Dave Barry's Guide to Life

by Dave Barry, Jerry O'Brien (Illustrator)

What we need is an instruction manual for life--a serious, carefully researched treatise filled with wisdom and insight. Instead, we have "Dave Barry's Guide to Life, " which is no help whatsoever. But it's a "lot" shorter than "The Brothers Karamazov, " plus it has more cartoons. And look at the topics Dave covers:

Genres: Humor, Nonfiction, Essays, Comedy, Collections, American, Memoir

372 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Dave Barry is a humor writer. For 25 years he was a syndicated columnist whose work appeared in more than 500 newspapers in the United States and abroad. In 1988 he won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary. Many people are still trying to figure out how this happened.
Dave has also written many books, virtually none of which contain useful information. Two of his books were used as the basis for the CBS TV sitcom "Dave's World," in which Harry Anderson played a much taller version of Dave.
Dave plays lead guitar in a literary rock band called the Rock Bottom Remainders, whose other members include Stephen King, Amy Tan, Ridley Pearson and Mitch Albom. They are not musically skilled, but they are extremely loud. Dave has also made many TV appearances, including one on the David Letterman show where he proved that it is possible to set fire to a pair of men's underpants with a Barbie doll.
In his spare time, Dave is a candidate for president of the United States. If elected, his highest priority will be to seek the death penalty for whoever is responsible for making Americans install low-flow toilets.
Dave lives in Miami, Florida, with his wife, Michelle, a sportswriter. He has a son, Rob, and a daughter, Sophie, neither of whom thinks he's funny.

Reviews

[Debbie W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why I chose to read this book:
Being a Dave Barry fan, I couldn't resist buying this 4-in-1 book, which includes some of his most popular titles:

Dave Barry's Guide to Marriage and/or Sex - perfect for newlyweds (makes a great wedding gift!)

Babies and Other Hazards of Sex: How to Make a Tiny Person in Only 9 Months, with Tools You Probably Have Around the Home - the title alone makes me smile! This book is my favorite! It was my first introduction to Dave Barry's humor back in 1991 when I was expecting! My most memorable baby "guide" book ever!

Stay Fit and Healthy Until You're Dead - if you made a New Year's resolution to eat healthier and exercise more, then I highly recommend reading this "helpful guide"!

Claw Your Way to the Top: How to Become the Head of a Major Corporation in Roughly a Week - getting your first job or seeking a promotion in record time? Check out Barry's "helpful" hints!

Once again, Dave Barry's humorous wit made my HUMOR Reading Month a delight! Comical illustrations by Jerry O'Brien just add to this quick, but laughable read!

[Wes Locher · Rating 4 out of 5]

In his guide to life collection, Dave Barry tackles just about everything: dating, marriage, babies, fitness, and how to succeed in the corporate world. He does it all with his traditional style of humor which will keep you laughing with every page turn.

I'd have to agree with a lot of readers and say that the first two selections, "Guide to Marriage and/or Sex" and "Babies and Other Hazards of Sex" were the high points and basically kept me in stitches the entire time. I kept getting dizzy from laughing so hard. I should probably see a doctor. Barry adds dashes of his own life experiences into the mix which makes for even greater hilarity.

The second two books, "Stay Fit and Healthy til You're Dead" and "Claw Your Way to the Top" are both great, but fail to hit the same funny beats as the previous. At the end of the day, Dave Barry wrote them all, so as a fan, you're bound to enjoy everything this book has to offer.

If you've ever dated, had a child, worked out, worked for a corporation then you'll appreciate all that lies between the covers of this book. If you haven't done any of those aforementioned things, I promise you'll still enjoy this. And you should probably go outside once in a while.

Once you've finished this almost 400 page tome, force it on a friend or loved one. But only if they like to laugh.

[rabbitprincess · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first two books are the best. Any time Dave talks about babies, you know it's going to be funny. What a wit.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The pinnacle of 80's humour. He actually wrote each of the contained books ("Dave Barry's Guide to Marriage and/or Sex" / "Babies and Other Hazards of Sex" / "Stay Fit and Healthy Until You're Dead" / "Claw Your Way to the Top") as a book, they weren't just collections of articles. Tongue-in-cheek mock instructional on various related subjects.

