George Clooney's Haircut and other cries for help

by Richard Glover

'Full-on, uncontrollable, laugh-till-you-weep stories. Glover has become the indispensable chronicler of Australian family life' Geraldine Brooks Richard Glover's deeply skewed stories of everyday life are heard each week on ABC radio's 'thank God It's Friday'. He creates a world which is both weird and wry-a world in which Henry VIII provides marriage advice, JD Salinger celebrates tap-water and naked French women bring forth a medical miracle. It's also a world in which shampoo is eschewed, the second-rate is praised and George Clooney's haircut can help save a relationship. Bizarre yet commonplace, funny yet relatable, absurd yet oddly warm-hearted, in Richard Glover's hands you'll experience the true strangeness of the life you are living right now. INCLUDES: the Bin-It List: 25 things to avoid before you die. "Warning: Until you know how Glover's writing affects you, do not read in public. Noisy, convulsive laughter and uncontrollable hilarity among probable side effects..." Geraldine Brooks "Like an Australian Seinfeld, Richard has the great gift of highlighting the ridiculous nature of human beings, and finding delight in this crazy thing the rest of us call life." Wil Anderson

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, Ebooks

286 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2013

About the author

Richard is a newsprint journalist and a Sydney radio broadcaster for the ABC.

Reviews

[Xanthi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a total stranger to this author, having not heard his radio shows, read his newspaper column or books. I decided to give this book a go because it looked like it would be funny.
With most humorous books, you can read them and be amused without actually laughing out loud. Not with this one. I read most of it whilst sitting in a plane. The boyfriend had to listen to me often giggling and laughing, and on Occasion, reading passages out to him.
His parts about childhood in 1970's Australia was something I could relate to and found especially amusing.

[Fay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Richard Glover captures the Australian heart of my generation with a humorous look at what is important or quizicle about our habits and goals. He makes the everyday life events look so funny - found myself chuckling quietly ... or not so quietly, quite often. Would recommend highly.

[Nerrelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny & clever writing

Richard takes you into the ordinary lifestyle of the suburban family in Australia & shows the funny side. Good to see that other people have more complicated lives.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining. Light. Intelligent.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am loving Richard Glover's writing - smart, insightful and funny. I just keep turning the pages, hugely enjoying the whole experience.

[Gary Timm · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had fun for a while, but got bored and did not finish it. Sorry Richard, I am a fan.

[Chris Waterford · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel like you either love Richard Glover or are ambivalent about his writing. I'm in the latter group---he writes about topical issues but I have not taken to his style of humour.
5/10

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of funny stories, or vignettes of everyday life. They read like newspaper columns but nowhere in the book does it say whether they have already been published or whether these stories are all new.

It doesn't matter anyhow, because this is a highly entertaining book. The stories range from mildly amusing to laugh out loud funny, as my partner can attest, when I suddenly burst into fits of laughter while reading in bed.

Richard Glover has the knack of being able to see the absurd in everyday life and to paint bizarrely funny images in your mind, and his self-deprecating humour enables us to laugh at ourselves as well. (Laughing with you, Richard, not at you).

At the same time the stories are compassionate, insightful and full of wisdom and common sense. Highly recommended for a good endorphin release.

[Charles · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed with this book. The humour wasn't as clever as his earlier book "Why men are necessary". Maybe the style of humour is too predictable now. However there were some wonderfully amusing chapters on topics as diverse as packaged peeled vegetables and pre-faded clothes.

I borrowed this book from Stanton Library.

[Meredith Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an amusing collection of stories of everyday life, set apart from so many in the genre by its adult take of its reflections that can be easily appreciated. Like any collections, it ebbs and flows in terms of engagement but is an easy and entertaining enough read.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great laugh.

[Judy Singer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just wonderfully funny and observant. Makes sociologists redundant.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

This will make a good Christmas present

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining and lighthearted read. Glover always manages to find humor in even the ridiculously mundane.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this. As always, Richard's observations on life are fun and witty.