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My Heart Is an Idiot: Essays Paperback – January 1, 1894

4.1 138 ratings

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Publisher

Picador
Publication date

January 1, 1894
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Davy Rothbart
107
Paperback
85 offers from $145

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01FKU7JEY
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Picador; Reprint edition (January 1, 1894)

Customer Reviews:
4.1 138 ratings

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Davy Rothbart

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Davy Rothbart is the author of the national bestseller Found, and creator of the magazine of the same name. A contributor to public radio's This American Life, he is also the author of the story collection The Lone Surfer of Montana, Kansas. He lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Customer reviews

138 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the writing style engaging, well-written, and reminiscent of David Sedaris. They describe the book as fun, fantastic, and adventurous. Readers also find the stories funny and entertaining. They describe the writing as poignant and honest. However, some feel the pacing is uneventful and boring.

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Writing style Readability Humor Heartwarming Honesty Pacing

19 customers mention "Writing style"19 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing style engaging, well-written, and raw. They say the book is worth reading for its voice, quirky insights, and essayistic style. Readers also mention that the characters come to life and pack a punch with every sentence.

"...He's a very gifted story teller. Totally love this awesome book." Read more

"...who are too busy to read something cover to cover but enjoy a well written short story...." Read more

"Rothbart has a very engaging writing style and the stories are funny and entertaining...." Read more

"...The way that it's written is really delightful and draws you in. All of the stories are funny, heartwarming, and interesting...." Read more

18 customers mention "Readability"18 positive0 negative

Customers find the book fun, engaging, and fantastic. They also appreciate the quirky insights and essayistic maneuvers.

"This book is absolutely fantastic. It's hilarious, and I was so absorbed in the stories I almost forgot I was READING an actual book ...." Read more

"...All of the stories are funny, heartwarming, and interesting. I would recommend this book to anyone!" Read more

"The first chapter is the best. The rest is not worth it. The Author seems like a fun guy to know in reality and probably hang out with...." Read more

"...It's thrilling." Read more

14 customers mention "Humor"14 positive0 negative

Customers find the book very funny, entertaining, and inspiring. They also say the writing style is humorous, poignant, and honest.

"This book is absolutely fantastic. It's hilarious, and I was so absorbed in the stories I almost forgot I was READING an actual book ...." Read more

"Rothbart has a very engaging writing style and the stories are funny and entertaining...." Read more

"...All of the stories are funny, heartwarming, and interesting. I would recommend this book to anyone!" Read more

"...Davy's writing is funny, poignant and honest...." Read more

6 customers mention "Heartwarming"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing poignant, honest, and heartfelt. They say the book draws them in with raw emotional stories without sappiness. Readers also appreciate the author's evocative descriptions of people and places.

"...The way that it's written is really delightful and draws you in. All of the stories are funny, heartwarming, and interesting...." Read more

"...Davy's writing is funny, poignant and honest...." Read more

"...engaged and ready for his particular brand of deadpan humor and heartfelt surprises...." Read more

"...and it helps that he is an excellent writer, with evocative descriptions of people and places." Read more

5 customers mention "Honesty"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book honest, humorous, and real.

"...Davy's writing is funny, poignant and honest...." Read more

"...Wow! Story after story you will be continually amazed at the brutal honesty in the writing...." Read more

"...Rothbart's life is heartbreaking, humorous, and most of all...real. As a fellow writer, I found his narratives incredibly easy to connect with...." Read more

"...Non-fiction fiction. Or fiction non-fiction. Fun either way." Read more

6 customers mention "Pacing"0 positive6 negative

Customers find the book's pacing uneven and boring. They say it doesn't hold their interest.

"The first chapter is the best. The rest is not worth it. The Author seems like a fun guy to know in reality and probably hang out with...." Read more

"This book was ok, but didn't hold my interest...." Read more

"HE is an idiot. Falls in love with anything that walks. Boring and repetitive. And I kept thinking, he gets PAID to write this drivel??" Read more

"Outside of three of the stories a largely uneventful boringly written book." Read more

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Absolutely entertaining

Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2015

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This book is absolutely fantastic. It's hilarious, and I was so absorbed in the stories I almost forgot I was READING an actual book . I think one of his strengths is that he really gets vulnerable and definitely doesn't try to make himself seem like a hero-I totally related to him. He's a very gifted story teller. Totally love this awesome book.

