surrounding the last President of the United States would have been just a little bit lighter had he been around to help with the democratic skewering.
itsolivia's review against another edition
3.0
The deal: The subtitle of this is “The indignities of coach class, the torments of low thread count, the never-ending quest for artisanal olive oil, and other first world problems.” That about sums it up. It’s a satirical, albeit well-researched take on said “first world problems,” with topics ranging from the Concorde to cryonics to South Beach cabanas.
Is it worth it?: Eh, sure. Some of the chapters I genuinely enjoyed out of pure fascination, but I tended to lose focus whenever Rakoff got philosophical. This is probably a fault in me, and not in the book.
Pairs well with: first class airfare, a nose job, Martha Stewart
B-
Is it worth it?: Eh, sure. Some of the chapters I genuinely enjoyed out of pure fascination, but I tended to lose focus whenever Rakoff got philosophical. This is probably a fault in me, and not in the book.
Pairs well with: first class airfare, a nose job, Martha Stewart
B-