Nice Try: Stories of Best Intentions and Mixed Results

by Josh Gondelman

Overview

“If you only read one book in your life, it probably shouldn’t be this one. However, if you’re not operating an inexplicable one-book policy, these stories are funny, touching, and more than worth your time.” — John Oliver

“Josh Gondelman is one of the most original hilarious voices out there today. This book will hook you and make you laugh and laugh.” — Amy Schumer

Emmy-Award winning writer and comedian Josh Gondelman’s collection of personal stories of best intentions and mixed results.

Josh Gondelman knows a thing or two about trying—and failing. The Emmy Award-winning stand-up comic—dubbed a “pathological sweetheart” by the New York Observer—is known throughout the industry as one of comedy’s true “nice guys.” Not surprisingly, he’s endured his share of last-place finishes. But he keeps on bouncing back.

In this collection of hilarious and poignant essays (including his acclaimed New York Times piece “What if I Bombed at My Own Wedding?”), Josh celebrates a life of good intentions—and mixed results. His true tales of romantic calamities, professional misfortunes, and eventual triumphs reinforce the notion: we get out of the world what we put into it. Whether he’s adopting a dog from a suspicious stranger, mitigating a disastrous road trip, or trying MDMA for the first (and only) time, Josh only wants the best for everyone—even as his attempts to do the right thing occasionally implode.

Full of the warm and relatable humor that’s made him a favorite on the comedy club circuit, Nice Try solidifies Josh Gondelman’s reputation as not just a good guy, but a skilled observer of the human condition.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062852755
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	09/17/2019
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	1,064,649
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Josh Gondelman is a comedian and writer who has earned two Peabody Awards, three Emmys, and two WGA Awards for his work on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver on HBO. He is currently a writer/producer for Desus & Mero on Showtime. In the past, Josh has written for Billy on the Street. His writing has also appeared in the New York Times, New York magazine, and the New Yorker. He lives in New York City with his wife and pug.

Table of Contents

Introduction xiii

If at First You Don't Succeed …

Nice Guys Finish Dessert Last 3

Just Give Me a Minute 10

A Few of My Greatest Fears, in No Particular Order 22

1-800-GOOD-PORN 24

A Technicality 29

You Don't Know, Now You Know 30

Things That Make Me Feel Grown-Up (in Order of Increasing Adulthood) 47

A Worthy Adversary 48

The Present-Tense Conjugation of the Spanish Verb Nadar, Which Means "to Swim" 60

Screech 61

I Hope These Years Aren't the Best of Your Lives 68

It Was Funny at the Time 74

Don't Aim, Just Throw 76

…Try, Try Again

Weathering the Tantrums 91

The Thanksgiving Dragon 103

Some Things That I, a Childcare Professional, Was Professionally Obligated to Say to Kids 108

Good Deeds, Unrewarded 109

Have Fun 116

The Blank Postcard 123

Things I Have Tried (with Varying Degrees of Success) at the Behest of Women I Was Dating at the Time or to Whom I Am Married 142

Good Will Hunting Isn't Science Fiction 143

Sorry, Not Sorry 145

Gap Years 154

Third Time's a Charm?

The Three True Stories of How We Met 163

Fish Tacos 176

Tickle Me Fancy 179

A Good Game 185

The Unsung Virtue of Telling People What They Want to Hear 198

An Element of Style 207

Bizzy 212

A Partial List of Names I Call My Dog, Whose Real Name Is Bizzy 229

"I Also Do Michael Jackson" 231

The Best Moments of My Wedding #3-10 240

Don't Let the Bastards Grind You Down 242

Acknowledgments 251

Editorial Reviews

06/10/2019

Gondelman, a comedian and writer for Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, debuts with a collection of funny and sweet personal essays. Gondelman self-deprecatingly describes himself as having a “wet paint personality, bright and shiny and vulnerable to the elements.” He used to be a nice kid, and now he’s a nice grown-up: “When you’re outwardly nice, people assume you’re a pushover, which in my case is fair because I am one.” The book moves entertainingly through the stages of his life. In “Screech,” he addresses his uncool high school years and the time he “tried to grow an Afro, which came off kind of like accessorizing an old, beat-up car by gluing a satellite dish to the roof.” He discusses failed relationships (“A Worthy Adversary”); his stint as a preschool teacher (“Weathering the Tantrums”); his struggles to become a stand-up comedian and TV writer (“Gap Years”); and his love for his wife (“Tickle Me Fancy”) and dog (“Bizzy”). Gondelman’s chops as a comedy writer are on full display throughout, and his observations are hilariously spot-on: toddlers are “tiny, inconsolable war widows,” and his pug is “a loaf of white bread with a face.” Gondelman’s fun, witty book is a marvel of emotional depth and cutting one-liners. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

If you only read one book in your life, it probably shouldn’t be this one. However, if you’re not operating an inexplicable one-book policy, these stories are funny, touching, and more than worth your time.” — John Oliver, host of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

