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Join Me!
Danny Wallace was bored. Just to see what would happen, he placed a whimsical ad in a local London paper. It said, simply, “Join Me.” Within a month, he was receiving letters and emails from teachers, mechanics, sales reps, vicars, schoolchildren and pensioners—all pledging allegiance to his cause. But no one knew what his cause was. Soon he was proclaimed Leader. Increasingly obsessed and possibly power-crazed, Danny risked losing his sanity and his loyal girlfriend. But who could deny the attraction of a global following of devoted joinees?
A book about dreams, ambition, and the responsibility that comes with power, Join Me is the true story of a man who created a cult by accident, and is proof that whilst some men were born to lead, others really haven't got a clue.
A book about dreams, ambition, and the responsibility that comes with power, Join Me is the true story of a man who created a cult by accident, and is proof that whilst some men were born to lead, others really haven't got a clue.
353 pages, Paperback
First published May 29, 2003
44 people are currently reading
1289 people want to read
About the author
Danny Wallace
60 books636 followersDaniel Frederick Wallace is a British filmmaker, comedian, writer, actor, and presenter of radio and television. His notable works include the books Join Me, Yes Man, and the TV series How to Start Your Own Country. As an author, Wallace's bestselling books have been translated into more than a dozen languages.
He began writing reviews for video game magazines at the age of 13 for school work experience: a reviewer had become ill and so Wallace was given the opportunity to review a game. At 18 he started writing comedy, mainly through the magazine Comedy Review. He specialised in radio production at the University of Westminster.
At 22, he became a BBC producer. He was part of the production team behind British Comedy Award-winning Dead Ringers, the original producer of the critically acclaimed cult hit The Mighty Boosh, and the creator and producer of Ross Noble Goes Global. As a journalist, Wallace has worked for The Scotsman, The Guardian, The Independent, Elle, Cosmo, The Times and other publications.
In 1999, Wallace challenged comedian Dave Gorman, who at the time was his flatmate, to find 54 other people called Dave Gorman ("one for every card in the deck, including the Jokers"). Wallace accompanied Gorman on his quest and the men created Are You Dave Gorman?, an award-winning comedy stage show about what happened during their journey. A BBC series, also co-written and co-produced by Wallace, followed, as did a book, written by both men.
In 2003, Wallace's book Join Me was published. The book explains how he "accidentally started a 'cult'" called Join Me. The movement would go global, with each member committing to undertaking one random act of kindness for a stranger every Friday ("Good Fridays"). Tens of thousands joined. Join Me celebrates "Karmageddon 10" in December 2011. Traditionally, hundreds of members travel to London for the meet-up and undertake good deeds for strangers, with Wallace present. The movement is now generally referred to as the "Karma Army", although members are still typically "Joinees". He became a minor celebrity in Belgium whilst on his quest for Joinees. While on a book tour through America, Wallace was dubbed a "Generation X legend" by the Wisconsin State Journal.
Wallace next wrote a short book called Random Acts of Kindness: 365 Ways To Make the World A Better Place, with the help of submissions from Joinees. It includes many humorous Random Acts of Kindness (RAoK) ideas, such as "Contradict Demeaning Graffiti", and "Make An Old Man Very Happy."
Wallace's second solo book, Yes Man was published in July 2005. In it, he describes how he spent six months "saying Yes where once I would have said No", to make his life more interesting and positive. In this book he shows the tribulations and mischief that he got up to while he said yes to any question or proposal. The book was described as "one of those rare books that actually has the potential to change your life" by the San Francisco Bay Guardian and as "a fascinating book and a fascinating experiment" by David Letterman. A film adaptation of Yes Man was developed with Warner Bros. and stars Jim Carrey and Zooey Deschanel. It was released in 2008 in the US and the UK. Wallace appeared on screen in a cameo in a bar scene in the last ten minutes of the film, holding a British pint glass.
Danny Wallace and the Centre of the Universe was published in 2006. It is linked with World Book Day which in 2006 was on Thursday 2 March. It tells the story of Wallace's trip to Idaho, to visit a manhole cover in a small town, whose residents have proclaimed it the centre of the universe. The cover identifies it as a "Quick Read"; the price and length of the book have been curbed in order to encourage people who may not often read books to purchase it.
Wallace's book, Friends Like These, was released on the 3 July 2008, and tells the story of how he spent a summer trying to track down his old school friends from his days in Dundee,
He began writing reviews for video game magazines at the age of 13 for school work experience: a reviewer had become ill and so Wallace was given the opportunity to review a game. At 18 he started writing comedy, mainly through the magazine Comedy Review. He specialised in radio production at the University of Westminster.
At 22, he became a BBC producer. He was part of the production team behind British Comedy Award-winning Dead Ringers, the original producer of the critically acclaimed cult hit The Mighty Boosh, and the creator and producer of Ross Noble Goes Global. As a journalist, Wallace has worked for The Scotsman, The Guardian, The Independent, Elle, Cosmo, The Times and other publications.
In 1999, Wallace challenged comedian Dave Gorman, who at the time was his flatmate, to find 54 other people called Dave Gorman ("one for every card in the deck, including the Jokers"). Wallace accompanied Gorman on his quest and the men created Are You Dave Gorman?, an award-winning comedy stage show about what happened during their journey. A BBC series, also co-written and co-produced by Wallace, followed, as did a book, written by both men.
