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The Amazing Book Is Not on Fire

Dan Howell,

Phil Lester

4.45 · Rating details · 17,431 ratings · 1,676 reviews

Hello reader,

In this book is a world. A world created by two awkward guys who share their lives on the internet!

We are Dan and Phil and we invite you on a journey inside our minds! From the stories of our actual births, to exploring Phil's teenage diary and all the reasons why Dan's a fail.

Learn how to draw the perfect cat whiskers, get advice on what to do in an awkward s ...more

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Hardcover, 224 pages

Published October 8th 2015 by Ebury Press

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The Amazing Book Is Not on Fire by Dan Howell

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Mar 31, 2015 Jasmine rated it really liked it

I know most of you will be disappointed in me since I've basically built up this sarcastic, harsh, hateful, and slightly aloof persona. And here I am putting this book on my I-Want-it-Like-I-Want-Food shelf (which is a very serious shelf). But I have a confession to make — a confession that will destroy this façade I've spent so long building up with just one sentence;

I love watching DanIsNotOnFire and AmazingPhil on Youtube.

Yep. I've lost all of my critical credibility (however small). Bu ...more

flag 212 likes · Like · see review

Apr 08, 2015 K G.S. rated it it was amazing

Shelves: faves, light-hearted-read, helpful

UPDATE!!

I finally was able to read this book and it was AMAZING!!!

It was so interesting to get to know my favorite youtubers more deeply. We got to see Dan and Phil being themselves during the whole book, to the point when I was reading with their voices in my head.

description

They gave us great advice if we ever wanted to be youtubers and we got to read the real, infamous Vega's story. Man, I want to believe you guys, seriously, but (view spoiler) ...more

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Mar 27, 2015 Rey rated it it was amazing

Shelves: biography-etc

I love how they put Dan's entire name for the author name. Oh, goodreads. ...more

flag 122 likes · Like · see review

Apr 13, 2015 Tanisha Mehta rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: humorous, favorites, non-fiction

Review before reading the book :

MY DADS HAVE WRITTEN A BOOK!!

ASAP!

Review after reading the book:

When I finally got the book :

Some Phan moments :

With my fav band:

Me after finishing the book :

...more

flag 90 likes · Like · see review

Jun 11, 2015 Maria (Big City Bookworm) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2015-new-releases, read-2015

4.5 stars

If you came here looking for an in depth review, you came to the wrong place. The Amazing Book Is Not On Fire is completely random and fun and crazy and so I figured this review should be the same.

For those of you are are unfamiliar with Dan Howell (Danisnotonfire) and Phil Lester (AmazingPhil) you probably don't spend a lot of time watching vloggers in the wonderful world of YouTube. I remember way back when I had first heard of Youtube, I was in Grade 9, which was 10 years ago (I know 4.5 stars

If you came here looking for an in depth review, you came to the wrong place. The Amazing Book Is Not On Fire is completely random and fun and crazy and so I figured this review should be the same.

For those of you are are unfamiliar with Dan Howell (Danisnotonfire) and Phil Lester (AmazingPhil) you probably don't spend a lot of time watching vloggers in the wonderful world of YouTube. I remember way back when I had first heard of Youtube, I was in Grade 9, which was 10 years ago (I know, I'm old as hell), and one of my friends had shown me a video on this weird website called YouTube. It wouldn't be until a few years later when I really started to follow different Youtubers such as Shane Dawson, Smosh and the Shaytards. Fast forward a few more years and it seemed as though the equivalent of the British Invasion in the 1960's was now taking place on YouTube. The Brits started popping up everywhere with YouTubers such as Zoella and JacksGap. A popular thing for Youtubers to do is to work together on collaboration videos, or "collabs"...one thing led to another, and I discovered Dan and Phil! Before I discovered their individual channels, I came across videos they made together in a series called "Phil is Not on Fire". As I would later learn by reading The Amazing Book Is Not On Fire, Dan and Phil's personal channels (Danisnotonfire and AmazingPhil) had been a part of the YouTube community for almost its entire existence and unfortunately I discovered them pretty late in the game. Better late than never though, am I right?

Although I am subscribed to quite a few YouTubers, there are only a few that I watch on a regular basis. Considering the crazy amount of books by YouTubers that have been released recently, there are only a few that I would really care to read. Dan and Phil had quickly become two of my favourite YouTubers and when they announced they would be releasing a book together, I knew that it was one that I needed to read.

