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Bucket List of an Idiot
Brave or crazy? Dom Harvey proves that he's both by letting his friends and family set him a bucket list of ridiculous tasks Ever since the Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson movie The Bucket List came out in 2008, people have been creating their own lists of things to do before they kick the bucket. No two bucket lists are the same, but each list has the same ultimate goal—to make the list maker feel like they are doing something useful with their life instead of just sitting around, writing lists, and watching Morgan Freeman movies. Dom had seen some of those lists and they looked so difficult that he wondered whether dying would be a better option than actually ticking off the items. "I am a paid-up life-member of a place called the comfort zone. People always go on about the importance of getting out of your comfort zone. Not me. Any day I can stay inside it is a good day. All of which makes it a bit odd that I decided to complete a bucket list of my own. Not just any bucket list though. This is a reverse bucket list—a bunch of stuff that I could have happily passed away without ever doing—stuff like getting a tattoo I'd instantly regret, arm wrestling a professional rugby player, and being the model for a life drawing class—and I recruited some of my closest family and friends to compile it for me. In hindsight, this was a bad idea. But here it is—my pain, discomfort, and humiliation for your pleasure."
276 pages, Paperback
First published September 26, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
January 15, 2022
I'm embarrassed that I read this. Perhaps a quick eyeball bleach or a swift knock on the head will remove the memory of it. My only defense was that I was on holiday and there were two books on the shelf of the Airbnb. I feel ashamed.
August 17, 2013
More an autobiographic through the lense of an 'Idiot Bucketlist' Mr Harvey combines silly past experiences with new ones with a heavy focus on the ridiculous and/or mischievous.
My first worry of reading this book was it would an a slightly ego-driven romp through bad-humour land, but I was surprised to find that Harvey mixes juvenile humour with an adult's patience actually leading to a good book.
This piece is pretty well structured too, despite on the surface appearing to be a random collection of stories, Harvey saves the best laughs for last, and his concluding 'insights' are genuinely insightful.
While Harvey's prose won't blow your mind, he is eloquent enough to carry the book, and his earnest writing is hard not to enjoy (even if he is a bit of a doofus.)
In total, Bucketlist is a good bit of kiwi fun, recommended.
My first worry of reading this book was it would an a slightly ego-driven romp through bad-humour land, but I was surprised to find that Harvey mixes juvenile humour with an adult's patience actually leading to a good book.
This piece is pretty well structured too, despite on the surface appearing to be a random collection of stories, Harvey saves the best laughs for last, and his concluding 'insights' are genuinely insightful.
While Harvey's prose won't blow your mind, he is eloquent enough to carry the book, and his earnest writing is hard not to enjoy (even if he is a bit of a doofus.)
In total, Bucketlist is a good bit of kiwi fun, recommended.
May 5, 2013
In Bucket List of an Idiot, Dom Harvey decides to create a bucket list to do. But this bucket list is different. You see, it contains things that Dom could happily die without doing. But he does them, getting through such bizarre entries as "Arm-wrestle an All Black". All the bucket list entries are culminated into this book.
I liked this book because of its writing style. Each chapter is fairly short, so you can read it in bite sizes or in one whole go. Also, it is very Kiwi and humourous. I guarantee it will make you laugh and possibly feel better about your own life decisions. This truly is a great book.
For the "by NZ writer" square on bingo board
I liked this book because of its writing style. Each chapter is fairly short, so you can read it in bite sizes or in one whole go. Also, it is very Kiwi and humourous. I guarantee it will make you laugh and possibly feel better about your own life decisions. This truly is a great book.
For the "by NZ writer" square on bingo board
March 12, 2020
Absolutely Hilarious!
I bought and tried to read this book a few years back i got to the 'fight a girl' chapter and got Borrrreeeeed.
This time round i skipped that chapter and read along... discovering if i has persevered i wouldve enjoyed the rest of the book.
What a hoot!
However i recently took my neice to McDs in Taupo and ate on that plane😂. Little grossed out by this thought.
Other then a few drawn out moments this book was fantastic. Well done Dom. I hope you have gone ahead and created more of a bucket list to script later in your years
I bought and tried to read this book a few years back i got to the 'fight a girl' chapter and got Borrrreeeeed.
This time round i skipped that chapter and read along... discovering if i has persevered i wouldve enjoyed the rest of the book.
What a hoot!
However i recently took my neice to McDs in Taupo and ate on that plane😂. Little grossed out by this thought.
Other then a few drawn out moments this book was fantastic. Well done Dom. I hope you have gone ahead and created more of a bucket list to script later in your years
August 14, 2021
Reading Dom Harvey’s books have always been on my “reverse bucket list” but after his recent departure from the Edge. I was intrigued. So 10 years later I did it! Oh my lord. I laughed, got second hand embarrassment, And I sniggered. I wasn’t disappointed! You’re an idiot but a pretty cool idiot! YOLO.
July 5, 2017
Dom Harvey is a New Zealand radio announcer and he enlisted the "help" of friends and family to come up with a bucket list. Some of the entries were amusing, but quite a few were incredibly cringe making.
December 2, 2021
Loved reading this book ... the story he shared of his "gym incident" near the beginning of the book is classic! This was a very quick read for me.
July 9, 2023
Bit of a random book, but still a quick easy read
July 13, 2013
Bucket List of an Idiot is a really good read and at most times highly amusing and I had moments where I would laugh but also had moments where I would cringe i.e. old guy in sauna... Still thinking about gives me shivers.
I felt that this book really let me get to know Dom Harvey a bit more since I mainly just knew him from the radio and I had the assumption that he had no shame, that he didn't get embarrassed but no he got embarrassed and had insecurities about normal things. I also liked how Dom gave us perspectives on his life growing up and on all his different experiences he went through to accomplish this list.
Overall it's a really good book, I give it 4.5 stars because there were some chapters that dragged to me... But compared to the rest of the book those chapters shouldn't matter. Really awesome read!
I felt that this book really let me get to know Dom Harvey a bit more since I mainly just knew him from the radio and I had the assumption that he had no shame, that he didn't get embarrassed but no he got embarrassed and had insecurities about normal things. I also liked how Dom gave us perspectives on his life growing up and on all his different experiences he went through to accomplish this list.
Overall it's a really good book, I give it 4.5 stars because there were some chapters that dragged to me... But compared to the rest of the book those chapters shouldn't matter. Really awesome read!
February 10, 2017
It's a book written by a New Zealand radio host so, it is what it is. Just some silly stories by an idiot, as promised.
December 24, 2012
This book is, plainly put, hilarious. I motored through from start to finish on this one, because each one of his bucket list items was just so entertaining to read about. Yes it's a bucket list, but it's part autobiography as well and you get more of a sense of Dom and his personality through this book.
Scary part - I can relate to a good amount of the things he writes about. He's very honest in the fact that he's an idiot, there's no doubt about that, but by reading this you'll see just how much so. Laugh-out-loud funny, I found myself sharing excerpts of this with my significant other purely for shock value. Oh Dom, your poor mother!
Scary part - I can relate to a good amount of the things he writes about. He's very honest in the fact that he's an idiot, there's no doubt about that, but by reading this you'll see just how much so. Laugh-out-loud funny, I found myself sharing excerpts of this with my significant other purely for shock value. Oh Dom, your poor mother!
November 2, 2012
I listen to Jay jay, Mike and Dom on The Edge every morning and out of the 3 I love Dom, he's rude, funny, asks the questions the other 2 don't, puts his foot in alot of things all the time, sexist and a complete idiot.
I loved this book, had me laughing from page 2 with the spa scene and continued throughout the book. Some of the things he got up to, that he didn't want to do, were idiotic. It is hilarious, funny and yes Dom, you are an idiot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well worth a read for a great long lasting laugh!
I loved this book, had me laughing from page 2 with the spa scene and continued throughout the book. Some of the things he got up to, that he didn't want to do, were idiotic. It is hilarious, funny and yes Dom, you are an idiot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well worth a read for a great long lasting laugh!
May 27, 2014
Dom Harvey's book is very creative and laugh-out-loud funny. His cool writing style, self-depreciating humor and vast number of uncomfortable situations he has managed to get himself into and has been kind enough to share with the world make the read really easy and extremely entertaining. I particularly enjoyed the paintball chapter during which I embarrassed myself by laughing uncontrollably in the middle of a jam-packed cafe. Dom, hats off to you for writing this and getting the PM to foreword it. If I was Kiwi I would vote for him just for his sense of humor.
February 13, 2013
Very funny, I laughed out loud a few times! Good to see another side to Dom and more of his personality (I do listen to his radio show but due to work I only can catch about an hour of it!)
I consumed this book, finished it in two days, its light, funny, very kiwi, and interesting. The challenges Dom has set for himself are great, and makes me want to do something similar - but not all of the things he does I'd want to do!
Plus it doesn't get too preachy at the end!
I consumed this book, finished it in two days, its light, funny, very kiwi, and interesting. The challenges Dom has set for himself are great, and makes me want to do something similar - but not all of the things he does I'd want to do!
Plus it doesn't get too preachy at the end!
February 3, 2014
This book is one of those great laugh out loud books which are perfect to take on holiday with you. It is easy to read as each bucket item list is its own chapter and none is too large so it is easy to pick up and put down. There are some genuinely funny bucket list challenges which make you wonder what he was thinking to come up with it on the first place - and I would love to know what his wife thinks of some of the list items!
January 5, 2013
This book was my drug for a weekend. Who needs TV when you can read Dom's idiotic life stories?
I must say that a normal person would "pretend to forget " some situations. Not Dom! He shares them and is proud of the experiences. The ones that cracked me up the most relate to a dungeon and a sauna. Sorry, can't say more than that...
This book is definitely a must read.
I must say that a normal person would "pretend to forget " some situations. Not Dom! He shares them and is proud of the experiences. The ones that cracked me up the most relate to a dungeon and a sauna. Sorry, can't say more than that...
This book is definitely a must read.
November 28, 2017
The bucket list of an idiot is a compelling novel about getting old and wanting to achieve new things such as visiting a dominatrix or posing as a naked model for a painting class it is an inspiring book about achieving your goals before it is too late.
August 14, 2017
Laugh out loud. Wonderful book to read on a 14h flight to Johannesburg - lightweight, funny, irreverent, rude and very Kiwi. Loved it
January 27, 2013
Very funny.
January 29, 2013
Easy read, with genuine laugh out loud moments.
May 26, 2014
I laughed and I cringed. What more could I have expected from Dominic Harvey?
January 1, 2014
Hilarious! Fab opening chapter, just like listening to Dom on the radio in the morn. Doesnt have to be read in order and it just made me laugh and laugh and laugh!
February 6, 2016
Petty low brow, but a couple of cool stories in there.
May 31, 2022
read in past
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews