Product Description The bestselling author of The Areas of My Expertise? also known as The Daily Show?s ?Resident Expert? and the PC in the iconic Mac ads?picks up exactly where his first book left off. Exactly.
Like its predecessor, MORE INFORMATION THAN YOU REQUIRE compiles incredibly handy made up facts into brief articles, overlong lists, frighteningly complex charts, and beguiling narratives on new and familiar themes such as: THE PAST (because there is always more) THE FUTURE (because they say there is still some left to discuss) THE METHOD BY WHICH WE ?ELECT? OUR PRESIDENTS (as this will be happening soon) THE STRANGE OKAPI (an actual animal) GAMBLING: THE SPORT OF THE ASTHMATIC MAN (includes hermit crab racing) HOW TO BE A FAMOUS MINOR TELEVISION PERSONALITY (hint: go on television) PLUS: 700 MOLE-MAN NAMES (and their occupations)
Yes. HODGMAN MAY HAVE BEEN BRIEFLY ABSENT FROM YOUR LIFE, but with this volume he is ready to pick up exactly where THE AREAS OF MY EXPERTISE left off?specifically AT PAGE 237.
Amazon.com Review Amazon Best of the Month, October 2008: While writer and former literary agent John Hodgman had a considerable cult following before the publication of his first book, The Areas of My Expertise, the exact moment when Hodgmania hit fever pitch can be traced to his November 16, 2005, appearance on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, when a "Famous Minor Television Personality" was born. Since then he has welcomed a new level of visibility as the Resident Expert on The Daily Show, appearing as the PC in the ubiquitous "Get a Mac" ads, and in bit roles in movies and on TV, so the world should be primed to embrace More Information Than You Require, Book Two in his Compendium of Complete World Knowledge (or, as it says on the cover, "New Ferret, Same Old Con"). Fun facts, bizarre trivia, and oddball photos ("Figure 51: Jane Addams, Pre-Antlers") are crammed into every corner of the page with extended riffs on How to Tell the Future Using a Pig?s Spleen, What to Expect While Serving as a Juror, Gambling ("Sure Thing Number Three: Star Wars Slots"), How to Deal With Some Common Infestations, and of course, How to Be Famous. And what he did for hobos in The Areas of My Expertise, celebrating their free spirit and conniving ways (and a list of 700 hobo names), Hodgman does for mole-men, the "race of humanoids who live in the complex warren of tunnels and vast caverns beneath the earth." Did you know, for instance, that Thomas Jefferson uncovered on his "mole-manic palace known as Monticello" a "small group (or 'Parlor') of mole-men dining on weevil pie and discussing world affairs... 'They touched my face,' wrote Jefferson, 'and hissed, as is their custom.'" Naturally there are 700 Mole-Man Names and Occupations included ("No. 281: Mr. Wallow Dripstone, a worm rider"). Hodgman may be up to the same old con, but this brand new ferret of a book is a wise (and wise-ass) little predator who will swindle away your reading time with endless hours of rabies-free laughs. --Brad Thomas Parsons
3.5 stars December 29, 2008 I didn't enjoy this book as much as I did "The Areas of My Expertise." Maybe it's because the first book filled me with so much fake trivia that my brain can no longer handle it. Or maybe it's just because the joke is playing itself out?
The real gems are the fake trivia for each date published on each page.
Molemen are not better than hobos. Not any day.
It's good December 24, 2008 0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I purchased this book for my husband and he cannot put it down. I hear him in his office laughing out loud all afternoon. I cannot judge for myself but if you read John Hodgman's first book then I'm sure you can guess that his second one is just as funny. I asked my husband what I should write and he laughed and said "It's good".
gift---will know after Christmas December 20, 2008 0 out of 5 found this review helpful
Service from Amazon was great. This is gift for Christmas so won't know til after 12/25
Hobo-riffic December 12, 2008 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
John Hodgman is hilarious in a wry kind of way. This is not a "book" as we normally think of books; it is as if a crazy comedian took over the editorial duties of a World Almanac before anyone could stop him. And Dick Van Patten owes him more than he can ever repay. We must now await Mr. Hodgman's daily calendar which surely will be on its way. Excuse me but I believe that a hobo has just been abducted by a UFO piloted by William Taft and I need to get out of here...
Uneven but at times very funny November 15, 2008 2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Though I felt the first two thirds of this book were much better than the last, I still recommend this one for lovers of satire and humor. Anyone who laughs at John Hodgman's lovable diatribes on The Daily Show or enjoy his Mac commercials should pick this one up. I found myself laughing out loud at much of the early stuff, and would recommend this book. Enjoy!
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