Customer Reviews

The Simpsons : A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family

5 star:		(191)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

If you're a die-hard fan like me and want to know every little hidden secret in each episode, then this book is for you. I wouldn't recommend it for the person that catches an episode of Simpsons whenever they can. This book is so full of trivia tid-bits that you can rest assured that many Simpson newsgroups popped up after the release of this book. Each episode has one or two pages dedicated to it and on these pages you will find, the episode's technical details, a synopsis of the episode, memorable quotes from memorable characters, chunks of "must-memorise" dialogue, film/literary/historical references, and "What You Might Have Missed" - a section of little hidden jokes. Apart from the episode guide there is a list of Homer's "Mmmms", a list of Homer's "Doh's", all the couch gags, all of Bart's blackboard writings, a list of the cast and what voices they do, a list of the signs seen in Springfield, a list of Krusty merchandise, an episode guide for the 42 Simpson shorts seen on the Tracey Ullman show, and an episode guide for The Itchy and Scratch Show. This is NOT one of those 15 page black and white books printed on recycled newspaper with illegible writing and blurry images. This is a high-quality publication from Matt Groening himself.

"The Simpsons: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family" is a must have for any fan of The Simpsons. It is loaded with episode information, inside jokes, quick gags you might have missed and abundance of quotes. It is great to have handy while watching the show, but it is equally fun to just thumb through; surprisingly, the Simpson family is almost as funny in synopsis format as it is on TV.

Furthermore, this isn't just some cheap volume thrown together to make a quick buck. It is printed on high quality paper, in full color, and the stills from the episodes are beautifully rendered (not like the grainy images you frequently see in TV and movie tie-ins). Also, while it may not seem significant, each episode is described using standardized "blocks" (synopsis, Stuff You May Have Missed, etc.) so it is very east to quickly find information about a specific episode. Finally, now that each season is being released on DVD, this book becomes even more useful as it acts as a companion piece to the discs.

This book is great fun, high quality, and a must have for any Simpsons-a-holic.

Enjoy!

I always wanted to get this book since it came out but just never got around to it until now. Well, I got it dirt cheap but I'm still pleased to have it.

In order, every episode from 1989 to the 1998 season is covered in this book. Each show is given a plot synopsis, funniest lines in quotations, trivia notes and in-joke references along with pictures and cast details. Every page margin has a special section for one-off or returning cameo characters such as Gil or Handsome Pete. The trivia comes in sections called 'Stuff you may have missed' but most of it is easy to spot first time you watch the episodes. The real subtle humor is mostly left out and I can't imagine why this is.

Once each individual season is cover a double page spread is devoted to such whacky stuff as 'The Signs of Springfield'. Anyone who watches the show will know that there is some pretty weird stuff written over the town such as 'Costingtons-Over 200 years without a slogan' or 'Don't eat beef...eat deer'.

Matt Groening designed this book himself and he's done a cool job. It's easy to read and quickly accessible as a reference guide. There are two more books so far in this series that cover the seasons since 1998. I'll get round to buying them someday coz if they are exactly like this then they are definitely worth it.

A big, thick, meaty slice of all things Simpsons, "The Simpsons: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family" is a quality reference guide for obsessive Simpsons fans. It features plot summaries, memorable quotes and character bios throughout.

Just reading an episode entry will bring back fond memories of your first viewing, and if you're thinking of buying this book, I'm sure you've seen every episode multiple times. Plus, you'll get the low-down on the inside jokes, movie parodies and celebrity guest voices the show is famous for. Besides copies of the episodes themselves, what else could a Simpsons fan possibly want or expect?

Make no mistake, this is no cheapie knock-off. It's full color, and amazingly in-depth. Despite just a few typos some proof-reading would've taken care of, this book should... nay, it MUST be in your Simpsons collection, along with its updated companion volume.

