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Five Minutes from a Meltdown: A Comedic Poetry Collection
A hilarious comedic poetry and cartoon collection from screenwriter David Meyer and cartoonist Mark Hill.
If laughter is the best medicine, call this book penicillin.
Get ready to laugh out loud with this collection of awkward encounters, groan-worthy puns, clever turns of phrase, and hilarious cartoons. Through David Meyer’s perspective, the world becomes a place of laughter and idiosyncrasies. This collection of quick-witted, quick reads can be devoured in a single sitting or at a poem-a-day quota (to keep the doctor away).
The book is a perfect gift for a friend who likes to laugh, an enemy who hates to laugh, or a family member who needs a laugh (and to pay you back that money they borrowed).
Put it on your coffee table to be lovingly stained with hors d’oeuvres and good memories, on your bedside table to ward off nightmares, or perhaps in your bathroom, as everyone loves reading a book that other people on the toilet have been touching for years.
However you read, this comedic collection is sure to please.
If laughter is the best medicine, call this book penicillin.
Get ready to laugh out loud with this collection of awkward encounters, groan-worthy puns, clever turns of phrase, and hilarious cartoons. Through David Meyer’s perspective, the world becomes a place of laughter and idiosyncrasies. This collection of quick-witted, quick reads can be devoured in a single sitting or at a poem-a-day quota (to keep the doctor away).
The book is a perfect gift for a friend who likes to laugh, an enemy who hates to laugh, or a family member who needs a laugh (and to pay you back that money they borrowed).
Put it on your coffee table to be lovingly stained with hors d’oeuvres and good memories, on your bedside table to ward off nightmares, or perhaps in your bathroom, as everyone loves reading a book that other people on the toilet have been touching for years.
However you read, this comedic collection is sure to please.
96 pages, Paperback
Published January 21, 2025
1101 people want to read
About the author
David Meyer
1 book6 followersDavid Meyer is an aspiring adult and a proud Chicagoan from the suburb of Deerfield. Beloved by most, he grew up writing short stories, poetry, and books, mainly for his parents. Dedicated to having the most interesting obituary possible (eventually), David strives to accrue life experiences, and he believes sharing stories and laughter is what life is all about. David currently lives in Los Angeles with his loving TV. He is probably looking for his next writing gig at this very moment. David also loves talking about himself in the third person. David can be reached at david@davidmeyerwriter.com.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
December 26, 2024
This is sort of a written version of a stand-up comedy routine filled with bland dad jokes: forced puns and corny play-on-words junk. Cartoons illustrate some of the "comedic poems" that were created by the author hitting the return button multiple times in the course of telling the joke.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.
October 22, 2024
Let me just point something out, this is the first time that I review a poetry book, but again, is this a poetry book? Maybe not, but sure it is funny. Let me explain, this is quite a short read, but its really funny, usually I read my books for review at night, when I have some time for myself, and let me just tell you, don’t do that if you have kids or a grumpy husband/wife that want to sleep, because the funny part is not only a silent smirk I really laughed out loud, and at night that goes further than what one wants.
Some poems are a bit longer, some are shorter, but all are their own theme and their own story, the pictures will represent one poem and not all the poems have pictures.
I will be really honest, there were 4 poems and 1 picture that I didn’t get it, maybe because English is not my first language or because I was lacking the back knowledge, but either way, I really recommend this book, it was really funny and I was really needing something light to dive in.
Thank you BookSirens, for the free ARC and this is my honest opinion.
Some poems are a bit longer, some are shorter, but all are their own theme and their own story, the pictures will represent one poem and not all the poems have pictures.
I will be really honest, there were 4 poems and 1 picture that I didn’t get it, maybe because English is not my first language or because I was lacking the back knowledge, but either way, I really recommend this book, it was really funny and I was really needing something light to dive in.
Thank you BookSirens, for the free ARC and this is my honest opinion.
February 3, 2025
Although not quite poems, the pieces in this little book are silly, punny, occasionally rhythmic, and sometimes enlightening. I chuckled at some of the musings such as "why do we use 'late' to refer to a person who is dead?" and sent some dad jokes to friends who would appreciate them. This is the kind of book that's fun to share with friends and acquaintances. There were a few entries that baffled me; I'm apparently not the right audience for them. But overall, this was a fun read and one that I'll likely return to when I need a reason to smile.
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
April 2, 2025
Bland. Boring. A waste of a fifteen minute work break.
December 5, 2024
Is it poetry? Is it prose? Who cares? It’s a fun book to read in one sitting, full of dad jokes, and pretty insightful to the thinking (or lack of thinking) of man. I chuckled and laughed throughout the book and read several passages aloud to my husband who also enjoyed it. This would make a great book for your coffee table, guest room, or a gift for just about anyone.
November 26, 2024
Super funny collection! After reading it, I immediately decided to buy it for my father-in-law, my grandpa, my parents, and my grandparents-in-law for Christmas! It's a perfect gift, especially for the people I never know what to give to.
It reminded me of the Ole and Lena joke books and the homeschooling joke book my family used to laugh at, not because this book has anything to do with homeschooling or being Norwegian, but because it's fun, relatable, mostly PG humor that finds the comedy in everyday life.