In 2003, Wallace's book Join Me was published. The book explains how he "accidentally started a 'cult'" called Join Me. The movement would go global, with each member committing to undertaking one random act of kindness for a stranger every Friday ("Good Fridays"). Tens of thousands joined. Join Me celebrates "Karmageddon 10" in December 2011. Traditionally, hundreds of members travel to London for the meet-up and undertake good deeds for strangers, with Wallace present. The movement is now generally referred to as the "Karma Army", although members are still typically "Joinees". He became a minor celebrity in Belgium whilst on his quest for Joinees. While on a book tour through America, Wallace was dubbed a "Generation X legend" by the Wisconsin State Journal.
Wallace next wrote a short book called Random Acts of Kindness: 365 Ways To Make the World A Better Place, with the help of submissions from Joinees. It includes many humorous Random Acts of Kindness (RAoK) ideas, such as "Contradict Demeaning Graffiti", and "Make An Old Man Very Happy."
Wallace's second solo book, Yes Man was published in July 2005. In it, he describes how he spent six months "saying Yes where once I would have said No", to make his life more interesting and positive. In this book he shows the tribulations and mischief that he got up to while he said yes to any question or proposal. The book was described as "one of those rare books that actually has the potential to change your life" by the San Francisco Bay Guardian and as "a fascinating book and a fascinating experiment" by David Letterman. A film adaptation of Yes Man was developed with Warner Bros. and stars Jim Carrey and Zooey Deschanel. It was released in 2008 in the US and the UK. Wallace appeared on screen in a cameo in a bar scene in the last ten minutes of the film, holding a British pint glass.
Danny Wallace and the Centre of the Universe was published in 2006. It is linked with World Book Day which in 2006 was on Thursday 2 March. It tells the story of Wallace's trip to Idaho, to visit a manhole cover in a small town, whose residents have proclaimed it the centre of the universe. The cover identifies it as a "Quick Read"; the price and length of the book have been curbed in order to encourage people who may not often read books to purchase it.
Wallace's book, Friends Like These, was released on the 3 July 2008, and tells the story of how he spent a summer trying to track down his old school friends from his days in Dundee,
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 205 reviews
December 8, 2022
Actually a much more interesting read, and for reasons you wouldn't expect! Wallace's man-child approach to life introduces yet another good read. His newspaper advert inviting people to 'Join Me' just by sending in a passport sized photograph, morphs into something a lot more deeper, and in addition brings Wallace to a significant decision about his approach to the way he lives his life. The beautiful thing about this book is how it shows how so many people want to do good; and this is what I really liked about it. Nice 8 out of 12, Four Star read.
Feel the GIF :)
2019 read
Feel the GIF :)
2019 read
September 13, 2017
Read up to page 44 then lost the will to live. As funny as a bus ticket. Excellent flash reviews on the cover though eg "Hilarious" The Times, or "One of the funniest stories you will EVER read" Daily Mail. Perhaps the humour all starts on page 45?
Loved Wallaces's book "Awkward Situations for Men". I just couldn't carry on carrying on though. Time for a large gin and tonic, and I don't even drink....
Loved Wallaces's book "Awkward Situations for Men". I just couldn't carry on carrying on though. Time for a large gin and tonic, and I don't even drink....
June 26, 2008
What the fuck?
Who would publish such ridiculous, self-centered shite?
I read the whole thing! These were exceptional circumstances. Stuck somewhere with nothing else to do.
The author clearly thinks that he is extremely funny, and clever. He is neither. He is a total prat, and I want to slap him.
It went on, and on, and on, and on... nothing changed. It didn't get any better. It got worse.
Who would publish such ridiculous, self-centered shite?
I read the whole thing! These were exceptional circumstances. Stuck somewhere with nothing else to do.
The author clearly thinks that he is extremely funny, and clever. He is neither. He is a total prat, and I want to slap him.
It went on, and on, and on, and on... nothing changed. It didn't get any better. It got worse.
August 4, 2007
Non-fiction. Bored, Danny Wallace puts an ad in his local paper that reads "Join Me" and accidentally starts an cult. This is written as non-fiction but reads like a wacky British comedy. Danny asks people to join him, and they do, but they want to know why they're joining him, and that's a question he can't answer. So he has to come up with a purpose for his group, and along the way he meets up with his Joinees and travels about Europe to promote his Join Me collective.
This book had me laughing aloud several times. Danny is a goofy, personable narrator and his story is weird and engaging. The only sour note is the way he treats his girlfriend, who would disapprove of his crazy scheme...if only she knew what he was up to. He lies to her over and over, and it's a dark note to this otherwise sweet story about people connecting, joining up with total strangers just because they're asked to. Wallace has other books chronicling what his girlfriend refers to as "stupid boy-projects" and I'll definitely be reading more by him.
Four stars for sly British humor and a positive, yet not sappy, message about the good in people.
This book had me laughing aloud several times. Danny is a goofy, personable narrator and his story is weird and engaging. The only sour note is the way he treats his girlfriend, who would disapprove of his crazy scheme...if only she knew what he was up to. He lies to her over and over, and it's a dark note to this otherwise sweet story about people connecting, joining up with total strangers just because they're asked to. Wallace has other books chronicling what his girlfriend refers to as "stupid boy-projects" and I'll definitely be reading more by him.
Four stars for sly British humor and a positive, yet not sappy, message about the good in people.
June 12, 2012
There’s a whole canon of literature that revolves around what is neatly described by Wallace’s girlfriend as ‘stupid boy bets’. Started by Tony Hawks hitching around Ireland with a fridge, to playing the Moldovan football team at tennis, or getting a no. 1 record in Albania with the help of the late, great Norman Wisdom – followed by Dave Gorman with his adventures in Googlewhacking, and now Danny Wallace has taken the helm of the pointless mission initiative with ‘Yes Men’ and the book under scrutiny here, ‘Join Me’.
Having really enjoyed all the other books of this type, being a regular reader of Wallace’s articles in Shortlist magazine and having gotten to know him a little through his pal Dave Gorman’s exploits, I knew I was in for a treat with this book. A lighthearted, frothy kind of treat that would fly off the pages and make me laugh out loud on public transport (I always measure whether a book is funny by whether it makes you laugh on public transport, where you do your damnedest to maintain zombie-eyed neutrality. This is where poker faces are practiced). I’m happy to confirm, it didn’t disappoint. Many’s the time I embarrassed myself with unladylike snorting and even the occasional guffaw.
In ‘Join Me’, inspired after attending his great uncle’s funeral where he discovers his deceased relative tried to set up a cult but gave up after only two members joined him, Danny decides to set up his own ‘collective’ (not a cult) and puts an ad in a newspaper asking people to join him. No details, no purpose, no idea why – but for some reason people DID begin to join him, sending him their passport photos, arranging meet ups and generally giving the collective some momentum. Realising that these members needed some direction, Danny decides that their mission is to make ‘old men very happy’ and later to do good deeds on a Friday (aptly named Good Fridays). He travels Europe, campaigning for more members, spreading the word with the help of the press, tv and radio, meeting and greeting those who request an audience with The Leader. His target was 1000 joinees, representing the entire village his great uncle failed to recruit. All in secret from his girlfriend. Predictably enough, his mission somewhat takes over his life, dominating his every waking thought and leading him to entirely neglect the long suffering Hanne, who has dealt him an ultimatum: “no more stupid boy bets”.
I won’t say much more because I don’t need to. I really enjoyed this and am now eagerly anticipating reading Wallace’s debut fiction novel, Charlotte Street. He’s a great comic writer – highly recommended!
Having really enjoyed all the other books of this type, being a regular reader of Wallace’s articles in Shortlist magazine and having gotten to know him a little through his pal Dave Gorman’s exploits, I knew I was in for a treat with this book. A lighthearted, frothy kind of treat that would fly off the pages and make me laugh out loud on public transport (I always measure whether a book is funny by whether it makes you laugh on public transport, where you do your damnedest to maintain zombie-eyed neutrality. This is where poker faces are practiced). I’m happy to confirm, it didn’t disappoint. Many’s the time I embarrassed myself with unladylike snorting and even the occasional guffaw.
In ‘Join Me’, inspired after attending his great uncle’s funeral where he discovers his deceased relative tried to set up a cult but gave up after only two members joined him, Danny decides to set up his own ‘collective’ (not a cult) and puts an ad in a newspaper asking people to join him. No details, no purpose, no idea why – but for some reason people DID begin to join him, sending him their passport photos, arranging meet ups and generally giving the collective some momentum. Realising that these members needed some direction, Danny decides that their mission is to make ‘old men very happy’ and later to do good deeds on a Friday (aptly named Good Fridays). He travels Europe, campaigning for more members, spreading the word with the help of the press, tv and radio, meeting and greeting those who request an audience with The Leader. His target was 1000 joinees, representing the entire village his great uncle failed to recruit. All in secret from his girlfriend. Predictably enough, his mission somewhat takes over his life, dominating his every waking thought and leading him to entirely neglect the long suffering Hanne, who has dealt him an ultimatum: “no more stupid boy bets”.
I won’t say much more because I don’t need to. I really enjoyed this and am now eagerly anticipating reading Wallace’s debut fiction novel, Charlotte Street. He’s a great comic writer – highly recommended!
July 5, 2016
Danny Wallace, you're a silly bitch! Awesome. Though it kind of annoyed me what a douche he was to his girlfriend.. and that HE didn't really do the good-deeds-on-friday thing. COME ON!
Also! I don't buy his slightly self-depriciating air (oh.. I don't know what I'm doing..). He's CLEARLY very pleased with himself. Still, the book was pretty amusing so eh.
Also! I don't buy his slightly self-depriciating air (oh.. I don't know what I'm doing..). He's CLEARLY very pleased with himself. Still, the book was pretty amusing so eh.
April 6, 2022
An amusing read of how Danny started a cult by accident & while I didn't find it as hilarious or funny as the cover promised it did make me smile.
I can't say I'm convinced it all came about "by accident". Call me cynical but I got the feeling it was more a case of what can I do for a laugh that I can get a book out of - & how lucky for him he's got media contacts here, there & everywhere to help his cause!
Even so, I enjoyed the journey...& Danny certainly journeys around travelling all over the place in his quest to recruit new joinees, as well as meet existing ones.
I was interested to learn about these joinees, people who took up the commitment without actually knowing what they were letting themselves in for & I liked the way they embraced the idea of "Good Friday". Although I found it a little ironic that for someone who was encouraging Random Acts of Kindness in others, Danny didn't seem willing to commit to doing any himself (wouldn't have hurt him to start with his long-suffering girlfriend!)
Overall, it's an amusing read & an interesting social experiment. Sadly the Karma Army would appear to be no more, at least the website doesn't seem to have been updated for a decade...
I can't say I'm convinced it all came about "by accident". Call me cynical but I got the feeling it was more a case of what can I do for a laugh that I can get a book out of - & how lucky for him he's got media contacts here, there & everywhere to help his cause!
Even so, I enjoyed the journey...& Danny certainly journeys around travelling all over the place in his quest to recruit new joinees, as well as meet existing ones.
I was interested to learn about these joinees, people who took up the commitment without actually knowing what they were letting themselves in for & I liked the way they embraced the idea of "Good Friday". Although I found it a little ironic that for someone who was encouraging Random Acts of Kindness in others, Danny didn't seem willing to commit to doing any himself (wouldn't have hurt him to start with his long-suffering girlfriend!)
Overall, it's an amusing read & an interesting social experiment. Sadly the Karma Army would appear to be no more, at least the website doesn't seem to have been updated for a decade...
January 4, 2008
I don't know, I just got a little bored of this in the middle. I think he probably imagined he was being terribly arch and funny, but it just didn't seem to be going anywhere quickly enough for me.
April 5, 2020
Wanted to like this book. I want to like Danny Wallace. I want to like this whole project of being nice to people on a Friday and a Monday. But...
It's the buts that kill this book for me. It's the buts that get me annoyed at the silliness of it all. It's the buts that made me glad that this book is over and done with.
It's not that Danny isn't an entertaining and useful person because he is. It's not that he wouldn't be a brilliant bloke to spend a couple of hours with down the pub talking about nothing in particular because he would. And it's not even that his schemes (I've read a few other books by him already) are not useful and uplifting because they are. So what is it that annoys me?
Simply put: he's a little bit too much like me. And I'm a tad jealous.
There. It's said.
He thinks like me, talks (writes) like me, but more than that - he acts like I should. He has the balls to take his ideas and make them real, even when it destroys his relationships. He's me with follow-through.
And that's about all I want to say.
Read this book if you like reading about someone who has the guts to put his mad schemes into motion and see them through to the end. Avoid it if, like me, you're the jealous type.
It's the buts that kill this book for me. It's the buts that get me annoyed at the silliness of it all. It's the buts that made me glad that this book is over and done with.
It's not that Danny isn't an entertaining and useful person because he is. It's not that he wouldn't be a brilliant bloke to spend a couple of hours with down the pub talking about nothing in particular because he would. And it's not even that his schemes (I've read a few other books by him already) are not useful and uplifting because they are. So what is it that annoys me?
Simply put: he's a little bit too much like me. And I'm a tad jealous.
There. It's said.
He thinks like me, talks (writes) like me, but more than that - he acts like I should. He has the balls to take his ideas and make them real, even when it destroys his relationships. He's me with follow-through.
And that's about all I want to say.
Read this book if you like reading about someone who has the guts to put his mad schemes into motion and see them through to the end. Avoid it if, like me, you're the jealous type.
August 26, 2021
Boring at best, annoying at worst. I do quite like Danny Wallace, but here he comes across as unfunny and just a bit horrible. Not sure what I expected from a man who accidentally started a cult, but it is leagues below the amiable, nice and bizarre qualities of Yes Man. Join Me feels like the book that created the mould for what was to come, it's just a shame it's such a painful one to read.
March 5, 2020
How did I never hear about Join Me and the Karma Army at the time it was going on? How how? It sounds like something I would have joined. Ah well. The website looks like it's been ignored for almost 10 years so I guess it's fizzled out. I've read a couple of Danny Wallace books before, Yes Man which must be chronologically after this one, and one he did with Dave Gorman which comes before this. It's very light reading, the style isn't to be taken too seriously as he has a slightly lame way of writing and throwing in side comments of the level that he'll be giving himself a high five thinking they're funny. But it's got it's own charm, this 'stupid boy' mentality (I'm taking the stupid boy reference from what his girlfriend calls him) and slightly naive outlook on the world.
It's a good idea - encouraging people to do random acts of kindness. It kicks off when he goes to Switzerland for the funeral of a great uncle he'd not met. Whilst the relatives are chatting, he finds out that this uncle once tried to start a collective, which never got off the ground. So in the mode of 'stupid boy project' he decides to get a collective (not a cult) of his own going, and places an advert asking people to "join him". To join, send a passport photo. And people, being curious, started to respond. And he got all kinds of people from all over the country. And then other countries. And then he had to figure out the point of the group (where the acts of random kindness finally came in.)
Whilst all of that is a great idea and its light entertainment reading about the characters he meets and how it all kind of falls together, it's also depressing as its an account of the death of a relationship. The Norwegian girlfriend, Hanne, dumped him in the Dave Gorman story due to them indulging in a "stupid boy project". They got back together on the understanding that he would never do such a thing again. But these random things so clearly are a part of what he is, so she's asking for something he can't give, and needs to be with someone else. At the same time he treats her utterly dreadfully during this book. He doesn't tell her about the project, that he's travelling abroad and appearing on Belgian tv or anything. How humiliating and awful for her to find out just how much she's been lied to. So in that respect, not really his finest hour.
I don't get how he affords all this travel and leaflet printing and posting out 100 cameras given that he doesn't work whilst this is going on. Well, I suppose this is why he had to write a long account of it all in the end, to get some cash in from a published book.
It's a good idea - encouraging people to do random acts of kindness. It kicks off when he goes to Switzerland for the funeral of a great uncle he'd not met. Whilst the relatives are chatting, he finds out that this uncle once tried to start a collective, which never got off the ground. So in the mode of 'stupid boy project' he decides to get a collective (not a cult) of his own going, and places an advert asking people to "join him". To join, send a passport photo. And people, being curious, started to respond. And he got all kinds of people from all over the country. And then other countries. And then he had to figure out the point of the group (where the acts of random kindness finally came in.)
Whilst all of that is a great idea and its light entertainment reading about the characters he meets and how it all kind of falls together, it's also depressing as its an account of the death of a relationship. The Norwegian girlfriend, Hanne, dumped him in the Dave Gorman story due to them indulging in a "stupid boy project". They got back together on the understanding that he would never do such a thing again. But these random things so clearly are a part of what he is, so she's asking for something he can't give, and needs to be with someone else. At the same time he treats her utterly dreadfully during this book. He doesn't tell her about the project, that he's travelling abroad and appearing on Belgian tv or anything. How humiliating and awful for her to find out just how much she's been lied to. So in that respect, not really his finest hour.
I don't get how he affords all this travel and leaflet printing and posting out 100 cameras given that he doesn't work whilst this is going on. Well, I suppose this is why he had to write a long account of it all in the end, to get some cash in from a published book.
December 28, 2012
My CurledUp review: While it seems that in the United States young adults keep getting busier and busier, continually adding activities to an already full calendar, juggling dating, career, family, and friends, it seems that in England blokes have a lot of time on their hands. At least, Danny Wallace does.
In his sheer boredom and with a little inspiration from his recently deceased great-Uncle Gallus, who, he discovers, tried to start a commune, Wallace undertakes a little project. The only goal of his “stupid boy-project” (as called by his girlfriend Hanne), or the “collective” (as it is called by Wallace - it’s not a cult) now-titled “Join Me,” is to get folks to, ahem, join him.
The unforeseen problem to Wallace’s plan? Folks start joining. But what, they demand to know, are they joining? Wallace isn’t sure – he just wanted to have a group of folks who joined together in a Seinfeld-esque nothingness. But, he soon realizes, in order to keep his “joinees” he will have to hatch a plan, a goal, a purpose for this “collective” (it’s not a cult). And so, in his mysterious position as the now-named “Leader”, he sends out his directive. Do good deeds. For old men. On Fridays.
What Wallace begins with a newspaper classified becomes a website, and eventually some flyers and stickers and t-shirts start floating around until, ultimately, international travel is unavoidable and hiding the project from his girlfriend is nearly impossible.
Wallace quickly adds another nail in the coffin of the stodgy old British gentleman stereotype and leaves us with a younger, hipper bloke and the story of his “collective” (it’s not a cult). Not-quite travel-log (his brief forays to Belgium, Norway, France, and Scotland are not for sightseeing but mostly for meeting and recruiting joinees at famous landmarks), not-quite self-help, (although it is easy to see how wonderful Wallace and his joinees feel doing good things for others), not-quite memoir (although we do get quite a snippet of Wallace’s life), not quite humor book (although he continually makes himself the butt of most of his own jokes), the book seems to draw a bit on all of these styles.
His witty, conversational writing makes for fun, light reading in the manner of the Dave Eggers/McSweeney’s crowd, and while the narrative itself lags a bit between joinees 200 and 284, Wallace’s tale is, overall, funny, sincere and inspiring. Wallace’s lengthy list of kudos for Join Me! includes letters from British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Prince Charles, and leaves one wondering why Americans haven’t heard about Join Me! before now. Fortunately, readers can rest assured that Join Me! will soon be landing on US shores.
In his sheer boredom and with a little inspiration from his recently deceased great-Uncle Gallus, who, he discovers, tried to start a commune, Wallace undertakes a little project. The only goal of his “stupid boy-project” (as called by his girlfriend Hanne), or the “collective” (as it is called by Wallace - it’s not a cult) now-titled “Join Me,” is to get folks to, ahem, join him.
The unforeseen problem to Wallace’s plan? Folks start joining. But what, they demand to know, are they joining? Wallace isn’t sure – he just wanted to have a group of folks who joined together in a Seinfeld-esque nothingness. But, he soon realizes, in order to keep his “joinees” he will have to hatch a plan, a goal, a purpose for this “collective” (it’s not a cult). And so, in his mysterious position as the now-named “Leader”, he sends out his directive. Do good deeds. For old men. On Fridays.
What Wallace begins with a newspaper classified becomes a website, and eventually some flyers and stickers and t-shirts start floating around until, ultimately, international travel is unavoidable and hiding the project from his girlfriend is nearly impossible.
Wallace quickly adds another nail in the coffin of the stodgy old British gentleman stereotype and leaves us with a younger, hipper bloke and the story of his “collective” (it’s not a cult). Not-quite travel-log (his brief forays to Belgium, Norway, France, and Scotland are not for sightseeing but mostly for meeting and recruiting joinees at famous landmarks), not-quite self-help, (although it is easy to see how wonderful Wallace and his joinees feel doing good things for others), not-quite memoir (although we do get quite a snippet of Wallace’s life), not quite humor book (although he continually makes himself the butt of most of his own jokes), the book seems to draw a bit on all of these styles.
