Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened
Who Would Like This Book:
This book is pure gold for anyone who loves quirky, laugh-out-loud humor mixed with unexpectedly deep insight. Allie Brosh captures the ridiculousness of childhood, the chaos of pet ownership (especially for dog lovers!), and the realities of struggling with depression, all with uniquely simple yet expressive drawings. If you’re a fan of her blog, need a good belly laugh, or find comfort in honest reflections on mental health, this is a must-read. It’s equally appealing to teens and adults who appreciate self-deprecating humor and clever storytelling.
Who May Not Like This Book:
If you’re hoping for a straightforward memoir or a traditional graphic novel, this book’s unconventional, vignette style might leave you wanting more narrative structure. Some may be put off by Brosh’s raw honesty about depression, occasional strong language, or the intentionally crude artwork. Dedicated blog followers might notice some recycled content and wish for all-new stories. Also, if simple illustrations aren’t your thing, the art style might not win you over.
About:
'Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened' by Allie Brosh is a memoir-style book that combines humor and introspection. Brosh shares illustrated stories from her life, ranging from childhood tales to her experiences with her quirky dogs and her struggles with depression. Through a blend of humor, wit, and candidness, the author provides a unique and relatable perspective on various aspects of life, including identity, motivation, and mental health.
The book features a collection of essays and comics originally published on Brosh's blog, offering readers a mix of funny anecdotes and poignant reflections. Brosh's writing style is characterized by its simplicity, honesty, and ability to seamlessly blend humor with deeper themes, making the book an engaging and insightful read for those looking for a balance of laughter and introspection.
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Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include themes of depression and mental health struggles.
From The Publisher:
#1 New York Times Bestseller
"Funny and smart as hell" (Bill Gates), Allie Brosh's Hyperbole and a Half showcases her unique voice, leaping wit, and her ability to capture complex emotions with deceptively simple illustrations.
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Every time Allie Brosh posts something new on her hugely popular blog Hyperbole and a Half the internet rejoices.
Brosh's debut marks the launch of a major new American humorist who will surely make even the biggest scrooge or snob laugh. We dare you not to.
FROM THE AUTHOR:
This is a book I wrote. Because I wrote it, I had to figure out what to put on the back cover to explain what it is. I tried to write a long, third-person summary that would imply how great the book is and also sound vaguely authoritative-like maybe someone who isn't me wrote it-but I soon discovered that I'm not sneaky enough to pull it off convincingly. So I decided to just make a list of things that are in the book:
Pictures
Words
Stories about things that happened to me
Stories about things that happened to other people because of me
Eight billion dollars*
Stories about dogs
The secret to eternal happiness*
*These are lies. Perhaps I have underestimated my sneakiness!
Ratings (77)
Incredible (26) | |
Loved It (28) | |
Liked It (12) | |
It Was OK (7) | |
Did Not Like (3) | |
Hated It (1) |
Reader Stats (143):
Read It (78) | |
Currently Reading (1) | |
Want To Read (32) | |
Did Not Finish (1) | |
Not Interested (31) |
5 comment(s)
This book made me laugh out loud!
So funny it made me actually laugh out loud just like her last book. Great fun book.
I previously tried to read this as an ebook and couldn't get into it. Thought it was the book itself that i didn't get along with. But now I think it's more that it's not the same thing reading a graphic novel as an ebook as in a physical format. I was unsure at first how I was going to enjoy the scribbles as they at first glance looked like to simple. But after I read a bit I realized that somehow Allie Broth was able to show emotions in the scribbles and they fit perfectly into the story. I have no idea how she manged that, to both have ultra simplistic cartoons and yet able to show easily understood emotions in them. If I could give an extra star just because of that I would. The memoir or rather text it's self was as appealing as the scribbles/cartoons and was so interesting and at times recognizeble. I highly recommend this graphic novel but would advise not reading this as an ebook to get the full experience
If you have ever been depressed or know someone who has been/is depressed, you have to read this for the sections on depression alone. They're funny, but more importantly they explain the condition of depression better than anything I have ever read.
Four stars because there could have been more of a narrative arc.
Loved it! I literally finished it in a single sitting. The last bit, Identity I felt like could've been based on my own shittiness.
What can you read after
Hyperbole and a Half?
About the Author:
Allie Brosh is the author of the #1 New York Times bestsellers Solutions and Other Problems and Hyperbole and a Half, which was named the Goodreads Choice Award Winner for Best Humor Book of the Year. Brosh has also given herself many prestigious awards, including "fanciest horse drawing" and "most likely to succeed." Find out more at HyperboleandaHalf.blogspot.com.
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