Paddle Your Own Canoe: One Man's Fundamentals for Delicious Living in Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge

Apr 12, 2016 Ryan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: borrowed, 2016, audiobooks

No seriously - Offerman reading his own clever observations aloud is absolutely, positively WHY the audiobook format exists

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Nov 15, 2014 Abby Johnson rated it it was ok

Shelves: audio, grownup_books, celebrity-memoirs

Okay, caveat: I am probably not this book's intended audience, but I was interested enough to pick it up and Corey probably falls into its intended audience and he shares some of my opinions, so that is what it is.

Corey and I listened to this audiobook on our way back from Myrtle Beach. On the way there, we listened to Amy Poehler's YES PLEASE, which I really enjoyed (and for which I am entirely the intended audience), which might have invited some unfair comparisons.

PADDLE YOUR OWN CANOE is p Okay, caveat: I am probably not this book's intended audience, but I was interested enough to pick it up and Corey probably falls into its intended audience and he shares some of my opinions, so that is what it is.

Corey and I listened to this audiobook on our way back from Myrtle Beach. On the way there, we listened to Amy Poehler's YES PLEASE, which I really enjoyed (and for which I am entirely the intended audience), which might have invited some unfair comparisons.

PADDLE YOUR OWN CANOE is part philosophical musings, part treatise on the acting life, and part personal memoir. Nick Offerman waxes poetic on topics such as religion, mustaches, alcohol, technology overuse, woodworking, and much, much more. He also shares scenes from his life, from growing up in a small farming community in Illinois to theater acting in Chicago to moving to LA to pursue a film/TV career.

I think the biggest problem is that this is at least two separate books crammed into one volume. Corey appreciated Offerman's long rantings about religion, etc. much more than I did. I wanted to dig out the biographical parts and hear about Parks & Rec (which is the show he's most known for... which is probably the reason he gets to publish this book... which is crammed into the last tenth of the book...). (Another caveat: if I'd been reading the print edition, it would have been much easier to skim and pick out the parts I was actually interested in. I tried to talk Corey into skipping ahead to new chapters, but he would not stand for that...)

Another problem is that the book is just overlong and very repetitive. Even Corey, who I think enjoyed the book more than I did, admitted that it was repetitive. I would have been satisfied (and probably enjoyed it more) with 100 pages less. I am a pretty liberal person and I agree with a lot of Offerman's philosophies and idealogical rantings, but it was a bit much even for me because he just kept going on and on and then he would still repeat himself later in the book.

And it just wasn't as funny as I was expecting it to be. While Amy Poehler's book had both Corey and I laughing out loud at multiple parts, this one got just one or two big laughs and some chuckles from us. It makes sense, Poehler being a comedy writer, but it was disappointing in comparison. (Again, that is probably not terribly fair to compare them!)

As an actor, it makes sense that Nick Offerman would narrate his own book, and I think he does it pretty successfully. We had trouble adjusting the volume at first and he has a tendency to lower his voice at the end of sentences, which made it hard to hear and understand in the car. But Corey seemed to hear it better than I did, so maybe it's just my hearing.

For superfans of Ron Swanson or woodworkers or anyone with a big interest in how theater and the LA acting business works, this might be a good choice. If you're only a superficial Ron Swanson fan or just wanting to know about Offerman's relationship with Megan Mullaly, pick up the print edition instead so you can skip around. ;) ...more

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Oct 12, 2018 Alvin rated it liked it

He is so delightful. A refreshing blend of old- and new-school values. Audiobook is highly recommended. Hearing him giggle makes this a winner.

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Mar 24, 2017 Deanna M rated it really liked it

I liked this book.

Guess what? Nick offerman is not Ron Swanson. I don’t watch parks and rec, but know who the character Ron Swanson is.

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May 08, 2016 Roman Colombo rated it really liked it

Part comedy book, part philosophy, part memoir, part advice on hollywood and acting...and a healthy dose of "get off my lawn!" Offerman is really great here, and an excellent reader too. ...more

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Aug 17, 2013 Melle rated it liked it

Shelves: humor, memoir, acting

This was an enjoyable diversion from laundry and other more serious reading. Nick Offerman and I are of a like mind on many issues, and it was interesting to read his thoughts on religion, respect, and the love of his wife. He also talks a lot about his acting experience. A lot. About theater. (Or theatre. Whatevs.) And movies and television. If you are interested in breaking into "the biz," this might be of interest to you. ...more

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