Humblebrag: The Art of False Modesty [Hardcover]

Harris Wittels (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 25, 2012

From comedian and writer (Parks and Recreation, Eastbound & Down) Harris Wittels comes a hysterical breakdown of boasts, brags, and self-adulation disguised as humble comments and complaints-based on his popular @humblebrag Twitter feed.

Something immediately annoyed Harris Wittels about Twitter. All of a sudden it was acceptable to brag, so long as those brags were ever-so-thinly disguised as transparent humility, such as:


"Just filed my taxes. Biggie was right, mo money mo problems."


"I hate when I go into a store to get something to eat and the male staff are too busy hitting on me to get my order right :( so annoying!"


Taking action by naming this phenomenon and creating the Twitter account called Humblebrag-dedicated solely to retweeting the humblebrags of others-Wittels's new word took the Internet by storm. Harris also shows readers what humblebrags might look like from some of history's most notable names, as well as devoting an entire chapter to a man who just might be the greatest humblebraggart of them all...

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (September 25, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1455514187
• ISBN-13: 978-1455514182
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 1 x 7.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #87,725 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #16 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Humor > Computers & Internet

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Harris Wittels is a hilarious performer and writer and with this book he has coined a new term for that thing that drives us crazy. But honestly, I don't know how I feel about this whole thing. It makes me nervous." -Amy Poehler

"Great, Harris. This is a really good use of your time." -Mindy Kaling, comedian and NYT bestselling author of Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?

"HUMBLEBRAG: The Art of False Modesty is an amazing assembly of hilariousness and an anthology of heartbreaking insecurity. Enjoy it-but don't forget how sad it is." -Sarah Silverman, comedian and New York Times bestselling author of The Bedwetter

"I haven't read this, and never intend to, but Harris is my friend, so I feel obligated to give him a 'blurb' for his book. He's a funny writer...I'm sure it's not that bad." -Aziz Ansari, comedian, NBC's Parks and Recreation

"I can't believe they asked me of all people to blurb a bestselling book! Weird." -Bill Simmons, ESPN columnist and New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Basketball

"So weird to be asked to write a blurb for this amazing book when they passed over Alec Baldwin, Bono and The Pope. Like I'm ANYWHERE near as important as those guys. I mean, I DO have more Twitter followers than Baldwin. Oh well." -Patton Oswalt, comedian and New York Times bestselling author of Zombie Spaceship Wasteland

"Since the dawn of man, bragging has been evolving, growing more elusive and resilient. Thank you, Harris Wittels, for identifying the new strain, the "humblebrag." Humanity is forever in your debt. -Ezra Koenig, lead singer of Vampire Weekend

About the Author

Harris Wittels currently writes for NBC's Parks and Recreation (on which he sometimes appears as Harris, the Animal Control guy). He has also written for HBO's acclaimed series, Eastbound & Down, Comedy Central's The Sarah Silverman Program, MTV's Human Giant, and the MTV Video Music Awards. He has several feature film projects in development with Universal, Mandate Pictures, and Scott Rudin Productions.

In addition to his writing, Wittels regularly tours the country performing stand-up comedy with such comics as Sarah Silverman, Louis C.K., and Aziz Ansari. His stand-up has been featured on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Comedy Central's Live at Gotham, and Showtime's Live Nude Comedy. He was also on Variety's "10 Comics to Watch" list for 2011.

Harris Wittels lives in Los Angeles, California.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (September 25, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1455514187
• ISBN-13: 978-1455514182
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 1 x 7.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #87,725 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #16 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Humor > Computers & Internet

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wittels' effortless humor is endlessly funny. October 7, 2012

By Valerie

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

There aren't many books that can make you laugh out loud repeatedly while reading them on a treadmill. I can't tell you why I needed to include that I was on a treadmill, it just felt relevant since laughing while you run is particularly strange, but I think it's likely that Harris Wittels' book has turned me into a shittier version of myself. You see, he has made it so I am now all too aware of one's need to brag about things that no one else cares to hear about, and I'm finding myself wanting to brag - humbly and the old-fashioned way - so much more now that I've read this book. And I read it once at the gym - over multiple days, it's a fair-sized book, then immediately read it again aloud to my boyfriend. This book is that good and I think I just bragged again.

Harris' sense of humor is kind of don't-give-a-shit. He's very cynical and sometimes filled with hatred for the people writing these humblebrags - which I love - but he's also laid back about the whole thing. He'll often respond to a horrendously annoying tweet with something as simple as "Dude, just stop" or "Why did you say that?". He is brilliant and I can't even express how much joy I got out of reading this book.

1.0 out of 5 stars Even for an internet troll, this is awfully petty June 13, 2013

By Maria

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Just mean-spirited commentary trying to mask itself as humorous writing. I love his writing on Parks and Rec, but this is too much.

5.0 out of 5 stars Snarky and very fun to read February 26, 2013

By Expert Reviewer

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I really enjoy the author's sense of humor, and it's easy to take pleasure in seeing people called out on their humblebrags. I love the snarky comments that follow each tweet. After reading the sample I knew I needed to read the whole thing.

5.0 out of 5 stars hilarious February 13, 2013

By Kerry M

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I don't even tweet and I didn't know who HW was until I heard him on ARIYNBF, but this book is hilarious. It's also easy to read in very short snippets.

4.0 out of 5 stars Amusing December 11, 2012

By Matt

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

A quick read of actual people's tweets. Funny for those of us that find twitter ridiculous, funnier for those of us that enjoy sarcasm

5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious October 1, 2012

By B. Keedy

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I can't stop laughing at this book. I don't know what's funnier, the tweets themselves or the comments about them. I particularly like the chapter on charity humblebrags! A great pick up/put down read.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Funniest Book I Am Going to Read in 2012 November 16, 2012

By Rodney S. Landrum

Format:Hardcover

I was checking out my lagging book sales on Amazon when I happened to see Harris' new Humblebrag book is out. I was so excited and embarrassed that I had to buy a copy immediately which I did.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Can't Stop Laughing. October 10, 2012

By Sammy Dylan

Format:Hardcover

I love this book. Harris Wittels really is brilliant. I follow his humblebrags on Twitter and they never fail to amaze me. People are such interesting creatures and Twitter is the greatest platform to examine what people really want known about them. Anyway, my point is, this book made me laugh and it should make you laugh too.