I think part of what makes Dan and Phil so great is the fact that they're relatable. They are huge nerds and they aren't afraid to hide that about themselves. They're quirky and hilarious to watch on screen and their book was no different. The Amazing Book Is Not On Fire feels like one of Dan and Phil's videos, but in book form. That's the only way I can describe it. It's random and cute and hilarious, which is exactly how I feel about the content they upload to YouTube. There were quite a few personal stories which gave us some insight into their early lives and how they got started in the YouTube community. I loved getting to know them through this book.

The book itself is physically very appealing. Like I stated earlier, there have been an endless amount of books released by YouTubers recently and I hate to say it, but they all look like the same old autobiography with a few coloured photograph pages in the middle. Although I'm sure their personal stories would be great to hear, the books themselves aren't very unique in appearance. The Amazing Book Is Not On Fire completely defied the stereotype that is an autobiography. The entire book is fully coloured and filled with endless amounts of photographs, doodles and other fancy little tidbits. We get actual scanned images from both Dan and Phil's old diaries as well as fun little quizzes and micro stories mixed in with personal experiences. It's a pretty refreshing format compared to just having a bunch of words on a page and that definitely helps make it stand out.

Dan and Phil have done an amazing job in creating this book. They even thought of their viewers while creating the book and made a fantastic little video on their YouTube channel showing the entire process. Even if you don't enjoy the idea of reading a book created by a YouTuber, I suggest diving in to the world of YouTube itself! I know that YouTube, and subscribing to certain YouTubers, is an acquired taste that isn't meant for everyone, but I guarantee if you look hard enough, there is bound to be at least one YouTuber that you find relatable and entertaining. ...more

flag 35 likes · Like · see review

Mar 27, 2015 Ceyda rated it really liked it

soz but not soz Dan and Phil are great

flag 34 likes · Like · see review

Jun 10, 2015 Mal rated it it was amazing

Shelves: own

Before: (view spoiler)

**probably some spoilers? ~~can you spoil memoirs~~**

Prior to the Amazing Book is Not on Fire announcement I didn't ever really want to read books written by YouTubers. Or ... any memoirs, or life-stories, for that matter. They seemed to close ...more

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Oct 13, 2015 Elly (imaginemorebooks) rated it really liked it

I wasn't sure what I was expecting when I first watched the trailer for this book back in March. I just instantly knew I needed to have it the second it was released. Dan and Phil are two of my favorite youtubers that I have been following for years so obviously I ended up reading this book in one sitting.
Overall, I have a lot of mixed feelings about this book. I guess the most prominent is that this book was made for the fans (and Dan and Phil themselves). Simply put, it is like a scrapbook th I wasn't sure what I was expecting when I first watched the trailer for this book back in March. I just instantly knew I needed to have it the second it was released. Dan and Phil are two of my favorite youtubers that I have been following for years so obviously I ended up reading this book in one sitting.
Overall, I have a lot of mixed feelings about this book. I guess the most prominent is that this book was made for the fans (and Dan and Phil themselves). Simply put, it is like a scrapbook that visually displays who Dan and Phil are and what they have created on the Internet. I don't anticipate random people buying this book in a shop, reading it and enjoying it. It almost feels like a behind the scenes of their videos. You get the condensed version of the brand they have created with just a little extra thrown in.
For me, it felt like I had just rematched some of their best videos. The whole book is basically rehashing the last six years they have been in each other's lives. Being someone who watches them religiously, I was a bit disappointed in that. I was hoping for a book full of new content, not old content that I already had memorized. That being said, there were a few new things that I really enjoyed. Some of my favorite parts where the quick mentions of things you didn't know before or the pages where they are "going deep". I also REALLY enjoyed Dan's fanfic. Damn, that boy can write.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I wish this book was more of a serious "this is me, I'm more than Phan and cat whiskers". However, I do still appreciate all that this book is. This book is Dan and Phil, every cringey bit of them. Take the best bits of all their videos and sprinkle it with some extra existential crisis and general Phil weirdness and you have TABINOF. It really is just a tangible version of their online content, which to be fair is exactly what they marketed it as.
If you are a fan of the kind of content Dan and Phil make, by all means pick up this book! It's as quirky and interesting as they are. But, if you don't know who they are or don't obsess over their videos, I don't see you enjoying this book. It's a book about the online world and community Dan and Phil have created and if you aren't already in on all the jokes the whole book probably all just seems a bit strange. I mean, what isn't strange about two men who draw cat whiskers on their faces, roll around and talk to a camera for a living? ...more

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Mar 29, 2015 Rhys rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, wishlist, 10-10-would-bang-that-cover, crying-intensifies

Literally dying right now.

