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Lunch » Tags » Books » Reviews » I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell » User review

You Had to Be There

  • Apr 11, 2009
  • by
Rating:
-1
Tucker Max's account of his life reads more like all those jokes and stories you hear that are shortly followed by "you had to be there" or "it would be funnier if you had been there." The various stories seem more like well described inside jokes.

I thought I would really enjoy this book, but unfortunately I was ultimately disappointed. While outrageous, his stories were really not that engaging or interesting. The first half of the book was truly juvenile with not a lot of substance or worthwhile stories. I love stories about jerks and unworldly encounters, but Max's presentation or lack of organization in his delivery is unsettling.

The stories improve in the last half of the book. However, there is only so many stories about how drunk someone got, how many women someone slept with, etc. I can stand in 300 pages. This book seems like it could be written by someone in high school who likes talking about how wasted he got over the weekend (which I suppose is ultimately the point).

Do not get me wrong, there are some great moments of recollected dialogue and verbal exchanges; but, ultimately, they are too few and far between to enjoy this book. If you like reading outrageous stories about booze and women, I recommend this book to you. Otherwise, don't bother.

Good reading,

Plants and Books
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May 19, 2010
Wow a "-2" for a book review? If it was that bad, how did you get through it? However, I do appreciate your comments, I cannot tell you the number of times I have picked up the book only to put it back when I find something with subject matter or a title that is more engaging. I'll just leave this one on the shelf.
 
November 24, 2009
Haha, I tend to agree. Did you see the movie? Pretty disappointing, even for the book.
November 24, 2009
Hi Melissa - No, I did not see the movie. I didn't even know they made a movie until a week or two ago when I saw the preview. I have to say, though, I thought the casting of the characters was terrible; and had a hard time believing those they cast as being able to pull of the "shenanigans" in the book.
 
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More I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell reviews
review by . July 12, 2010
posted in Cafe Libri: Reviewing Books & More
I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell seems like novel straight from some fraternity's memoir. Max Tucker recounts stories of his partying, womanizing, and in general stupidness during his years in law school at Duke. A book that has gotten a lot of attention in recent times because he graphically writes about his sexual encounters with women. It is one of those novels that you pick up to read a few of the chapters to get a laugh but obviously there is no real value or substance in it. Written in noncontinuous&n …
Quick Tip by . June 15, 2010
posted in Cafe Libri: Reviewing Books & More
A hilarious book that is great for when you are on the treadmill or don't have time to sit down and read a book straight through. Each chapter tells a different hysterical tale about the life of Tucker Max. This is not a book for the faint of heart!
Quick Tip by . June 02, 2010
posted in Cafe Libri: Reviewing Books & More
Hilarious until you think about him actually making it through undergrad. Why did I spend so much effort in classes and money on books?
Quick Tip by . June 22, 2010
A misogynistic yet colorful collection of tall tales.
review by . September 12, 2009
posted in Cafe Libri: Reviewing Books & More
Pros: The funniest thing I've read since...since reading these stories online.      Cons: Raw sexual situations, objectionable language, likely to offend all five senses in every way.      The Bottom Line: ...Of course, I don't really consider those cons, because without them, there would be no book, or if there was, it wouldn't be half as good...      In college, I was introduced to TuckerMax.com. It was there my roommate and …
review by . December 25, 2008
posted in Cafe Libri: Reviewing Books & More
Tucker Max's account of his life reads more like all those jokes and stories you hear that are shortly followed by "you had to be there" or "it would be funnier if you had been there." The various stories seem more like well described inside jokes.    I thought I would really enjoy this book, but unfortunately I was ultimately disappointed. While outrageous, his stories were really not that engaging or interesting. The first half of the book was truly juvenile with not a lot …
see all I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell reviews (7)
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About this book

Wiki

I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell is a book written by Tucker Max, published in 2006, that details anecdotal stories of debauchery and belligerence. It made the New York Times Bestseller list in 2006, 2007 and 2008. It sold an estimated 70,000 copies its first year.

Composed of short stories narrated by the author, the book is told in a highly embellished style and often focuses on the narrator's humorous excess. The stories normally deal with themes of drinking (often to excess), insulting people, and embarrassing sexual encounters. A sequel, entitled 'Assholes Finish First', is set to be released by Simon and Schuster in 2009.

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Books, Cafe Libri, Comedy, Relationships, Dating, Tucker Max
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Details

ISBN-10: 0806527285
ISBN-13: 978-0806531069
Author: Tucker Max
Genre: Non-fiction
Publisher: Citadel Press
Date Published: January 1, 2006
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