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Don't Get Me Started
The Ultimate Grumpy Guide to Modern Life
Modern life is full of annoyances, some large and some small. Indeed, it sometimes seems as if life conspires to become more and more annoying every day — just to annoy us. Is there no end to the pain?
Some annoying
Pop-up windows on the internet
People who use finger signs to denote quotation marks
Talking birthday cards that never shut up
Train journeys that are more expensive than flights to the same destination
Jade Goody
Mobile phone ring tones
Pubs that advertise things happening TONITE
Books on punctuation and grammar
Think of this book as therapy. Everything annoying in the world is here. Hilarious, entertaining and downright infuriating, this is essential reading for anyone out there who likes a good rant.
Modern life is full of annoyances, some large and some small. Indeed, it sometimes seems as if life conspires to become more and more annoying every day — just to annoy us. Is there no end to the pain?
Some annoying
Pop-up windows on the internet
People who use finger signs to denote quotation marks
Talking birthday cards that never shut up
Train journeys that are more expensive than flights to the same destination
Jade Goody
Mobile phone ring tones
Pubs that advertise things happening TONITE
Books on punctuation and grammar
Think of this book as therapy. Everything annoying in the world is here. Hilarious, entertaining and downright infuriating, this is essential reading for anyone out there who likes a good rant.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published October 8, 2007
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10 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 15, 2020
As a fellow grumpy old so-and-so who also publishes widely on the stupidity of the world in general, I get where this author is coming from in a big way! It's essentially a lengthy list of gripes and I agree with most of them.
There is one area where we differ. I don't agree with the lack of sensitivity to 'eco' issues and the recurring insistence that motorists are being persecuted. But then, if you don't see driving a car as an ecological negative that absolutely SHOULD be persecuted wherever there are valid alternatives - hitting the pocket it is the only humane way to change behaviour of people who think of their own ease and comfort before that of the planet and humanity in general - then of course it's a natural reaction. This book was written in 2007 though, so perhaps the author has had time to reflect on some of that - much has come to light since then.
The book more or less does what it says on the tin. It's not one in which you're going to lose yourself, since it's essentially bullet points. Some are short and sweet, others are more elaborate. Since Symons clearly has the ability to string a sentence together, I must say I would have preferred more of the longer entries. What this book clearly showed me was that a rant that builds slowly and culminates in a pithy final sentence is much more amusing and satisfying than a one-liner. Apart from the occasional one for impact, I would have preferred if he left the one-liners to cartoonists. That way the book would have had more of a feeling of substance. And gotten four stars.
It's quite UK-centric, so might appeal most to people who live there. But most of the 'annoying aspects of everyday life' apply worldwide and everyone will find something here. Interestingly, few of them have gone away since 2007!
If you don't like ranting, negativity or grumpiness you'll definitely get annoyed by this and write a one-star review. But if you read the title and the blurb and then complain about finding such things inside, I think you forfeit the right to do that. Don't get ME started on people who do this...
There is one area where we differ. I don't agree with the lack of sensitivity to 'eco' issues and the recurring insistence that motorists are being persecuted. But then, if you don't see driving a car as an ecological negative that absolutely SHOULD be persecuted wherever there are valid alternatives - hitting the pocket it is the only humane way to change behaviour of people who think of their own ease and comfort before that of the planet and humanity in general - then of course it's a natural reaction. This book was written in 2007 though, so perhaps the author has had time to reflect on some of that - much has come to light since then.
The book more or less does what it says on the tin. It's not one in which you're going to lose yourself, since it's essentially bullet points. Some are short and sweet, others are more elaborate. Since Symons clearly has the ability to string a sentence together, I must say I would have preferred more of the longer entries. What this book clearly showed me was that a rant that builds slowly and culminates in a pithy final sentence is much more amusing and satisfying than a one-liner. Apart from the occasional one for impact, I would have preferred if he left the one-liners to cartoonists. That way the book would have had more of a feeling of substance. And gotten four stars.
It's quite UK-centric, so might appeal most to people who live there. But most of the 'annoying aspects of everyday life' apply worldwide and everyone will find something here. Interestingly, few of them have gone away since 2007!
If you don't like ranting, negativity or grumpiness you'll definitely get annoyed by this and write a one-star review. But if you read the title and the blurb and then complain about finding such things inside, I think you forfeit the right to do that. Don't get ME started on people who do this...
April 10, 2013
The last chapter was full on politics which is not my cup of tea but he made some relevance about what's happening around the world. (e.g. crimes, global warming, famine, etc). Blunt truth from Mitchell, brownie points for that! Overall, I didn't hate it neither do I love it.
January 25, 2009
Occasionally hits a deserving target, but rarely, and isn't funny regardless.
August 22, 2010
This is the prefect book for reading out to a group of friends. we had a real giggle and moan when reading out from this one. a great conversation starter
March 30, 2013
A bathroom book.
August 7, 2015
excellent...and provoking.
.red ink was not a good idea however.....
.red ink was not a good idea however.....
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews