Your Dad Stole My Rake: And Other Family Dilemmas

by Tom Papa

It's hard being a person, especially in a family, and no one knows that better than stand-up comedian, family man, and A Prairie Home Companion head writer and performer, Tom Papa.

How do you deal with a life filled with a whole host of characters and their bizarre, inescapable behavior? Especially when you're related to them? Tom Papa is here to help you make sense of it all. Your Dad Stole My Rake is a hilarious and warm book that saws deep into every branch of the family tree and uncovers the most bizarre and surprisingly meaningful aspects of our lives. He exposes everyone, from crazy aunts with mustaches, grandparents who communicate by yelling, and uncles who use marijuana as a condiment.

Among the topics covered:
- Tiger Mom v. Ice-Cream Mom
- Stop Trying to be Cool
- In Defense of Family Vacations
- No Fighting Before Coffee
- Least Popular Baby Names
- Wife Lie Detector
- Your Cat Thinks You're Too Needy

Anyone who has a family, grew up in a family, or has spent time with another human being will love this book.

Genres: Humor, Nonfiction, Comedy, Memoir, Audiobook, Essays, Biography

304 pages, Hardcover

First published June 5, 2018

About the author

Thomas Papa is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, producer, and television/radio host.[1][2] He is currently the head writer and a regular performer on Live from Here (formerly A Prairie Home Companion).

He began in New York City in 1993 playing open mics and hosting at the Stand Up New York comedy club. He toured with Jerry Seinfeld after meeting him at the Comedy Cellar in New York. In 2005 he released his debut comedy album Calm, Cool, & Collected. His successful one-man show Only Human opened at the Montreal Just for Laughs Comedy Festival.

He has recorded three stand up specials for Comedy Central. The most recent, Tom Papa Live in New York City, directed by Rob Zombie, aired on 8 January 2012 and was shot at the Union Square Theater. His third special, Freaked Out, aired in July 2013. He completed his fourth special, Human Mule, in December 2016.

Papa has appeared thirteen times on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He was a frequent guest on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and Late Show with David Letterman.

In 2010, Papa hosted NBC's The Marriage Ref, which ran for two seasons.

Reviews

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

"You're doing fine, yes you are"
Tom Papa reassures us that we did make the right choices in his funny monologue of family life.

Learn all about;
- Tiger Mom v. Ice-Cream Mom
- Stop Trying to be Cool
- In Defense of Family Vacations
- No Fighting Before Coffee
- Least Popular Baby Names
- Wife Lie Detector
- Your Cat Thinks You’re Too Needy

Be Ice-cream Mom and your children will love you
Don't be Cool just be yourself
For a good holiday just go to a pool
No fighting instead be nice to your sisters
Don't lumber a child with a weird name no matter how cool it is
Your wife knows all the lies, just tell the truth its safer
Cats will never be your best friend, get a dog

Listen to a range of crazy, but true stories that give you good advice in the funniest way.

Enjoy!

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Never did find out what happened to the rake.

[TL *Humaning the Best She Can* · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars 🌟

[Kate · Rating 1 out of 5]

I heard an interview with the author, Tom Papa, on NPR, and decided I would check this book out--not because I thought I would like it, but so I could assess whether or not it'd be a good gift for my father-in-law. My conclusion: yes, my father-in-law (and my father, actually) will like it; and indeed it was Not For Me.

Whether YOU will like it depends primarily on whether you're Tom Papa's target audience. (I don't think he knows that he HAS a target audience, but that's a different screed.) If you are: a Baby Boomer or older (but we'll throw in Gen Xers born prior to 1975); male; white; definitely cisgender and probably straight; and a US resident, you'll probably enjoy this book. Bonus points for folks who come from big families, especially Italian ones.

If, on the other hand, you're exhausted by Yet More "men are X, women are Y" gags, that alone is enough reason to give this a pass. That's just one reason, but it's likely the #1 disqualification for most people. Even if you're not offended, you WILL be bored. This shtick was old before Tom Papa himself was born and even his "I am a marginally more sensitive modern man" attempts at it are dull at best.

This is not to say the book is joyless. There are moments of genuine insight and tenderness, and some laugh-out-loud moments (the time he got high with his cousins? Priceless). But overall, we're talking about 300 pages of stuff that I enjoyed 20% of the time, and yawned or eye-rolled my way through the other 80% of the time. That's a one-star rating if there ever was one.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

I only recently found out about comedian Tom Papa when his second book, You're Doing Great!: And Other Reasons to Stay Alive, came out. I definitely feel like I was missing out now because I think he is absolutely hilarious, especially when it comes to his standup. So I knew I had to give his books a try and I'm glad I did. Clearly, I had to listen to the audiobook of Your Dad Stole My Rake: And Other Family Dilemmas since the author narrates, and he sounds just like he does in his standup routines which I really appreciated. There are a bunch of different stories in the book, some funnier than others, and I really enjoyed all of them even the ones that aren't so funny. It felt like part comedy routine and part memoir, and I loved getting to hear some stories from his life.