I've read them before, in the 80's or 90's, but they slew me again afresh. But I must say I experienced a distinct slackening, that the first was by far the best, that they were in order of funniness. Was that me, or the material?

[Kimberley · Rating 1 out of 5]

I guess some people know people who resemble these gender stereotypes enough that they are funny. I'm sorry.

[Dawn Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything you ever needed to know. And then some. With slide whistle.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been a Dave Barry fan since childhood, as his weekly syndicated column appeared in my local newspaper. This compilation book is another book from my personal library - I may have read at least 2 of the 4 individual volumes back when they were published in the mid 1980s. This was a nostalgia read for me - in fact, I'd say that anyone younger than my age demographic (GenX) will be confused and perplexed by many of the pop culture references and probably won't find it nearly as funny as I did.

This book fulfilled the 2023 PopSugar prompts #1 - A book you meant to read in 2022.

[Aron Kaufman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book might be my favorite Dave Barry book. It is hilarious! Usually I can't stop laughing when I read this, and it's hard to go more than a couple of sentences without laughing out loud. It's Dave's ultra-sarcastic/hyperbolic take on marriage, sex, raising kids, exercise, and work. Sure, it was written in the mid '80s so some of the references are out of date, but it's just so funny that it doesn't matter.

I recommend this to anyone looking for a good laugh, or 5,000 of them.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of Dave Barry's early works, this book is actually a compilation of four books. The first two sections on marriage, sex, and babies are wildly entertaining with only a slant Dave Barry can create. The last two sections on fitness and job success are okay, but the book would have been better without them dragging the book out -- they could have been used as their own book or columns.

I'm a Dave Barry fan and I find his humor vastly entertaining. He has a unique view of ordinary life events.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't realize this was a compilation of several books. There were some very funny parts, but some of it was repeated, and sometimes, he is just trying too hard. I did laugh a lot - especially at the excerpts on pregnancy and men's child-rearing.

[Cws]

818.5

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, quick read. I was surprised only a few things were outdated. Dave Barry is a solid wit. I look forward to the new book.

[Janet Barclay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a compilation of four books published in the 1980s. Dave Barry is a very funny guy, but I don't recommend reading all four, one after another - it gets a little tired after a while. Some (Babies) are funnier than others (Stay Fit and Healthy). Although much of what he's written holds true today, I suspect that younger readers might not relate to references to cassette players and dial vs. push-button phones.

[Debbie Wakefield · Rating 4 out of 5]

My mom had this book growing up and I’d read it as a kid, not understanding it. Reading it as a grown up felt nostalgic and the 90s humor felt unique. I skimmed it, mostly chuckling at the illustrations and some of his Q and A sections. I like his humor writing style. You can’t argue that Dave Barry wasn’t an influential humor author in the nineties.

[Kenneth S Zwierz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another funny Ken Barry book. The only books that make me laugh out loud.


If you want to spend a few hours of pleasant reading in these troubled times get this book. I enjoyed very much. I look forward to his next boom.

[Jen · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was the most painful book to get through that I’ve ever read.

[Rathi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn’t as funny as I expected it to be. The initial portions on advice on marriage and having kids was mildly funny but the later portions were repetitive.

[Jadg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely amazing

[Lucinda Stillinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this when I was like twelve, and I'm pretty sure it shaped my sense of humor for life. :)

[Catmom 4 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used to love Dave Barry but I believe my humor has changed over time.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everything you need to know about life, from Berry's irreverent perspective. Very enjoyable in small doses, but doesn't make a huge impression.

[Sydney · Rating 3 out of 5]

As always Dave Barry has a hysterical take on life.

[Charlie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Should have read this when I was in high school. (never mind that it wasn't written then.)

[Elizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

hardback, good condition but missing dust jacket.

[Tamsyn Kennedy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy to dip in and out of and still laugh out loud funny, even if some of the references are dated.

[Sunaina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly entertaining, as usual.