One person found this helpful

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Robert Downs

GPS In Your Hip Pocket

Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2014

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If you want a handful of life lessons (sixteen in fact) on how to screw up more than a few relationships with a road map and GPS satellite in your hip pocket to comfort you on your dark days, then MY HEART IS AN IDIOT could provide you better comfort than a blanket, a glass of warm milk, and your favorite movie on the tube. Whether you’re a cynic by nature or even if you’re holding out for the storybook fairytale or maybe a hero that goes by another name, you could find yourself mixing equal parts amusement and sadness and then flipping the switch to high. What comes out on the other side could leave you more than a little horrified, like the latest train wreck plastered across the news, but you can also comfort yourself in knowing that you weren’t on this particular train when it exited the station.

“Bigger and Deafer” – When it comes to making fun of people with disabilities, the appropriate response is no. Always no. But then I like to think I have more than two cents to rub together.

“Human Snowball” – If you want to read about a bus ride and a botched encounter with Lauren Hill (not the Lauryn Hill), then you’ll probably want to give this story a go. On a side note, Vernon adds a bit of comedic relief.

“What Are You Wearing?” – If you want a checklist in how not to conduct phone sex, and when to probably pass on picking up the motel phone, you’ll find your answers here. If you’re still confused when you reach the end, you might want to start from the beginning all over again.

“The 8th of November” – How Jim Thompson, arguably the best Ford mechanic in the Beltway, developed a friendship with the author with the idiot heart.

“Ninety-Nine Bottles of Pee on the Wall” – Meeting an author can be a pleasurable experience (most of the time) unless you’re Davy Rothbart and you carry around a few bottles of pee in your backpack. Which leads to a whole new set of problems and more than a few therapy sessions.

“How I Got These Boots” – A pair of boots, the Grand Canyon, and more than a few memories. What more could you ask for?

“Shade” – Sometimes you need to do a bit of searching to find a shady spot in New Mexico, and the author certainly had more than a bit of trouble with this as well. If it wasn’t for bad luck, a missed opportunity with Maggie, and a fruitless search for the mysterious Shade—the person, not the spot allotted tree cover—this one might have had a positive outcome. Sadly, though, he’s striking out more often than a power hitter with a swing flaw.

“Nibble, Lick, Suck, and Feast” – If you want to discover a bit of hilarity on an author tour, this story’s for you. If not, then we’ll move right along.

“Canada or Bust” – Missy, another female name that begins with M, and thus we have yet another missed opportunity in the love quest. If you need to improve the dating pool, there’s always San Francisco.

“Naked in New York” – How does one end up naked on a park bench? Apparently it’s not all that hard to do, and certainly not in “The Big Apple.” Read this tale for a few pointers.

“Tarantula” – Don’t have sex anywhere near a tarantula. Even if it’s in a glass cage and it’s far away from the bed. I don’t care how good she looks (the woman, not the tarantula), or whether or not she kidnaps you and tosses you in the back of the trunk, and promises to rock your world for the next sixteen days. Just…don’t. You’ll thank me later.

“Southwest” – Davy Rothbart may be blessed when it comes to sitting next to beautiful women on airplanes, but he probably needs a bit of help with his delivery and follow through. But that seems to repeat a bit too regularly over the course of these essays.

“New York, New York” – Maggie Smith knows how to strike a pose; the Twin Towers ended up in a pile of rubble; a few interviews got off to a glitch filled start; the bus ride proved longer than planned; and never say no to a woman named Laquisha.

“Tessa” – Drexel University and beer pong sound reasonably appealing, until Tessa proves a little free with her favors with another man, and you’re left shedding a few tears in your beer. There’s no crying in baseball, but I guess there is in beer pong.

“The Strongest Man in the World” – Peter, Byron, Evelyn, and Davy sitting in a tree, recounting a few stories, or maybe it’s three. Tell a few tales, but don’t pass the buck. If you’re not too careful, you might be out of luck.

