Reviews

Waiting for the Punch: Words to Live by from the WTF Podcast by Brendan McDonald, Marc Maron, John Oliver

krw31's review

4.0

One of those books that said the exact things I needed to hear exactly when I needed to hear them, which doesn’t necessarily happen with WTF in audible form. I like Marc Maron and his podcast, though, which I think is technically grounds for judgment...? I can’t keep track anymore of who we should and shouldn’t like.

kristireads's review

3.0

I chose to read this book during the Covid-19 “self-isolation,” thinking it would be a funny, mood-lifter during an otherwise dark time. I was wrong. There are a few humorous stories that made me chuckle, but a lot of the book is dark and serious. It’s not a bad book, it’s just not what I expected nor what I needed at the time. “Success” was my favorite section...not surprising, since that was the most positive, uplifting section of the book. A lot of the advice shared in “Life Lessons” was appropriate for the Covid-19 situation, with the emphasis on understanding that you can’t control a lot of what happens in your life, and you have to try to make the best of whatever life throws at you.

aydenelw's review against another edition

4.0

Will return to this

eclecticbooklover's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

3.5

kristireads's review against another edition

3.0

I chose to read this book during the Covid-19 “self-isolation,” thinking it would be a funny, mood-lifter during an otherwise dark time. I was wrong. There are a few humorous stories that made me chuckle, but a lot of the book is dark and serious. It’s not a bad book, it’s just not what I expected nor what I needed at the time. “Success” was my favorite section...not surprising, since that was the most positive, uplifting section of the book. A lot of the advice shared in “Life Lessons” was appropriate for the Covid-19 situation, with the emphasis on understanding that you can’t control a lot of what happens in your life, and you have to try to make the best of whatever life throws at you.

etfradin's review against another edition

3.0

'Waiting for the Punch: Words to Live by from the WTF Podcast' functions as a greatest hit collection for the award-winning WTF podcast. At its best, it is a beautiful assortment of extraordinary anecdotes, but the book does not always function as its best self. 'Waiting for the Punch' removes each quote from its organic setting and categorizes the various stories thematically. Sections like "Growing Up," "Mental Health," and "Failure" conglomerate various moments taken from Maron's interviews and sort the quotes categorically. Like a greatest hit album, the novel cuts through cumbersome filler to present WTF's most memorable and emotionally raw moments; however, in this process Maron decontextualizes each story and strips them of their authenticity. When reading 'Waiting for the Punch,' one can not help but feel that Maron took what was a fleeting moment captured on the perfect medium and scribed it for the sake of prestige.

Nonetheless, if you're a fan of WTF and Marc Maron (like I am), you will enjoy the read. 'Waiting for the Punch' is fantastic for fans who want to relive highlights from the storied podcast in a new form. It is however, not made for fresh faces and is ultimately no way to access Maron's genius.