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224th out of 1,393 books
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Ant Farm and Other Desperate Situations
by
Simon Rich
In Ant Farm, former Harvard Lampoon president Simon Rich finds humor in some very surprising places. Armed with a sharp eye for the absurd and an overwhelming sense of doom, Rich explores the ridiculousness of our everyday lives. The world, he concludes, is a hopelessly terrifying place–with endless comic potential.
–If your girlfriend gives you some “love coupons” and then...more
–If your girlfriend gives you some “love coupons” and then...more
Paperback, 160 pages
Published
November 11th 2009
by Random House Trade Paperbacks
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Jon stewart may find this book "hilarious", but - with the exception of a couple of inspired pieces - I found these short 'humorous' pieces sophomoric and not very funny. It appears that they were written when the author, son of NY Times critic Frank Rich, was a Harvard senior, so 'sophomoric' may not be far off the mark.
I picked up a book called "Ant Farm: and other desperate situations" by Simon Rich. It has Jon Stewart's stamp of approval, and it was pitched as a humor book for the YouTube generation: none of the essays are more than 3 pages long. Most are one and a half. They are hilarious. And dammit, he's only 24.
Excerpts from the book:
I still remember the day I got my first calculator
Teacher: All right, children, welcome to fourth grade math. Everyone take a ...more
Excerpts from the book:
I still remember the day I got my first calculator
Teacher: All right, children, welcome to fourth grade math. Everyone take a ...more
This is actually a laugh out loud book. Short little stories that will cause you to do a spit-take if you happen to be reading it while you are drinking a glass of milk. I dream of being this funny, and practice at it really hard around my fiance, but she never does a spit take. There's lots of eye-rolling, though.
Here's an excerpt:
Desert Island
I was chatting with a girl at a cocktail party last weekend and she asked me, “If you were stranded on a desert islan...more
Here's an excerpt:
Desert Island
I was chatting with a girl at a cocktail party last weekend and she asked me, “If you were stranded on a desert islan...more
Simon Rich is my new boyfriend. In my head, anyway. In reality, I'm married and he's way too young for me-- 24, but really, really looks like a young 13. Anyway, he wrote Ant Farm and I'm forever grateful. This definitely earns 5 stars based on my made up rating system of humor books-- laughing out loud, reading parts verbatim to one's spouse and still laughing about it when thinking back to various essays. Ant Farm is a collection of pieces primarily from the perspective of children and te...more
On average, a moderately funny series of vignettes and anecdotes.
First, some definitions. At 139 pages, with a heafty font and a LOT of blank space, it is scarcely a book. It is divided into about 50 little tiny amuses-bouches, much smaller than chapters, none longer than 3 pages. These are grouped into five (oops, I mean V -- roman numerals and all that) seemingly random sections, which I speculate were created by the publisher to give the appearance of organization or erudition ...more
First, some definitions. At 139 pages, with a heafty font and a LOT of blank space, it is scarcely a book. It is divided into about 50 little tiny amuses-bouches, much smaller than chapters, none longer than 3 pages. These are grouped into five (oops, I mean V -- roman numerals and all that) seemingly random sections, which I speculate were created by the publisher to give the appearance of organization or erudition ...more
I received this book for Christmas and I thought I'd share it with you. It's written by the former president of the Harvard Lampoon, and I'll agree with the cover blurb for once, it is whole areas.* Each chapter is just a couple of pages long and is a quirky twist on some random musing or event.
The first in the book is an imagined conversation between Abraham and Isaac on the way back from the scene of the aborted sacrifice attempt. Another transcribes a ouija board session involving a...more
The first in the book is an imagined conversation between Abraham and Isaac on the way back from the scene of the aborted sacrifice attempt. Another transcribes a ouija board session involving a...more
i walked around reading this book, actually wanting to pull strangers aside and make them read parts, it was that funny. but it is definitely formulaic ("a conversation at the grown-ups' table as imagined at the kids' table", "what goes through my mind when i'm home alone from my mom's perspective") and i think any funny person, who has made funny observations, could write this. technically, the writing is... eh. he definitely has a clean voice, but the format doesn't allow f...more
Funny and fun. Quick vignettes based on those multitudes of drunk/high musings that start with: "Hey, what would happen if...?"
Such as: What would happen if God really took the time to care about the outcome of sporting events, while ignoring actual human suffering?
What would happen if the justice system worked like middle school?:
"If Life Were Like Middle School:
JUDGE: In all my years on the bench, I have never seen a more despicable criminal. You ro...more
Such as: What would happen if God really took the time to care about the outcome of sporting events, while ignoring actual human suffering?
What would happen if the justice system worked like middle school?:
"If Life Were Like Middle School:
JUDGE: In all my years on the bench, I have never seen a more despicable criminal. You ro...more
I was halfway through the book before I actually laughed out loud, but there were three more instances after that. Still a pretty low percentage, but I don't think it's quite my sense of humor. My boyfriend is more the target demographic and he laughed pretty much at everything. It became much more impressive when I read at the end that he wrote all this during his four years of undergrad (not only as a senior). That explains why almost everything is from a kid's perspective and how the few piec...more
I laughed out loud so many times while reading this book. It isn't a novel, but collection of short anecdotes about life. It sounds more like stand-up routine. I even read a lot of the anecdotes to my 8 year old--the one about second graders discovering that "the quiet game" isn't really a game.I also called my brothers and read them my favorite exerpts "the ride back to beersheba", "where are all the time travelers" and "i still remember the day i got my firs...more
Read in one sitting, after a pleasant night at work.
Brief comedic vignettes that remind me of some of the weirder riffs, conversations I've had with friends, lovers.
Demonic dogs, graphing calculators--no stone fortress is left unegged in this, the ridiculous minefield we call normal life.
Brief comedic vignettes that remind me of some of the weirder riffs, conversations I've had with friends, lovers.
Demonic dogs, graphing calculators--no stone fortress is left unegged in this, the ridiculous minefield we call normal life.
this is one book that i try to explain to everyone but it is quite difficult. The author is actually former Harvard Lampoon president, so he is obviously a smart fellow, and it shows in his witty but accurate depiction of how you imagine certain scenarios. A pretty quick read as it's a compilations of quick stories. My favorites are: "A day at UNICEF headquarters as I imagined in third grade","the ride back to beersheba", "i still remember the first day I got my Calculat...more
This title is the book equivalent of stand-up comedy. My response to it was like my response to much stand-up comedy:
(1) Mostly just amusing, rather than laugh-out-loud-funny,
(2) But with a few comic gems, and
(2) If men really think about sex that much, I'd rather not know, thank you very much.
Pieces I found funny:
second grade realization
a day at UNICEF headquarters as i imagined it in third grade
i still remember the day i got my first calculato...more
(1) Mostly just amusing, rather than laugh-out-loud-funny,
(2) But with a few comic gems, and
(2) If men really think about sex that much, I'd rather not know, thank you very much.
Pieces I found funny:
second grade realization
a day at UNICEF headquarters as i imagined it in third grade
i still remember the day i got my first calculato...more
Tiny snippets, asides, and bits of imagined conversation that go from hilarious to truly cringe-worthy. But the cring-y-ness is almost always of a participatory sort -- like looking at pictures of yourself wearing legwarmers and huge bangs -- now ridiculous, then hidiously freakin' cool.
The lead story was my favorite bit, though: Abraham monologueing to Isaac as they're returning to Beersheba. "Hey kid, remember that time I almost slaughtered you? Crazy! Good times, though...more
The lead story was my favorite bit, though: Abraham monologueing to Isaac as they're returning to Beersheba. "Hey kid, remember that time I almost slaughtered you? Crazy! Good times, though...more
Pretty hilarious short stories (for a mature reader) about everything and nothing. I'm paraphrasing but one of my favorite shorts so far is about what a second grader imagines goes on at dinner after he goes to bed.
"Let's drink lots of stuff the kids can't"
"I know what God looks like, but let's not tell the kids"
"I am angry, now I'm not, I am going to eat all the cake"
These stories make for a fun read if you have been ...more
"Let's drink lots of stuff the kids can't"
"I know what God looks like, but let's not tell the kids"
"I am angry, now I'm not, I am going to eat all the cake"
These stories make for a fun read if you have been ...more
This is a collection of very short humorous vignettes. They're good when they are not predictable (which the majority of them are, unfortunately). Still, it works great as a snack read--something you read in between other books. And I have to admit to laughing out loud at the first story, where Abraham awkwardly tries to cheer up Iisac after just having tried to murder him to appease God...
