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Oh Myyy! #1
Oh Myyy!
How did a 75-year old actor from Star Trek become a social media juggernaut? Why does everything he posts spread like wildfire across the ether, with tens or even hundreds of thousands of likes and shares? And what can other sites, celebrities and companies do to attain his stratospheric engagement levels, which hover or top 100 percent while theirs languish in the single digits?
Read about George Takei’s meteoric rise and dominance of the Internet in Oh Myyy (There Goes the Internet), published of course in electronic format.
In this groundbreaking, hilarious and informative book, Takei recounts his experiences on platforms such as Twitter, YouTube and Facebook, where fans and pundits alike have crowned him King. He muses about everything from the nature of viral sharing, to the taming of Internet trolls, to why Yoda, bacon and cats are such popular memes. Takei isn’t afraid to tell it likes he sees it, and to engage the reader just as he does his legions of fans.
Both provokingly thoughtful and wickedly funny, Oh Myyy! captures and comments upon the quirky nature of our plugged-in culture. With Takei’s conversational yet authoritative style, peppered with some of his favorite images from the web, readers should be prepared to LOL, even as they can’t help but hear his words in their heads in that unmistakable, deep bass.
Read about George Takei’s meteoric rise and dominance of the Internet in Oh Myyy (There Goes the Internet), published of course in electronic format.
In this groundbreaking, hilarious and informative book, Takei recounts his experiences on platforms such as Twitter, YouTube and Facebook, where fans and pundits alike have crowned him King. He muses about everything from the nature of viral sharing, to the taming of Internet trolls, to why Yoda, bacon and cats are such popular memes. Takei isn’t afraid to tell it likes he sees it, and to engage the reader just as he does his legions of fans.
Both provokingly thoughtful and wickedly funny, Oh Myyy! captures and comments upon the quirky nature of our plugged-in culture. With Takei’s conversational yet authoritative style, peppered with some of his favorite images from the web, readers should be prepared to LOL, even as they can’t help but hear his words in their heads in that unmistakable, deep bass.
154 pages, ebook
First published November 22, 2012
289 people are currently reading
2366 people want to read
About the author
George Takei
39 books591 followersGeorge Hosato Takei is an American actor best known for his role in the TV series Star Trek, in which he played the helmsman Hikaru Sulu on the USS Enterprise. His baritone earned Takei recurring appearances as the announcer for The Howard Stern Show starting on January 9, 2006, after that show's move to satellite radio.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 548 reviews
November 28, 2012
This is a great book! I purchased an early copy and read through it in one sitting. As someone who uses Facebook both personally and for marketing, I devoured the tips and tricks - even though that's not how the book is designed. George Takei is amusing as always. I laughed out loud several times, which is rare when reading.
The writing is clear and each chapter is just the right length. George covers his personal experiences with the internet, focusing mainly on Facebook since that is where he seems to have found a home. He offers up his own take on all types of topics including Twitter Sniping, Grammar Nazis, Facebook's EdgeRank calculations, and why GT should play Spiderman on Broadway.
I was impressed by both his candor at his missteps and his mature approach to sharing all types of information. While his posts tend to be humorous in nature, there are a few causes that are near and dear to his heart and he uses his Facebook page to spread the word. He understands the responsibility that comes with such a high profile and he appears to be keeping a very good head on his shoulders about all of it.
If you believe that other people should tread lightly so as never to say anything that might offend your delicate sensibilities, then this book is not for you. But if you enjoy a good laugh and have any interest at all in the memes, jokes, and functionality of Facebook, then pick up this book.
Merged review:
This is a great book! I purchased an early copy and read through it in one sitting. As someone who uses Facebook both personally and for marketing, I devoured the tips and tricks - even though that's not how the book is designed. George Takei is amusing as always. I laughed out loud several times, which is rare when reading.
The writing is clear and each chapter is just the right length. George covers his personal experiences with the internet, focusing mainly on Facebook since that is where he seems to have found a home. He offers up his own take on all types of topics including Twitter Sniping, Grammar Nazis, Facebook's EdgeRank calculations, and why GT should play Spiderman on Broadway.
I was impressed by both his candor at his missteps and his mature approach to sharing all types of information. While his posts tend to be humorous in nature, there are a few causes that are near and dear to his heart and he uses his Facebook page to spread the word. He understands the responsibility that comes with such a high profile and he appears to be keeping a very good head on his shoulders about all of it.
If you believe that other people should tread lightly so as never to say anything that might offend your delicate sensibilities, then this book is not for you. But if you enjoy a good laugh and have any interest at all in the memes, jokes, and functionality of Facebook, then pick up this book.
The writing is clear and each chapter is just the right length. George covers his personal experiences with the internet, focusing mainly on Facebook since that is where he seems to have found a home. He offers up his own take on all types of topics including Twitter Sniping, Grammar Nazis, Facebook's EdgeRank calculations, and why GT should play Spiderman on Broadway.
I was impressed by both his candor at his missteps and his mature approach to sharing all types of information. While his posts tend to be humorous in nature, there are a few causes that are near and dear to his heart and he uses his Facebook page to spread the word. He understands the responsibility that comes with such a high profile and he appears to be keeping a very good head on his shoulders about all of it.
If you believe that other people should tread lightly so as never to say anything that might offend your delicate sensibilities, then this book is not for you. But if you enjoy a good laugh and have any interest at all in the memes, jokes, and functionality of Facebook, then pick up this book.
Merged review:
This is a great book! I purchased an early copy and read through it in one sitting. As someone who uses Facebook both personally and for marketing, I devoured the tips and tricks - even though that's not how the book is designed. George Takei is amusing as always. I laughed out loud several times, which is rare when reading.
The writing is clear and each chapter is just the right length. George covers his personal experiences with the internet, focusing mainly on Facebook since that is where he seems to have found a home. He offers up his own take on all types of topics including Twitter Sniping, Grammar Nazis, Facebook's EdgeRank calculations, and why GT should play Spiderman on Broadway.
I was impressed by both his candor at his missteps and his mature approach to sharing all types of information. While his posts tend to be humorous in nature, there are a few causes that are near and dear to his heart and he uses his Facebook page to spread the word. He understands the responsibility that comes with such a high profile and he appears to be keeping a very good head on his shoulders about all of it.
If you believe that other people should tread lightly so as never to say anything that might offend your delicate sensibilities, then this book is not for you. But if you enjoy a good laugh and have any interest at all in the memes, jokes, and functionality of Facebook, then pick up this book.
September 26, 2013
I don't read many humor books, but as George Takei writes, he's sort of the 'naughty gay uncle we all wish we had'. I was more than a little excited to pick up this book, as I'm an avid follower on his Facebook fan page and was expecting more of his brand of humor.
