This Is a Book

I read it before bed each night and sometimes I would be cackling so hard my boyfriend would rush into the room to check on me out of concern because it sounded like I was choking. I was indeed dying from laughter. Love Demetri Martin’s standup and I felt like I was reading a transcript of his shows, as I could hear and envision him as I read it. So good!

This is a very silly and funny book. I loved it. This is the kind of book I'm always looking for but so rarely find--one chock-a-block full of smart silliness and intellectual goofiness. (It gave me the same joy as reading Woody Allen's Without Feathers or Side Effects.) It was love at first browse.I first saw the book at an airport book store. I thought to myself "Demetri Martin. Is that the guy from The Daily Show?" I picked up the book to see if it was (it was) and started paging through. From the very first page of the introduction called "How To Read This Book," I was hooked: If you're reading this sentence then you've pretty much got it. Good job. Just keep going the way you are.Flipping to the next page, I started reading the first essay called "Announcements." Thank you for coming to the show. Before tonight's performance begins there are a few announcements. Please pay attention. Flash photography is not permitted at any time during the show. Also, there is no recording of any kind allowed during the show. This includes both audio and video recording, as well as sketching, journaling, documenting, making mental notes, reminiscing, reviewing, or remembering anything at all with your mind. Any recording devices that we find will be taken away from you and juggled recklessly by the clown you see standing near the left exit.Too well trained by Mr. Jenners to buy the book for full price from an airport bookstore (sorry, Mr. Martin), I waited until I got home and ordered it from Amazon. It was fun from beginning to end. This is the kind of book that will either grab your funny bone or it won't. So, to give you a better idea of the kind things you'll find inside, here are a few excerpts.From "Palindroms For Specific Occasions" (Seriously, how can you not love a book that includes five full pages of palindromes?) GENTLY INFORMING A DJ THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE SOUND SYSTEM: No music is, um, on. THE HEAD BAKER AT A BAKERY INSTRUCTING A NEW EMPLOYEE ABOUT HOW TO DEAL WITH CUSTOMERS AND THEN SUDDENLY NOTICING WHAT THE NEW BAKER HAS MADE: Snub no man. Nice cinnamon buns! A GUY EXPLAINING TO HIS FRIEND HOW HE FEELS ABOUT OPERAS AS HE ACCIDENTALLY RUNS INTO A BEEHIVE: See, bro, operas are poor--Bees!From Honors & Awards (for Which I Would Qualify) National Champion at being the ex-boyfriend who is most consistently awkward around his ex-girlfriend and/or anyone who is even a casual acquaintance of hers. A scholarship awards to Greek Americans who have done very little for the Greek American community but definitely look Greek American, no matter what outfit they are wearing. Top 40 people under 40 who live in my apartment building Award for Perfect Attendance on Earth for Whole Life So Far Nobel Prize for Chemistry with Very Cute Women Who Turn Out To Already Have BoyfriendsI could sit here and type excerpts that cracked me up all night long but that would be silly. Hopefully, you've gotten a feel for the book. (You could also watch him on The Daily Show or his stand-up comedy act.) But let me just share a few of the essay titles with you: Optimist, Pessimist, Contortionist; Frustrating Uses of Etc.; A Capella Group Freak Accidents; Confessions of a White Guy with Dreadlocks; Excerpts from My Often-True Autobiography. Plus there are funny drawings and charts included.So, to sum up, this is a very funny book and you should read it.

If you've ever watched "Comedy Central" or a segment of it, "Important Things with Demetri Martin", you already have a hint of the zany humor you'll enjoy if you read this book. It's very name gives a clue of the witty, clever, creative character of its author.Who could envision a 1995 Yale graduate who, while attending law school, served as an intern at Domestic Policy Council during the Clinton administration, would drop out following completion of his second year, to become a comedian extraordinaire? Politics does have some aspects that beg to be incorporated into a comedy routine.Martin's work is unique, unexpected and laugh-out-loud funny. The book is a compilation of two or three sentence ditties: " We were seeing less of each other...we were in quick sand!" to longer, more thought provoking and philosophically challenging ones.I attempted to analyze what it was that made the myriad of selections so extraordinarily funny. After all, I don't usually wipe my eyes because I've been laughing so hard.Written humor is particularly difficult. Visual and audible comedy utilizes voice tone, silences, timing, even facial expressions that are subliminal factors in comedy routines. In the end I scrapped that idea and just enjoyed the book.If you're wondering if Martin made use of his time in DC and included some of the antics that frequent that geographical area in the book, the answer is yes and no. Everyday occurrences that can happen anywhere are fodder for this actor, artist, musician and humorist.Perhaps one my favorite vignettes in the book is a completed crossword puzzle comprised of one letter of the alphabet. Subsequent pages follow with across and down clues. What could possibly be funny about finished crossword puzzle? I guess you'll need to read the book to find out! Be sure to have a box of tissues nearby!I do hope Martin has many other books waiting to be hatched. He's one of a kind! If you're looking for some light, fast and delightfully clever reading, pick up a copy ofThis is a Book.

Loved it! It was so good I finished it after 2 days into my holiday so had to read it again and it was just as funny the second time round!

I'm a big fan of Martin's work. He's very amusing. This is perfect for fans. I had a lot of laughs. Would recommend.

An excellent book to complement his TV and standup work.It contains all of his witty, literary insights in an easy to read way that is still funny.

Amazingly hilarious book! The way he plays with the English language is absolutely side splitting!

If you like his stand up you'll like this book.