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A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Heaven,or How I Made Peace with the Paranormal and Stigmatized Zealots and Cynics in the Process
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In this book, Corey Taylor undertakes something never before attempted in the history of rock superstardom: he takes you with him as he journeys undercover through various ghostbusting groups who do their best to gather information and evidence about the existence of spirits. Some are more credible than others, and, frankly, some are completely insane, but all are observed
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Hardcover, 256 pages
Published
July 16th 2013
by Da Capo Press
(first published June 20th 2013)
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Start your review of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Heaven,or How I Made Peace with the Paranormal and Stigmatized Zealots and Cynics in the Process
I'm a huge Slipknot fan. They've been my favourite band for 10+ years, but this isn't about a defense of Slipknot. I used to be a Corey fanboy but I'm older now and see more of what he does right and wrong. I read his last book and thought it was decent but not amazing by any means. I feel like teenager me would have been all COREY TAYLOR'S BOOK IS OMG AWESOME!
The problem with both of Corey's books, but moreso with this one, is that he just thinks he's smarter than he is. He's an intelligent dud ...more
The problem with both of Corey's books, but moreso with this one, is that he just thinks he's smarter than he is. He's an intelligent dud ...more
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
A copy of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Heaven was provided to me by Da Capo Press for review purposes.
'Thinking back now, it was really just a creepy house that creaked and shuddered, but to impressionable nine-year-olds, it was the vacation spot of the devil itself.'
To give you all a proper introduction for those who are unaware, Corey Taylor is the lead singer of Slipknot and Stone Sour and the author of Seven Deadly Sins. 'A Funny Thing Happened' is a worthy f ...more
A copy of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Heaven was provided to me by Da Capo Press for review purposes.
'Thinking back now, it was really just a creepy house that creaked and shuddered, but to impressionable nine-year-olds, it was the vacation spot of the devil itself.'
To give you all a proper introduction for those who are unaware, Corey Taylor is the lead singer of Slipknot and Stone Sour and the author of Seven Deadly Sins. 'A Funny Thing Happened' is a worthy f ...more
Sometimes a book turns out to be very different than your expectations. A Funny Thing Happened is an example of this phenomenon. The press for the book describes it as Taylor “journeys through various ghostbusting groups”. That’s not exactly what happens here. What happens is that Taylor discusses some odd ghostly occurrences that he has experienced, including one adhoc investigation performed by Taylor and some friends.
At this point, I should probably mention that I come to this book as neither ...more
At this point, I should probably mention that I come to this book as neither ...more
30% paranormal anecdote, 70% hot mess.
i like corey taylor, i like listening to him during interviews, he's an incredibly talented musician. that being said:
this book really needed a strong editor to control the stream of consciousness babble that took up the majority of the work. each chapter would whet your appetite with introductions to his ghost encounters & then just rambled about everything/anything else.
i was really disappointed. ...more
i like corey taylor, i like listening to him during interviews, he's an incredibly talented musician. that being said:
this book really needed a strong editor to control the stream of consciousness babble that took up the majority of the work. each chapter would whet your appetite with introductions to his ghost encounters & then just rambled about everything/anything else.
i was really disappointed. ...more
To those who like reading about religion, Corey Taylor is likely to split the masses (not exactly a shock to those who have read
Seven Deadly Sins
). But where atheists like Richard Dawkins make you want to violently punch walls with their attitude, Taylor brings a dose of humour along with a reflective look at himself. He never slams anyone for their belief, but just makes it clear what he says is merely his own belief.
And why is this remotely relevant to a book about the existence of ghosts ...more
And why is this remotely relevant to a book about the existence of ghosts ...more
This book was given to me by a friend after we'd had a discussion on ghosts and the supernatural. While occasionally entertaining I can't really say that this book is truly worth reading. It is something to read on a train, or a busride, or a flight just to pass the time and be done with it. The write style is, obviously, simple and a bit crude. It did not bother me except for the occasions when Taylor decided that it would be funny to write a sentence consisting almost solely of swear words. So
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This is an obvious must read for any slipknot/stone sour fans or general fans of Corey Taylor himself. He's a very funny guy, who always seems to have some quirky snippet of info to share. Which is usually crazy and sometimes quiet enlightening. He is a talented musician, singer and all round a messed up guy. He's taken some dark paths in his life that have almost killed him but made him stronger in the long run. Which made me so very eager to read more of his inner workings.
So it pains me to gi ...more
So it pains me to gi ...more
I found Corey Taylor's schtick (OMFG I'm so ADHD and thinking constantly about so many things that I'm totally amazing don't you wish your mind was as active as mine) to be tiresome. The encounters he had with the paranormal tended to lose all impact due to his tendency to prattle on and on and on. I often felt like he was generating cheap filler to hit "book length". This would've made an interesting short essay; it's a shame he didn't realize that.
HIs analytical skills seemed lacking. He claim ...more
HIs analytical skills seemed lacking. He claim ...more
this won't be a real review because i am very biased but... i love this man. i could sit and listen to him babble all day. this was great. i like You're Making Me Hate You: A Cantankerous Look at the Common Misconception That Humans Have Any Common Sense Left more, but thats just because it's more of my cup of tea. anyways, i love corey taylor and think he's a genius.
