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Spoiled Rotten America: Outrages of Everyday Life
Like Kofi Annan, Larry Miller is one of the most irresistible comic personalities working today. Known for years as an actor, writer, comedian, and sexual pioneer, he's gained a new following as a cultural commentator and frequent guest on political shows. Now, in Spoiled Rotten America, he fixes his gaze on what's funny about our daily lives—which includes, roughly speaking, everything. From middle-aged drinking ("When you're in your twenties, you can drink all night and bungee-jump off a bridge the next day. If I drank all night, I'd want to go off that bridge without the cord") to the excesses of our eating habits ("This is why the world hates us: the size of the portions we order. Thank God they've never shown us eating on Al Jazeera—that would be the end of it"), Miller finds the silver lining of absurdity within every black cloud.
Ultimately, though, Spoiled Rotten America is more than just the average yukfest. It's an insightful, and surprisingly heartfelt, plea for us to notice what's best and worst about ourselves. "The American pendulum only swings to extremes," he writes. "The news is on all day, but we know less and less; there's music in every mall, but we don't hear it; everyone has a phone but nothing to say. The chubbiest of us have the strictest diets, because we can't learn to modulate and moderate. It's all or nothing. One bite of a cookie, and suddenly you're on a plane to Vegas with a hooker. To the Cranky Nitpickers of America—a club I'd join in a second if I weren't already its president—it's long been understood that the world is going to Hell in a handbasket.
"What better time for a collection of seventeen comic essays?"
What better time indeed.
Ultimately, though, Spoiled Rotten America is more than just the average yukfest. It's an insightful, and surprisingly heartfelt, plea for us to notice what's best and worst about ourselves. "The American pendulum only swings to extremes," he writes. "The news is on all day, but we know less and less; there's music in every mall, but we don't hear it; everyone has a phone but nothing to say. The chubbiest of us have the strictest diets, because we can't learn to modulate and moderate. It's all or nothing. One bite of a cookie, and suddenly you're on a plane to Vegas with a hooker. To the Cranky Nitpickers of America—a club I'd join in a second if I weren't already its president—it's long been understood that the world is going to Hell in a handbasket.
"What better time for a collection of seventeen comic essays?"
What better time indeed.
279 pages, Hardcover
First published September 21, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
November 1, 2017
In the not so distant past, I was a big fan of Adam Carolla. I never missed a podcast and found thorough enjoyment in every episode. Fast forward to the present and I've had a bit of a falling out with Mr. Carolla. We don't see eye to eye on politics and I (unfortunately) opted to cut his show out of my life. Nevertheless, I will always have fond memories of a show that I hold quite dear. One of these memories is Larry Miller. A frequent guest and contributor to the podcasts as well as syndicated radio (told you I was a fan), Larry Miller was always a high point in the program. I bought this book and almost immediately...set it on the shelf and forgot about it.
Now here we are. To set the scene, Larry Miller is a comedian and this is a comedy book. With that said, this book isn't all laughs. There were touching sentimental moments and a couple that were downright sad. The chapter on racism was especially poignant and brought me to tears (something that a book can practically NEVER do). I credit the many years listening to Miller on radio because it illustrated that he is a genuinely nice, good person. Hearing his voice as I read the stories only added an element of fondness for me.
I try to review books objectively and I do my best to reserve five star ratings for those that are so excellent or compelling that they change my outlook on life. This is one such book. After finishing it, I read a few of the other reviews and I can see where they're coming from with their lamentations of mediocrity. Some folks expecting wall to wall laughs were disappointed by anecdotes that were both tangential and unusual. I can understand their perspective. For me, this was truly an honest work that mixed humor with subtle revelations of the heart; someone with a good heart, I might add.
This isn't War and Peace nor is it something that necessitates dropping what one's doing to read. I seriously debated making copies of one particular section to share with my girlfriend but opted out at the last minute. This doesn't happen often. I'm grateful to have found this book and I regret waiting so long to read it. Maybe it will only speak to fans but I think there is something in it for everyone who is willing to go into it without expectations. Love it, hate it, or meh, this was a great book for me and I'm grateful that I had the chance to enjoy it.
Now here we are. To set the scene, Larry Miller is a comedian and this is a comedy book. With that said, this book isn't all laughs. There were touching sentimental moments and a couple that were downright sad. The chapter on racism was especially poignant and brought me to tears (something that a book can practically NEVER do). I credit the many years listening to Miller on radio because it illustrated that he is a genuinely nice, good person. Hearing his voice as I read the stories only added an element of fondness for me.