More here.
More here.
OMG!!! This is an absolute must read for everyone! I mean everyone. I especially loved the early years of life, the discovery of the calculator and the realization that the quiet game is not actually a game! But even the ex asking to cash in romance coupons was wonderful! The sections are short and easy to get one or two in whenever you have a free minute! Like I said.... MUST READ!!!! I never would have even looked for it if a co-worker hadn't turned me on to it!
Enjoy!!!!
Enjoy!!!!
Brief, slightly audacious, and very funny short stories are the make up of this book. This is the literary equivalent of an after dinner glass of port. It's sketch comedy in convenient book form. No story is over three pages, which I really appreciate. Mr. Rich has an idea, sets it up, gets to the punchline, and moves on. If only Saturday Night Live had such discipline.
Some of the topics covered:
Issac and Abraham (from Genesis) on the way home after the I-almost-sacrificed-you inci...more
Some of the topics covered:
Issac and Abraham (from Genesis) on the way home after the I-almost-sacrificed-you inci...more
This book is pretty funny. The kid who wrote it is the son of New York Times columnist Frank Rich. I don't know why I mentioned that, it's not like I care. Anyway, the kid (Frank Rich Jr.) used to be the editor for the Harvard Lampoon. I wonder if the Harvard Lampoon is funny. Aren't they responsible for those horrible "Vacation" movies starring Chevy Chase? No that's NATIONAL LAMPOON.
You can rest assured that the author of this book has lampooning experience.
...more
You can rest assured that the author of this book has lampooning experience.
...more
Ok, laughed out loud constantly while reading this book. Favorites were "If life were like 4th grade" (judge sentences both criminal and victim to 40 years by saying "I don't care who started it.") and the Conversation between God and that guy at the A&P in the Speedo and football helmet...
Can't believe this kid is like 22...he writes for SNL now and I can see why. couldn't be easier to read - each vignette is about a page long.
Can't believe this kid is like 22...he writes for SNL now and I can see why. couldn't be easier to read - each vignette is about a page long.
Frothy and clever, but unlikely to inspire devotion. Obviously, any anthologized work and any humour work is going to be hit and miss by the nature of the format and the genre, and I think the book is improved by its internal organization of bits written from the perspective or related to early chapters in one's life. But all of that doesn't hide the fact that it's a lovely, light little meringue that provides little substance or satisfaction, regardless of how enjoyable it is as the time.
Lindsey
rated it
Recommends it for:
anyone
Recommended to Lindsey by:
Nick Owen
Shelves:
school-2k8-2k9
A great collection of short stories that include all of the best sarcasm and facetiousness one can create. The stories are perhaps a page long but are entertaining and a nice break from other more exhausting reading. Specifically the story about what happens when mom leaves me home alone is a classic.
" how I imagine life in the u.s. army based on the commercials i've seen" as well as other imaginations and conversations between, children, children and adults, girlfriends, boyfriends, etc are among the short sketches here by an alumnus of the Harvard Lampoon. A hilarious, super-quick read.
Although he probably wouldn't like this, I do mean it as the highest mark of esteem: This is THE perfect bathroom book. I read it every morning while blowdrying my hair, which is kind of the same thing. It made me laugh every single time I opened it. Love it. Highly recommend it.
I think I was disappointed by this book because Rich's "Free-Range Chickens" was hysterically funny. The little "essays" are clever and an interesting exercise in imaginative thinking, but they weren't as exciting as they might have been had I not already read his later book. In addition, am I mistaken, or are there some repeats in there?
Short stories, some funny, some off-color. Great one about the Swiss Army Knife, and one that hit too close to home entitled "What goes through my mind when i'm home alone (from my mom's perspective)"--you know, the "helicopter philosophy of child"-rearing: hovering!