I AM SO PROUD OF THEM. THEY HAVE COME SO FAR AND I’M JUST SO HAPPY FOR THEM. IT WAS A TWO MINUTE VIDEO, AND THEY MANAGED TO MAKE A TON OF PEOPLE CRY OF HAPPINESS AND JOY! I LOVE THEM SOO MUCH.

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Oct 22, 2015 Aisyah ♡ rated it it was amazing

I love it!!!

Dancin on my way downtown~

Special shout out to "The Urge", a short phanfiction written by Dan. That fanfic was pretty good and I'd definitely subscribe to his ao3 if he has one.

Give it a try if you're a big fan of AmazingPhil and danisnotonfire.

Cheers!~

Update 8/12

Dan had just uploaded his video 'The Urge' along with illustrations submitted by the viewers.
You can listen to him narrate the fanfic here.

So many beautiful and creative drawings, my favs are:
0:05, 0:17, 3:26, 4:29 and ...more

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Jan 11, 2016 Rose rated it it was amazing

Shelves: contemporary, humor, multi-povs, non-fiction, audiobooks, quick-read, biography, autobiography

Quick review for a quick read. Yes, I subscribe to both Danisnotonfire and AmazingPhil (as well as their gaming channel - because Dan falling out of his chair playing FNAF still makes me laugh. I have no shame.). That's how I ended up figuring out that they released a book - but I didn't realize they had an audiobook version until browsing Audible. I had a credit, I used it on this book - I regret nothing.

This was such a fun read. I was entertained not just learning a bit from their random games ...more

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Mar 14, 2016 Lia rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction, english-and-american-lit-and-more, humor

I'm having a really productive day that so far has mainly consisted of me thrashing around in bed and feeling sorry for myself and overdosing on aspirin while coughing my lungs out. Good times.

*awkwardly clears throat*

Well, hello everybody! It is Giulia here, and welcome to what you all secretly wanted but didn't know you needed: THE INTERACTIVE REVIEW. (If you haven't already noticed my sneaky move, those up there were links you were supposed to click on. Duh.)

Now, the most sensible thing to d ...more

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Apr 06, 2015 Enya rated it really liked it

Shelves: non-fiction

I think the best part was definitely the Fanfictions! :D I laughed so hard! Dan's was so good (scarily accurate writing I have to say, he clearly read a suspicious amount of fanfiction, lol ), and I still can't get over Phil's "muscular brow" and "D-Slice" and "raven-haired" and I'm not gonna spoil the ending but I'm telling you if you haven't read it yet, you're in for a treat ^^
The Las Vegas Story? Come ooooooooon guys, pwetty please, you can't just do this to us! Though it WAS quite creative, ...more

flag 15 likes · Like · see review

Jul 28, 2018 Kylie🐾 rated it really liked it

Shelves: my-own-books, biography-and-youtubers

This book really reminded me of why I got it in the first place, which was when it first come out a couple of years ago. Now I used to watch youtubers all the time and then I stopped, now I’m slowly getting back into them. Of course there are a few new ones that I watch these days. Reading this book again makes me want to go back and watch Dan and Phil’a old videos as well as new ones.

The thing with biographies is that I really have to be in the right frame of mind to read them or I just get pic ...more

flag 14 likes · Like · see review

Oct 06, 2015 Chelsea added it · review of another edition

Shelves: 4-star

First of all, my copy of this book is SIGNED! I'm not sure if that's as big a deal I like to think, but this book is now the most important book on my shelf.

This was way, way better than I expected it to be. This isn't just a money grab, this book is genuinely funny, and I was laughing out loud the entire time. This was a legit, well made book and well worth buying. Dan and Phil are absolutely hilarious!

Dan's a freakishly good writer, like his fanfic of his own life was extremely well written. A ...more

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Sep 11, 2015 Emily Hiles rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-i-own

I got this the day it came out and ran to the mailbox with choir heels on. Fell on my face, but I have no regrets.

flag 14 likes · Like · see review

Jul 06, 2015 ♫✯Em loves Hollenstein✯♫❤the summertime and butterflies all belong to your creation❤ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: amazingness, favorites, omg-omg-cover, argh-i-love-you, need-this, need-this-likef, needed-this-yesterday, five-stars, read-in-a-hour, read-it-after-found-out-about-it

I NEED THIS BOOK MORE THAN I NEED TO LIVE OML ABDBDBNSJSSNSHDYDHDBDNCN. WHEN IS IT OCTOBER????!