In times like these, I need that!
It reminded me of the Ole and Lena joke books and the homeschooling joke book my family used to laugh at, not because this book has anything to do with homeschooling or being Norwegian, but because it's fun, relatable, mostly PG humor that finds the comedy in everyday life.
In times like these, I need that!
April 23, 2025
What do you get when a poet says they’re not really a poet, then proves they kind of are? You get Five Minutes from a Meltdown — a cheeky, offbeat, ridiculously entertaining mashup of punchline poetry and snarky cartoon fun. David Meyer isn’t trying to change your life. He’s trying to make you laugh out loud on a Tuesday afternoon. And he succeeds.
Right from the “this is not poetry” intro, Meyer sets the tone. No grand metaphors. No deep soul-searching. Just a parade of bite-sized poems, full of dad-joke energy, wry observations, and perfectly timed nonsense. The humor is sharp but not cruel, smart without being full of itself.
Each piece is like a mini comedy sketch. Some land like a classic stand-up punchline ("I’m the Next Great Supervillain" is a Teflon-coated jab at comic logic). Others are warm and weird, like the running gag of clueless parents and chaotic kids — see “Kids Like the Darndest Things” or the painfully real “My Biggest Fear, Ask My Exes”.
There’s a rhythm to the madness. Meyer plays with line breaks like a DJ dropping beats — awkward pauses, mid-sentence shifts, a lot of “wait, what?” moments that make the final line hit harder. The structure keeps you guessing, and that surprise is half the fun.
Now add in Mark Hill’s cartoons. They’re goofy in the best way — expressive, exaggerated, and full of that Sunday-paper charm. Each one is like a punchline’s wingman, jumping in with a wink and a smirk to make sure you get the joke. It’s not just poetry with pictures — it’s a tag team of absurdity.
This isn’t a book for your English lit professor. It’s for anyone who loves a good laugh, a clever pun, or needs a mental break from the world being on fire. Lighthearted, self-aware, and just the right amount of unhinged — Five Minutes from a Meltdown is like comedy comfort food. You’ll flip through it in a flash. You’ll quote it at brunch. You might even leave it on your coffee table, hoping guests pick it up and laugh.
Right from the “this is not poetry” intro, Meyer sets the tone. No grand metaphors. No deep soul-searching. Just a parade of bite-sized poems, full of dad-joke energy, wry observations, and perfectly timed nonsense. The humor is sharp but not cruel, smart without being full of itself.
Each piece is like a mini comedy sketch. Some land like a classic stand-up punchline ("I’m the Next Great Supervillain" is a Teflon-coated jab at comic logic). Others are warm and weird, like the running gag of clueless parents and chaotic kids — see “Kids Like the Darndest Things” or the painfully real “My Biggest Fear, Ask My Exes”.
There’s a rhythm to the madness. Meyer plays with line breaks like a DJ dropping beats — awkward pauses, mid-sentence shifts, a lot of “wait, what?” moments that make the final line hit harder. The structure keeps you guessing, and that surprise is half the fun.
Now add in Mark Hill’s cartoons. They’re goofy in the best way — expressive, exaggerated, and full of that Sunday-paper charm. Each one is like a punchline’s wingman, jumping in with a wink and a smirk to make sure you get the joke. It’s not just poetry with pictures — it’s a tag team of absurdity.
This isn’t a book for your English lit professor. It’s for anyone who loves a good laugh, a clever pun, or needs a mental break from the world being on fire. Lighthearted, self-aware, and just the right amount of unhinged — Five Minutes from a Meltdown is like comedy comfort food. You’ll flip through it in a flash. You’ll quote it at brunch. You might even leave it on your coffee table, hoping guests pick it up and laugh.
January 27, 2025
For me, the best word to describe “Five Minutes From A Meltdown” is ”adorable.” It’s a compact book of free-form comedic poetry and cute illustrations with a unique and very genuine sense of humor. There are elaborately set up puns and George Carlin-like witty observations in a youthful, hip voice with self-effacing humor. A couple of the poems delivered a full belly laugh, and most of the rest earned an audible chuckle. I was impressed that such a small collection had so many successfully funny poems.
The book is quite short, and each of the poems can be fully read in a minute or two. I liked that because it made it easy for me to read a small but self-contained portion in the few minutes between other activities. I suggested that it would make a good coffee-table book, but my wife nailed it when she counter-proposed that we should keep it in the guest bathroom because the length of the bite-sized poems was perfect for a “toilet visit.”
I’m not ordinarily a poetry fan, but the book reads more like individual stand-up comedy routines than like traditional poetry. The guests to our house who have seen it (in our bathroom) have all given it positive reviews ranging from “cute” to “hysterical.” I’m not suggesting that it would win literary awards, but I can’t imagine anyone who wouldn’t find it to be “a fun read.”
The book is quite short, and each of the poems can be fully read in a minute or two. I liked that because it made it easy for me to read a small but self-contained portion in the few minutes between other activities. I suggested that it would make a good coffee-table book, but my wife nailed it when she counter-proposed that we should keep it in the guest bathroom because the length of the bite-sized poems was perfect for a “toilet visit.”