Unfortunately, it didn't much live up to that expectation. Probably because I follow his Facebook page regularly, there wasn't much new material to be had. It was amusing, but they were all jokes I'd seen or heard before (sans his Allegiance videos, which need to be viewed online anyway).
As other reviews have touched on, the book is useful for people who are looking specifically for tips on how to improve their page rankings and reach a broader fan base on Facebook (so long as they intend to do it through humor). For me personally, the following paragraph was the most poignant:
"All kidding aside, it may come as a surprise to many, but peddling a product or service right out of the box doesn't really work that well as an online strategy. Facebook in particular is a pretty lousy place to sell something, because people aren't looking to buy. They're looking to be entertained."
As a moderator for a Facebook group for writers, I couldn't have agreed with this more, and I hope that authors who crop dust their ads across Facebook would read this book in particular.
The writing itself is not out of this world, hence the rating; it reads sort of like a 200 page blog post. Very casual and candid. It rambles about various aspects of the internet (as described from someone who didn't know much about it a couple of years ago-- another point: if you are well-versed in internet lingo and the various meme and image sites, you probably won't get much out of the descriptive passages).
As ever, I appreciate all George Takei does online. Oh Myyy! was a brisk, casual read, but I would have loved to see a bit more new content, and maybe even a bit more focus.
Unfortunately, it didn't much live up to that expectation. Probably because I follow his Facebook page regularly, there wasn't much new material to be had. It was amusing, but they were all jokes I'd seen or heard before (sans his Allegiance videos, which need to be viewed online anyway).
As other reviews have touched on, the book is useful for people who are looking specifically for tips on how to improve their page rankings and reach a broader fan base on Facebook (so long as they intend to do it through humor). For me personally, the following paragraph was the most poignant:
"All kidding aside, it may come as a surprise to many, but peddling a product or service right out of the box doesn't really work that well as an online strategy. Facebook in particular is a pretty lousy place to sell something, because people aren't looking to buy. They're looking to be entertained."
As a moderator for a Facebook group for writers, I couldn't have agreed with this more, and I hope that authors who crop dust their ads across Facebook would read this book in particular.
The writing itself is not out of this world, hence the rating; it reads sort of like a 200 page blog post. Very casual and candid. It rambles about various aspects of the internet (as described from someone who didn't know much about it a couple of years ago-- another point: if you are well-versed in internet lingo and the various meme and image sites, you probably won't get much out of the descriptive passages).
As ever, I appreciate all George Takei does online. Oh Myyy! was a brisk, casual read, but I would have loved to see a bit more new content, and maybe even a bit more focus.
May 25, 2017
Don't get me wrong: I respect George Takei, especially his gay and anti-racist activism, and he has often cracked me up over the years with his tweets and what-not. But the world didn't need this book—or at least I sure didn't. It is little more than a string of ponderous elaborations on what prompted each famous tweet, and what the reaction was thereto. Brevity is the soul of wit, indeed.
March 17, 2013
A total waste of ten bucks, but hey-- sometimes wasted money is the price we have to pay in order to find out more about a tempting title. It beats having spent the rest of my life wondering "What if?" From the title, I was expecting more cultural and philosophical analyses about Internet and social media culture, and less narcissistic self-promotions. There are entire chapters wasted on anecdotes about his life. Anecdotes are fine here and there when relevant to a topic of analysis, but this dude wrote an autobiography. If I were that interested in his life, I could have looked him up on Wikipedia. It wasn't ALL bad, there were some chapters devoted to analysing different aspects of the Internet culture. However, it wasn't anything I couldn't have gotten off from an article on cultural psychology or even Encyclopedia Dramatica. It wasn't a complete waste of money, though, because now I know better. Oh well!
January 3, 2018
Mr Takei can certainly give the reader, the watcher and yes, the follower, the feeling that you are right there with him. Well presented, and very well told with the humor that only George can produce.
March 11, 2014
It was 1988. My date and I went to see a popular Japanese film, A Taxing Woman's Return, at the Royal Theater in Westwood. It was a weeknight and the theater was almost empty. Then a group of people came in and sat about four rows in front of us. My date grabbed my arm and said, "Isn't that the guy that plays Sulu in Star Trek?" Yes, it was. But I was not looking at him. I was staring at a woman who was with his party. She was, simply put, the most beautiful woman I have ever seen and ever hope to see. She was a tall slim Asian beauty with long flowing hair. On a scale of 1 to 10, she was a 153. My date looked at me weirdly, probably because I was drooling. It didn't take her long to realize that I was not looking at Mr. Takei.
"Beautiful, Isn't she" She said in a voice that, translated, meant, "You're not getting any tonight".
I tried to tell her that line every man knows to use. "Yes, but you're prettier." Unfortunately it came out something like, "Mmmmm. gadda dummgh mutter DROOOOOOOOOL!"
The date didn't go too well after that. But I never forgot the fleeting glimpse of that gorgeous woman and thinking, "GOD! That Takei guy is lucky."
Little did I know...
Now it is 2014. George Takei is no longer just the guy that played Sulu but an established actor of TV, film and stage. He is a respected gay activist and clever observer of human nature. He also has one of the most popular and followed pages on Facebook.
So what does this all have to do with that moment in 1988? The internet was in its infancy and I am fairly sure the "World Wide Web" was not yet in existence...at least not yet publicly. What we knew about public figures in the 80s is what they chose to show us in public and in the media or what gossip columnists chose to tell us or make up. There were paparazzi but I'm pretty sure they have not yet reached the frenzy of today's culture. And there was, for everyone, a sense of privacy and choice to what you presented. Perhaps there was less tolerance for some behaviors but, for better or worse, there was a feeling that you could keep your public mask on no matter who you were...and you knew when to do it.
Then came the interest. Then Facebook. With it came a loss of privacy. "But Marvin," You say. "I haven't lost any privacy. I can still choose what I share and what I won't share. " Can you? That's just what the internet wants you to believe. The momentary illusion of fame or infamy can be very addictive even if you are only sharing it with 450 of your closest friends of which 75% you never met. Do you really think people want to know that you drank your first chocolate beer yesterday, or that you love Grumpy Cat. Do you really think they want to hear about the weird pick-up date you experienced last week in all its embarrassing details. When you think of it, it is really kind of scary what we will share on-line for the want of a few "likes". You know. Things like drooling over a stranger you glimpsed at for maybe 3 minutes 24 years ago. Facebook can be a exhilarating ride but it can be rude, embarrassing, and sometimes dangerous for those who are not knowledgeable with its risks to enjoy the ride.