UPdate:
YASSSS AMAZING
AND PERFECT
AMAZINGGGG
DIL
AND PHIL
AND DAN AND PHAN AND ASHDJDNDJEML

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Mar 27, 2015 Grace rated it really liked it

Shelves: would-reread

I just saw the trailer and can I say... I'm so excited! Ah! I know this is a new thing for YouTubers to have books but I think this one I will actually read. ...more

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Mar 28, 2015 Nara rated it it was amazing

Shelves: owned-physical, incredible

My inner Phangirl cannot take the awesome.
Literally my two favourite Youtubers, and they have to go ahead and write a freaking book!
Also, it's in FULL COLOUR.
*dies* ...more

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Feb 11, 2017 - ̗̀ ash ̖́- rated it liked it

this book was absolutely hilarious + dan & phil are the lights of my life.

flag 10 likes · Like · see review

Dec 05, 2015 Alexxy rated it liked it

Shelves: 2015-reads

Before starting the review, let me get one thing straight: Never read memoirs unless you know the person writing it. (And remember, this applies only to celebrity memoirs. It will not work with Anne Frank’s)
I remember I picked up ‘Yes, please!’ because it was a popular read and DNFed it at 30% because I couldn’t care less about Amy Poehler. So, when I got this book, I was afraid. Really really afraid that I’d DNF this one, too. But fortunately, for the sake of my sanity, I actually quite enjoyed ...more

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Mar 29, 2015 Nikki rated it really liked it

This pretty much felt like watching one of their videos, and that's pretty much what I wanted from the book, so that's a win. The visual design of this book is also really awesome. The photos and stuff make me want to keep in on my coffee table. If I had a coffee table... I should procure a coffee table and then put this book on it. ...more

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Nov 12, 2015 Imani rated it really liked it

Shelves: favorites, gorgeous-covers, alternating-povs-eww

Is this book listed under the genre humor? It is? Good! Because that was one of the most hilarious autobiographies I've ever read. I'm just so proud of the guys.

It was a beautiful book that had lots of artistic visuals too, it wasn't just an autobiography you read but looked at.

I have to say though, IRL (as Dan loves to say) I do not read fanfiction. So when I saw that the boys had written short fanfics about each other in the book, I skipped those. x_x A girl has to draw a line somewhere l ...more

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Sep 02, 2015 Connie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: owned, read-in-2015, favorites

Source: I own this book.
Cost: Preorder

After having this book on pre-order from the day they announced it until yesterday, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book. I finally, after six years, have something that these two guys have poured their hearts into, in my hands. Something real. And I'm all soppy and emotional because they're just so precious.

This is a brilliant, funny, and personal read and if you're a fan on phan, read this book. These boys deserve all the happiness they can get. ...more

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Apr 27, 2015 Francesca rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 4-star-reads, 200-to-400-pages, 2015-reading-challenge, humour, autobiography-memoir, non-fiction, male-authors, audiobook, favourite-nonfictional-people

Actual rating 4.5 stars. If you're completely unfamiliar with Dan and Phil and haven't watched any of their YouTube videos, then I would not recommend reading this book or listening to the audiobook. This book is for fans, whether they're casual fans or they're fans that watch all their videos religiously. The book is hilarious. Their own unique senses of humour shine through and, even though I listened to the audiobook as well as reading it, when I was just reading the book their voices came ac ...more

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Jul 13, 2015 Courtney ♡ librarycutie rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2015, audiobooks, memoirs

I listened to The Amazing Book is not on Fire by Dan Howell and Phil Lester on Audible!

Incase you haven't figured T out by now, I love watching YouTubers, I find it really enjoyable and entertaining, and better than watching tv most times. Dan and Phil are some of my favorites, so I decided to listen to their Audio book, and I wasn't Dissapointed.

I was, however, Dissapointed to see some people give the book 1 or 2 stars, and after reading them they have all been towards the book, not the aud ...more

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Aug 23, 2015 Carleigh rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-2015, cover-love

I really enjoyed this!!!! Dan and Phil are two of my favorite youtubers and I could not have asked for a better book from them!! The Amazing Book is not on Fire was not just another memoir, another book, it was THE book, THE memoir. When I read this I could just feel Dan's and Phil's personalities flowing through the words and pictures so vibrantly! One of the reasons I love Dan and Phil so much is because they're such a compatible, funny couple of guys, and you could sense that throughout all o ...more

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Jul 05, 2015 Cindy marked it as to-read

This is the only youtubers book I REALLY want okay like right now thanks.

flag 7 likes · Like · see review

Oct 14, 2015 kelsey rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: terrible

(For people who have trouble downloading this book on their iPhones, try downloading it to your computer. I was only able to read it there; I am not sure if it is ever compatible with the iPhone, but I would imagine that even if you managed to download it there, the text would be unreadable as it was already difficult enough to read full-size on a 15 inch screen!)

