Customer Reviews

My Custom Van: And 50 Other Mind-Blowing Essays that Will Blow Your Mind All Over Your Face

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...but I love this book to death. I want to be buried with it. When I die, I want it to be because I laughed so hard I accidentally ate the book and then I want to be buried in a coffin made out of this book. Just kidding - I want to be cremated.

Okay, here's my real review:

Michael Ian Black is a genius and to me, his book is hilarious. But like any brand of comedy, you have to be predisposed to it. If it's not up your alley, it's not up your alley. It seems to me that those reviewing this book negatively (I'm looking at you, Amazon Vine) are not taking into account that this is a particular type of humor and are instead reviewing based on their personal comedic preferences. It's like going to see a sci-fi movie and saying it wasn't good because you prefer romantic comedies.

Within this genre of comedy, however, Michael Ian Black does it best. If you like your humor a little vulgar and definitely surprising, then this this book is for you. If you prefer the Blue Collar Comedy Tour or remember The State or Stella as the stupidest things you've ever seen, then it's probably best to shy away from this one.

What can I expect from a collection of humorous essays introduced by Abe Lincoln? Apparently, hilarity.

I have enjoyed the talents of Michael Ian Black for several years across several television stations and different program formats, but I approached the book carefully for several reasons. In my opinion, so much of comedy is in the timing of the delivery, the cadence of the speech, and the inflection in the voice that I often approach comedic books with trepidation, if not outright fear, of wasting my time. I have read books written by other comedians that fell flat because there was not enough thought given to the change in format. Written comedy has to be presented a little differently sometimes to still come out funny, and some jokes do not translate at all (try reading a transcript of "Who's on first?"). Additionally, many comics try to write a whole book and present it the way they would a set or a monologue. A book cannot be fine tuned to the reaction of the audience as it is read (at least, not yet) so there is no way to gauge which part you should ad lib a little on and which part you should drop. It is also hard to be topical because some issues have no lasting impact and you cannot really revisit them. Few comedic books have earned my respect and few still have been recommended by me to friends and family.

Somehow, Mr. Black managed to discover a way to not only preserve his delivery but also to give us a book with humor that has no expiration date. Presenting his work as a collection of essays gives the reader options not available in a traditional format. Here, if I start reading an essay and it does not suit my mood I can simply flip a couple of pages and move on to a different entry. It also makes it something you can easily put down and come back to again (see Sarah Silverman's suggestion on the back cover).

The delivery works, the format works, and the humor is the sort I can visit over and over again when I need a good laugh. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys sarcasm, laughter, and occasional nonsense.

I am mostly familiar with Michael Ian Black from his radical feminist poetry, written under a pseudonym of course. But we know who he is.

Seriously though, I am familiar with Michael Ian Black the basic cable TV superstar, from shows such as "The State" and the bite-sized nuggets of inanity from "I Love the 70's/80's/90's/Bradys."

Since I'm used to Black in TV nugget form, can he successfully hold my interest in book form? Thankfully so, because My Custom Van is split into bite-sized nugget essays on topics ranging from erotic fiction to instructions for cleaning ladies ("My advice would be to hold your breath, clean as much as you can, run outside, take another deep breath, and then clean some more.")

His humor isn't as observational as comics like Carlin, Seinfeld, and Attell. His essays are zany dysfunctional takes and anecdotes on many different topics, usually with a crazy twist at the end of each one. Very entertaining. And, let's be honest, in this Internet and TV society of fast cuts and instant gratification, who would have the patience for an entire 200+ page book with one continuous plot or theme?

I sort of expected to learn more about Black in this book. All in all, I'm not sure how much this book is really about Michael Ian Black, you can't tell since he writes most of his essays from the viewpoint of fictional personas. If the viewpoints expressed by the fictional personas are really Black's, he is a sad, sick, twisted, funny man.

But I still do respect him for his radical feminist poetry.

As difficult as it is to type with skull fragments lodged in my tear ducts and grey matter up my nose, I am soldiering through it from the sheer love of this book. Michael Ian Black is a sage of the ages. You will glean practical and immensely wise advice, and learn the answers to such age old questions as: 1) How can _I_ use the Socratic Method to do unspeakable things? 2) Who is Socrates? 3) How exactly does Michael Ian Black party? (Answer: hardy.) 4) What's the deal with unicorns?

