pentalith5's review
2.0
Had to check this out because I love Roz Chast cartoons. The illustrations did not disappoint, in general, except for one:
This is not how graphs work. It's intuitive at first, right? You see a downhill slope and assume the graph illustrates decreasing expectations over time. But no! Time is on the vertical axis, and expectations are .... also on the vertical axis?
I know, I know. It's a comic. But as a science nerd I just can't with this. If it were done on purpose, for the purpose of making fun of bad information design, I'd say hell yes, but I suspect that Roz Chast just either doesn't know better, or totally does but is relying on the laziness of the uneducated masses to not notice, which, given the subject of the text (keep your expectations of other people as low as possible and never be disappointed), might indicate it was done on purpose just to mess with the tiny segment of the population who actually knows how to plot two dimensional data?? The mind boggles.
As for the text of this tiny booklet, it was just something for my eyes to busy themselves with before heading on to the next illustration. Nothing earth shattering. The last couple sentences were pretty good though, so if you can hold on for the 5 minutes it takes to read the whole speech, it'll leave you feeling mildly pleased. So there's that.
This is not how graphs work. It's intuitive at first, right? You see a downhill slope and assume the graph illustrates decreasing expectations over time. But no! Time is on the vertical axis, and expectations are .... also on the vertical axis?
I know, I know. It's a comic. But as a science nerd I just can't with this. If it were done on purpose, for the purpose of making fun of bad information design, I'd say hell yes, but I suspect that Roz Chast just either doesn't know better, or totally does but is relying on the laziness of the uneducated masses to not notice, which, given the subject of the text (keep your expectations of other people as low as possible and never be disappointed), might indicate it was done on purpose just to mess with the tiny segment of the population who actually knows how to plot two dimensional data?? The mind boggles.
As for the text of this tiny booklet, it was just something for my eyes to busy themselves with before heading on to the next illustration. Nothing earth shattering. The last couple sentences were pretty good though, so if you can hold on for the 5 minutes it takes to read the whole speech, it'll leave you feeling mildly pleased. So there's that.
mamareafs's review
4.0
This is a book that is not necessarily for a graduate. It has a lot to say to anyone at any time in one's life.
shighley's review
2.0
Very disappointed. I might have chuckled... once or twice. Otherwise, it wasn't that funny, and seemed like he had an ax to grind. I've read some of his other works, but this didn't work for me.
suetrav's review
5.0
This one was super short but a great read!
I actually laughed out loud at some parts and was nodding my head in agreement with some of their other thoughts. I love a book that is "reality" based rather than the self-help, fluffy crap about washing you face or not apologizing. This book is a realistic look at life.
A couple of my favourite parts:
"Spending all your waking hours doing only what feels good is a viable life plan if you're a Labrador retriever, but for humans it's a blueprint for unemployment, divorce and irrelevance".
"Try to find goodness in everyone you meet. Another waste of time. Relationships aren't supposed to be reclamation projects. The humane qualities of any new acquaintance should be evident in the first five minutes of conversation - ten minutes, tops".
Plus so many other gems. This really is the commencement speech that people need to hear.
I actually laughed out loud at some parts and was nodding my head in agreement with some of their other thoughts. I love a book that is "reality" based rather than the self-help, fluffy crap about washing you face or not apologizing. This book is a realistic look at life.
A couple of my favourite parts:
"Spending all your waking hours doing only what feels good is a viable life plan if you're a Labrador retriever, but for humans it's a blueprint for unemployment, divorce and irrelevance".
"Try to find goodness in everyone you meet. Another waste of time. Relationships aren't supposed to be reclamation projects. The humane qualities of any new acquaintance should be evident in the first five minutes of conversation - ten minutes, tops".
Plus so many other gems. This really is the commencement speech that people need to hear.
zeezeemama11's review
1.0
Tries to hard or maybe it's just the humor that falls flat with me. Nuggets of truth sprinkled over crass language told cruely isn't humor.
'Without hope we have no future - failing optimism over here apparently.' - me
'Without hope we have no future - failing optimism over here apparently.' - me
5elementknitr's review
4.0
After "In the Woods", I wanted something short and sweet.
Well.... this was short.
I thought this was going to be a funny little something. It was just sort of depressing, bordering on mean.
Who the fuck wants a dose of reality on the biggest day of their life so far?
Yes, the title told me, and the subtitle reiterated, but I didn't listen.
Well.... this was short.
I thought this was going to be a funny little something. It was just sort of depressing, bordering on mean.
Who the fuck wants a dose of reality on the biggest day of their life so far?
Yes, the title told me, and the subtitle reiterated, but I didn't listen.