- Paperback: 304 pages
- Publisher: Tarcherpaper (May 3 2004)
- ISBN-10: 1585423378
- ASIN: B00069QZDQ
- Product Dimensions: 15 x 14.7 x 1.8 cm
- Shipping Weight: 227 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Knipfel, a columnist for New York Press, opens this memoir with, "Whenever I hear the word 'spiritual,' I reach for my revolver." Dogged by "bad spirits," he cites a wicked laundry list of his physical and psychological ailments, beginning with retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative eye disease; epilepsy; and paranoia and depression. The author catalogued much of this torment, both of the body and mind, in his previous books, Slackjaw and Quitting the Nairobi Trio. Here, he uses his dark, sardonic humor to examine his inner self, finding "failure of the spirit is the most dangerous kind of failure there is." Childhood obsessions of a "blinding white light" and the crucifixion evolve, as demons continue to plague the adult Knipfel with seizures, blackouts, suicide attempts and the evil influences of his friend Grinch, a sociopath who tries to get Knipfel to burn down a building with him. Fortunately, two other (more sane) friends, Laura and Morgan, humanize his rage and paranoia so he can get on with the "patterns" of daily existence. What makes this book enjoyable is not Knipfel's false opinion of just being "a simple... man with psychological and neurological problems," but rather the author's triumph in the face of often overwhelming health challenges. Witty, irreverent and full of black humor, this is a memoir of a troubled, talented soul who can laugh at himself while refusing to throw in the towel on life.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse and search another edition of this book.
First Sentence
In April of 1997, the Red River, fed by the melting snows of an earlier blizzard, rose to fifty-four feet, a full twenty-six feet above flood level. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
In April of 1997, the Red River, fed by the melting snows of an earlier blizzard, rose to fifty-four feet, a full twenty-six feet above flood level. Read the first page
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Better than Sedaris--but different,
By A Customer
This review is from: Ruining It For Everybody (Mass Market Paperback)
Um, giving Jim Knipfel one star because he's not like David Sedaris is absurd. Knipfel is better than Sedaris because he's darker and he's smarter. This is an extraordinary book for intelligent people. And you'll look cool reading it.
1.0 out of 5 stars
Not Funny,
By A Customer
This review is from: Ruining It For Everybody (Mass Market Paperback)
I was recommended this book by Amazon.com, of all places. The reason was, I bought the book "Me Talk Pretty One Day," by David Sedaris, and Amazon said it was of a similar nature. I did not find it remotely humorous, and in fact I was very turned off by the author's interest in all things punk and destructive. I would not recommend this book unless you would read anything placed in front of you.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Book is full of Such Things,
By "godallmighty" (CHICAGO, ILLINOIS USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Ruining It For Everybody (Mass Market Paperback)
I knew Men & Women are different But only physically but I came to know that men are from mars & women are from venus only after reading this book.Men feel he is doing right thing with his born Mr.Fix It Attitude But most of the times women only want him to listen. Men go to his Cave when he is trying to find out solution to his problem But women dont understand this.They do what they do on Venus.They try to talk & men think she is annoying him.He pushes her out of his Cave & she thinks it was very Rude of him(It is Rude On Venus). This was Just an Example.Book is full of Such Things.It gives complete Ideaof How Martian & Venusians Think Differently.They are made for Each Other But they should know what other want or Expect from them. Some people laughed at me (Even Girls) that I am reading this kind of Book.My answer is Whether its men Or Women,This book is 'Must' for Everyone if they want their relationship work better,to communicate well because Men are from Mars women are from Venus. This Book is like a Translator for Martian & Venusians.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Want to see more reviews on this item?
|
Most recent customer reviews |
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