There is much much more, but the bone shards are making me cry, and I must stop now. I think I will apply a heavy salve of funny, courtesy of Michael Ian Black. This book also cures cancer. Enjoy!

If you're a fan of any of Michael Ian Black's work, you've got to read this book. His humor translates seamlessly into essay form in this laugh-out-loud journey through the minds of characters such as Billy Joel, a dispirited football coach, a young Harvard hopeful, and Abraham Lincoln.

This book is as insightful as it is hilarious; we learn how to behave around our most beloved celebrities in "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Meeting People More Famous Than You" and whether or not vampires are a detriment to society in "Vampires - Good for the Economy?"

Most importantly, My Custom Van is a multifaceted piece. It exhibits a broad range of humor and truly has something for everyone.

My Custom Van is, if not one of the funniest, then THE funniest book I have ever read. Each of these fifty or so essays produced not a chuckle, not a polite laugh, but deep belly laughs, the kind that bring tears to your eyes.

I admit to being a complete and utter fan of Black's appearances on the VH1 "I Love the..." series of television specials. Black's humor is biting and well-timed, with zingers that will get you in the gut. Thankfully, he's an equally talented writer with a wonderful imagination. Who else but Michael Ian Black would: wonder what would happen if he colored his personal area with a magic marker? write letters to a squirrel, or to the first girl he ever intimately encountered while at sleepaway camp? Or even pen some of the most obnoxiously funny "erotica" ever to land on the page?

While I certainly got fifty kicks out of reading this book, I can definitely see how some readers might not be as amused. I think Black's humor might not be for everybody, but I'm not exactly sure what makes me think that. But if you're the kind who enjoys a quick romp through a tome written by a guy with a unique sense of humor and point of view, perhaps you should check this book out. You may actually find yourself with a yen for eating fudge in the back of Black's custom flokati and bamboo covered van.

Have you ever wanted to tell somebody off, then restrained yourself - on account of you might be misunderstood or might not find the right words? Our author doesn't show such restraint. He is mad, writes a letter, and delivers it - but then has writer's remorse. He writes another letter to apologize for his rashness - then elaborates, however, in case the recipient might misinterpret and think the writer doesn't think the recipient truly is the scumbag portrayed in the original letter. By the time he finishes revisiting this theme, he has written six letters - each one consecutively funnier - to a frigging squirrel who pi**ed him off.

All essays are on different, but equally ridiculous themes. I couldn't put it down.

This is a very funny collection of stories. However, I will warn the potential buyer that if you are very familiar with Michael Ian Black's work then you will find many of these stories to be repeats from his online blog and his live shows. But that is not necessarily a bad thing since they are still just as funny in this format, and there is plenty of new material here as well.

All in all a great purchase for fans of MIB, The State, and Stella. If you aren't familiar with this kind of humor, then you might want to do a little research so you know what you're getting into! I find it absolutely HILARIOUS, but fans of the likes of Dane Cook likely will not! :-)

"My Custom Van" is full of smart, funny essays from a very funny guy (you might recognize him from the TV series "Ed," or from VH1's "I Love the ..." series). Michael Ian Black is a very funny guy. Be forewarned: this book is not for the easily offended (two of the hilarious essays are titled "Why I Used a Day-Glo Magic Marker to Color My (part of the male anatomy) Yellow" and "How to Approach the Sensitive Question: Anal?"). But if you like smart, naughty humor, this (and I mean this as a compliment) would be an excellent book to keep in the bathroom and read an essay at a time. (It's not a very good book to read in bed, at least not if you are married and your spouse goes to sleep before you do. I literally had to put it down because I was laughing out loud and keeping my husband awake.)

When it comes to humor, the market is flooded with mainstream books in which to choose from. This is not one of them.

If you admire clever, witty, enigmatic minds - then this is the Author for you. Over and over again, I found myself laughing to the point of tears.

This is not for the faint of heart or easily offended, but instead, for those of us who hunger for fresh hilarious insights. Everything is delightfully askew with Mr. Black.

So, go ahead. Sneak a peek through a contemporary "looking glass" and enjoy a fast, magical, customized ride. You won't be disappointed.

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