Seinlanguage [Mass Market Paperback]

Jerry Seinfeld (Author)

Book Description

Release date: December 1, 1994

Seinfeld. For more than 33 million viewers, the Emmy Award-winning television show has become a Thursday night ritual. Even though the show has ended, Jerry Seinfeld's distinct brand of humor can still be yours.

In his #1 New York Times bestselling book, SeinLanguage, Jerry Seinfeld has captured on the page his views on topics ranging from Raisinettes to relationships, from childhood to cop shows, and from parents to power suits. This must-have book for all fans—and who isn't a fan?—remains available in both paperback and hardcover.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Seinlanguage could easily be subtitled The World According to Jerry. First published in 1993, when Seinfeld the sitcom was establishing itself as the funniest half-hour on television, this is a collection of Jerry's musings on everything from relationships to shushing in movie theatres. Observational comedy may have reached epidemic proportions recently, but Jerry Seinfeld was, and is, the master of his domain.

"I will never understand why they cook on TV. I can't smell it. Can't eat it. Can't taste it. The end of the show they hold it up to the camera, 'Well, here it is. You can't have any. Thanks for watching. Goodbye.'"

Eons hence, scholars may ponder the mysteries of this book in the same way that they now ponder the fragments of Heraclitus. Until then, Seinlanguage will continue to provide guaranteed chuckles in a neat and tidy package. Kind of like Jerry himself. --Simon Leake

From Publishers Weekly

Seinfeld's collection of trademark personal observations and cultural theories was a 26-week PW bestseller.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (December 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553569155
• ISBN-13: 978-0553569155
• Product Dimensions: 4.1 x 0.5 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (112 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #93,429 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Easy, Quick, True Comedy January 28, 2001

By hikingShoe

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Jerry Seinfeld has to be one of the funniest comedians in the world. His hit show Seinfeld is off the air, but if you still want to catch some of his silly humor, check out this book. Since he was fifteen he has been writing down silly thoughts that came to mind. Now he collected all of his abstract writings and put them in a book. This book is very easy to read. The pages contain short little stories that happen to everybody throughout life and he adds his quick little humourous comments. A lot of it is straight from the show. At times I found myself laughing out loud. This book is basically in the setup as if Seinfeld was on stage doing a comedy bit for you. I found this book a humorous buy and went through it in two days.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Funniest man alive July 8, 2000

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

I'm a big Seinfeld (the sitcom) fan, and the most funny parts of the show, I think, are those introductions where Jerry is doing what he's the best at: stand-up comedy. I couldn't help not to laugh at those commentaries about everyday situations. I thought that there had to be a book about these. So I looked up on Amazon.com and found it, "Sein Language" both in paperback and hardcover editions (I bought this last one)! I read it in three days after the delivery, and I got to tell you, this guy is the funniest man alive! His comments are so intelligent and well written that I couldn't believe my eyes. The book itself is a solid hardcover, with a nice sleevecover and thick pages. There are B&W photos of Jerry in the beggining of each chapter (the book is divided into aspects of life, like dating, jobs,etc.).If you like the sitcom and love to laugh, you gotta get it!

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Not enough, May 16, 2002

By Patrick Graham

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I read SeinLanguage a few years after the show was over. I was a big fan of Seinfeld and I often watch the reruns. My following of Seinfeld eventually led me to tapes of his standup act.

After watching the show and listening to his standup act, reading SeinLanguage was a bit redundant. The reader will not find very much new material in this book. Most of the jokes come from his standup act, which inspired scenarios in the TV show.

The jokes are funny and I always laugh, but I picked up this book hoping for an insight into Jerry Seinfeld's life. All I found was a series of jokes about different topics, most of which I had already heard.

I think you can probably pass this one up.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars If you've seen the shows, you've heard it all before... April 13, 2002

By J. Brittman VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

...but that doesn't make it any less hilarious or TRUE! These are Jerry Seinfeld's observations about life including things both big and small. His views are extremely funny such as on homophobia: "guys are a little afraid of homosexuals because they know that if they by accident went into a gay store that they could be talked into anything." Most of the observations will serve as repeated information for anyone who has seen every episode of Seinfeld. Many of the quips in this book turned into the monologues in the beginning of each Seinfeld episode. Nevertheless, this is a quick and fun read that will never be outdated because of it's extremely funny subject matter. JERRY, PLEASE RELEASE THE SHOWS ON DVD BY SEASON!! Recommended.

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars There's a reason this book sells for a penny... September 9, 2004

By Solar.

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book was hugely disappointing. I'm a huge Seinfeld fan - my Tivo is always jammed with episodes and I'm anxiously waiting for the DVD release. I thought the DVD "Comedian" was pretty entertaining, but I simply could not get into this book and read 1/3 before putting it down for good.

If you're like me and assume this is any sort of story you'll be disappointed, too. The book is nothing more but a series of jokes, each a paragraph long or so, that do not make up much of a larger story. If you're familiar with the show, you'll have already heard most of the jokes as intro's to the show.

My suggestions- if you're looking for Seinfeld material, the "Comedian" DVD is good or be patient and wait for the episode series to come out. If you're looking for a comedian's book to read, Drew Carey's is a bit older, but pretty funny nonetheless.

There's a reason why "Seinlanguage" sells for $0.01.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars The magic of Jerry Seinfeld... November 23, 2005

By Desiree Troy

Format:Hardcover

The great thing about Jerry Seinfeld's sense of humour is that he makes you see completely ordinary everyday circumstances as hilarious events. His jokes are familiar to you in a way because you make the same observations that he does but there is one very important difference between Jerry Seinfeld and the rest of us simple-minded peasants. Yeah, that's right, Jerry Seinfeld is actually funny. We can pretend all we want that we're positively one of the greatest undiscovered comedic geniuses whose talent for witticisms will have people laughing so hard that they pass out from oxygen deprivation but we're wrong. Jerry Seinfeld is one of those rare, mysterious people that can make you laugh without really even making an attempt at doing so. He's just funny. Period. He can't help it so even if he didn't want to be funny that would just be too bad. It's his fate, the poor man. He never had a chance. I mean choice! He never had a choice...

`SeinLanguage' by Jerry Seinfeld contains at least over a hundred and sixty of his well-known jokes on dating, clothing, travelling, food, and aging. I have heard quite a few of these jokes on the TV show Seinfeld enough times to memorise them but somehow they're still as funny as the first time I heard them. I really don't believe that it would be possible to grow tired of reading his jokes whilst picturing Jerry Seinfeld in my head acting them out and telling them in his familiar, distinctive voice. Not only do these jokes remind you of people you have known and therefore allow you to have a few laughs at their expense but they remind you of yourself as well, making you laugh at yourself and somehow not feel bad about doing so. Thus is the magic of Jerry Seinfeld.