His witty, conversational writing makes for fun, light reading in the manner of the Dave Eggers/McSweeney’s crowd, and while the narrative itself lags a bit between joinees 200 and 284, Wallace’s tale is, overall, funny, sincere and inspiring. Wallace’s lengthy list of kudos for Join Me! includes letters from British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Prince Charles, and leaves one wondering why Americans haven’t heard about Join Me! before now. Fortunately, readers can rest assured that Join Me! will soon be landing on US shores.
March 31, 2019
I have read this before but have a vaguely hazy memory of how it all played out (but I could remember the key bits). It turns out that it’s probably best on the first read; I found it a little repetitive this time round so the 4 stars probably represent a generous review (or first time one). Funny though, and written in a style that makes it feel like listening to a long stand up gig which includes the odd bits of throwaway humour for the reader that keep it moving.
June 3, 2016
It never ceases to amaze me how Danny Wallace manages to get himself into awkward situations – in fact, he’s written two books called Awkward Situations for Men, and he shows no signs of slowing down in his (slightly) old age. In Join Me, though, he accidentally starts a cult from his flat in London, after whimsically posting an advertisement in his local paper saying ‘Join Me’ and eventually receiving letters and e-mails from people that were based all over the world.
I won’t go any further into what happens in the book, because that’s pretty much the whole point of reading it – Wallace and his cult get into all sorts of hijinks, and because Wallace is a writer (as well as a presenter and Dave Gorman’s former cameraman and flatmate), it’s a great read as well. He has an entertaining sense of humour and a deep desire to see ‘what if’, and I share both his sense of humour and his drive to do anything for a cheap laugh.
The writing style is fluid and easy to read, and despite the fact that the book is 400 pages long, it’s easy to read it across a period of a week or so, and maybe in a couple of days if you’re a fast reader. That’s because it’s difficult to put down, and you feel like you whizz through the pages, which means that it’s easy to feel like you’re making progress. It’s a quality that’s common throughout Danny’s books, but perhaps never more so than it is here.
For me, it’s hard to decide which of Danny Wallace’s book to read first, because there’s so much choice and because they’re all as good as each other, but it can’t hurt to start with this one – it’s a great introduction to his work (and his sense of humour), and it’s a pretty good bet that if you don’t like this then you won’t like any of his stuff. But it’s fine, because I’m sure you’ll love it.
It’s even worth considering this if you’re looking for a gift to give to someone else, because it’s the kind of book that has a lot of appeal for everyone. That’s why I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to you, whatever walk of life you’re from.
I won’t go any further into what happens in the book, because that’s pretty much the whole point of reading it – Wallace and his cult get into all sorts of hijinks, and because Wallace is a writer (as well as a presenter and Dave Gorman’s former cameraman and flatmate), it’s a great read as well. He has an entertaining sense of humour and a deep desire to see ‘what if’, and I share both his sense of humour and his drive to do anything for a cheap laugh.
The writing style is fluid and easy to read, and despite the fact that the book is 400 pages long, it’s easy to read it across a period of a week or so, and maybe in a couple of days if you’re a fast reader. That’s because it’s difficult to put down, and you feel like you whizz through the pages, which means that it’s easy to feel like you’re making progress. It’s a quality that’s common throughout Danny’s books, but perhaps never more so than it is here.
For me, it’s hard to decide which of Danny Wallace’s book to read first, because there’s so much choice and because they’re all as good as each other, but it can’t hurt to start with this one – it’s a great introduction to his work (and his sense of humour), and it’s a pretty good bet that if you don’t like this then you won’t like any of his stuff. But it’s fine, because I’m sure you’ll love it.
It’s even worth considering this if you’re looking for a gift to give to someone else, because it’s the kind of book that has a lot of appeal for everyone. That’s why I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to you, whatever walk of life you’re from.
October 27, 2015
This book was recommended to me by a teacher at my school when I rushed into his room one morning looking for a book to read for SSR. Little did I know, I fell in love with Danny Wallace. His unique sense of adventure has enchanted me and inspired me to find purpose in my life despite what the negative people in my life say.
When Danny attends his grandfather's funeral, he discovers that the recently deceased man once tried to start his own community of like-minded people. This triggered Danny to do the same, in a way. Danny decided to put an add in the news paper that simply said "Join Me" and had instructions to send a blurb about yourself and a passport sized photo of yourself. It started with just a trickle of "Joinees" and exploded into tsunamis of letters from people who wanted to join his purposeless "collective".
This book gave me a sense of adventure and spontaneity that I so desire in my life. I aspire to be like Danny in the way that he got an idea and just ran with it no matter the weird comments from his friends.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a nonfiction adventure!
When Danny attends his grandfather's funeral, he discovers that the recently deceased man once tried to start his own community of like-minded people. This triggered Danny to do the same, in a way. Danny decided to put an add in the news paper that simply said "Join Me" and had instructions to send a blurb about yourself and a passport sized photo of yourself. It started with just a trickle of "Joinees" and exploded into tsunamis of letters from people who wanted to join his purposeless "collective".
This book gave me a sense of adventure and spontaneity that I so desire in my life. I aspire to be like Danny in the way that he got an idea and just ran with it no matter the weird comments from his friends.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a nonfiction adventure!
February 8, 2016
Join Me...Seriously JOIN ME right now! Join Me in having read this book 'Join Me' by Danny Wallace...then...JOIN ME in joining his Karma Army - the instructions are in the back of the book. Then you too can be part of the world-wide collective doing Random Acts of Kindness (RAoK) every Friday. Go on - make every Friday a Good Friday too!
