Not as negative as you'd expect..or as funny. (Is It Just Me or Is Everything Shit? - Alan McArthur)

Member Name: firetotheworks

Product:	Is It Just Me or Is Everything Shit? - Alan McArthur
Date:	01/06/09 (10 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good casual read, occassionally hits the laughter mark on shared annoyances

Disadvantages: It has a smug feel to it, isn't as funny as the author may think it is.

When I first got this book as a gift I was very, very skeptical. The main reason for this was that despite being someone who enjoys moaning and sarcastic grumpy dad style humour, I also prefer to concern myself with the good things in life. Despite this, I gave it a go, and in the most part was pleasantly surprised.

For those that don't know, this is a book about things that annoys the author, and are reviewed with that perspective.

The A-Z format is beneficial for quick or casual reading, and makes it a good coffee table/bathroom book. Some of the reviews are fairly funny and agreeable, others aren't, which you would expect.

The worry I had with this book would be that it would effect the way I view things, and that Id have even more of a cynical outlook on the world. In fairness, most of the reviews are in good spirit and don't go too OTT.

However, I felt even the reviews I agreed with weren't as clever or funny as the author thought they were, and at times the reviews were so OTT that you felt like an elitist snob just by reading them.

This book reminded me of the comedian Stuart Lee...not as clever, or as funny as they think they are, and are really just smug and elitist, with the odd laugh as a byproduct.

Without the A-Z element to this book and I'd dislike it. But as it is it works well as a casual read.

Summary: A bit too smug.