Customer Reviews

MFU: Most Fucked-Up Person Alive Tells All

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MFU is essentially a densely compact bomshell of linguistic cunning. Some authors know how to turn a phrase. This is a turned book. Seldom is language used as effectively as it is here.

The jump-cut narrative pulls no punches and lambastes everybody and everything with equal sarcasm and cynicism. The subtitle, "The Autobiography of Being Pissed Off," is highly apropos. It also does not let itself get tied down with a traditional narrative. The story overlaps itself, contradicts itself, supercedes itself at every turn. Somehow, through it all, a picture of the mind at work emerges.

In the end, this book is in many ways to literature as the ambient experiements of Brian Eno would be to music. Eschewing logic, convention and yes, even good taste, it eventually disperses to a kind of Brownian hum -- the backround radio noise of an angry universe. Attempting to find the clues to the mysterious identity behind this strange piece of (art?) is as challenging an experiment in literary exploration as any, and yet equally fascinating.

This is the kind of book that you either love, or hate. I love it. Maybe you'll hate it. Either way, it will not leave you untouched.

We've all known authors who could turn a phrase. HC can, apparently, turn a book.

That is to say that this one of the most finely crafted, densely packed examples of language as an art itself. HC exchews logic, plot, even good taste in the interests of explosive verbiage. They say that some people use sex as a weapon. I would say that HC uses this book as a weapon.

Underlying it all is a deep, seething cynicism, so all-encompassing and even in its target as to raise a great curiosity in the reader about the author themself, perhaps even more so than the (pro?)tagonist. And yet, despite the accuracy of the subtitle, 'An Autobiography of Being Pissed Off,' the readers are told amazingly little about the pair (author and character). The game of trying to understand the motivation that could cause the creation of this artifact is nearly as entertaining as the book itself.

This is the kind of book that you will either love, or absolutely hate. It's certain to offend many, and baffle even more. Nonetheless, it's sure to never leave the reader untouched; unaffected. It's an experience, and one not to be missed.

MFU is an anonymous classic. HC has defined a new kind of ego-free satire which will become a paradigm for the 21st century (in fact, it may be the only worthwile thing to come out of the 21st century). Buy several copies, so you can keep one in your backpack or coat pocket to be ready for the next trip to the hospital or morgue. Whether you're there for yourself, or just visiting, MFU makes the hours fly by.

....and copies of the principia discordia.

Students of "Finnegan's Wake" are, by and large, familiar with the idea of a book, that which, if the universe was destroyed, could be used to rebuild that universe.

MFU by HC is something in a similar vein. It's a book, that which, if modern culture were destroyed, could be used to rebuild the filth we see on television, hear in churches, and taste in fast-food restaurants, with enough time left over to rebuild, in detail, all the relevant hatreds, prejudices, and stupidity that summoned it into being at our behest.

MFU stands for "Most F-d Up", and that's what the essence of this book is. It's the black dot at the center of our society that can only see the Yang (or is it the Yin?), or at least is still fooling themselves into thinking life with one and not the other is possible or desirable. It's the ultimate satire, of not only culture, but the consciousness which is ultimately responsible for it. It's a fairy tale for the children of the twilight of human civilization, whatever their current imagined ages might be.

Here's my short take on this: If you like movies that make you think and aren't entirely obvious (e.g., David Lynch), you'll like this book. If you like movies by Jerry Bruckheimer, then you won't like this book. A real Bruckheimer fan probably wouldn't make it through 3 pages.

The story is made up of a series of slightly connected distopian scenes from a future where hyperbole has taken over the world. The main character/narrator has the feel of a disenfranchised youth with a "... the world (including me)" attitude.

HC seems to love to include long lists, and if you pay attention to them, there is some great writing hidden in the details. For example:

...Another thing to look out for is the recurrence of the very odd proper names. If you figure out the reasoning behind that, let me know.

Overall, this book is really aimed at younger readers familiar with pop-culture, and will give them the largest payoff as they see pop-logic extended to it's insane limits in what seems to be a drug-induced-halucination world. To make a[bad] attempt at copying HC's style, no one who enjoys ironic humor such as The Onion (or better, The Washington Pissed) or shooting heroin or something or both at the same time can possibly dislike this book. Or vice versa.

I haven't thought about this book for several years now. I recently found it in an old box and read it again. I love the non-linearity of the book and the utter...utter contempt for existence HC portrays through his writing style. I can't really place it. Is is sarcasm? Is is pessimism? Is it subtlety? Is it in-your-face crazy? It's all of those things I guess. This book definitely has the best random one-liners you will ever find for any situation in life. I wonder what ever happened to HC.

It's been 12 years since I found this book and the related web site, C3F.com, and it's still one of my favorite books ever. I really wish there was more work available from the author, HC sums up the 20th century nicely with a surreal, stream of consciousness narrative rant.

I bought this book and a copy of David Lynch's ERASERHEAD dvd and read/watched them both in the same weekend. To say I went into sensory overload is an understatement. I wish HC would write more books. This one, MFU, it all but impossible to find...but worth any price asked. An excellent book to read when you can't afford drugs.

mostly harmless.....but mostly totally insane whilst simultaneously being mostly well totally out there with the best of anything else.....even when taking this piece of information into account it hardly adequately describes the absolute feeling of awe and well total insanity of the book and it's you know many parts.....i didn't think there was much in it about fjiords though and this was a disappointment.....a pity because on the whole other geographical references seemed to be well represented.....the latest addition is obviously a work a progress.....it is already showing signs of mega success sales wise and the author's managerial team will no doubt laugh all the way to the bank if any still exist after the event takes place.....this is a true story isn't it?