The only thing that was rather odd was that there is no rake even though the title is literally Your Dad Stole My Rake. I might have missed it, but either way, I am not holding this against Papa. My husband and I listened to this on a road trip, and I highly recommend it if you have the time! We both enjoyed it and it is pretty short at just under 6.5 hours. It made the time pass quickly and really that's all I could ever ask for. I already listened to his second book, and actually enjoyed it a little less than this one, so I highly recommend starting with Your Dad Stole My Rake if you want to listen to his books.

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love his comedy, for some reason this just didn't transfer for me. Still funny, but definitely not what I was hoping for.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0

Definitely a book that provided a lot of laughs, but also a book that you might need to be a parent to totally appreciate. I appreciate that he can be funny without being vulgar, or going for cheap laughs.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found myself chuckling often listening to Tom Papa read his book.
The chapter about how mean kids can be to all others in third grade… priceless.

[Denny · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a period of increased stress in my life, Tom Papa's Your Dad Stole My Rake landed in my car CD player right on time. Almost every aspect of his life mirrors my own, and his reflections on marriage, fatherhood, and getting along in modern American society are sharp, witty, uproarious, and dead-on. I haven't laughed out loud so heartily and often in a long time, and I really need to do so these days. Thank you, Mr. Papa. You may've saved my life this week. I'll be looking for more from you.

[Angel Hench · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually, 4.5 stars.

I laughed very hard in multiple places, one time laughing so hard I cried. This is a hysterical book about the extended family and pets and children. I'm not sure anyone without kids could relate to maybe a third of the book - there's a lot about spouses and having children - but the other stuff is relatable to anyone, so still give it a try. Enjoy!

(A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.)

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book wasn't a total laugh-out-loud experience for me. Some chuckles here and there, but the humor is more like I was listening to, well, my papa. I was expecting more of a stand up kind of humor, but was surprised at how some of the stories ended up being kind of preachy. The Men are from Mars/ Women are from Venus vibes are a little tired for me, and don't really relate to my own relationship. The stories about his wife's vegetarianism, though, I could relate to and chuckle at.

[Brian's Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Your Dad Stole My Rake Had Me Cracking Up

I knew going into this that I was going to love it.  I've been a fan of Papa's stand up for years now and with every comedian's book I've read (so far) - it's just made me like them more.   Your Dad Stole My Rake was no different.

From stories about dealing with family, kids, being a guy - to describing the different kinds of dads - Your Dad Stole My Rake is a collection of stories and thoughts about different topics that affect him and his life make this deeply relatable and incredibly enjoyable.  Papa had me laughing so hard on my morning commute that other drivers were looking over at me like I was the weirdo (we're all weirdos).

It's hard to describe a book that I enjoyed and needed this much because I know that not everyone will like it - but if you are a fan of Papa's comedy (especially the topics that he talks about on stage and in his specials) then this book is definitely for you.  He only reused one bit (that I could remember) from his specials, which genuinely surprises me.

If you need something to cheer you up and make you laugh on your morning commute (especially if you're a dad) then this book is for you.

[Carolyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you have a family, were raised in one, hang out or hung out with one, this book will certainly make you chuckle. Especially if you have experienced an extra-large family that gathers all but the most distant relatives for every holiday and family occasion. The author brings back some fond and not-so-fond memories of the dopey things you may have done as a child...or parent, sibling, aunt/uncle, grandparent, cousin or best friend. I found that the first half of the book was funnier, although sadly, my hopes for Bill Bryson- or Dave Barry-esque humor were not met. In the latter part of the book the author lapsed into jokeless nostalgia, but did relate some heart-warming stories. Most of the jokes and funny stories in the book, or a version of them, have been told before. The random lists of things inserted between chapters are ridiculous and don't add anything. It seems like they are either a desperate effort to add more humor or to meet an editor's page requirement. Finally, we never did hear about a rake! Is this an editing issue? If you need a lighthearted read in these crazy times, however, this book might be of interest.

[Barbara E. Lyons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every page is laugh out loud funny

This was the funniest book I have ever read. The author didn’t just go for laughs, the family stories are so relatable and have meaning. This would be a good audio book to entertain on a road trip. So rare today to find a book that I think is worth the purchase price but this is a bargain.

[~ Cheryl ~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this on audiobook, read by the author. I had seen his stand-up routine not long ago on Netflix; watched it with the family and we had a few laughs. I felt reasonably certain his book would be at least as enjoyable (and as clean) as his stand-up show. I was right.

