Rick B. (bup) - , reviewed on 4/14/2014 + 166 more book reviews

It's an easy jab, but really the best thing about this book is the title. Twenty-some chapters, written by mostly comedians, and I expected more. Who understands hurt, and being dumped, better than a comedian? But most of these were trying to be clever, and ended up being neither funny nor touching. I didn't laugh out loud once, and I never even got sad, much less worried about crying.

OK, I'll tell you a bit worth reading - a few chapters that stood out- Ben Karlin's own chapter, which is perhaps along the lines of how he envisioned this book, let us glimpse a bit of the real pain he's experienced. And former senator Bob Kerrey (no, he hasn't become a comedy writer) wrote an earnest chapter that came the closest to making me sad. Will Forte's chapter was uncomfortable in the 'right' way.

But the biggest names - Stephen Colbert, Larry Wilmore, Patton Oswalt, Andy Richter - maybe they just didn't want to give up their A-list material. Most of it felt like it was rescued from the recycle bin.

You know what? The guy who leant it to me told me as much, but I had to borrow it and read it anyway. He had a feeling it wouldn't be good himself, but bought it and read it. It's a *really* good title.

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