“Wow, No Thank You.” by Samantha Irby

Wow, no thank you is pretty much what I can say about reading this book. I always try to find something positive to say about the books that I read because I believe that there is something to learn in each of them but “Wow, No Thank You” by Samantha Irby was a disappointment to me to the extent that I could not even single out a quote from the book that I would want to remember.

I picked “Wow, No Thank You” by Samantha Irby because the book was supposed to be a collection of funny essays and after reading a few popular science books recently, I thought this would be a good change of direction. Not only did I not find the essays funny, most of them were borderline pitiful for me.

In short, the book covers a collection of short essays about author’s life and some of her stories and reflections from the past as she is turning 40. It is not that the writing itself is bad, the writing is just okay. It is just utterly upsetting to read about 40-year old who is self-deprecating herself through humour to the extent where funny is borderline pathetic. To me, the person who did not grow up in the North American culture, the author looked like someone who is 40 years old, has issues controlling their bodily fluids and uninteresting, unmotivating and unappealing with no goal or ambition in life and yet somehow is proud of that through humour. I did not find it funny at all – probably partly because I am removed from the culture so I can’t deny a personal aspect there – but also partly because I think there are so many interesting, lively, exciting and motivating stories to get to know through reading that his one is just not worth your attention.

If you would still like to read it, I recommend getting it from the library rather than purchasing it. Oh yeah, it is also full of swearwords and bathroom humour. If that’s what you are into, then this might be a good fit.