I’m not ordinarily a poetry fan, but the book reads more like individual stand-up comedy routines than like traditional poetry. The guests to our house who have seen it (in our bathroom) have all given it positive reviews ranging from “cute” to “hysterical.” I’m not suggesting that it would win literary awards, but I can’t imagine anyone who wouldn’t find it to be “a fun read.”
March 29, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Though I wouldn’t go as far as to say hilarious (like in the blurb), I did laugh a few times at this book which was a new experience laughing at a poetry book. But then again is it poetry as the title or not as the introduction claims, that is up to each individual to decide and I’m not quite sure where I landed on that. It’s definitely cheesy with quite a few dad jokes in it so it may not be for everyone but I’d say it can make a great gift for lovers of dry humor. There are also some illustrations to go along with some of the poems.
October 16, 2024
David Meyer's FIVE MINUTES FROM A MELTDOWN is a laugh-out-loud collection of free verse poetry that takes a look at some of the things we say and experience and finds the humor and absurdity. Mark Hill's illustrations (far too few, in my opinion) add to the fun.
It's a quick read but could also be read when you just a minute or two and need a good laugh. Highly recommended!
I received an advance reader copy from the author through BookSirens. All opinions are mine.
It's a quick read but could also be read when you just a minute or two and need a good laugh. Highly recommended!
I received an advance reader copy from the author through BookSirens. All opinions are mine.
January 29, 2025
He Gets Us
Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2025
The best writers and comedians know how to do something the rest of us aren’t as good at-take the mundane parts of everyday life and replay them in a way that we all can identify with. David’s poems do that over and over. A little silliness, a little irony, a little too insightful to overlook. I hope he continues along this path and gives us more comic relief over the things we probably take too seriously for our own good.
Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2025
The best writers and comedians know how to do something the rest of us aren’t as good at-take the mundane parts of everyday life and replay them in a way that we all can identify with. David’s poems do that over and over. A little silliness, a little irony, a little too insightful to overlook. I hope he continues along this path and gives us more comic relief over the things we probably take too seriously for our own good.
February 14, 2025
Laugh out loud! Five Minutes to a Meltdown is a collection of poems that span across topics. From funny poetry about life to marriage to being a parent or random musings, David Meyer has the brilliant capacity to see the humor in everyday life. A collection I hope to read again and again, as a reminder that there still is good, clean comedy in this world. I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 17, 2024
This is a delightful poetry book. I particularly enjoyed the puns and plays on words. And the plays on situations. There was also a certain poignancy at the end of many of the poems that would strike me and that left me thinking. Would recommend to all who enjoy puns and plays on words as well as those who enjoy a certain breeziness to their poems.
October 26, 2024
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book was pretty funny, I had a great time reading it and appreciated the little illustrations.
However I'm not giving it a 5 stars because some jokes did not hit it off for me, but overall great book.
This book was pretty funny, I had a great time reading it and appreciated the little illustrations.
However I'm not giving it a 5 stars because some jokes did not hit it off for me, but overall great book.
December 1, 2024
This book of short, whimsical “poems” is a quick and really enjoyable read. The author brings humor to the mundane phrases and situations of everyday life. I will definitely be passing this book along to friends and family to bring them a smile!
December 4, 2024
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is a super fun, easy, engaging, laughter filled, and a really good stress reliever of a comic/short stories. I really related to a lot of these!!!! Super cute!!! Go read it. Now!
December 21, 2024
Loved this book and highly recommend for anyone who likes Seinfeld and wants to laugh out loud!! Hilarious compilation of poems on mundane life topics. David has a unique voice and bright future as a comedy writer.
January 27, 2025
This book
literally
fell on
my head.
I can
only blame
my shelf.
Full disclosure:
The publisher sent me
a review copy in Braille.
I haven't
finished it, yet,
but I think something
funny
is going to happen...
I can feel it.
Quite a fun book!
literally
fell on
my head.
I can
only blame
my shelf.
Full disclosure:
The publisher sent me
a review copy in Braille.
I haven't
finished it, yet,
but I think something
funny
is going to happen...
I can feel it.
Quite a fun book!
October 19, 2024
A nice collection of everyday short stories, I’m not a poetry expert but it felt more like just short columns then poetry.
It was fun to read through, although i didn’t understand all of them.
It was fun to read through, although i didn’t understand all of them.
November 6, 2024
This little book of "poems" was a very fun read. It really made me laugh.
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 28, 2024
Funny indeed , some more funny than others but its good for the genre
December 12, 2024
A nice lighthearted read. So much fun variety. A real mood lifter. Title is iconic and illustrations are hilarious.
January 23, 2025
This book makes me wish I could live in the mind of the author. He has such a fresh perspective on life! This whole thing is like one big dad joke and I say that endearingly. 10/10
March 5, 2025
Loved it!!
March 15, 2025
Such insightful humor to lighten my day. I only allowed myself to read a few at a time so I had more to look forward to. Loved it!
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews