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That Book about Harvard: Surviving the World's Most Famous University, One Embarrassment at a Time
by
Eric Kester (Goodreads Author)
"Eric Kester has written the kind of book I wish I had the courage and insight to write. His illuminations on everything from Larry Summers to the Harvard football team to cheating, tourists, and competitiveness are dead-on. His writing has also provided me with some of the best laugh-out-loud moments I've had in recent years. God knows Harvard could use some humor!" --PET...more
Paperback, 334 pages
Published
July 1st 2012
by Sourcebooks
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What happens behind the fated gates of Harvard? More mishaps than you might think. That Book About Harvard is about one guy's misadventures through his freshman year at Harvard, including:
Okay, so that last one was the book's tagline. It's kind of kooky,...more
1) walking across the Harvard Yard in his underwear
2) failing calculus
3) getting arrested
4) trying to get into a Finals Club (the Harvard equivalent of a fraternity)
5) surviving the world's most (in)famous university, one embarassment at a time.
Okay, so that last one was the book's tagline. It's kind of kooky,...more
In the few days that have passed between finishing That Book About Harvard and writing up this little blurb, I've forgotten almost all details and am left only with my overall impressions -- which is telling in and of itself. That Book About Harvard is a quick, (mostly) enjoyable, and ultimately forgettable read. An insider's view of Harvard would be interesting on its own, but an insider's view from an insider who is less than enamored with the revered institution makes for an interesting angle...more
I love just about any book that can make you laugh out loud and this book did that to me a lot. Luckily I was in the safety of my own home with no one to hear me laughing really, really loudly except for my husband and my cats, who are quite used to it, unlike the grumpy people on the Metro.
When Mr. Kester goes to Harvard for football, he knows that he's in for an uphill climb. Harvard has a reputation of being one of the most difficult schools to get into in the country and is known for rigorou...more
When Mr. Kester goes to Harvard for football, he knows that he's in for an uphill climb. Harvard has a reputation of being one of the most difficult schools to get into in the country and is known for rigorou...more
Disclaimer: I was sent this through First Reads on goodreads.
I really enjoyed this memoir. Being college bound myself in about a month, I thought it would be a really great read and it was! I was so excited when I found out I won it! And the author signed it for me which was really nice.
The book is very funny, but poignant and thoughtful too. There are many cringe moments, parts that, for the author's sake I hope are embellished, but also a lot of very helpful self-reflection. He remarks and th...more
I really enjoyed this memoir. Being college bound myself in about a month, I thought it would be a really great read and it was! I was so excited when I found out I won it! And the author signed it for me which was really nice.
The book is very funny, but poignant and thoughtful too. There are many cringe moments, parts that, for the author's sake I hope are embellished, but also a lot of very helpful self-reflection. He remarks and th...more
By turns irreverent, crude and hilarious, this book offers a glimpse behind Harvard's glossy sheen. Anybody who has ever struggled to pass a class, fit in or find their identity will be able to relate to Kester's experiences. His story is chock full of horrific embarassments that readers(as distant spectators) can derive great mirth from. If you have an aversion to strong language, avoid this book. If that's not a problem, it will have you laughing within the first few pages and not let you stop...more
I sped through this book rather quickly, quite a bit of it while in a Harvard dorm. It's not too serious and a nice, light read. I enjoyed the references to Harvard features and quirks, though I think the story is largely fictional. Really, only pick this book up if you're a Harvard student, or if you have a keen interest and understanding of the school.
This book was very obviously written by a first time novelist. His writing style was a little bit choppy and inconsistent throughout. The story was more for entertainment, very crude immature but funny humor. A good read if you don't want to do much thinking.
Super quick and super enjoyable read. And when it says laugh-out-loud funny, it is no joke. My favorite is when he talks about the the blind girl who is an Art History major. Amazing. The only thing I wanted to know was what happened during the rest of his time in school? The book only describes his freshman year. Good either way.
This is one of the funniest books I've read in a long time. Eric's voice makes you feel like you're a friend catching up at a party. All the info about Harvard was extremely interesting. Absolutely I will recommend this book to other people.
If you liked Bossypants, I believe you will like this book. I really enjoyed it. I have friends and acquaintenances whom have gone to Harvard and I have lived in Cambridge and in the area so it had that much more meaning for me.
Kester's book isn't always mature, but his vulnerability makes it poignant and if you have a connection to a student at Harvard, his perspective is very interesting.
Absolutely hilarious. A must-read for anyone who is in college, been to college, or going to college, especially with those freshman high expectations!
This guy is very self-deprecating, but I'm having a hard time caring about why he's actually at Harvard. It's not funny enough to keep me reading, either.
An excellent book that de-mystifies the prestigious university and makes it an attainable goal. I laughed so hard At Eric's stories and experiences that I cried. Eric and I are colleagues and I recommend this book to everyone!
I thought this was just going to be all ZANY ANTICS!! but it ended up being quite funny and charming.
This book is very funny and I am not sure if that is because I have lived in the Boston area for the last 20 years.
A really funny book; it will have you to your knees by the end of the book.
cute. not terribly well written, but distracting for a few hours.
It was comical and I learned what Harvard was like as a university.
Jul 03, 2012
Clare Cannon
marked it as probably-not
sounds funny but crude... worth it?
pretty funny
Witty, self-defecating (that's the way he writes) look at how hard people try to get into a school that makes them feel bad about themselves. By spring, he writes that "I was overcome with nostalgia for that...period in my life when I still believed in Harvard, in a better future, in myself." It's funny, but carries painful truths about wanting to stand out - and to fit in.
This book is simple, cute, funny and light. It's the perfect book if you just want an easy book to read before going to bed, or in the subway. But it doesn't get much better than that. The author delivers a list of nice stories from his time in Harvard. And as much as they are entertaining, by the end of the book, it doesn't feel like you read much....
Awesome book! Although I was a freshman in college about 20 years ago, it was nice to remember and relive that time of my life through this book. As I read through the author's embarrassing moments in his first year in college, I was remembering my own moments. I highly recommend this book if you too want to go down memory lane of your time in college.
Kester's humor might not be for everyone (can be a little excessive at times) but you get a pretty interesting and funny view of Harvard and its students from the inside. The book is also a growing up story that many people could relate to. Light, fun read.
Fun-ny! Full review here:
http://literaryhoarders.wordpress.com...
http://literaryhoarders.wordpress.com...
Such an enjoyable book. gives a whole new perspective to life at an Ivy League school. Well worth the read!
humorous..
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Eric Kester was born in Boston and attended Harvard University, where he wrote a column for the undergraduate newspaper, The Crimson. Now a featured writer for CollegeHumor.com, Eric has also contributed to the Boston Globe, someEcards.com, and Dorkly.com. His writing has been described as a perfect blend of Twain, Salinger, and Sedaris from critics such as his mom. He lives in Boston with his tw...more
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Oct 16, 2012 06:03am