The Average American Male: A Novel (Paperback)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: hot bitch, other bitch, suck your cock, Beverly Center, Gwen Stefani, Marie Osmond (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The nameless narrator of this dismal debut is a cynical 20-something living an empty, oversexed existence in L.A. He gets laid more often than he masturbates, plays video games, goes to the gym, sizes up every bitch in sight and, understandably, hates Casey, his vapid wannabe-actress girlfriend who tricks him into agreeing to marry her. He is not happy about this. Adding to his reluctance is his burgeoning "relationship" with hottie Alyna, a UCLA student who-just as Casey is an exaggerated caricature of What Men Don't Want-is the Dream Girl who likes video games and porn-style sex. (Also, Casey has a "fat ass" whereas Alyna has a "perfect ass.") [...] Despite the book's purported "brutal honesty," the premise is essentially: guys like sex and dislike cuddling.
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Review

"It's so primal, so dangerous, it might be the most ingenious book I've ever read." -- Josh Kilmer-Purcell, New York Times bestselling author of I AM NOT MYSELF THESE DAYS

"[A] brilliant send-up of the way ...the male point of view has been misrepresented by militant feminists." -- Toby Young, New York Times bestselling author of HOW TO LOSE FRIENDS AND ALIENATE PEOPLE

"[B]uy Chad's book. It's a blueprint of how the mind--and penis--of a typical American male works." -- Maddox, New York Times bestselling author of THE ALPHABET OF MANLINESS

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Harper Perennial (March 13, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061231673
• ISBN-13: 978-0061231674
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (90 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #29,217 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #70 in	Books > Entertainment > Humor > Love, Sex & Marriage

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Seething/hilarious social/sexual commentary, April 2, 2007

By	Cardinal Jukebox "bing bong!" (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

Relentlessly cynical and f***ing funny. One of Kultgen's accomplishments is that he has created a tale that has a crunchy, amusing coating, a creamy, despair-filled center, and is topped with a fine drizzle of uncomfortable truth. You may not see yourself as the Average American Male, but no heterosexual man can deny having had at least some of the same thoughts cross his mind. Some reviewers have complained that the character in the book is one-dimensional and does not really represent the average American male. Sorry, but most men are narcissistic, sex-obsessed s***-bags. I would know. In an case, pretty much ALL the characters are sexual caricatures. The total focus on sexual relations is the point. Some reviewers have found this book to be crude and mean-spirited. And yest, it definitely is both those things. But, what drives the book is an underlying sense of despair and emptiness in the main character's life - his existence has been boiled down to the pursuit of sex and playing video games. With nothing to care about except "blowing a load," the Average American Male is doomed to boredom and dissatisfaction. This is not only a commentary on sexual relations, but the emptiness of American culture in which Sex and Money is the national religion.


Long story short: this is not a pleasant tale. But there are moments that will make you laugh at loud, and it will make you think about what it means to try to find love and fulfillment in these modern times.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Weekend Read, April 15, 2007

By	William V. Jensen (Prior Lake, MN USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

With my wife out of town for the weekend, I couldn't think of a better book to consume me in my "down" time. In fact, if anything, "The Average American Male: A Novel" made me feel a bit guilty because I too am "average" in my experiences. Call it a cathartic experience, but I laughed out loud through nearly every chapter. And as every "Average American Male" knows, we've all experienced the lead character's life in some way or another. The story line was sexy, thoughtful, erotic, humorous and frankly...quite delightful. The author - Chad Kultgen - could be the next Nicholas Baker.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars None of them are hot., April 15, 2007

By	D. Abels "An Average American Male" (California) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This was a surprisingly exceptional novel that i picked up from the "new paperback books" at Barnes & Noble after reading the first chapter, which consists of three words. The first few chapters promise an entertaining romp through the daily life of an average guy, with witty comments and satire concerning contemporary icons and ideas, particularly ones that females erroneously hold in high regard, such as Oprah. I've never literally laughed out loud while reading, but i could not help it with some of the satirical moments Chad Kultgen inputs through his nameless protagonist, and while it becomes more tame as the novel progresses, the vulgarity and sex escapades never cease. The first novel by Kultgen missed a five star rating because most of the energy of the novel is in the first third or so, even though the rest was still interesting. Overall, it was a quick read of only one day, and was well worth it for the entertainment and the highly satisfying storyline that all us males can relate to. I'm eager to read Kultgen's next work of contemporary literature, great fun. Strongly recommended.