Mike Birbiglia has long been my favorite comedian, and this book is just part of the reason of why he's my favorite. His stories are ridiculous and unfortunate, but he tells them with grace and, of course, a lot of humor. If you're not familiar with his style of comedy his language might seem simplistic and silly, but it's exactly how he tells his stories in his live acts. A must read if you're a Birbigs fan. And even if you're not, you might like it anyway. I laughed. I cried. And then I laughed some more. I am probably doing this backwards, but I became a fan of Mike Birbiglia's after seeing him on his many late night talk show appearances and after watching his indie movie Sleepwalk With Me. It's obvious that Mike Birgbiglia is a man with a lot of heart, and with my interest peaked, I decided to check out his book. Man, oh man, was I impressed.Let's be clear about something: I've read plenty of comedians' memoirs and this is by far the funniest one (if not the funniest book) I've ever read. I have no idea where to start. Sleepwalk With Me is a collection of stories of Birbiglia growing up with grandiose aspirations for himself. He soon realizes that things might not come so easy to him and that in most circumstances he has bitten off more than he could chew. What follows are absolutely hysterical descriptions of his childhood and aspirations to become a comedian. Yes, Birbiglia describes himself as the less-than-popular kid growing up but he is able to laugh at himself so fully and honestly and knows exactly what to highlight in order to make us laugh. His experiences in life are sad and tragic, but we can't help but laugh with him every step of the way. Such writing definitely requires a high level of skill. Birbiglia also knows how to tell a story, whether short or long, and knows how to not just set things up for us but how to wrap everything up in the end with a nice little bow. Every story has a satisfying and hilarious conclusion and even the order of the stories brilliantly come together at the end. Seriously, Birbiglia is not one of the more famous comedians like Tina Fey or Nick Offerman, but it's a shame those guys didn't read this book first to learn how it should be done.An absolutely fantastic read and highly recommended. Birbiglia now has another fan for life.
What do You think about Sleep Walk With Me (2000)?
A humorous collection of essays of painfully amusing events in author/comedian Mike Birbiglia's life. In each story, much like in his standup routine, you can hear the direct and, sometimes, subtle humor in addition to realization that our protagonist grows up and learns important lessons about himself during the events. Definitely recommended for fans of his comedy even if you may already be familiar with the material as the Sleepwalk With Me and Other Painfully True Stories add an extra layer of substance to the road tested and proven material.
—dariasgorrin
Mike Birbiglia has long been my favorite comedian, and this book is just part of the reason of why he's my favorite. His stories are ridiculous and unfortunate, but he tells them with grace and, of course, a lot of humor. If you're not familiar with his style of comedy his language might seem simplistic and silly, but it's exactly how he tells his stories in his live acts. A must read if you're a Birbigs fan. And even if you're not, you might like it anyway. I laughed. I cried. And then I laughed some more.
—coalport
I almost couldn't read this I was laughing too hard!!
—terryb
Light and funny with a slightly snarky edge.
—charlie