This is a book of "desperate situations" - e.g. a transcription of the imagined conversation between Abraham and his son on the ride back to Beersheba, right after Abraham almost sacrificed his son to God ("Wow, there is nothing like camping! Cooking your own lamb, building your own pyre...and no women! Just a couple of guys in the woods, lighting fires, doing stuff, and keeping it between themselves! Speaking of which, did you ever notice how your mother sometimes gets ideas? ...more
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The only one that made me laugh out loud was the one about what kids think adults talk about at the "grown-ups'" table.
Dad: (laughing) "There are actual monsters in the world, but when my kids ask i pretend like there aren't"
Dad: (laughing) "There are actual monsters in the world, but when my kids ask i pretend like there aren't"
I read a couple of excerpts from this collection of short humorous pieces and I thought they were hysterical, but I found the book a bit of a let-down. It made sense when I read the "about the author" and discovered that he was a Harvard senior when he wrote this - it really does feel like the output of a young and overly clever college student. The thing is, for all I felt disappointed while I was reading it, in the days after I kept thinking of stories from the book and laughing. So ...more
Went back to re-read Simon Rich's work again. Favorite piece was hands down "I still remember the day I got my first calculator" being some one who loathes math. These stories are even better if you read them out loud.
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Simon Rich (born 1984) is an American humorist whose first book, Ant Farm and Other Desperate Situations, was published by Random House in April 2007.
Rich is an alumnus of The Dalton School and a former president of The Harvard Lampoon, and the son of The New York Times editorialist Frank Rich. He received a two book contract from Random House prior to his graduation from Harvard Unive...more
More about Simon Rich...
Rich is an alumnus of The Dalton School and a former president of The Harvard Lampoon, and the son of The New York Times editorialist Frank Rich. He received a two book contract from Random House prior to his graduation from Harvard Unive...more
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“I still remember the day I got my first calculator
Teacher: All right, children, welcome to fourth grade math. Everyone take a calculator out of the bin.
Me: What are these?
Teacher: From now on we'll be using calculators.
Me: What do these things do?
Teacher: Simple operations, like multiplication and division.
Me: You mean this device just...does them? By itself?
Teacher: Yes. You enter in the problem and press equal.
Me: You...you knew about this machine all along, didn't you? This whole time, while we were going through this...this charade with the pencils and the line paper and the stupid multiplication tables!...I'm sorry for shouting...It's just...I'm a little blown away.
Teacher: Okay, everyone, today we're going to go over some word problems.
Me: What the hell else do you have back there? A magical pen that writes book reports by itself? Some kind of automatic social studies worksheet that...that fills itself out? What the hell is going on?
Teacher: If a farmer farms five acres of land a day--
Me: So that's it, then. The past three years have been a total farce. All this time I've been thinking, "Well, this is pretty hard and frustrating but I guess these are useful skills to have." Meanwhile, there was a whole bin of these things in your desk. We could have jumped straight to graphing. Unless, of course, there's some kind of graphing calculator!
Teacher: There is. You get one in ninth grade.
Me: Is this...Am I on TV? Is this a prank show?
Teacher: No.
”
—
38 people liked it
Teacher: All right, children, welcome to fourth grade math. Everyone take a calculator out of the bin.
Me: What are these?
Teacher: From now on we'll be using calculators.
Me: What do these things do?
Teacher: Simple operations, like multiplication and division.
Me: You mean this device just...does them? By itself?
Teacher: Yes. You enter in the problem and press equal.
Me: You...you knew about this machine all along, didn't you? This whole time, while we were going through this...this charade with the pencils and the line paper and the stupid multiplication tables!...I'm sorry for shouting...It's just...I'm a little blown away.
Teacher: Okay, everyone, today we're going to go over some word problems.
Me: What the hell else do you have back there? A magical pen that writes book reports by itself? Some kind of automatic social studies worksheet that...that fills itself out? What the hell is going on?
Teacher: If a farmer farms five acres of land a day--
Me: So that's it, then. The past three years have been a total farce. All this time I've been thinking, "Well, this is pretty hard and frustrating but I guess these are useful skills to have." Meanwhile, there was a whole bin of these things in your desk. We could have jumped straight to graphing. Unless, of course, there's some kind of graphing calculator!
Teacher: There is. You get one in ninth grade.
Me: Is this...Am I on TV? Is this a prank show?
Teacher: No.
”
“There are actual monsters in the world, but when my kids ask I pretend like there aren’t.”
—
4 people liked it
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