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I will say it, I love this book. I am not a Slipknot or Stone Sour fan because I never listened to their music to know if I would be. I discovered Corey Taylor (amazing vocals on Can to Can't) through the Sound City project and as research does, I stumbled upon the fact that he is a writer. Anything about ghosts will catch my interest so I sought out the book and read it in one day. I haven't done that since reading Mötley Crue's bio.
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Heaven is not for the sma ...more
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Heaven is not for the sma ...more
"I want to know certain answers if only to be able to figure out the right questions to ask in the process. If I knew where to start, I wouldn't be writing this book."
The way Corey Taylor writes is sheer joy. He's as readable as humorists like PJ O'Rourke or Hunter S Thompson: witty, incisive, merciless, and filled with authenticity. You don't have to like Slipknot to enjoy his books.
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The way Corey Taylor writes is sheer joy. He's as readable as humorists like PJ O'Rourke or Hunter S Thompson: witty, incisive, merciless, and filled with authenticity. You don't have to like Slipknot to enjoy his books.
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Interesting thoughts and great stories, but it was tough to follow Corey Taylor's stream of consciousness writing style at times.
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Let it be said that I don’t believe in ghosts, ghouls, or things that go bump in the night. Sure, I love horror films, and I love watching so called “paranormal” videos on YouTube, but it’s extremely rare that anything out there can spook me enough to lose sleep or ponder life beyond the grave.
And that’s exactly the attitude I carried toward when embarking on Corey Taylor’s semi-biographical/pseudo science non fiction work in regards to spooks. Rather, I picked up A Funny Thing Happened because, ...more
And that’s exactly the attitude I carried toward when embarking on Corey Taylor’s semi-biographical/pseudo science non fiction work in regards to spooks. Rather, I picked up A Funny Thing Happened because, ...more
“A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Heaven” (AFTHOTWTH) is the second book by Slipknot and Stone Sour front man Corey Taylor.
This book is hard to explain - is it part of an unfinished thesis on the existence of ghosts broken down through scientific concepts or is it just a trip down memory lane of Taylor’s own experiences with the supernatural; from the creepy abandoned house snuck into as a child, to a theatre where he’s played, and even his own home?
Whatever it is it’s entertaining. With hi ...more
This book is hard to explain - is it part of an unfinished thesis on the existence of ghosts broken down through scientific concepts or is it just a trip down memory lane of Taylor’s own experiences with the supernatural; from the creepy abandoned house snuck into as a child, to a theatre where he’s played, and even his own home?
Whatever it is it’s entertaining. With hi ...more
There was just too much rambling in this book to give it a higher rating. It was all over the place and needed stronger editing.
I also found that the author skipped between colloquialisms and flowery writing, way to often. It was as if he was trying to be 'chatty' at times, and then switching to 'intellectual' when it suited him.
His humour also dipped too far into arrogance.
The section on religion, whilst necessary, given the topic, went on for far too long. He had some interesting points to m ...more
I also found that the author skipped between colloquialisms and flowery writing, way to often. It was as if he was trying to be 'chatty' at times, and then switching to 'intellectual' when it suited him.
His humour also dipped too far into arrogance.
The section on religion, whilst necessary, given the topic, went on for far too long. He had some interesting points to m ...more
Although I have no reason to believe in ghosties myself, I found it fascinating just reading what Corey had to say about his experiences, his attempts at theorizing and the process of figuring things out for himself. But I think the most admirable thing about this book is how open minded Corey is in all of this. He is completely open to the fact that he may be wrong in all his postulations and he isn't trying to convince anybody of anything - just to open up genuine discourse around the subject
...more
As a religious person I have no problem reading an atheist perspective. We all have a right to believe what we want. However, saying that your biggest problem with organized religion is hatred while spewing nothing but hate and vitriol towards religion makes you a hypocrite. You don’t have to spew hatred in order to defend your beliefs.
I love how Corey Taylor writes. He keeps me glued to the pages. I didn’t enjoy this as much as his first book but it was quite insightful and I love hearing stories about the paranormal.
There were times I thought this is dragging when he tried to talk about more scientific based theories but it kept me interested to want to find out more about his experiences and ideas.
A very clever, funny and honest read.
There were times I thought this is dragging when he tried to talk about more scientific based theories but it kept me interested to want to find out more about his experiences and ideas.
A very clever, funny and honest read.
I went into this book not really knowing what to expect. I had read Taylor’s first books Seven Deadly Sins and House of Gold and Bones and loved both, so, I figured I would give this one a shot. None of Taylor's books are *anything* alike, so, if you've read the others, trust me when I say this is nothing like those.
The premise of the book is Taylor taking a look at the paranormal and contemplating the questions we all wonder about at some point. Are ghosts real? Is there existence of life after ...more
The premise of the book is Taylor taking a look at the paranormal and contemplating the questions we all wonder about at some point. Are ghosts real? Is there existence of life after ...more
I'm not sure what I was thinking when I picked this up since I'm not a huge fan of Slipknot (I won't skip a song on Spotify but I'm not going to any concerts). Pretty sure the subject of the book is what got me (and that cool ass book cover!)
