The Smartest Book in the World: A Lexicon of Literacy, a Rancorous Reportage, a Concise Curriculum of Cool

by Greg Proops Narrated by Greg Proops

Overview

Greg Proops is an internationally renowned comedian, best known for starring on the hit improv comedy show Whose Line Is It Anyway? and for his popular award-winning podcast, "The Smartest Man in the World," which Rolling Stone magazine called "some of the boldest comedy on the podcasting frontier right now." But Proops is also a fountain of historical knowledge, a wealth of pop culture trivia, and a generally charming know-it-all.

The Smartest Book in the World is based on Proops's sensational, iTunes Top 10 podcast. The book is a rollicking reference guide to the most essential areas of knowledge in Proops's universe, from the noteworthy names of the ancient world and baseball to the movies you must see and the albums you must hear.



Complete with history's juiciest tales and curious back-stories, Proops expounds on the merits of poetry and proper punctuation, delivering this wealth of information with his signature style and Proopsian panache. An off-beat and exuberant guide to everything, The Smartest Book in the World gives you everything you need to know to always be the smartest person in the room.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly - Audio

07/27/2015
This audiobook takes an amusing look into what Proops considers the most important things in the world: baseball, movies, words, books, poetry, history, and more. It’s an irreverent jaunt through things that Proops wants to share (or has already shared in some form, as this book is adapted from his iTunes podcast series). Proops narrates with all the zeal and zaniness that one comes to expect from the comedian. Beyond knowing how to deadpan and deliver jokes, he does well with speed and emphasis. He reads quickly and fluidly through a paragraph in one section but slows down to recite a poem in the next section. He is a lively and emotional reader, never leaving listeners to doubt where he stands on a given subject. This fun and versatile collection of personal tidbits works well in the audio format; listeners quickly realize that if the current section doesn’t entirely engage them, there is something new coming up shortly. A S&S/Touchstone hardcover. (May)

From the Publisher

"It's a terrifically random appreciation of cultural touchstones that's sure to inspire readers to look further." ---Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher - AUDIO COMMENTARY

"It's a terrifically random appreciation of cultural touchstones that's sure to inspire readers to look further." —Publishers Weekly

JULY 2015 - AudioFile

Improv and stand-up comedian Greg Proops's podcast, or "Proopcast"—titled “The Smartest Man in the World”—provided the inspiration for this collection of some of his favorite facts. A seasoned comedian, he has a fun and lighthearted delivery, as well as the honed comedic timing one would expect. However, the material is better suited to a podcast than an audiobook. The random assortments of facts feature Proops's preferred baseball players, music, movies, historical figures, etc., but without a great deal of continuity. As a result, the content itself ends up sounding disjointed, despite the fun that Proops is clearly having presenting it to the listener. S.E.G. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170461271
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Publication date:	05/05/2015
Edition description:	Unabridged

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