Perhaps all of Jonathan Ames’ problems–and the genesis of this hilarious book–can be traced back to the late onset of his puberty...
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reviews
Dec 19, 2011
Greg
rated it: 
What, indeed? I suppose i'll never know what I would've thought of Jonathan Ames' writing without first seeing his fiction and fictional self in TV's "Bored to Death." This book is madcap, graphic, onanistic in a variety of ways. Luckily, through the glare of all that (and the lens of knowing that however down/dirty his life was, he almost certainly is worrying less now about moving back in with his parents with three seasons of a hit show under his belt), it's his writing that wins ou
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Feb 03, 2011
Kirstie
rated it: 
I think one of the real unfortunate advantages of Jonathan Ames is that he recycles alot of his stories. I was really fascinated after Bored to Death season one (still anxiously awaiting season two to become available on Netflix grr...) In any case, Ames is funny and remarkably honest but between his books and the HBO series, I'm not sure fans really need to read a ton of his novels to get about 90% of his life experiences. These stories do tell as much about NJ and NY as they do the inner cha
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Jan 29, 2010
Isaac
rated it:
I just learned about Jonathan Ames and got into a few of his books at the same time. This one and the graphic novel 'The Alcoholic' were my favorites. 'What's not to love' is a collection of autobiographical pieces Ames wrote for New York Free Press. He writes with a lot of charm and humor about things that most people would be incredibly reluctant to admit they had ever done. A while back I was reading an essay by Seymour Krim about writing and it's ability to connect with people in a media
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Oct 10, 2011
Victoria
rated it:
In a weird way Ames reminds me of Handler's book My Horizontal Life: A Collection of One-Night Stands, except somehow less funny. I'm not sure if its because I can relate to 'beavers' more than scrotums, but Ames didn't win me over like Handler did. His tales, while brutally honest, are sometimes perhaps too honest; I didn't really want to hear about his sexual thoughts towards underage girls, or the time his great aunt made him ejaculate in his pants, but my stubborn policy of always finishing
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Sep 28, 2011
Bill
rated it:
I love Jonathan Ames. I love so much of what he does; "The Alcoholic" was pure genius, and his TV series "Bored to Death" is among my top three or four shows on television at the moment. So when my roommate handed me his copy of this book, I couldn't wait to start it.
After finishing it in a few short days, one phrase sums the whole book up: Jonathan Ames is one weird cat.
I don't want you to think that I didn't like the book. I absolutely did. However, it More...
After finishing it in a few short days, one phrase sums the whole book up: Jonathan Ames is one weird cat.
I don't want you to think that I didn't like the book. I absolutely did. However, it More...
Nov 28, 2011
Sarah
rated it: 
i love jonathan ames. i love everything he's written. i think he's really smart and really funny. i can't help but compare him to david sedaris who i also think is really funny but with sedaris he can get a little cloying for my taste. like his narrative voice is so carefully honed to this very specific blend of wry wit and hyperbolic humour. with ames he's not quite as rehearsed sounding; in this book and a couple others he comes off as a completely guileless fuckup who means well but is basica
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Jan 27, 2010
Adele
rated it:
THIS is the book Neil Strauss wishes he wrote. While still raunchy, womanizing and anecdotal, the difference here is Ames can actually write. Plus, his self-deprecation is believable and endears him to the reader.
What's Not to Love? is a series of short stories chronicling Ames' life through the late eighties and early nineties at Princeton and in NYC. I think boys (ie, my boyfriend) are probably more inclined to like chapters like "I shit my pants in the South of France" More...
What's Not to Love? is a series of short stories chronicling Ames' life through the late eighties and early nineties at Princeton and in NYC. I think boys (ie, my boyfriend) are probably more inclined to like chapters like "I shit my pants in the South of France" More...
Jan 03, 2012
Molly
rated it:
(I'd like to give this 3.5 stars, but since Goodreads is forcing my hand here, I'll go with 4. Just know that I'd rather give this 3.5.)
I became curious about Jonathan Ames over the last few seasons of Bored to Death (RIP). I figured he must be a pretty weird, funny guy to come up with the antics on that show. I then came across an essay he'd written in the New York Times a week or two ago and decided to give one of his books a try.
There's nothing as G-rated in this book More...