George Takei discovered social networking in his 70s, first on Twitter then on Facebook. He discusses his virtual adventures in social networking in the pages of Oh Myyy! (There goes The Internet): Life, The Internet and Everything. His forays into the internet starts out as cautious and tenuous but soon he is not only social networking like a teen but getting a huge following. Takei's casual but droll style makes this book a delight to read. It is a joyful look at someone who, despite a few jolts and prat falls, got it right and is enjoying the harvest of his sharing. He intersperses the book with popular memes that illustrate various aspects of Facebook or incidents that happened during his networking. It can be funny but there is a lot of wisdom through this book on the social aspects of our virtual life. For anyone who is new to Facebook, it can serve as a primer on what to do and what not to do when you make your way around this virtual community. The author also ends up delving into a number of social issues, not the least Marriage Equality. And of course there are plenty of nerd jokes and insider laughs regarding Star Trek and the full range of Sci-Fi geekdom.
I have followed Mr. Takei's Facebook page for a while now. I like the way he know how far to take things, letting us into his life and his mind but knowing where to set the limits. His book does the same yet you can not help but feel you have spent the time with a very interesting man who knows how to make you laugh and feel good. So if I ever meet Mr. Takei I will go up to him, shake his hands and ask, "Do you still have the number of that girl you were with?"
"Beautiful, Isn't she" She said in a voice that, translated, meant, "You're not getting any tonight".
I tried to tell her that line every man knows to use. "Yes, but you're prettier." Unfortunately it came out something like, "Mmmmm. gadda dummgh mutter DROOOOOOOOOL!"
The date didn't go too well after that. But I never forgot the fleeting glimpse of that gorgeous woman and thinking, "GOD! That Takei guy is lucky."
Little did I know...
Now it is 2014. George Takei is no longer just the guy that played Sulu but an established actor of TV, film and stage. He is a respected gay activist and clever observer of human nature. He also has one of the most popular and followed pages on Facebook.
So what does this all have to do with that moment in 1988? The internet was in its infancy and I am fairly sure the "World Wide Web" was not yet in existence...at least not yet publicly. What we knew about public figures in the 80s is what they chose to show us in public and in the media or what gossip columnists chose to tell us or make up. There were paparazzi but I'm pretty sure they have not yet reached the frenzy of today's culture. And there was, for everyone, a sense of privacy and choice to what you presented. Perhaps there was less tolerance for some behaviors but, for better or worse, there was a feeling that you could keep your public mask on no matter who you were...and you knew when to do it.
Then came the interest. Then Facebook. With it came a loss of privacy. "But Marvin," You say. "I haven't lost any privacy. I can still choose what I share and what I won't share. " Can you? That's just what the internet wants you to believe. The momentary illusion of fame or infamy can be very addictive even if you are only sharing it with 450 of your closest friends of which 75% you never met. Do you really think people want to know that you drank your first chocolate beer yesterday, or that you love Grumpy Cat. Do you really think they want to hear about the weird pick-up date you experienced last week in all its embarrassing details. When you think of it, it is really kind of scary what we will share on-line for the want of a few "likes". You know. Things like drooling over a stranger you glimpsed at for maybe 3 minutes 24 years ago. Facebook can be a exhilarating ride but it can be rude, embarrassing, and sometimes dangerous for those who are not knowledgeable with its risks to enjoy the ride.
George Takei discovered social networking in his 70s, first on Twitter then on Facebook. He discusses his virtual adventures in social networking in the pages of Oh Myyy! (There goes The Internet): Life, The Internet and Everything. His forays into the internet starts out as cautious and tenuous but soon he is not only social networking like a teen but getting a huge following. Takei's casual but droll style makes this book a delight to read. It is a joyful look at someone who, despite a few jolts and prat falls, got it right and is enjoying the harvest of his sharing. He intersperses the book with popular memes that illustrate various aspects of Facebook or incidents that happened during his networking. It can be funny but there is a lot of wisdom through this book on the social aspects of our virtual life. For anyone who is new to Facebook, it can serve as a primer on what to do and what not to do when you make your way around this virtual community. The author also ends up delving into a number of social issues, not the least Marriage Equality. And of course there are plenty of nerd jokes and insider laughs regarding Star Trek and the full range of Sci-Fi geekdom.
I have followed Mr. Takei's Facebook page for a while now. I like the way he know how far to take things, letting us into his life and his mind but knowing where to set the limits. His book does the same yet you can not help but feel you have spent the time with a very interesting man who knows how to make you laugh and feel good. So if I ever meet Mr. Takei I will go up to him, shake his hands and ask, "Do you still have the number of that girl you were with?"
December 1, 2012
Read the advanced prepaid copy and George Takei is my new hero. I've always loved Star Trek but don't classify myself as a "Trekkie." I'm a "Boomer" who is fairly new to Facebook (less than a year) and was very interested to see if his book would contain some tidbits that would help educate me about this social media tool that he not just excels at using - he rocks the show!
This book is a journey through his success first on Twitter and then Facebook. It speaks about his failures, lessons learned and successes. George talks about his choice to use humor to draw people in and to make people think. He speaks to his passion for certain causes and how he chooses to use his influence limitedly to support them. He is a man in search of balance with a keen eye on the responsibility he has because of amassing a huge following - now in the millions.
It was such an easy and amusing read that I devoured the book in one sitting. I just couldn't put it down. He takes you along with him as he learns to navigate social media and doesn't profess to be an expert. George is out there learning right along with the rest of us. I found the tidbits I was hoping for and so much more.
I spent a lot of my time laughing out loud while learning about tolerance and Facebook. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn a little more about George and a lot about social networking. His writing is easy to read and the stories he shares are priceless.
This book is a journey through his success first on Twitter and then Facebook. It speaks about his failures, lessons learned and successes. George talks about his choice to use humor to draw people in and to make people think. He speaks to his passion for certain causes and how he chooses to use his influence limitedly to support them. He is a man in search of balance with a keen eye on the responsibility he has because of amassing a huge following - now in the millions.
It was such an easy and amusing read that I devoured the book in one sitting. I just couldn't put it down. He takes you along with him as he learns to navigate social media and doesn't profess to be an expert. George is out there learning right along with the rest of us. I found the tidbits I was hoping for and so much more.
I spent a lot of my time laughing out loud while learning about tolerance and Facebook. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn a little more about George and a lot about social networking. His writing is easy to read and the stories he shares are priceless.
January 7, 2013
When I can read a book in one sitting, it's clear that I'm enjoying the book. I loved George Takei's book, and I feel that it rightly deserves five stars. It's one part humor, one part business, and one part fan-boy! I have long been a George Takei fan, and this book solidifies that belief.