I identify as "phan trash" and even I couldn't get through this book. It hurts me to write this review because I really do care about (For people who have trouble downloading this book on their iPhones, try downloading it to your computer. I was only able to read it there; I am not sure if it is ever compatible with the iPhone, but I would imagine that even if you managed to download it there, the text would be unreadable as it was already difficult enough to read full-size on a 15 inch screen!)

I identify as "phan trash" and even I couldn't get through this book. It hurts me to write this review because I really do care about Dan and Phil as individuals and creators, and I am sure a large reason this book failed to capture my interest was that its age demographic (and admittedly, the grand majority of their fan base) are a great deal younger than I am. Still, the lackluster content of this book was just the beginning of the list of things that disappointed me about it; it was just the tip of the ice berg in my list of complaints, honestly.

1. The format
The format of this book frustrated me to no end! They continually changed from font to different font, all of which were unpleasant on the eyes at best, unreadable at worst. I thought a lot of the art and styling was just downright gaudy, but it also simply seemed to lack cohesiveness. Of course artistic taste varies from individual to individual, but the abrasive change in format from page to page was rather jarring. The page detailing Dan's "dream diaries" stands out in my mind as being extremely unreadable. I guess hardcore fans would be excited to see Dan's handwriting, but I was just frustrated by it as I couldn't read a word of that chicken scratch!

2. The "humor"
I guess it's a matter of taste, but I didn't even catch myself smiling while reading this book. It might be a matter of age demographic, but I was rather shocked as their videos will usual get a smile or a chuckle out of me. I think their visual personalities can make up for the juvenile nature of their jokes/humor. Their jokes may be on the more "random"/"meme" spectrum of humor, but I am able to excuse that in their videos as I find their "banter" and true, more "adult" personalities are able to shine through. All of that is taken away when their ideas are transmitted through the written form, leaving a very simple, disappointing creative product.

3. Writing ability
Sadly, I have to say, writing is not Phil or Dan's forte. Over the years they have developed their ability to make videos and entertain their internet audience, but their startling lack of writing ability (or decision not to showcase it/suppress it here) was very apparent and was a bit surprising. I knew that they would try to keep the material as PG as possible, but I was still expecting writing on a higher level - especially with how much they stressed that they had been working night and day writing this thing, and I was sorely disappointed. The book read like a long rambly tumblr blog or something... it didn't feel like a "book." I guess in my ideal world, their book would have been written in an attractive, readable font, had less unnecessary pictures that we have already seen before, and went into lovely literary detail about some experiences in their lives.

4. The content
This book is written for a very low level of reader, and because of that you would expect it to be easy to get through...not the case whatsoever! This book didn't use any challenging vocabulary and wasn't complex in the least and it was such a chore to read that I just gave up on it after a few pages. This book simply bored me, and I actually care about Dan and Phil's personal lives - I am a fan! I can't imagine how interminable this thing would be to read for someone who knows very little about them!

Dan and Phil, as a fan I am saddened to have to write this review, but as I forked over 10 dollars over for a book I couldn't even finish... I am sorry to say that I regret buying this book. If you two ever write a book in the future, I sincerely hope that you will choose to go in a different direction when writing it. ...more

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Mar 27, 2015 Sandra (LadyGrey Reads) rated it really liked it

Shelves: half-stars-needed, 2015-2016-reads, worth-re-reading-again-and-again

(information about this award is available on my profile)

Yes, it was an amazing book (pun intended)! Yes, it lived up to my expectations! Yes, I read it in Dan and Phil's voices! And yet I only give it 4 stars? Whyyyy?

Well, honestly it's partly because of that I wished there was more written content in it than there was. Believe me, I thoroughly enjoyed all the pictures and collages and stuff from their apartment and life and travels and you know, but I would have loved to see more written stuff ...more

flag 6 likes · Like · see review

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topics	posts	views	last activity
Phil is Not on Fire: Phans unite!	10	30	Jan 05, 2016 04:48PM
The amazing book is not on fire	2	18	Jan 03, 2016 03:35PM

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About Dan Howell

Dan Howell

1,802 followers

Daniel James "Dan" Howell is an English video blogger and radio personality. He is best known for his YouTube channel danisnotonfire, which has reached over six million subscribers. ...more