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197th out of 760 books
—
756 voters
Tasteful Nudes and Other Misguided Attempts at Personal Growth and Validation
by
Dave Hill (Goodreads Author)
“I run into Dave Hill all the time at the coffee shop in our neighborhood. He's always unshaven and badly hungover, with some 16-year-old groupie from Cleveland in tow—and he's just as funny then as he is in Tasteful Nudes.He is my idol.” —Malcolm Gladwell
“Dave Hill speaks, rocks, and now writes with a voice so powerful and funny and compelling that I’m pretty sure he's ch...more
“Dave Hill speaks, rocks, and now writes with a voice so powerful and funny and compelling that I’m pretty sure he's ch...more
Hardcover, 240 pages
Published
May 22nd 2012
by St. Martin's Press
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Hmm... how to describe Dave Hill. When I've seen him on TV, he seems sweet, naive, wide-eyed and quite harmless in his pastel jackets - that is until he lets out a zinger that comes from left field
This book is exactly like that. You get autobiographical essays that start out innocently enough but then take you on a wild ride that ends in a sudden snort or a spray of coffee on your cat or unfortunate friend. People will ask you to explain but it's a little too complicated and I'm afraid something...more
This book is exactly like that. You get autobiographical essays that start out innocently enough but then take you on a wild ride that ends in a sudden snort or a spray of coffee on your cat or unfortunate friend. People will ask you to explain but it's a little too complicated and I'm afraid something...more
I loved this book, but my husband hated it. We both lost sleep over it. Mine, because I was compelled to keep reading with my trusty flashlight way after bedtime. My husband's, because my loud laughing repeatedly awoke him. Dave is the rare celebrity author who is actually a skilled writer; many times I wondered how he crafted so many sentences so cleverly and economically (clearly this is a skill I do not personally possess). This book provided sweet relief after Steve Jobs' biography, which fe...more
I'm steadying my old table with my Sedaris books so I can make room on my prominently displayed book shelf for Dave Hill's trilogy.
Dave Hill is the funniest person in the world. If you disagree then let's fight.
This book is hilarious. HILARIOUS, I tell you. Better yet, it is terribly well written and wonderfully conversational. Hill's well-crafted stories are pitch perfect, particularly for those of us who were raised Catholic, went to Catholic school, lived through the 90s/00s indie music scene, love self-depreciating humor, and are not big fans of show tunes. I've been recommending the hell out of this book. So I say unto you: BUY IT.
Warning, though: you may have "On Eagle's Wings" stuck in your head...more
Warning, though: you may have "On Eagle's Wings" stuck in your head...more
Dave Hill and I go way back. Since he's from Cleveland, I went to see one of his bands in concert. After the gig I went up to Dave, shook his hand, and told him, "Great show." And I didn't say it because Dave is a Clevelander like me. I said it because he just rocked the house and was covered and sweat and planned on being my friend for a long, long time.
More than a decade later, Dave's written a book. Since he's from Cleveland, I read the book, and I now tell Dave, "Great book." Dave's book chr...more
More than a decade later, Dave's written a book. Since he's from Cleveland, I read the book, and I now tell Dave, "Great book." Dave's book chr...more
Tasteful Nudes is hilarious. I don't say that lightly. I give that to Fear & Loathing or Women... not much else. I have to confess that this author slays me as a comedian. Being funny as a comedian is not a recipe for being funny as a writer. But he is. He's got a cadence, rhythm, and music that will remind you of Twain, and he's so, so fun to read as he plows through the modern day with that prose. Warren Fahy (Author of FRAGMENT)(less)
I lost track of how many times this book made me genuinely laugh out loud. I first heard of Dave Hill on This American Life when he told a story of a homeless man in New York City who threw a pop bottle of pee at him. I expected to see that story appear again in Tasteful Nudes, but Hill has had so many interesting and humorous experiences that he didn't even need to include it. The book is broken into chapters by topics and events, such as the time he interviewed people on a nudist ship, when he...more
I don't think this book will be for everyone as I feel like you would either get Dave Hill or you won't, and if you don't you'd probably find this a bit strange. However, that being said, I absolutely loved Tasteful Nudes! Each chapter stands alone, so you can dip into it whenever you get a spare few minutes or if you are in desperate need of a laugh... and if you like Dave Hill then you will laugh a lot reading about his life which although farcical at points, doesn't ever veer into that "right...more
I first discovered, and subsequently fell in love with, Mr. Dave Hill through Twitter. His tweeting marathon about his friendship with Kim Jong Il was pure comedy gold (check out the gems here: http://mrdavehill.tumblr.com/post/183...). His quirky, self-deprecating humor is right up my alley, and this wonderful collection of surprisingly well-written, and laugh-out-loud funny essays did not disappoint. A warning that the last chapter, dedicated to his mother, is written in a more serious tone -...more
I received this through a GoodReads giveaway.