Certainly, there is a lot of humor in this book. I love how George offers a fresh spin on social media on the Internet. He talks about some of his favorite social media "trends," like grammar Nazis, cats, and trolling. As he discusses these things, he shares some great visual examples from his own Twitter and Facebook pages. It's hilarious to read, and I saw plenty Internet memes that I must have missed.
In addition to sharing his own Twitter and Facebook pages, he also talks about why he believes he's become successful with social media. At several points in the book, I wondered if I could justify claiming this book as a business expense because of the valuable knowledge that he provides about social media marketing. I was especially impressed with his use of HootSuite and his knowledge of EdgeRank on Facebook.
Of course, it wouldn't be a George Takei book if he didn't also reach out to all of the fan boys (and fan girls) with references to Star Trek. (He also talks about Star Wars. Did you know that he was involved with BOTH series?) I loved his insider stories and his creation of the Star Alliance. I was first introduced to George Takei as Sulu on Star Trek, but I have since come to love his work on other programs, like Heroes and Supah Ninjas (What, George, no shout out to fans of Supah Ninjas in the book??). I also really hope that his show, Alliance, comes to Broadway. I'll be sure to get a ticket, which will undoubtedly increase my fan status!
If you love George Takei--or if you just love the Internet--this would be a great book for you to read.
Certainly, there is a lot of humor in this book. I love how George offers a fresh spin on social media on the Internet. He talks about some of his favorite social media "trends," like grammar Nazis, cats, and trolling. As he discusses these things, he shares some great visual examples from his own Twitter and Facebook pages. It's hilarious to read, and I saw plenty Internet memes that I must have missed.
In addition to sharing his own Twitter and Facebook pages, he also talks about why he believes he's become successful with social media. At several points in the book, I wondered if I could justify claiming this book as a business expense because of the valuable knowledge that he provides about social media marketing. I was especially impressed with his use of HootSuite and his knowledge of EdgeRank on Facebook.
Of course, it wouldn't be a George Takei book if he didn't also reach out to all of the fan boys (and fan girls) with references to Star Trek. (He also talks about Star Wars. Did you know that he was involved with BOTH series?) I loved his insider stories and his creation of the Star Alliance. I was first introduced to George Takei as Sulu on Star Trek, but I have since come to love his work on other programs, like Heroes and Supah Ninjas (What, George, no shout out to fans of Supah Ninjas in the book??). I also really hope that his show, Alliance, comes to Broadway. I'll be sure to get a ticket, which will undoubtedly increase my fan status!
If you love George Takei--or if you just love the Internet--this would be a great book for you to read.
July 11, 2014
It's interesting. If anyone else had done this, it would be insufferable. This book pretty much amounts to bragging. Bragging about your internet status, in fact.
If any of the attention whoring celebrities of the internet (we all know at least one, I need not name names) had written a book about their followers, their posts, their connections, their numbers, there would be an absolute uproar.
Who the hell do you think you are to ask people to pay you to brag about your popularity?
But this is George Takei. This is Uncle George, everybody's favorite naughty gay uncle. He's personable, and hilarious. He posts great memes, he cares about human rights and is vocal about it. We love Uncle George, and Uncle George loves us back.
So, in his hands, this book earns kudos. I'm happy (kind of) to read that his posts are so well received, and that people love him. It's fantastic, and good for him.
Not everything in this book is interesting. I don't run a fan page, so the logistics of how they work is not so important to me. However, for anyone who *is* interested in having Takei-level Facebook status, this book really is invaluable. It's a PR guide disguised as a memoir.
There really are loads of interesting bits that I didn't know because I don't follow his social media very closely. I loved the bits about his various sniping at celebrities. I loved that, while discussing his nasty Twitter fight with Gilbert Gotfried, he consistently spelled his last name wrong.
I just love George Takei. I just love him, and his Twilight hating ways.
December 28, 2012
I am a big fan of GT's Facebook page and look forward to his posts. And as a fan, I hate to say it, but...don't bother. There's some useful information about how he learned to "work" his Facebook page for maximum benefit to his fans (by the timing and spacing of posts) but given how quickly FB updates its inner workings, I am not so sure how well this information will help someone in even a few months from now.
Also, $10 is really expensive for an e-book, especially for one as slight as this one. And for a guy who is really savvy about social networking, I am really irritated that he didn't put that same amount of effort into researching what to put into an e-book. I read this on a Nook e-reader (not a tablet) and most of the images in the book were nearly illegible and not at all scalable (a gripe I have had about other e-books, too) but also content. I am going to guess that he wrote the book using a popular word processing program and sent out review copies as pdfs, which allow functional hyperlinks. The .pub format does not. A few chapters contained references to popular videos but instead of including the link, he gave enough information that an interested reader could input some keywords into a search engine. But in the second half of the book, he just includes links, which was useless.
Also, $10 is really expensive for an e-book, especially for one as slight as this one. And for a guy who is really savvy about social networking, I am really irritated that he didn't put that same amount of effort into researching what to put into an e-book. I read this on a Nook e-reader (not a tablet) and most of the images in the book were nearly illegible and not at all scalable (a gripe I have had about other e-books, too) but also content. I am going to guess that he wrote the book using a popular word processing program and sent out review copies as pdfs, which allow functional hyperlinks. The .pub format does not. A few chapters contained references to popular videos but instead of including the link, he gave enough information that an interested reader could input some keywords into a search engine. But in the second half of the book, he just includes links, which was useless.
May 20, 2013
Well, if you have a 6inch e-reader the meme graphics embedded don't work that well, and I bet in colour it makes more sense to read this on an iPad.
I enjoyed Takei explaining about his experimentation with Facebook and Twitter and the effect of his calls-for-help after the Tsunami in Japan there, but I really disliked a lot of his mansplaining certain ways he used his internet influence to make fun of people or the way he waffled between explaining why he can't be held to a standard of checking his sources, but other people who write stuff on the internet (and aren't journalists) should be held accountable. Well, he isn't Hikaru Sulu, of course. Just like Shatner isn't Kirk and Nimoy isn't Spock.
I did understand his reaction to personal attacks on him or on LGBT people in general - the It's okay to be Takei or the Star Alliance bits. I liked that he explained about and mentioned his World War II Japanese internment in the US musical.
Also, the price is really quite high and on my e-reader this book has 130 pages, roughly. If I had not had an Amazon gift card to use for payment I would be mightily annoyed.
Still kudos for embracing new technology at his age - my mum and dad are only a few years older and they can't even bother to learn how to use the DVD player they've had for 15 years or so.