I became curious about Jonathan Ames over the last few seasons of Bored to Death (RIP). I figured he must be a pretty weird, funny guy to come up with the antics on that show. I then came across an essay he'd written in the New York Times a week or two ago and decided to give one of his books a try.
There's nothing as G-rated in this book More...
Feb 05, 2009
Jenny
rated it:
oh-my-god.
a friend lent this to me. its really good. reminiscent (sp?) of paul neilan, for those who liked apathy.
i was so impressed, i spilt a coffee on this borrowed book. so i guess i own it now...
oops.
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Update:
I am in LOVE with Jonathan Ames...
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normally, when i find an author i am in LOVE with, i get sad at the end of each book/story. thinking "was the ending kind of lame, or did i just not want it More...
a friend lent this to me. its really good. reminiscent (sp?) of paul neilan, for those who liked apathy.
i was so impressed, i spilt a coffee on this borrowed book. so i guess i own it now...
oops.
-------------
Update:
I am in LOVE with Jonathan Ames...
-------------
normally, when i find an author i am in LOVE with, i get sad at the end of each book/story. thinking "was the ending kind of lame, or did i just not want it More...
Jul 09, 2009
Alexis
rated it:
I was at a party when a friend of a friend started talking about Jonathan Ames. I was intrigued, so I ordered this book from the library. And I found that I love Jonathan Ames, but I would not recommend his work to everyone. He's really perverse. He likes to write about his strange sexual habits. He's self-deprecating and bizarre and slightly neurotic, but really funny. This collection of essays talks about his life and sexual exploits. It evokes some of the grossness and sexual libertarianism o
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Mar 30, 2011
Mei
rated it:
NOT FOR EVERYONE. For those who can tolerate perversion, Jonathan Ames is for you. Aside from his dipsomania, attraction to transgender ladies, and general TMI style, he's an excellent writer who gives subjects that could be annoying with an unexpected sweetness and comedy. One of my favorite writers. Hard to tell people about him, because of stories like "Enemas: A Love Story," and "I Sh** My Pants in the South of France." I'm happy that Ames had success with his HBO show, B
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Dec 30, 2010
Tia
rated it:
I stole this from Matty because we just watched--and loved--season one of Jonathan Ames' HBO series, "Bored to Death."
This book is a collection of his columns. Ames is a bit more than "mildly perverted" on a Tia-scale:), and some of his exploits (or just thoughts!) had me cringing and/or gawking at the typed words before me. I actually can't believe he tells people these things! ...which is part of what is so great:).
I actually learned something from thi More...
This book is a collection of his columns. Ames is a bit more than "mildly perverted" on a Tia-scale:), and some of his exploits (or just thoughts!) had me cringing and/or gawking at the typed words before me. I actually can't believe he tells people these things! ...which is part of what is so great:).
I actually learned something from thi More...
Mar 20, 2011
Jonna
rated it: 
This would have one star, if not for the final few essays -- the final one in particular was actually quite moving, and went in the direction I hoped the book would go a long time ago: He finally begins to actually want to fix himself. But it's too little, too late.
I could see how these would be entertaining as a column, but as a memoir, this doesn't work. First of all, Ames' schtick does indeed get very old. We get it. You're perverted. You get off on men and women, but only kind More...
I could see how these would be entertaining as a column, but as a memoir, this doesn't work. First of all, Ames' schtick does indeed get very old. We get it. You're perverted. You get off on men and women, but only kind More...
Jan 30, 2010
Splashconception
rated it:
These are the kind of sordid stories that gives one faith in their own sense of humanity; whether its smoking crack or marveling over the mosaic of cum stains that don Aime's bed-sheets/curtain, the stories have that nice juxtaposition of sick bastard/good person. There is just something so lovable about the way Aimes exploits his faults and isn't afraid to learn you his fuck-ups. Seriously, read the story "I shit my Pants in the South of France for a good laugh."
May 16, 2008
Marumaru
rated it:
jonathan ames, he's the man.. he's the the george plimpton of the colon (as he claimed himself).. the master of the art of self-mockery.. the pain in my impotent knowledge of life.. he's the sex!! he knows it all!! sickening puberty, masturbation, homosexuality, cracks, hot momma, porn, herpes, baldness.. it's an unforgettable journey into one 'perverted' man's life..
what i learned from this book:
jonathan ames is the lord of genitals
if i was one of the character i w More...
what i learned from this book:
jonathan ames is the lord of genitals
if i was one of the character i w More...