I rarely read this type of book, so it was a nice change of pace. However, I just couldn't really get into it because it just seems like I am ready someone's memories of odd things that happened in life. There were times that I was like "yeah, that happened to me or that almost happened, etc."
I did get a few laughs out of it, but no more than from my own non-fame touched life. :)
If you get a chance to read it, it's definitely worth the time. I ended...more
I rarely read this type of book, so it was a nice change of pace. However, I just couldn't really get into it because it just seems like I am ready someone's memories of odd things that happened in life. There were times that I was like "yeah, that happened to me or that almost happened, etc."
I did get a few laughs out of it, but no more than from my own non-fame touched life. :)
If you get a chance to read it, it's definitely worth the time. I ended...more
Five stars to a book that purports to be a "funny" book that actually made me tear-up laughing in public ... where I got odd looks from people. Maybe because we seem to be about the same age, but Dave Hill taps into a way of looking at the world that really related to me in such a warped way. There are some genuinely hysterical memories in this book -- small things like being about 12 when ... "Suddenly, the phone rang. The odds of it being for me weren’t great, but I went ahead and answered it...more
The only problem with this book is that I smiled and laughed through most of it, so I appeared significantly more friendly than usual while riding the subway. I had to talk to like 2 people! Thanks a lot, Hill.
It's rare that I laugh out loud while reading, but I'm pretty sure it happened at least 4 times during my Tasteful Nudes journey. I loved this book. Dave Hill is a hilarious comedian, bad ass guitar playing champion, New Yorker transplant originally from Ohio, and an all around cool guy. I've been lucky enough to see some of his many talents live, and had the absolute glory of reading his well written, adventurous, LOL funny, and touching memoir. Dave gives us a balance of real life seriousness...more
I have to admit that reading a memoir of someone you've never heard of is probably not a great idea, but it sounded like it could be funny, so I put in for the First-Reads giveaway, which I was lucky enough to win.
The book was good enough. I never dreaded opening it, or groaned that "I can't wait to be done with this book," but I was never dying to crack it open, either. The collection of anecdotes about Mr. Hill's life are entertaining, but rarely laugh-inducing. The chapter at the end is touch...more
The book was good enough. I never dreaded opening it, or groaned that "I can't wait to be done with this book," but I was never dying to crack it open, either. The collection of anecdotes about Mr. Hill's life are entertaining, but rarely laugh-inducing. The chapter at the end is touch...more
I am a Dave Hill fan. I have always thought he is very funny. This book, however, exceeded my sky-high expectations. I have read books by other comedians. Too often they start off slow with childhood stories meant to shed light on why they became comedians. Not Dave. I'm barely into the book and he is on a boat with naked people eating from a buffet. Some guy's dripping wiener is too close to the vinaigrette and I am hooked. Word of warning: this book is seriously funny. Be prepared for odd look...more
Oct 04, 2012
Joanna
marked it as to-read
Can't wait to read this. Just check out the amazing blurbs he got, such as:
“I run into Dave Hill all the time at the coffee shop in our neighborhood. He's always unshaven and badly hungover, with some 16-year-old groupie from Cleveland in tow—and he's just as funny then as he is in Tasteful Nudes. He is my idol.” —Malcolm Gladwell
"This book, in addition to being a hilariously fun read, is exactly the kind of book that will get Dave Hill totally laid." —Andy Richter
After hearing Dave on This Ame...more
“I run into Dave Hill all the time at the coffee shop in our neighborhood. He's always unshaven and badly hungover, with some 16-year-old groupie from Cleveland in tow—and he's just as funny then as he is in Tasteful Nudes. He is my idol.” —Malcolm Gladwell
"This book, in addition to being a hilariously fun read, is exactly the kind of book that will get Dave Hill totally laid." —Andy Richter
After hearing Dave on This Ame...more
I greatly enjoyed this book, sometimes even laughing out loud. The self-deprecating humor and pleasurable writing style made it quick and fun. I saw some similarities between this book and one of my all time favorites, Working Stiff: The Misadventures of an Accidental Sexpert. While most of the time I was laughing, there was one chapter that left me saying "GET OUT OF MY HEAD, DAVE!" and that was A Funny Feeling. There is also one point I would like to make: I used to live in Chicago, and I cert...more
Dave Hill lives an enchanted and entertaining life...and we the readers are the beneficiaries of his hilariously documented antics in "Tasteful Nudes." The entire book is like listening to your funniest best friend tell a story: You know this guy...you went to school with him...you hung out with him once in high school...something. He is familiar and he is extraordinary. You love him because not only does he knows how to tell a funny and poignant story...he is a craftsman with his words which on...more
So, so, so funny!!! I laughed out loud over and over - with tears in my eyes! Each chapter had it's own unique style and message, yet all with the same sweet, sincere yet crazy humor - where did he come from? I've never read a humor book that made me laugh this much - it is addicting! Tell me when the next book is out! If you like "The Office" or any other goofy, somewhat twisted yet situational stories, you will love this book.
I think you can't read this book and not make comparisons between Dave Hill and David Sedaris. There is a memorable mom, OCD, odd jobs, a Santa suit, and in the case of Dave Hill, a nude cruise. David Sedaris is the better writer, but Dave Hill is charming, self-deprecating, bizarre, and very funny, particularly in "Big in Japan" which made me laugh out loud. I'm also forever indebted to this book for expanding my prison slang vocabulary.
You have a conversation with Dave, your funniest acquaintance, and hire your court reporter friend to transcribe it secretly, because how awesome would that be? You read the transcripts later and feel mild disappointment; it seemed funnier while it was happening. Also, you have to ask yourself: does Dave really talk about lunch meats that much?
This is sort of his own personal bio which was both a little quirky and also occasionally funny, but not as funny as it was supposed to be. It would be like me writing about the things I thought were funny in my life...wait, I guess I already do that with my Christmas Letter. He writes more of the politically incorrect versions than I do.
Dave has an incredibly funny and unique comedic voice, with his seemingly unwarranted confidence and his undeniable charm that really comes through in his writing. At times laughing out loud and at others silently relating or holding back tears, Dave has written what is hopefully the first of many hilarious and entertaining reads.
Pretty funny, and willing to look at himself with a rather unflinching eye. Might have been more enjoyable to hear the audio if in his own voice? Kind of male-centric, but not in an off-putting way. Leaves me thinking I might like this guy--altho, I'm sure he's not losing too much sleep about it =-).
I'm not sure what it says about a book when I literally remember only one anecdote from it, a month after reading. (Other than maybe I've been neglecting my goodreads page...) I remember enjoying this, enough that I started reading in the bookstore and had to buy it because it made me laugh out loud.
I received an advanced readers copy in a goodreads giveaway and finally got around to reading it. As a comedian, Dave Hill is generally okay, but this book was hilarious. Though there were a few mistakes (mixed up characters' names, grammar etc.), it was over all an enjoyable book.
this was supposed to be SOOOO funny. eggers, burroughs, etc. Horrible...I tried to read and kept reading and it was like bad slapstick. he tries so hard but not funny at all...just my opinion
This book was quite interesting. It's a compilation of random stories that happened to the author throughout his life ranging from his adolescent years to adulthood. Some of the stories made me giggle while others were not as funny. The humor is very dry so I would not recommend this book if you're looking for slap stick comedy however it was a good read overall. I especially enjoyed the OCD therapy section as well as the revised workout summary for the elliptical machine workouts.
Mr. Dave Hill really brings the heat in this collection of rocking comedic essays. He has been on basic cable several times, but still comes across as a totally down-to-earth guy (who also can burn frets like it's his motherfucking job (because also, it sort of is) and does pretty well with the ladies (though he's totally too gentlemanly to go into details)).
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DAVE HILL is a comedian, writer, musician, and man-about-town originally from Cleveland but now living in New York City in an apartment all by himself because he is a grown man. He has written for The New York Times, Salon, The Huffington Post, NY Daily News, Guitar World and a bunch of other people, too. He is a regular contributor to public radio’s This American Life and starred in his own TV se...more
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