I enjoyed Takei explaining about his experimentation with Facebook and Twitter and the effect of his calls-for-help after the Tsunami in Japan there, but I really disliked a lot of his mansplaining certain ways he used his internet influence to make fun of people or the way he waffled between explaining why he can't be held to a standard of checking his sources, but other people who write stuff on the internet (and aren't journalists) should be held accountable. Well, he isn't Hikaru Sulu, of course. Just like Shatner isn't Kirk and Nimoy isn't Spock.
I did understand his reaction to personal attacks on him or on LGBT people in general - the It's okay to be Takei or the Star Alliance bits. I liked that he explained about and mentioned his World War II Japanese internment in the US musical.
Also, the price is really quite high and on my e-reader this book has 130 pages, roughly. If I had not had an Amazon gift card to use for payment I would be mightily annoyed.
Still kudos for embracing new technology at his age - my mum and dad are only a few years older and they can't even bother to learn how to use the DVD player they've had for 15 years or so.
March 31, 2013
Just a quick and not-so-serious look at yet another person that has gotten a second-act thorough Internet stardom (though, to be fair, it's not really like his first act ended). George has gotten a following just being himself on Twitter and Facebook. He might be 75 years old, but he's still a kid at heart in a lot of ways. He's also serious about his causes and has used his platform for good. It's not too deep and good for a few laughs and a few thoughts about what like on the Internet is now like.
January 5, 2016
George Takei is hilarious. And I love to see that he is 100% involved in his social media accounts. It's not a assistant or an imposter, it's really George Takei! His interns may pick ages to share, but text posts are solely Mr. Takei. This book was pretty funny. I definitely enjoyed the random memes and Facebook posts scattered throughout. The whole Facebook Promoted Pages chapter was a bit much but I can see why he felt the need to explain himself.
March 13, 2015
This was a hysterical book. I have said before that George Takei is the God of the internet. He posts something and it covers the world wide web like a California wild fire. Need a good laugh. Check this little book out!
August 21, 2013
I recommend this book to anyone who uses facebook, and most definitely to anyone who uses an FB Page for marketing/publicity. It felt pretty meta to read a book all about the internet. This book delves into the where's and why's of many things I never thought about before, and other things I've been ruminating on for some time: Why did Takei come out when he did? When did he go from an ordinary con celebrity into a social media overlord? How do you manage a happy, healthy online community when faced with infinite trolls? How do you handle online haters, the easily offended, and deal with constant criticism for every decision you make?
Takei informed me of several factors in FB algorithms I didn't know (if you're asking, how come no one 'likes' my post? you may start to understand why by reading what Takei found out from FB engineers). Takei makes some statements about how FB works that I'm not sure are true (I've always held different theories that explain more things). He shares his timeline of 'epic' posts that marked his skyrocket from a small twitter following to being a daily news source for millions.
He includes terrible web-resolution images and screencaps in the book, but they are hilarious despite looking crappy. I got a big laugh out of this book; like he says, Takei IS my favorite naughty gay Asian uncle I wish I had. He's hilarious, kind-spirited but not a pushover. He's not afraid to take a jab at the sacred in the name of a good laugh. Takei is so passionate about what he believes is right, and at age 75, he celebrates all the wonders of the modern world, and seems to be laughing and playing in delight at his good fortune. This is an informative and heartwarming read -- that of course I read in Takei's low, sultry voice, which made it 10x as delightful.
Takei informed me of several factors in FB algorithms I didn't know (if you're asking, how come no one 'likes' my post? you may start to understand why by reading what Takei found out from FB engineers). Takei makes some statements about how FB works that I'm not sure are true (I've always held different theories that explain more things). He shares his timeline of 'epic' posts that marked his skyrocket from a small twitter following to being a daily news source for millions.
He includes terrible web-resolution images and screencaps in the book, but they are hilarious despite looking crappy. I got a big laugh out of this book; like he says, Takei IS my favorite naughty gay Asian uncle I wish I had. He's hilarious, kind-spirited but not a pushover. He's not afraid to take a jab at the sacred in the name of a good laugh. Takei is so passionate about what he believes is right, and at age 75, he celebrates all the wonders of the modern world, and seems to be laughing and playing in delight at his good fortune. This is an informative and heartwarming read -- that of course I read in Takei's low, sultry voice, which made it 10x as delightful.
August 31, 2014
I must confess that I haven't seen any of the Star Trek episodes with George Takei. When I watched Star Trek on television, it was Captain Jean-Luc Picard's turn already. All I know about those early story parts come from the movies later (I'm talking about those still with the original cast). Nevertheless, I got curious about the internet phenomenon "uncle George" and therefore went to take a look at his Facebook page some time ago. I immediately liked it, him and his sense of humour so when amazon offered his e-books to be read via the library I didn't have any excuse anymore not to read them.
And I loved this book!
It's funny while also being informative (about Facebook itself as much as uncle George and his view of social media, civil rights movements and much more); simply put, it's a great read!
Plus, I recognized a lot of my own sense of humour and opinions in his. Which is why I will immediately start with book 2. ;-)
Thanks for the great time uncle George (and yes, I wished I had a naughty gay Asian uncle like you)! :-D
The only bummer was that the images were so painfully small and due to the lack of colour (I was reading it on a Kindle Paperwhite) hard to really see. Someone could have done a better job at least with some of them - or maybe it's on purpose so people buy the printed version. Anyway, it downgraded the reading experience a little bit. Since this is not George Takei's fault, however, it will not affect my rating.
And I loved this book!
It's funny while also being informative (about Facebook itself as much as uncle George and his view of social media, civil rights movements and much more); simply put, it's a great read!
Plus, I recognized a lot of my own sense of humour and opinions in his. Which is why I will immediately start with book 2. ;-)
Thanks for the great time uncle George (and yes, I wished I had a naughty gay Asian uncle like you)! :-D
The only bummer was that the images were so painfully small and due to the lack of colour (I was reading it on a Kindle Paperwhite) hard to really see. Someone could have done a better job at least with some of them - or maybe it's on purpose so people buy the printed version. Anyway, it downgraded the reading experience a little bit. Since this is not George Takei's fault, however, it will not affect my rating.
January 3, 2013
Entertaining, engaging book about the vicissitudes of Facebook written by a social activist with a delightful sense of humor.
A "must" for face bookers.
Highly entertaining, easy and fast read that will have you Lol'ing a lot.
Kudos to George Takei who we first met as Lt. Sulu, helmsman of the Enterprise on the original Star Trek. We next met him as he worked on the board of LA's bus system (RTD). He then wrote a heartbreaking book (To the Stars) in which he divulged that his family and himself were internees at Manzanar. During the war on LGBT's by the right/conservatives/fundamentalists, George "came out" and became an activist for equal marriage rights. Recently his project is "Allegiance"- a Broadway bound play about the internment of Americans of Japanese descent after the bombing ofPearl Harbor.