“Josh Gondelman is a great comedian, super nice, and now the author of a terrific bunch of essays.  How annoying.” — Jim Gaffigan, author of Food: A Love Story and Dad is Fat

“Josh Gondelman is a human cardigan and this book is like a warm, consensual hug.” — Samantha Irby, author of Meaty

“Josh Gondelman is one of the most original hilarious voices out there today. This book will hook you and make you laugh and laugh.” — Amy Schumer, author of The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo

“Nice Try makes me wish I was friends with Josh in high school. His take on the world is something we need more of— it’s optimistic, observant, sincere, and insanely funny. Read this book.” — Hasan Minhaj, host of Patriot Act

“Josh Gondelman is a comedian who looks like an author, so this book makes a lot of sense. Like him, it’s hilarious, excellent and fun.” — Pete Holmes, author of Comedy Sex God

“Josh Gondelman reinforces what I love so deeply about his writing: chock full of wit, so wonderfully hilarious, and unafraid to be vulnerable and honest. Yes, he is known as one of the nicest dudes in comedy, but he’s also one of the most funny and consistent. This book will not disappoint, so stop reading this blurb already and read the book!” — Phoebe Robinson, author of Everything’s Trash, But It’s Okay

“Reading Nice Try is like carrying around a good friend with you, someone who’s funny and compassionate and always reminding you to do better. If you’re lucky enough to read Josh Gondelman, you’re sure to leave the experience a happier, kinder person. (And as a real bonus, you’ll laugh, too.) There’s good in the world yet — Nice Try is a great reminder of that.” — Scaachi Koul, author of One Day We’ll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter

“Josh Gondelman is hilarious. This book proves he clearly wouldn’t have survived if he wasn’t.” — Judd Apatow

“I laughed on every single page of Josh’s book and insisted on reading much of it aloud to whoever was sitting next to me. I did not always know those people, but I choose to believe they loved it too.” — Jill Twiss, author of A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo

“Like the best conversation with your smartest, funniest friend, these essays leave you feeling a little bit better about the world. Gondelman doesn’t flinch from self-examination or the complexities of life, but navigates both with such warmth and wit that I miss his company already.” — Cynthia-D’Aprix-Sweeney, author of The Nest

“Gondelman’s chops as a comedy writer are on full display throughout, and his observations are hilariously spot-on… [His] fun, witty book is a marvel of emotional depth and cutting one-liners.” — Publishers Weekly

“[A] sweet and laugh-out-loud-funny memoir… [Gondelman’s] whip-smart observational humor pierces through at every turn… This reads like a delicious, extended season of The Wonder Years.” — Booklist

“A quick and amiable read… Nice Try reaches [its] revelation gradually, through poignant stories of bungled pet adoptions and recognizing that anger is a valid emotion even for a self-described pushover.” — AV Club

Gondelman celebrates a lifetime of good intentions — sometimes gone wrong — in this funny and heartfelt collection of personal essays. — USA Today

“Both witty and matter-of-fact, Nice Try: Stories of Best Intentions and Mixed Results encourages readers to take solace in Gondelman’s mishaps and keep trying until desired results are achieved… This hilarious and heartfelt essay collection reminds readers to be who we want to be.” — Shelf Awareness

From the Publisher

Josh Gondelman is one of the most original hilarious voices out there today. This book will hook you and make you laugh and laugh.

Amy Schumer

Josh Gondelman is a human cardigan and this book is like a warm, consensual hug.

Samantha Irby

Reading Nice Try is like carrying around a good friend with you, someone who’s funny and compassionate and always reminding you to do better. If you’re lucky enough to read Josh Gondelman, you’re sure to leave the experience a happier, kinder person. (And as a real bonus, you’ll laugh, too.) There’s good in the world yet — Nice Try is a great reminder of that.

Scaachi Koul

If you only read one book in your life, it probably shouldn’t be this one. However, if you’re not operating an inexplicable one-book policy, these stories are funny, touching, and more than worth your time.

John Oliver

Nice Try makes me wish I was friends with Josh in high school. His take on the world is something we need more of— it’s optimistic, observant, sincere, and insanely funny. Read this book.

Hasan Minhaj

I laughed on every single page of Josh’s book and insisted on reading much of it aloud to whoever was sitting next to me. I did not always know those people, but I choose to believe they loved it too.

Jill Twiss

Josh Gondelman is a comedian who looks like an author, so this book makes a lot of sense. Like him, it’s hilarious, excellent and fun.

Pete Holmes

Josh Gondelman is a great comedian, super nice, and now the author of a terrific bunch of essays.  How annoying.

Jim Gaffigan

Josh Gondelman is hilarious. This book proves he clearly wouldn’t have survived if he wasn’t.