Tom Papa has a good delivery; dry and blunt. Listening to the audiobook is like listening to him on stage. In fact, I’m not sure I would have enjoyed it as much reading a copy to myself. His book had a lot of material, and most of it was NOT from the show I had seen, so that was a win. Some chapters were just smile-inducing, but some were laugh-out-loud funny. Some were so funny I had to stop what I was doing to recover. And surprisingly, there were even a couple of poignant chapters mixed in there toward the end.

Papa is a mainly clean comic, as comics go. No F-bombs, no raunchy jokes. There were some topics he might have taken a bit far, and others probably best left out altogether. But nothing so objectionable as to make me jump ship. His tone tends toward the cynical, but he’s relatable since his material is largely home and family. If you like Jim Gaffigan, you’ll probably like this, even if Papa isn’t quite as affable.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4, because it feels extra good to laugh these days.

[Kasi Beorchia · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I continue to get older, I find that I am drawn so often to things that feel light and joyful..and funny. I really just want to laugh all of the time. And that is one reason that I love Tom Papa's books and would recommend them all. This isn't my favorite of the three, but I still loved it and parceled my readings out over time so that I could enjoy it in bits and pieces along the way.

Now that I've finished the book tonight, I'll pop on an old episode of Live From Here while I finally clean the house (which is a task I have been avoiding this evening--reading is so much more fun). And if you're looking for a recommendation for a fantastic episode, you should try the one from April 11, 2020 (I'll listen to this one tonight)--it features some great stories from Tom Papa and it has the most beautiful cover of Sister Rosetta Tharp's Stretch Out done by the fabulous Madison Cunningham.

Now, on to cleaning. If you need to postpone a task or want a really good belly laugh, you should pick up one of Tom Papa's books. Truly!

[Michael Emond · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read a lot of books written by comedians and you might be surprised at how unfunny many of these books are. This one is definitely above average in terms of writing and humour. It comes from an honest place and while I didn't laugh out loud many times I enjoyed almost every chapter. I kind of wish there had been a bit more about him as a comedian (I love behind the curtain comedian stories) but we got to learn a lot about him as a son and dad and husband. He does milk some classic stereotypes and I guess my only complaint about the book is when he uses a hacky (and not true) stereotype "all men are sex addicts" or he gets a too mean while exaggerating for comedic effect "mothers who try to look sexy are sl*ts". Oh, and there is a super sweet chapter on one of his childhood friends who died too soon. It was one of the most honest and heartfelt chapters and it will stay with me a long time.

Overall - it is very well written, some great humour and I enjoyed it all the way through.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

A friend started reading this and I was reminded that it was also on my "to-read" list. I figured that if I found it in an audio book I could crank it out while doing chores. Something light, etc. I found the audio book read by Tom Papa...perfect! I have enjoyed Tom Papa's routines before and some of his appearances on TV.

I got about half way through the book and I really didn't feel like finishing. There were more edifying things to listen to in regard to family. While some things were funny and I could relate in part, I didn't feel like it was worth finishing. But I know some will enjoy this more than I...

Onward to better things...

[Jmmaher · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is so nice to find some real humor, and what better fodder than family? I found myself in tears at some of the stories, or laughing out loud, others were not as relevant but were interesting. A very easy fun read. If you have parents, siblings, daughters, sons etc. this one is for you. Have fun!

[Kerry Pickens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tom Papa makes me laugh out loud. No one can explain Tom Papa better than Jerry Seinfield: "I would definitely recommend whatever the name of this book is, because it comes from a place of pure nonsense without any real knowledge of anything. He is one of my favorite people."

I listened to this book on audiobook with Tom Papa narrating of course. Sometimes we just need a good laugh.

[Ashley]

The first part of this book was really funny but the next chapters didn’t really catch my interest and I just stopped listening. Maybe I just wasn’t in the right mood and will have to try again another time

[Kiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had me laughing out loud! I enjoyed it from start to finish!

[Carol Fellenz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Families, so true

[Katie Stehsel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved him on Netflix. Love him in print.
Tom Papa has a way of discussing some of the harsher realities of marriage and family life in a way that makes them manageable, and even comical.

[Annie Feng · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed his comedy, and thought this book would be the same, but it turns out that this book was kind of sexist, not that funny, and was fairly repetitive and inane.

[Veruca · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️

[Colleen Abbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relatable and hilarious!

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tom Papa is one of my favorite comics and this was a very enjoyable collection of his thoughts...

[John Nondorf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Several laugh-out-loud bits and some surprisingly touching essays. A couple of these essays didn't click with me, but the ones that did are well worth the price of admission.

[Susanne Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

This book had me chuckling from beginning to end. A great look into families, life and relationships. Definitely a must read!!