Just like about a billion of us, he is an avid, daily facebooker. This book is about his varied experiences on Facebook. Mr. Takei has a keen sense of humor and insightful perceptions about the human nature on display on Facebook.
A "must" for face bookers.
Highly entertaining, easy and fast read that will have you Lol'ing a lot.
Kudos to George Takei who we first met as Lt. Sulu, helmsman of the Enterprise on the original Star Trek. We next met him as he worked on the board of LA's bus system (RTD). He then wrote a heartbreaking book (To the Stars) in which he divulged that his family and himself were internees at Manzanar. During the war on LGBT's by the right/conservatives/fundamentalists, George "came out" and became an activist for equal marriage rights. Recently his project is "Allegiance"- a Broadway bound play about the internment of Americans of Japanese descent after the bombing ofPearl Harbor.
Just like about a billion of us, he is an avid, daily facebooker. This book is about his varied experiences on Facebook. Mr. Takei has a keen sense of humor and insightful perceptions about the human nature on display on Facebook.
Read
August 9, 2013Ohhh myyyyy!
I bought this book on accident—meaning to add it to my “wishlist” on Amazon, and clicking the wrong thing. But I was headed on vacation and figured, “Oh what the heck.”
George Takei is an interesting guy and funny, but this book isn't about his life. It’s about his Facebook page. Seems like a slim topic to fill a whole book, but he more or less does it (and it’s not all that long). I got tired of it around a third of the way through, because there’s no arc to the book. But once I started thinking of it as an essay collection, I could get back into it. There’s a lot of detail about Facebook’s algorithms and technical problems and dealing with trolls, which images get the most likes, what times of day get the most interactions, etc., etc. George hates Twilight and thinks modern music is unoriginal (amen, amen).
Reading this book was fun but kind of like hearing a longer version of a song you already know.
I bought this book on accident—meaning to add it to my “wishlist” on Amazon, and clicking the wrong thing. But I was headed on vacation and figured, “Oh what the heck.”
George Takei is an interesting guy and funny, but this book isn't about his life. It’s about his Facebook page. Seems like a slim topic to fill a whole book, but he more or less does it (and it’s not all that long). I got tired of it around a third of the way through, because there’s no arc to the book. But once I started thinking of it as an essay collection, I could get back into it. There’s a lot of detail about Facebook’s algorithms and technical problems and dealing with trolls, which images get the most likes, what times of day get the most interactions, etc., etc. George hates Twilight and thinks modern music is unoriginal (amen, amen).
Reading this book was fun but kind of like hearing a longer version of a song you already know.
February 15, 2015
A funny man, George Takei - ironic, witty, appreciates the ridiculous, and doesn't appear to take himself too seriously. I like that. I don't follow Twitter or Facebook, so I hadn't seen any of his internet material before. Most interesting to me was seeing someone of his generation (he's over 70) engage today's social media and use it successfully to communicate some of the issues that are important to him... always respectfully and always with humor.
June 19, 2017
My cousin sent this book to me because I collect Star Trek biographies and she found it at a library sale. This isn't a complete biography of Takei, but more of a memoir about his rise on social media. I admit that I did follow him for awhile but as his feed became overly political (and I don't agree with all of his politics), I ended up unfollowing him. Although friends of mine do share his stuff occasionally and I do find much of it amusing. [For the record, I don't have any animosity toward the man, we just don't see eye to eye on very much, which is ok]
Anyway, the book starts by talking about the rise of social media and Takei focuses mostly on Facebook and Twitter, which are the two platforms that he frequents. He talks about different things like bacon, feuds between Star Trek and Star Wars, grammar nazis and cats. He ends with a chapter about how Facebook had changed their algorithm (this book was published in 2012, I remember when the whole thing happened and I'm pretty sure I was following him at that point). It is an interesting read for people interested in social media but not so much for people wanting to know about his life story.
Anyway, the book starts by talking about the rise of social media and Takei focuses mostly on Facebook and Twitter, which are the two platforms that he frequents. He talks about different things like bacon, feuds between Star Trek and Star Wars, grammar nazis and cats. He ends with a chapter about how Facebook had changed their algorithm (this book was published in 2012, I remember when the whole thing happened and I'm pretty sure I was following him at that point). It is an interesting read for people interested in social media but not so much for people wanting to know about his life story.
October 1, 2025
Late to the read, but not a lot has changed about politics, fake news, and Internet likes. Humorous and maybe even more relevant today!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2014
Oh Myyy!: There Goes the Internet by George Takei
244 pages
★★★
Depending what generation you ask, George Takei is best known for either playing Sulu on the original Star Trek OR he is best known for that guy who’s always posting funny things on Facebook. In the last couple year, Takei hit a new wind of famous by simply posting memes on Facebook, accumulating well over 6 million fans at this point, many who I am afraid aren’t even aware of his previous stint on Star Trek (the Star Trek nerd in me cries). But I can’t deny that I am one of his fans on the website, his posts leave me amused and they are often light-hearted. If you are looking for a memoir on his earlier work and life, don’t look here (look at his early book - To The Stars for that). This book delves into his “career” as an internet celebrity, how he has acclimated, how he has managed to build his fan base, his thoughts on the internet, how he’s used his new fame for good causes, and other random tidbits. I was hoping to like this book much more than I did. It was just so repetitive after awhile. Yes, I get it, you have A LOT of fans (3 million at the time this book was written) and yes, I get that you are only so responsible for the posts on your page because yes, I know you aren’t a news reporter and you can’t spend your days authenticating everything – I got it, the 5 times you mentioned it. It was a fun book, some of his better posts are thrown into the book and I can’t help but love Takei, he’s just an enjoyable, humble guy. But I find it difficult to imagine that 244 pages could be written on one’s short career of posting things on Facebook, I also can’t imagine there would be a reason for a second book on the subject, but there is so maybe I’m just missing something. Good, but nothing to call home about.
244 pages
★★★
Depending what generation you ask, George Takei is best known for either playing Sulu on the original Star Trek OR he is best known for that guy who’s always posting funny things on Facebook. In the last couple year, Takei hit a new wind of famous by simply posting memes on Facebook, accumulating well over 6 million fans at this point, many who I am afraid aren’t even aware of his previous stint on Star Trek (the Star Trek nerd in me cries). But I can’t deny that I am one of his fans on the website, his posts leave me amused and they are often light-hearted. If you are looking for a memoir on his earlier work and life, don’t look here (look at his early book - To The Stars for that). This book delves into his “career” as an internet celebrity, how he has acclimated, how he has managed to build his fan base, his thoughts on the internet, how he’s used his new fame for good causes, and other random tidbits. I was hoping to like this book much more than I did. It was just so repetitive after awhile. Yes, I get it, you have A LOT of fans (3 million at the time this book was written) and yes, I get that you are only so responsible for the posts on your page because yes, I know you aren’t a news reporter and you can’t spend your days authenticating everything – I got it, the 5 times you mentioned it. It was a fun book, some of his better posts are thrown into the book and I can’t help but love Takei, he’s just an enjoyable, humble guy. But I find it difficult to imagine that 244 pages could be written on one’s short career of posting things on Facebook, I also can’t imagine there would be a reason for a second book on the subject, but there is so maybe I’m just missing something. Good, but nothing to call home about.