Aug 31, 2009
Kara
rated it:
The essay that introduced me to Ames, "I Shit My Pants in the South of France," is one of the standouts in this collection of musings. I like and respect Ames' frank perversity; it's an approach to the essay I hadn't encountered before. Plus, as I've said in other reviews of tales with similar themes, praise to the author of a quality pants-shitting story.
Nov 27, 2011
Robyn
rated it:
I absolutely love this book, I bought it on a lark just being attracted to the title and hearing him tell a story on the Moth podcast. I was not disappointed, Ames has a way of taking his stories to another level and turns the odd eccentricities of himself and the people he encounters into endearing and hilarious stories.
Aug 28, 2008
Rebecca
rated it:
The topics in this book are in turn touching, funny, repulsive, and outrageous. I truly wanted to be horrified by the perversion, but I found it too funny and odd. The book is skillfully written. Mr. Ames balances between quizzical amusement of his quirks and admitting he truly is a bit of a freak. I kept thinking about who I could pass this book to when I'm finished, and the list is pretty small. Some people wouldn't appreciate it, a few would be morally outraged, so it limited the list signifi
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Nov 10, 2011
Jgknobler
rated it:
Funny and disturbing, Ames is willing to be hugely self-revealing as he discusses various sexual preoccupations and his very serious alcoholism. Some of these themes find their way into his TV show, "Bored to Death," but they are much more elegantly and gracefully presented in this book.
Feb 13, 2012
I am listening to this book read by the author.
So far, it is a collection of tales about himself. They are funny and sad. He's pretty good at finding the humorous in the awful...but at the end of the day, it just sounds like he's made a lot of mildly bad decisions...
So far, it is a collection of tales about himself. They are funny and sad. He's pretty good at finding the humorous in the awful...but at the end of the day, it just sounds like he's made a lot of mildly bad decisions...
Jan 15, 2010
Kara
rated it:
Shocking, hilarious, charming. Only Jonathan Ames can write a personal essay about smoking crack with a tranny hooker on Christmas in such a way that makes you wonder where that working girl is right now; makes you hope that she's doing okay.
Jan 12, 2009
Nina
rated it:
I love him. I saw him read once and I thought he was really smug and overly impressed with himself so I refused to read anything by him, then I read "Wake Up, Sir" and now this and they are both so hilarious, but also honest and sweet.
Sep 02, 2009
Brad
rated it:
I like Ames. His stories have a "how did I end up here" quality to them I like. He's a somewhat dispassionate observer of his passions, almost 19th century in his voice. I tend to binge on authors, and he's a current subject of gluttony.
Oct 27, 2010
Julie
rated it: 
As much as I love Bored to Death, I find ames' essays revolting. They're repulsively neurotic, and as off-putting as they could possibly be. I would probably hate them less if I weren't listening to Ames narrate all of his misery.
Nov 02, 2009
Jackie
rated it:
I come back to this book when I am crabby or taking myself too seriously. Nothing is a better pretentious-self killer than snorting and laughing all through the cross-town bus over tales of colon cleanse and the mangina.
Jan 10, 2009
James
rated it:
you know when you start laughing to yourself in public and try to stop which makes it worse, and you feel like a total nob? Yes,that will happen to you. Just make sure youre in full public view for maxim effect.
Feb 25, 2011
QVT
rated it:
Clearly written, not really funny but interesting sometimes. Obviously I imagined Jason Schwartzman reading/writing it.
Also it kinda made me sad in a really fundamental way.
Also it kinda made me sad in a really fundamental way.
Feb 24, 2011
Brian
rated it:
An amusing and slightly somber collection of essays from Jonathan Ames (Bored to Death). Definitely an enjoyable (though incredibly fast) read.
Feb 15, 2011
Clovd
rated it:
Pasajes de la vida del autor escritos para su columna en el New York Times. Humor oscuro/ácido del bueno, hacía mucho que un libro no me hacía reírme "en voz alta" (lol?).
Jan 21, 2011
Clint
rated it:
I skipped large chunks of this book in order to avoid the base subject matter. That which ascended above potty and sex humour was enjoyable.