Judd Apatow

Josh Gondelman reinforces what I love so deeply about his writing: chock full of wit, so wonderfully hilarious, and unafraid to be vulnerable and honest. Yes, he is known as one of the nicest dudes in comedy, but he’s also one of the most funny and consistent. This book will not disappoint, so stop reading this blurb already and read the book!

Phoebe Robinson

Gondelman celebrates a lifetime of good intentions — sometimes gone wrong — in this funny and heartfelt collection of personal essays.

USA Today

A quick and amiable read… Nice Try reaches [its] revelation gradually, through poignant stories of bungled pet adoptions and recognizing that anger is a valid emotion even for a self-described pushover.

AV Club

Like the best conversation with your smartest, funniest friend, these essays leave you feeling a little bit better about the world. Gondelman doesn’t flinch from self-examination or the complexities of life, but navigates both with such warmth and wit that I miss his company already.

author of The Nest Cynthia-D’Aprix-Sweeney

[A] sweet and laugh-out-loud-funny memoir… [Gondelman’s] whip-smart observational humor pierces through at every turn… This reads like a delicious, extended season of The Wonder Years.

Booklist

Both witty and matter-of-fact, Nice Try: Stories of Best Intentions and Mixed Results encourages readers to take solace in Gondelman’s mishaps and keep trying until desired results are achieved… This hilarious and heartfelt essay collection reminds readers to be who we want to be.

Shelf Awareness

[A] sweet and laugh-out-loud-funny memoir… [Gondelman’s] whip-smart observational humor pierces through at every turn… This reads like a delicious, extended season of The Wonder Years.

Booklist

Gondelman celebrates a lifetime of good intentions — sometimes gone wrong — in this funny and heartfelt collection of personal essays.

USA Today

Like the best conversation with your smartest, funniest friend, these essays leave you feeling a little bit better about the world. Gondelman doesn’t flinch from self-examination or the complexities of life, but navigates both with such warmth and wit that I miss his company already.

author of The Nest Cynthia-DAprix-Sweeney

2019-06-09
A genial memoir by an Emmy- and Peabody-winning comedian and writer.

Working against the adage that "nice guys finish last," Gondelman has done well for himself. Happily married, he has sustained a career onstage, on TV, and in print after spending his earliest days following college teaching preschool. Though comedy is often considered a cutthroat arena, a survival-of-the-fittest challenge where the comedian must either kill or die, the author seems to suggest that there are other paths to perseverance. Early on, he confesses, "for a comedian, ‘nice' can be shorthand for someone's work being bland. And on a personal level, ‘nice' is about as meaningful as saying someone ‘has decent breath' or ‘is usually punctual.' " Throughout the book, the writing risks blandness, as Gondelman rarely aims for comedic punch, settling for gentle taps. In many ways, he brings to mind Bob Newhart of Tom Papa, a gentle man with a wry sense of humor who makes himself the butt of most of his jokes. Gondelman remembers that well into his 20s, he was considered not merely nice but " ‘too nice,' which is a very sweet euphemism meaning ‘simply not a person I am interested in having sex with in the foreseeable future.' " When he did meet a woman who was interested in him, it was through exchanges on Twitter, where he also received a career boost by collaborating on an account titled Modern Seinfeld, offering pitches for the series that had ceased to exist, and somehow attracted 800,000 followers. He also gained some traction on social media with his "Twitter Pep Talks," offering personalized encouragement to strangers in need. Somewhere between grade school and marriage, an expanse that he covers in detail, he began performing stand-up and eventually found great success writing for Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Desus & Mero, and other programs.

Gondelman describes performing as an opening act for more famous comedians, and this book could easily be read as a warm-up for a much funnier one to come.

Kirkus Reviews

Comedian Josh Gondelman recounts his life in an amusing and recognizable manner. He exudes a charismatic and authentic vocal quality that is identical to his stand-up persona. Through essays and lists, Gondelman shares candid stories of mishaps in his life and explains in a signature style how he overcame them. His career and romantic catastrophes are some of the most entertaining stories to soak up and chuckle over. His voice has a welcoming tone and a natural flow when delivering his hilarious adventures. Listening to his antics is intriguing and relevant to today’s world. Gondelman's honesty, comedic spin, and relatable moments all make this a worthwhile listen. D.Z. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

DECEMBER 2019 - AudioFile

Comedian Josh Gondelman recounts his life in an amusing and recognizable manner. He exudes a charismatic and authentic vocal quality that is identical to his stand-up persona. Through essays and lists, Gondelman shares candid stories of mishaps in his life and explains in a signature style how he overcame them. His career and romantic catastrophes are some of the most entertaining stories to soak up and chuckle over. His voice has a welcoming tone and a natural flow when delivering his hilarious adventures. Listening to his antics is intriguing and relevant to today’s world. Gondelman's honesty, comedic spin, and relatable moments all make this a worthwhile listen. D.Z. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

DECEMBER 2019 - AudioFile