January 13, 2014
As this book was purchased for me for Christmas, I went into reading it with absolutely no expectations, outside of knowing of Takei's career as a starship helmsman and his current revival as Facebook meme sharer.
That being said, I still found myself rather disappointed.
And I'm not entirely certain why. I mean, this book gives readers precisely what they should be expecting, considering it's related to Takei's current social media super-star status. It's a memoir, of sorts, describing his resurrection. However, it seems, well, more like something quickly put together in an effort to capitalize on that re-found status than something carefully pieced together to tell a story or make a point, or whatever. In fact, there are times in which is seems as if pieces were written simply to serve as a segue from one meme image to the next, as opposed to actually saying anything.
That doesn't mean that the book is entirely devoid of interesting pieces. In fact, there are several moments in which one really sees how intelligent Takei can be. Things of interest within this tome are items like learning how "Oh myyy!" became Takei's unintentional catchphrase, Takei's involvement in the Star Wars vs. Star Trek battles, and several other touching/funny anecdotes. If it weren't for these, the book wouldn't have gotten the 3 stars I did give it.
But those are just too few to really make this a book worth the cover cost. Sure, there's glimpses of the stories George could tell, but instead, most of it comes off as does his Facebook page, other people's jokes told by our favorite gay uncle. If you've spent any time as one of his facebook/twitter fans, you've probably seen them already.
George, I love you, but I think we both know you can do better.
That being said, I still found myself rather disappointed.
And I'm not entirely certain why. I mean, this book gives readers precisely what they should be expecting, considering it's related to Takei's current social media super-star status. It's a memoir, of sorts, describing his resurrection. However, it seems, well, more like something quickly put together in an effort to capitalize on that re-found status than something carefully pieced together to tell a story or make a point, or whatever. In fact, there are times in which is seems as if pieces were written simply to serve as a segue from one meme image to the next, as opposed to actually saying anything.
That doesn't mean that the book is entirely devoid of interesting pieces. In fact, there are several moments in which one really sees how intelligent Takei can be. Things of interest within this tome are items like learning how "Oh myyy!" became Takei's unintentional catchphrase, Takei's involvement in the Star Wars vs. Star Trek battles, and several other touching/funny anecdotes. If it weren't for these, the book wouldn't have gotten the 3 stars I did give it.
But those are just too few to really make this a book worth the cover cost. Sure, there's glimpses of the stories George could tell, but instead, most of it comes off as does his Facebook page, other people's jokes told by our favorite gay uncle. If you've spent any time as one of his facebook/twitter fans, you've probably seen them already.
George, I love you, but I think we both know you can do better.
May 20, 2013
This book mostly details George Takei's forays into the Internet, primarily on Facebook. It's interesting to see this experience from the perspective of a 75-year-old newbie who happens to be a world-famous celebrity. Takei is not one of these types who is befuddled by technology, so there's none of the "where's the Any key?" drivel.
Appropriately, as I'm writing this I'm listening to Pandora, which has just started playing the soundtrack from Wrath of Khan. Even without checking I know it's from the climactic showdown. All to say that as a geek, this book is in my wheelhouse. I think the info contained within is fairly lightweight, but Takei has millions of followers online because of his wit so it moves right along. For me, the most interesting aspect was the peek behind the scenes of how Facebook's metrics work and the reasons why sometimes posts by your friends go missing. Turns out you have to not just Like a page but actively engage with it in order to keep it active in your feed. I kind of suspected that was the case, but it's interesting to see it all laid out.
(Ah, the Star Wars fanfare. Did you know Takei is the only actor to appear in both Stars Trek and Wars? That's what he says. Not sure if that's true. He did voice work for one of the animated shows. Seems like there must be some character actors who've done the same.)
Anyway, distracting music aside, this is a breezy look into Takei's venture online. It's an easy read. Many funny memes from his FB feed are reproduced, as well as some of his wittier exchanges on Twitter.
Appropriately, as I'm writing this I'm listening to Pandora, which has just started playing the soundtrack from Wrath of Khan. Even without checking I know it's from the climactic showdown. All to say that as a geek, this book is in my wheelhouse. I think the info contained within is fairly lightweight, but Takei has millions of followers online because of his wit so it moves right along. For me, the most interesting aspect was the peek behind the scenes of how Facebook's metrics work and the reasons why sometimes posts by your friends go missing. Turns out you have to not just Like a page but actively engage with it in order to keep it active in your feed. I kind of suspected that was the case, but it's interesting to see it all laid out.
(Ah, the Star Wars fanfare. Did you know Takei is the only actor to appear in both Stars Trek and Wars? That's what he says. Not sure if that's true. He did voice work for one of the animated shows. Seems like there must be some character actors who've done the same.)
Anyway, distracting music aside, this is a breezy look into Takei's venture online. It's an easy read. Many funny memes from his FB feed are reproduced, as well as some of his wittier exchanges on Twitter.
May 27, 2013
A little biographical, and a little informative, its a pleasure to spend a couple of hours in the company of George Takei.
Having lived in China for some years, I've been blocked from a lot of social media. That meant I was largely unaware of Takei's renaissance as a web icon and unifier of the geekosphere. Apparently he discovered the Internet in his 70s and quickly found that his sharing of quirky memes and humorous videos (making full use of his lovably absurd baritone voice) was winning him millions of followers. Part of the charm of the book is Takei's discovery of things like trolling and cat memes, followed by his earnest attempts to make sense of it all.
Other sections deal with the difficult balancing act of keeping his site light and humorous, while still using it to help raise awareness of the causes close to his heart. Through his reinvention through social media and his tireless activism on gay rights and Japanese internment, he's now deservedly viewed by the public as so much more than 'that guy who played Sulu'.
His take on the keys to success on social media are also fascinating. I hope I'm as savvy to new ideas and technologies when I'm his age.
Best of all is his conversational writing style. I couldn't help but imagine the whole book read in his wonderful voice.
The reason I only gave it 3 stars is because of its length. It's a slender tome and I've got to believe he had another 100 pages of insights and humor to share.