The opening introduction to this book tells us that the creators of this book went to great lengths to ensure that this would NOT be a cheapy little 9 word a page guide on bad paper with lousy pictures and that just about every aspect of the episodes big or small would be shown to us and brought to our attention. They have succeeded entirely. The Simpsons: a Complete Guide to our Favorite Family covers scenes from episodes, quotes, guest stars, voices of characters, episode numbers, continuity problems (There are a few!), hard to spot stuff, stuff we might have missed, character bios, air dates, couch gags, things Bart writes on the chalkboard at the beginning of the episode, plot summaries, story similarities to movies and much more! All the pictures are clear, there is LOTS to read and I do think the paper is good. Want to know what that little note says on Krusy's door in the episode The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie show? This book tells us. Want to know just where and in what episode Homer lets out his trademark D'oh? Take a look at pages 32 and 33. Did you know that the Springfield Church once had their sign read No Shirt No Shoes No Salvation? You do now. This is wonderful and impeccably detailed source material for one of the greatest shows ever made that covers the first 8 seasons and don't worry additional guides are being made to cover subsequent seasons. Get this one though for the real meat on the show, then get the others that will be made. All in all an excellent read for the Simpson's fan and it has no reason to make us D'oh! in discouragement.

I found this book so soothing. If you love the Simpsons, you will love this book. You can relive the most hilarious quotes of the series in the most convienient manner possible. No need to search through DVD's to hear Homer say, "It takes two to lie, Marge. One to lie, and one to listen." Instead, you can flip through this book and relive all your favorite moments. I read it over and over and over again. It is well worth its price.

This book is one of the best produced, most complete, and thoroughly entertaining books ever created as a compendium for TV show information. An all-encompassing (and overwhelming) collection of quotes, synopses, secret jokes, insider information, and photographs, this book is simply a must-have for anyone who even remotely likes The Simpsons. It is slickly produced, with lots of color, and is absolutely crammed with information about every episode from the first eight seasons of the show. Whether you intend to use the book as a reference or as a companion to the TV series, no lover of TV--and especially The Simpsons--should be without it.

This is the single best piece of Simpsons merchandise ever. The book's got everything, from sneaky little hidden jokes, to full and complete episode synopses, this book's got it all. It's a must-have for beginning Simpsons fans and freeze-framers alike. Only one thing wrong with it though: get the hardback, because for some reason the paperback copy fell apart. You've got to get this book. It's much more entertaining than this review! :)

This is one of the most extraordinary volumes I've ever encountered encapsulating a television series (Entertainment Weekly's guide to "Seinfeld", it is not). Exhaustive, informative, and ridiculously entertaining, it is the perfect accompaniment to the perfect television show - as it is written by the people who write the show (which does make a difference). Even if you only "enjoy" the Simpsons (as opposed to being a raving fanatic, which most people who watch the show are, after all), you'll be able to come away with a heightened respect for the complexity of the show and the little things that make the show great (which may have flown by the first time)...the hours of entertainment this book brings make it a most worthwhile acquisition. Very highly recommended!

"The Simpsons" has consistently distinguished itself as one of the most intelligently written comedies on television. This book is a gloriously detailed guide to the series' first eight seasons.

Each individual episode gets a full page (in some cases, two pages) which contains a plot summary, full-color scenes, memorable lines of dialogue, writing/directing credits and other appetizing tidbits. The book's many supplemental sections include a complete "Itchy and Scratchy" filmography, a collection of Krusty the Clown merchandise, and a guide to the original Simpsons short films.

As ambitious and successful as this book is, there are some omissions. I would have liked to have seen photos and short bios of each of the main cast members who bring these characters to life. Some perspective on the show's impact upon pop culture would also have been welcome.

These criticisms aside, this is a wonderfully funny and informative book. From the secret ingredient in the "Flaming Moe" to the lyrics of "The Stonecutters' Song," this book is packed with delights and surprises. If you are a casual "Simpsons" fan, this book may turn you into an obsessed fanatic; if you are already such a fanatic, you will be in heaven.