“Ain’t That America?” – The moral of this story: You can strike out in love on more than one continent. Just keep that in mind the next time you’re moaning and groaning in your cup of tea.

So, in summary, there’s much to enjoy here. If you’re the kind of Joe who likes to watch a train derailment or two, or you’re one of those rubberneckers on the interstate trying to see the extent of the damage, you’ve just discovered your new source of enjoyment for the day. Just be thankful it’s not your life, and hope to heck you have a bit more luck in the relationship arena, otherwise you might want a Prozac or a Xanax.

Robert Downs
Author of Falling Immortality: Casey Holden, Private Investigator

3 people found this helpful

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Alex Arciniega

My Heart Is a Happy Idiot

Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2013

Verified Purchase

Davy Rothbart's, My Heart Is an Idiot felt like it was written for me and only me. It's not common to find such a deep and meaningful connection with a contemporary fiction book but this book did it for me. The 90's music references took me back to a place where my heart was young, idealistic and my brain was still incapable of making solid decisions that were genuinely good - welcome to 1996

This book will take you to nostalgic places, reading My Heart is An Idiot is like getting in a Greyhound time machine - you'll travel regionally and back in time.

I would recommend this book for people who are too busy to read something cover to cover but enjoy a well written short story. He's original, he's a little street but he's a human who wears his heart on his sleeve, even if it's not always the right idea.

One person found this helpful

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Ameeesha

Engaging, dishonest

Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2012

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Rothbart has a very engaging writing style and the stories are funny and entertaining. In addition, I appreciate his curiosity and optimism about life experiences. However, as another reviewer stated, I think he is a great exaggerator, and I don't believe much of what he says. Frankly, I think the guy is shady and manipulative, as some of his past writing, jobs (as a ticket scalper), and family history suggest, which makes me like his writing much less. I think I know a bit too much about psychology to respect or believe him. Ah well.

5 people found this helpful

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Margaret Carmel

All of the stories are funny, heartwarming

Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2015

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This is a book that you can't help smiling while you're reading it. I even had to contain some laughs at some points. The way that it's written is really delightful and draws you in. All of the stories are funny, heartwarming, and interesting. I would recommend this book to anyone!

One person found this helpful

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SD

Fun read

Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2013

Verified Purchase

It is great to read such raw, unfiltered reflections on some of the crazy choices and situation life brings. I am sure many of us can relate to several of these situations on some level. Somehow throughout life, we all make some crazy choices and most of end up doing just fine. Great to be able to look back and just laugh.

Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2012

Verified Purchase

I loved these stories. It's probably not a fair review since I'm in one of them, but the whole book stole my heart. Davy's writing is funny, poignant and honest. It's wonderful to watch him develop as a writer since his earlier book, "Lone Surfer," and see the increasing depth. I especially love his openness to people of all sorts, free of our usual prejudices. He is happy to chat with fellow passengers of all sorts on a bus, or to the person beside him on the street, to climb into cars and welcome passengers into his car, and to see both the beauty and the confusion inside people's hearts without giving judgment. His last story, "Ain't That America" especially reflects this open heart. I look forward to seeing more of his writing.

6 people found this helpful

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Majeed

nop!

Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2013

Verified Purchase

The first chapter is the best. The rest is not worth it. The Author seems like a fun guy to know in reality and probably hang out with. A lot of stories to hear about, but not to read about!

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Amazon Customer

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 24, 2018

Verified Purchase

Hilarious, touching, thought provoking and well written. I will be looking for more of Mr Rothbart's work.

huntie

I'm finding it hard to read, due to the character

Reviewed in Canada on December 3, 2013

Verified Purchase

I've had this book for almost a year, and only on chapter 2. I just can't seem to stand the character, I find him annoying, running around like he's a child with no self control over himself. You can say his heart's an idiot, or you can say he thinks with his penis. Either way, the book came fast and in good condition, so that's good. If you DO like this book, here's a good place to order. Like new :)

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My Heart Is an Idiot: Essays Paperback – January 1, 1894

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