Having lived in China for some years, I've been blocked from a lot of social media. That meant I was largely unaware of Takei's renaissance as a web icon and unifier of the geekosphere. Apparently he discovered the Internet in his 70s and quickly found that his sharing of quirky memes and humorous videos (making full use of his lovably absurd baritone voice) was winning him millions of followers. Part of the charm of the book is Takei's discovery of things like trolling and cat memes, followed by his earnest attempts to make sense of it all.
Other sections deal with the difficult balancing act of keeping his site light and humorous, while still using it to help raise awareness of the causes close to his heart. Through his reinvention through social media and his tireless activism on gay rights and Japanese internment, he's now deservedly viewed by the public as so much more than 'that guy who played Sulu'.
His take on the keys to success on social media are also fascinating. I hope I'm as savvy to new ideas and technologies when I'm his age.
Best of all is his conversational writing style. I couldn't help but imagine the whole book read in his wonderful voice.
The reason I only gave it 3 stars is because of its length. It's a slender tome and I've got to believe he had another 100 pages of insights and humor to share.
January 7, 2014
I heart George Takei, of Sulu fame from Star Trek. Now in his 70s, he's remade himself into an internet sensation, becoming one of the prime propellants of memes and using his immense popularity for various activist causes dear to his heart, including awareness of Japanese internment in the US during WWII (he and his family were in a camp), and of course gay rights - and he does it all with consummate comic skill. Who knew Sulu was so subversive and funny and sweet?
Mr. Takei (who lives with his husband and long time partner Brad) has written 3 books, including his memoir (To the Stars). His other two books ("Oh Myyy!" and "Lions and Tigers and Bears") are a chronicle of his improbable but meteoric rise to internet fame (he has over 4 million followers on FB). While they collect some of the best funniest memes he's helped into the ether, the books are probably more interesting to people interested in how social media networks (especially Facebook and Twitter) work, their shifts and dips along the way, and how that information might help a budding writer, activist, artist, entrepreneur, comic, etc. And even that got a bit tedious after the halfway mark.
That all said, I can hear Sulu's beautiful deep baritone in his convivial language, and I am deeply grateful for his place in the world as everyone's favourite funny gay Trekkie uncle who gives a damn.
Mr. Takei (who lives with his husband and long time partner Brad) has written 3 books, including his memoir (To the Stars). His other two books ("Oh Myyy!" and "Lions and Tigers and Bears") are a chronicle of his improbable but meteoric rise to internet fame (he has over 4 million followers on FB). While they collect some of the best funniest memes he's helped into the ether, the books are probably more interesting to people interested in how social media networks (especially Facebook and Twitter) work, their shifts and dips along the way, and how that information might help a budding writer, activist, artist, entrepreneur, comic, etc. And even that got a bit tedious after the halfway mark.
That all said, I can hear Sulu's beautiful deep baritone in his convivial language, and I am deeply grateful for his place in the world as everyone's favourite funny gay Trekkie uncle who gives a damn.
January 27, 2016
Oh Myyy! There Goes the Internet is a peek at George Takei's venture at 75 years old into the world of Twitter and Facebook. The Star Trek actor took social media by storm, gaining nearly four million fans on Facebook in just a few short years. His posts earn more likes, shares, and attention than nearly any other pop culture icon. He has used to his status as "Uncle George" to share humor, advocate for causes, and raise awareness. He has used his affiliation with Allegiance (the musical based on his family's experiences in the U. S. Japanese internment camps) to ask Americans to reflect on this dark moment in our history. He tells it like it is, but uses humor generously so that only the hard-hearted or thoroughly biased could possibly take offense.
The book is candid, funny, and informative--telling readers of his missteps and successes in navigating the social media super highway. He reveals some of the secrets behind his spectacular success on the internet--explaining (as best he understands it) when and how to share for the best crowd-pleasing results. The book is liberally sprinkled with some of his favorite memes, sayings, and jokes. An entertaining and interesting read.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
The book is candid, funny, and informative--telling readers of his missteps and successes in navigating the social media super highway. He reveals some of the secrets behind his spectacular success on the internet--explaining (as best he understands it) when and how to share for the best crowd-pleasing results. The book is liberally sprinkled with some of his favorite memes, sayings, and jokes. An entertaining and interesting read.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
December 20, 2012
I enjoyed this book! It was fun, and as an avid fan (and user) of Facebook, I appreciated the focus of the book -- how Takei became an internet juggernaut. I have enjoyed, and in some cases laughed out loud, in response to Takei's Facebook posts. I was interested to get to know the man behind those posts, and auto-biographies/memoirs are my favourites types of books. I shared a few segments of the book with my 15 year old son, and he laughed out loud. Now, for some true confessions. I am a Trekkie. I have been to conventions. I have a t-shirt that reads, "United Federation of Planets." So I was curious. As a Trekkie, I WANTED to love this book. What I did not expect was Takei's obvious superior intellect, his command of written English, his wit, and his insight. I rarely give out fives on ratings. i reserve them for classics. So, a four star rating is high. Download this book if you are a Facebooker and interested in social media. Be prepared to giggle as you learn.
January 12, 2013
Admittedly, I didn't know much about George Takei outside of his work on Star Trek, Heroes, etc. Obviously I was a fan of his work, but I didn't know much about the man himself - particularly that he had such a developed sense of humor. Then his Facebook posts started showing up in my newsfeed and most of my friends were either liking or sharing the hilarious and sometimes thought-provoking posts that he was making on his page. I proceeded to "Like" his page and have been enjoying his posts ever since. I didn't realize what a social media juggernaut Takei had become. "Oh Myyy" is the mostly hilarious (the chapters on Cats and on Bacon had me rocking with laughter) and somewhat educational story about how Takei became such a huge social media presence, what topics draw the most interest, and how you can use your social media presence to make a difference. A short read that is as funny and thought-provoking as the man himself.
January 15, 2013
This book definitely started out as entertaining- George discussing how he got into Facebook in the first place, and sharing his thoughts and ideas. I also enjoyed the memes and pictures he shared- until the book turned into a behind-the-scenes, this-is-how-Facebook-works walkthrough. I have to be honest, I skipped most of these sections, as I have no interest in how the EdgeRank system works, or how to get most everyone to see my posts. I must confess, I am a Trekkie, and that is why I was following George in the first place on Facebook. Somehow, I expected more and felt a little let down. I know George has a great sense of humor, and I was expecting a little more of that. It was definitely amusing in parts, but all that really sticks with me is the Facebook how-to and his hatred of Twilight. It was a good time killer, but I wasn't impressed. (Mikayla Maroney face).
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