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Just a Guy: Notes from a Blue Collar Life [Paperback]

Bill Engvall (Author)
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)

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Book Description

May 13, 2008

"His folksy humor...has made him a hit in the heartland...Don't bet a little plain ol' charm won't work just as well on the rest of the country."--Philadelphia Inquirer

For the record, here’s the official definition of a guy: A person who doesn’t think before he speaks. He can’t. He’s not that deep. Because a guy has only three basic needs: eating, sleeping, and sex. That’s it. Just a Guy chronicles a lifetime in pursuit of those needs.

In this hilarious and heartfelt memoir, Bill Engvall takes you on the rollicking ride of his life, beginning with his childhood in Texas and adolescence in Arizona, becoming a fixture in local emergency rooms, the result of massive amounts of non-thinking behavior trying to impress girls or torture his sisters; to high school in Dallas where he dabbled in an array of truly odd jobs and came of age; to college and his tenure as his fraternity’s social chairman, where he masterminded a series of legendary parties; to following his dream as a standup comic and, gulp, singer; to his bumbling and riotous courtship, then marriage to Gail, the love of his life; and, finally, fatherhood, where he remains, to this day, a well-meaning, but flawed parent.

Through it all, Bill gamely stumbles along, struggling to maintain a façade of confidence and control. Far from a superhero, Bill Engvall is an everyday Everyman, the poster boy for normal. The result is just a guy who is disarming, perceptive, wildly funny, and unexpectedly moving.

"The sensitive parts of the book...truly stand out."--Publishers Weekly

“Bottom line: if you like Blue Collar TV or are just looking for some good comedy, this is a great book to pick up.”—Blogcritics.org


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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this rather bland attempt at the humorous sensitive-man memoir that seems to be a prerequisite for a certain type of middle-aged comic (e.g., Cosby, Reiser, Romano), Engvall tries to cram his whole life into one book rather than stick to one theme (marriage, fatherhood, etc.). The end result is 46 micro-chapters that never really deliver the same laughs that have made him a part of the successful Blue Collar comedy quartet. But there is interesting material: Engvall reminisces about starting at the bottom of the entertainment business, first as a stand-in and extra on movie sets and later playing chauffeur to some of the biggest names of comedy. But these tales are given short shrift so Engvall can focus on his childhood love of baseball, his favorite car as a teenager and his partying a lot in college. In the end, Engvall realizes that "all guys are the same," and that's why the sensitive parts of the book—Engvall's parents' divorce or the pain of leaving his family to go on the road—are the ones that truly stand out. (May)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

About the Author

BILL ENGVALL is one of America’s top-selling comedians. He has sold more than two million comedy albums and was part of the hugely successful Blue Collar Comedy Tour, which generated three hit movies, multi-platinum selling soundtracks, DVDs and a television show. Bill is the host of CMT’s Country Fried Home Videos and the star and creator of The Bill Engvall Show on TBS. His latest project is "Bait Shop" which will be released on DVD in the summer of 2008.

ALAN EISENSTOCK is the author of several nonfiction works, including The Kindergarten Wars: The Battle to Get into America's Best Private Schools, Ten on a Sunday: The Secret Life of Men, and Sports Talk. He lives in Pacific Palisades, California. 


Product Details

  • Paperback: 256 pages
  • Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; 1st edition (May 13, 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0312363117
  • ISBN-13: 978-0312363116
  • Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5 x 0.6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,639,189 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

16 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.0 out of 5 stars (16 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting, but not particularly humorous., June 6, 2007
This book was very interesting, to say the least. Engvall wrote on his life in many subsections, making each to the point without having to add extra words to fill out a chapter. From his childhood antics, to his college antics, to his start as a comedian, to meeting his wife, this was a book that waqs hard to put down.

However, very little actually made me laugh. This is more an autobiography than an attempt at humor. You shouldn't buy this book because you want humor; you buy this book because you want to know more about Engvall.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining, January 15, 2012
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This was very entertaining. Felt like I knew Bill personally after listening to the cds. It helped pass the time on my long car ride to and from work. I was actually less stressed than just listening to the radio.
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4.0 out of 5 stars A telling memoir from a funny guy!, March 31, 2011
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This review is from: Just a Guy: Notes from a Blue Collar Life (Paperback)
I like Bill Engvall. Of the four Blue Collar Comedy comedians, he is probably my favorite. (Though I admit that his show on TBS is just not that funny.)

So I had pretty high expectations for this book - something more than the book by Ron White that was simply a rehash of his comedy bits, and more personal than Jeff Foxworthy's Redneck dictionaries, and something more entertaining than a book full of one-liners by Larry the Cable Guy.

I'm happy to say that Engvall met my expectations of a book about the comedian, not a book of comedy. So if you're looking for a book full of jokes, "Just A Guy" isn't for you. That's not to say that many of Engvall's stories aren't humorous - but the book is more memoir than stand-up.

But if you want to know more about Bill Engvall the person, pick up a copy. You'll enjoy the read.
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Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
Welcome to the story of my life. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
roller derby, fantasy camp
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
John Wayne, Michael O'Keefe, Barry Manilow, Bat Boat, Mean Green, Miss Miller, Double Black Diamond, Little League, Lone Star, James Woods, Major League, Baby Ruth, Cardinal Pub, Kansas City, Rosemary's Baby, Rex Hudler, Writing Night, Bobbie Brown, World Series, Cub Scout
Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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