Start by finding a copy of this book any legal way you can - buying it new also helps the author remember - and READ IT and be inspired...go on, while you're there, pick up Danny Wallace's 'Random Acts of Kindness' too - I read it first and it inspired me to then read this one.
And no, I do not work with Danny Wallace, nor do I know him. We live on different sides of the world for starters. I'm not his marketing machine and don't get paid to share this message. I just love what he inspires us all to do, even though he never intended it at first. RAoK?!!!
Start by finding a copy of this book any legal way you can - buying it new also helps the author remember - and READ IT and be inspired...go on, while you're there, pick up Danny Wallace's 'Random Acts of Kindness' too - I read it first and it inspired me to then read this one.
And no, I do not work with Danny Wallace, nor do I know him. We live on different sides of the world for starters. I'm not his marketing machine and don't get paid to share this message. I just love what he inspires us all to do, even though he never intended it at first. RAoK?!!!
February 28, 2015
I actually finished this book a while back so I don't know why it has taken me until now to write a review, but here goes. I've decided to give this book four stars based on the sheer fact this is based on a true story. This actually happened. I suppose I'm trying to distance myself from the context I am reading it in because I remember reading this thinking 1000 followers is nothing, but I guess this was written in the days before social media. Dan also appeared a little arrogant to me, but overall I thought this was a good read. My sociology teacher recommended this book to me, so I would highly recommend you should read this book too if you study sociology.
May 23, 2009
I really like his 'Random Acts of Kindness' and have given away over 20 copies but I haven't read this yet.
I like a bit of 'light' reading in between the crime or serious novels.
I didn't find this 'laugh out loud' funny but it made me smile. I wondered where he got the money to do so much travelling. I went on the Join Me website but it was last updated in 2006 so I don't know if he's carrying on with new Joinees.
I like a bit of 'light' reading in between the crime or serious novels.
I didn't find this 'laugh out loud' funny but it made me smile. I wondered where he got the money to do so much travelling. I went on the Join Me website but it was last updated in 2006 so I don't know if he's carrying on with new Joinees.
January 4, 2012
This was a fun read but I found it a bit repetitive after the first half of the book. It was inspirational though and that's always good isn't it?!
August 2, 2019
I listened to this book as I believe I got it as a daily deal on Audible.
Originally published in 2003 - this book hasn’t aged well. If nothing else, Danny’s experiment would be a GDPR nightmare!
Originally published in 2003 - this book hasn’t aged well. If nothing else, Danny’s experiment would be a GDPR nightmare!
July 8, 2017
What can happen when a man follows through...
With a crazy idea! I admit, I have a bit of a crush on Danny Wallace, after reading this shortly after his latest non-fiction account of his exploration of rudeness in society.
He makes no qualms about placing himself and his life in the centre of his books, and his loveable 'man child' persona is rather endearing as well as whoe-heartedly entertaining to follow on his escapades around the globe (or the European part of it, in this instance).
Danny here uses the medium of the book to recount his time fulfilling his deceased great Uncle's wish to start a commune of 100 people, in his village in Sweden. Taking the bull by the horns, Danny rather cack-handedly asks people to 'Join Me', not telling them for what (because he hasn't thought of it yet!).
Despite the initial face palm moments, his cult does actually receive joinees, and eventually he comes up with a reason for their existence. It's actually quite inspiring and if I was there at the time, I would have been sending in my passport photo and taking part.
Wallace has a natural flair for humour, and several times my husband quizzically asked me what I was cackling at, though without the context of the book, I had to leave him nonplussed.
I adored this, I could have read about Danny's life (and long-suffering girlfriend) forever. And I really do fancy the author quite a little bit too, he's just my sort of geeky humble 'tryer', an overgrown boy character with his heart in the right place. Good thing my husband doesn't read my reviews...
Definitely one that needs a read, a light read, but may inspire you. I hope I can live up to the emotions I felt reading it. And Wallace is definitely on my rather short 'will try his next book, no questions asked' list.
With a crazy idea! I admit, I have a bit of a crush on Danny Wallace, after reading this shortly after his latest non-fiction account of his exploration of rudeness in society.
He makes no qualms about placing himself and his life in the centre of his books, and his loveable 'man child' persona is rather endearing as well as whoe-heartedly entertaining to follow on his escapades around the globe (or the European part of it, in this instance).
Danny here uses the medium of the book to recount his time fulfilling his deceased great Uncle's wish to start a commune of 100 people, in his village in Sweden. Taking the bull by the horns, Danny rather cack-handedly asks people to 'Join Me', not telling them for what (because he hasn't thought of it yet!).
Despite the initial face palm moments, his cult does actually receive joinees, and eventually he comes up with a reason for their existence. It's actually quite inspiring and if I was there at the time, I would have been sending in my passport photo and taking part.
Wallace has a natural flair for humour, and several times my husband quizzically asked me what I was cackling at, though without the context of the book, I had to leave him nonplussed.
I adored this, I could have read about Danny's life (and long-suffering girlfriend) forever. And I really do fancy the author quite a little bit too, he's just my sort of geeky humble 'tryer', an overgrown boy character with his heart in the right place. Good thing my husband doesn't read my reviews...
Definitely one that needs a read, a light read, but may inspire you. I hope I can live up to the emotions I felt reading it. And Wallace is definitely on my rather short 'will try his next book, no questions asked' list.
June 17, 2023
"It's not a cult.... It's a collective" is what Danny Wallace continually states as he accidentally starts his own cult in Join Me (2003), a true story of a bored young man that creates a global movement from his East London flat. Inspired by his departed great-uncle who once failed miserably to launch a commune, Wallace puts an advert in the paper simply saying 'Join Me' and to send a passport photo to his home. He didn't think anything beyond that in what the whole thing actually means, he aims to reach 1000 'joinees' and encourages them to simply do good deeds, to form a 'Kharma Army' and this obsession soon takes over his life. This is all delightfully silly, particularly if you have a daft sense of humour (like I do) and even at a near 400 pages, it's a breezy read as you will Wallace to reach his nonsensical goal, even at the very real risk of losing his relationship. A good hearted and amusing book that works as an appetiser for Wallace's smash follow-up Yes Man (which you may remember inspired the Jim Carrey film). It might leave you wondering if once can still 'Join' Danny these 20 years later. Danny?
October 16, 2023
I loved the first three Danny Wallace books I read - two fictional novels and Yes Man - but this one really fizzled for me. Admittedly I read it 20 years after publication and the antics of a self important 25 year old white male haven’t aged super well. (I felt this way a bit about the novel Charlotte Street but that had plenty of redeeming features.)
It starts out promisingly - Danny decides to see if he can get random people to join him in an undisclosed club. Things escalate and - to hear him tell it - he is just an amazing funny cool guy who keeps dawdling his way through, doing amazing things, and changing the world. But it just starts dragging halfway and his mistreatment and neglect of his girlfriend is really unfunny. I felt like the second half was such an effort and really felt like the ending fizzled into nothing.
I’m still committed to reading the rest of Danny Wallace’s books because I’ve loved them so much apart from this one but let’s see how I go.
It starts out promisingly - Danny decides to see if he can get random people to join him in an undisclosed club. Things escalate and - to hear him tell it - he is just an amazing funny cool guy who keeps dawdling his way through, doing amazing things, and changing the world. But it just starts dragging halfway and his mistreatment and neglect of his girlfriend is really unfunny. I felt like the second half was such an effort and really felt like the ending fizzled into nothing.
I’m still committed to reading the rest of Danny Wallace’s books because I’ve loved them so much apart from this one but let’s see how I go.
August 24, 2018
Absolutely hilarious book tracking the path of a Danny Wallace almost accidently starting a cult before he knew what had happened.
Particularly fascinating given that this is pre-social media and he launched his community entirely through newspaper ads and chatroom style comments boards.
Danny writes phenomenally well, incredibly personably and conveys his own unique voice well. I got into trouble with my girlfriend numerous times by laughing aloud whilst she was trying to sleep. It's rare that a book can get me laughing like that quite so frequently!
Would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who likes a funny true story!
Particularly fascinating given that this is pre-social media and he launched his community entirely through newspaper ads and chatroom style comments boards.
Danny writes phenomenally well, incredibly personably and conveys his own unique voice well. I got into trouble with my girlfriend numerous times by laughing aloud whilst she was trying to sleep. It's rare that a book can get me laughing like that quite so frequently!
Would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who likes a funny true story!
April 13, 2019
It’s very rare that I laugh at a LOL book (as judged by the critics) but in this case I did, many times. A thoroughly good read - who knew it takes this much effort to start a cult, sorry, collective. A shame it doesn’t appear to have survived the test of time and society is Everyman (or women) for himself as per usual.
June 24, 2024
Again with Danny, the best way I find to enjoy his stuff is through the audiobook version. His voice gives so much life to his words, I couldn’t stop listening to it!
Wasn’t what I was expecting either. I thought it would be one man’s sillybollock adventures but it was really heartfelt and genuinely heartbreaking at times.
Wasn’t what I was expecting either. I thought it would be one man’s sillybollock adventures but it was really heartfelt and genuinely heartbreaking at times.
September 6, 2020
I approve of "Boy Projects"! There should be more.
Danny starts a collective, in honour of his great-uncle. He comes to realise he should have a purpose for it, so it's decided that all Joinees should do a random act of kindness on a Friday. I'd definitely have joined that!
An entertaining read.
Danny starts a collective, in honour of his great-uncle. He comes to realise he should have a purpose for it, so it's decided that all Joinees should do a random act of kindness on a Friday. I'd definitely have joined that!
An entertaining read.
July 20, 2021
Absolutely hilarious, except the unfortunate Hanne angle. Tough choice but I think he made the right one. The world needs more Danny Wallaces being their spontaneous selves. I noticed the website is 10 years out of date though.
November 13, 2021
From the same 'ridiculous challenges' stable as books by Dave Gorman and Tony Hawks (both of whom get name-checked in this book), Join Me! follows Danny Wallace as he attempts to gather 1,000 joinees for no real purpose.
Not as engaging as Wallace's own Yes Man, or Gorman's or Hawks' books, and Wallace's writing became repetitive after a while.
Not as engaging as Wallace's own Yes Man, or Gorman's or Hawks' books, and Wallace's writing became repetitive after a while.
March 30, 2025
Do yourself a random act of kindness and read this book. Re-reading this sacred text of the Great Leaders again recently it reminded me how much better life can be if strangers all work together to do something good for others.
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