Customer Reviews

Yes Man - Movie Tie-In

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Overall I liked this book but thought is was too long, he could have gotten to the point much more quickly and it would have been a better read for me.

This is the movie tie in to the book by the same name written by Danny Wallace, a Londoner who in a funk took the advice of a man on a bus to say yes more. That advice lead to a year of saying yes to virtually everything that anyone asked and lead to many odd and awkward adventures. Some of the activities included writing chalk slogans for peace on the sidewalk to eating bizarre combinations of food because the seller asked if he wanted a long series of items with the food he ordered.

One of the funniest parts of the book is him talking his way into and out of a fight at a nightclub with a guy who asked if he was looking at his girlfriend by saying yes.

Ultimately the book explores what his friends thought about his obsession with yes and how worried they became for him. They even develop elaborate schemes to try and get him to say no.

I really enjoy seeing what happens in books like this where people fixate on a single idea for a year like The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible and this one. There is a strong lesson in the will it takes to do something so thoroughly and a demonstration of how often we give up too soon.

I thought the writing could be tighter but really enjoyed the book none the less.

Okay, I'm going to ruin the book for you. Ready?

Danny Wallace wrote humorous non-fiction books before this one. There's a small hint of it while he tells the story, but if you look here on Amazon, you'll find Join Me! and a few others.

"Yes Man" is still great. It's a very fast read and the anecdotes from Danny's life over six months (it's not a year) are all well-written. You would think these mini-stories would just be amusing stand-alone chapters, but Danny does a great job of putting them together in an overall narrative showing growth and understanding.

He forces things a little when talking about his transactions with online spammers, and his interactions with drugs are out of a stereotypical movie (now starring Jim Carrey, ha!).

"Yes Man" still ends up being strong, though, because the overall message is reinforced through humor - you should say "yes" to open yourself up to possibilities in both personal and work matters. Danny Wallace does this, and it's a great ride.

Read it, and definitely share it with others who seem to be stuck in a rut.

This is my favorite book. No joke. I find it to be SO enlightening, dryly humorous at the same time as being positively encouraging. There's a wonderful spiritual tinge to "Yes Man" as well. I don't think one could read through "Yes Man" without feeling even the smallest positive surge to take new chances towards living a better life. I love Danny Wallace's humor. The movie "Yes Man" is a PALE comparison to the book, by the way. The movie representation of "Yes Man", other than being just an okay movie on its own, is quite poor. I greatly encourage you to give this book at least one read. I am on my 2nd, and I am once again loving every page.

The beginning of this book is so dull that I didn't want to read the rest of it despite the fact that I loved the premise for the book. Save yourself some time and just watch the movie it is a lot more entertaining and humorous and still gives the same message.

The author is a likeable but goofy reality television type of guy. The book does make you think some and it was somewhat interesting how the idea of saying yes to everything played out. More editing would have helped, there was excessive detail that wasn't that funny. In general his humor got tiring after a while.

Very funny and easy to read book. It will inspire you to try something new.

Ok, I am not going into a long review of this but I will say that the book accomplishes its objective; which is.... to entertain you. The thing that stood out for me was the whole idea of the book, and in reading it realized that I could use a tune up in life. That was the driving force of the book , about how being more open can change your life and it is a great view that everyone will should consider. I found it very funny and cut and dry, and each chapter had its own point. I would definitely read it, maybe not a purchase for everyone but at least a read. It might just change your life.

I loved this book. It's very funny (in a slapstick way) and very positive. The basic story is what happens in a man's life when he commits to only answering "Yes". He travels, tries drugs, get drunk, makes friends, joins strange organizations..., but overall has a more enjoyable life.
The only thing that took the gloss off this book was when I realized the author is a comedian who's written other books before. That seems to make his decision less spontaneous and, although he doesn't admit this, he may well have considered "Hmmm, I wonder if there's a new book in this decision?"

I bought this book because it's featured at every bookstore now with the movie tie-in. And, what a surprise - I thoroughly loved it! It's laugh-out-loud funny.

My only complaint with this book is that this edition has Jim Carrey on the cover. What a stupid idea it was to make it into a movie with an overrated 46 year-old American actor instead of the charming Danny Wallace in the lead role. A lot of the humor in the book is very British and in the viewpoint of a 26 year-old; all of that is lost by using Jim Carrey and a California setting. I know I'm basing my dislike of the movie on just seeing the trailer, but if the hand-picked clips are that bad, you know the movie must be deadly.

So say yes to the book...and no to the movie!