I'm the type of person who believes in ghosts even though I've never had any sort of experience to tell me that they are real. In this book, Taylor talks about how everyone has an experience even if they're too chicken shit to tell others. Well, I really don ...more
I'm the type of person who believes in ghosts even though I've never had any sort of experience to tell me that they are real. In this book, Taylor talks about how everyone has an experience even if they're too chicken shit to tell others. Well, I really don ...more
Warning: Fan-girling ahead!
Corey Taylor's second book discusses his fervent belief in the paranormal and summises his personal explanations as to what ghosts or spirits 'are'. Intrigued? You will be..
'A Funny Thing...' cleverly mixes Taylor's very own special blend of pseudo intelligent writing with his below-the-belt humour and opinionated ranting. If you are a fan of his work, his music or his personality, you.will enjoy hearing about his experiences with the paranormal, particularly The Mansi ...more
Corey Taylor's second book discusses his fervent belief in the paranormal and summises his personal explanations as to what ghosts or spirits 'are'. Intrigued? You will be..
'A Funny Thing...' cleverly mixes Taylor's very own special blend of pseudo intelligent writing with his below-the-belt humour and opinionated ranting. If you are a fan of his work, his music or his personality, you.will enjoy hearing about his experiences with the paranormal, particularly The Mansi ...more
I had not heard of Corey Taylor before and came upon this book by chance in the music section at Waterstones. He is a singer with Slipknot but this book is not about music. It is about ghosts and atheism and it appealed to me. Once I started reading it I could not stop! So much of what he said could have been me speaking. I have not had the dealings and meetings with ghosts that he has, but I am a strong believer. He writes with humour, doesn't try to make anyone believe him just states what has
...more
Taylor has a comfortable way of writing...it's just like having a real conversation with a real person. Minus the fact that he NEVER uses contractions (I am not/ I'm not, it is/it's, etc.), which makes for weird language. Kind of like reading a first grade primer.
The overall content is a little flat. The actual sharing of paranormal experiences are few with much too much pondering of what life is all about and over explanation of his own personal beliefs. It's almost like reading the journal of ...more
The overall content is a little flat. The actual sharing of paranormal experiences are few with much too much pondering of what life is all about and over explanation of his own personal beliefs. It's almost like reading the journal of ...more
In Corey Taylor's second book about his crazy life, he shares with us his experiences and encounters with ghosts and spirits. It also focuses on his personal life and his views on the religious aspects of life.
I can't say I didn't enjoy this book, though it took awhile to get through. It was a bit boring at times and Corey Taylor surprisingly pulled a Dee Snider and used some pretty technical terms in this book. I found myself laughing several times in every chapter. The first chapter was probab ...more
I can't say I didn't enjoy this book, though it took awhile to get through. It was a bit boring at times and Corey Taylor surprisingly pulled a Dee Snider and used some pretty technical terms in this book. I found myself laughing several times in every chapter. The first chapter was probab ...more
This is the second book I've read from Corey Taylor. The man has energy to burn! He digresses so much throught the book, I swear he needs to be on medication! But, it is Corey Taylor we are talking about. Any other book I would have stopped reading it immediately. I really enjoyed this book as well as his first book, "Seven Deadly Sins". He really knows what he is talking about and has a sense of humor as well. I have to say I am not a fan of Stone Soup or Slipknot, but this man can write!
...more
I'm of the opinion that everyone has at least had one experience with something that could be called supernatural. I certainly have a few. That's weird coming from me, an atheist. It's something I've tried to reconcile over the years, and I think this book helped. Because Corey Taylor is of the opinion that the two don't have much to do with each other. I thought about it and realized he is right. Just because ghosts exist doesn't mean that God does. It's weird, I know, but it makes sense when y
...more
I love Corey Taylor. He's one of my fave musicians vocally and lyrically. He's soo funny and intelligent,I love reading his books or listening to his interviews. The ghost stories in this book were great but there wasn't a lot of them. I want to give this a four star rating because it was funny. But it did have a lot of ramblings about his theories and I wasn't very interested in that so I skimmed a lot and that's why it's a low rating. Sorry Corey
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I did enjoy this audiobook and its ideas very much. Many times I felt like I was listening to my own subconscious as I've thought these things many times but never wrote them down... Or said them aloud.
But rock star millionaires who are shamelessly and eternally proud of themselves like Taylor can. ...more
But rock star millionaires who are shamelessly and eternally proud of themselves like Taylor can. ...more
Not quite as humorous a read I have come to expect from Corey, but this book still had its moments. Alternating between ghost stories, ghost hunting, and theories about energy and the soul, this was an interesting read. Not sure where I fall on the spectrum of ghost belief, but it is always interesting to hear about the experiences of others.
I've been a fan of Slipknot and Stone Sour for years so I thought that it was time for me to read Corey Taylors books for once. I have to say that it was a funny adventure where the author deals with paranormal activity and casual debauchery in his life.
...more
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