I try to review books objectively and I do my best to reserve five star ratings for those that are so excellent or compelling that they change my outlook on life. This is one such book. After finishing it, I read a few of the other reviews and I can see where they're coming from with their lamentations of mediocrity. Some folks expecting wall to wall laughs were disappointed by anecdotes that were both tangential and unusual. I can understand their perspective. For me, this was truly an honest work that mixed humor with subtle revelations of the heart; someone with a good heart, I might add.
This isn't War and Peace nor is it something that necessitates dropping what one's doing to read. I seriously debated making copies of one particular section to share with my girlfriend but opted out at the last minute. This doesn't happen often. I'm grateful to have found this book and I regret waiting so long to read it. Maybe it will only speak to fans but I think there is something in it for everyone who is willing to go into it without expectations. Love it, hate it, or meh, this was a great book for me and I'm grateful that I had the chance to enjoy it.
July 24, 2010
I started this book well over a year ago. I love Larry Miller's stand-up comedy, and he always makes me smile when he turns up on tv or in a movie. His writing is styled similarly. However, this book was just so dense that after a while, I put it down and read something else.
It stayed on my nightstand for months. Possibly more than a year.
Finally, I decided to just push on through, and to finish it up. It had highlights, to be sure- his chapter on race relations was actually really very good, and his bit about the swag they give you at awards shows was fun.
Mostly though, I'm just glad I finally finished this albatross of a book.
It stayed on my nightstand for months. Possibly more than a year.
Finally, I decided to just push on through, and to finish it up. It had highlights, to be sure- his chapter on race relations was actually really very good, and his bit about the swag they give you at awards shows was fun.
Mostly though, I'm just glad I finally finished this albatross of a book.
July 29, 2012
I should put this out there before you read this. I am a HUGE fan of Larry Miller. I am a card carrying member of the LMDS (if you don't know what that is listen to his podcast).
On to the book. If you have ever seen Larry do stand up the book is very similar. It is a collection of essays that Larry wrote. Some of them are good, most of them are great. The one his late night buddy made me sad. They all made me laugh.
The stories mostly have to do with relationships and being a parent. His humor fits very well into book format. If you are a fan, give it a try.
Once you read it then you may want to subscribe to his podcast. Very similar stories.
I'm a big fan
On to the book. If you have ever seen Larry do stand up the book is very similar. It is a collection of essays that Larry wrote. Some of them are good, most of them are great. The one his late night buddy made me sad. They all made me laugh.
The stories mostly have to do with relationships and being a parent. His humor fits very well into book format. If you are a fan, give it a try.
Once you read it then you may want to subscribe to his podcast. Very similar stories.
I'm a big fan
June 9, 2016
It's been almost a year since I started this book and after getting about 1/3 of the way through, I put it down and didn't pick it up again until a few days ago. I thoroughly enjoyed the first 1/3 - the essays really reflected the title - a slice of our "spoiled" and "outrages" lives as Americans as a society, but then Mr. Miller went into personal stories and it got away from the reason that I was reading the book in the first place. The stories weren't bad, but I hadn't planned on reading "The Life and Times of Larry Miller".
December 14, 2016
Didn't hold my attention the way his old standup did...
May 15, 2021
[Imported automatically from my blog. Some formatting there may not have translated here.]
Larry Miller is a stand-up comedian, and has a decent acting career in TV and movies. I think his performance in 10 Things I Hate About You should be required watching for all fathers, past, present, and future.
But I bought this book because of his columns in the Weekly Standard, which were always full of wit and sharp observation. He's no longer writing there, apparently, but here are three samples.
So I was expecting, especially with a title like Spoiled Rotten America, that the book might be a P. J. O'Rourke-style broadside against liberal weenies, maybe veering a little more to the conservative side than does Peej. Wrong. Larry (I call him Larry) is nearly politics-free here. The essays are (still) funny and full of sharp observation, they're simply about less controversial topics: family, friends, activities, shopping, career. You know, stuff like you and I could write about.
However, you and I might write about Little League; Larry writes about what it's like to have Annette Bening selling hot dogs at the games. You and I might have one or two funny stories about buying clothes; Larry will be able to tell you what he overheard Jimmy Stewart saying at Brooks Brothers. (OK, I'll tell you: "Gray flannels. Long as you've got 'em.")
As I type, Amazon has this book for a pretty good price.
March 4, 2009
This book has been sitting in a pile for at least the last 2 years.... the pile I'm talking about sits in my bedroom and consists of books that I have no idea now WHY I bought them - but that for some unknown reason, they must have sounded good to me at the time. Because of the economy (& the fact that I'm trying not to waste money!) - I decided that I should at least TRY to read down this pile before getting back to the books I REALLY WANT to read/buy. Ugh - anyway, let's just say there was a reason this book was in that pile! I will probably give up on it as it is only mildly amusing in parts, while I don't hate this book, I doubt I will finish it. Will probably put in the bag to sell to Half Price Books.
Okay - so the book ended up being ok - some parts made me laugh but overall it was just ok for me.
Okay - so the book ended up being ok - some parts made me laugh but overall it was just ok for me.
September 10, 2007
At first, I had a hard time getting into the book. Miller's writing style seemed a lot like Dave Barry, who I don't really find all that funny. I think the humorous sections would probably have worked better if I'd ever heard him talk. Spoken comedy doesn't always translate all that well to written comedy, especially if the reader doesn't have memories of the spoken version to fall back on.
Still, as the book progressed it became more serious and introspective, and I found those sections to be very interesting. I think I appreciate Larry Miller more when he is making astute commentary on American culture than when he is trying to be funny. Or perhaps I had just gotten used to his style by that point.
Still, as the book progressed it became more serious and introspective, and I found those sections to be very interesting. I think I appreciate Larry Miller more when he is making astute commentary on American culture than when he is trying to be funny. Or perhaps I had just gotten used to his style by that point.
December 11, 2016
I've always liked Larry Miller, both in stand up and his character roles in films (His scenes in Pretty Woman are still my favorite). Now after reading these essays, I like him even more. Not only is he funny, he is so grounded and rational...I found myself agreeing with his rants throughout this book.
I look forward to Larry Miller 2: The Quickening (read the second essay to get the reference).
I look forward to Larry Miller 2: The Quickening (read the second essay to get the reference).
February 12, 2008
Larry Miller is mildy amusing but not as funny as I had hoped. His book didn't shed light on life in America in any meaningful way nor did it make me laugh out loud (okay, once). He seems to spend a lot of time trying to show his readers what a great guy he is. I'm sure he's a great guy, but I found his book a bit hard to finish.
August 13, 2012
Larry Miller is a gifted comic, but as with most comedy writing it is better to watch him do his material than to read it. His great bit on five stages of drinking is not that great on the page. Rather than read this book I'd recommend that you just watch clips of his routine on YouTube. He does a great job of finding humor in the ordinary things of life.
September 11, 2008
Larry Miller is a really funny guy and I love his work, but he missed the target on this one. After watching some book promotions he did on TV I was expecting something totally different.
It was humorous, but I didn't find myself laughing out loud.
It was humorous, but I didn't find myself laughing out loud.
October 3, 2009
When i was younger I wanted a man like Henry Rollins. Intelligent, ripped and angry, Now I'd like a man more like Miller. Intelligent, funny and a firm believer that whiskey makes a good life even better.
July 23, 2016
I am not normally a reader of comedy books but....Larry Miller has a sophisticated comic style with enough heartfelt philosophy thrown in to give the essays real depth. Actually, I quite enjoyed this book!
July 29, 2008
It had it's funny moments. It also had some annoying. Overall I would recommend it if you are looking for something in the light hearted reading category.
August 26, 2008
Some very funny moments.
January 26, 2009
thankfully a comic who doesn't rehash his live bits for an easy book
December 31, 2009
He's about 10% as funny as he thinks. I didn't finish it.
July 12, 2010
It started off well, but after an entire chapter (maybe more) about The Godfather III I had enough. I had high hopes and my hopes were dashed.
September 4, 2010
I saw Larry Miller at the Improv and brought his book. Yesterday I read 3/4 of it, great essays. He is not just funny, but a good man. Finished this book in 2 days.
December 30, 2011
Plums! Ha!
February 23, 2012
One word Hysterical....
July 17, 2013
started off good, but drifted to totally boring rather quickly. not worth expelling much to eplain the book, i found myself asking "who cares"?
January 19, 2016
A rare book in that it provides laugh-out-loud chuckles yet zings you with truths about morals and every day living. We need more Larry Miller personalities in the world.
February 15, 2016
enjoyable reading, although not quite as enjoyable as his stand-up. But then again, L. Miller gets a "5" for his stand-up work.
March 13, 2022
Funny and insightful and touching...one finishes the book liking the author's views and humour and thinking he might be someone you would like to meet.
August 31, 2008
LM is very sharp. Very funny.There are many laugh-out-loud moments in these essays.
June 19, 2012
hilarious dry wit.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews