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Big Dumb Eyes: Stories from a Simpler Mind
One of the hottest stand-ups working today, Nate Bargatze brings his everyman comedy to the page in this hilarious collection of personal stories, opinions, and confessions.
Nate Bargatze used to be a genius. That is, until the summer after seventh grade when he slipped, fell off a cliff, hit his head on a rock, and “my brain got, like, dented or something.” Before this accident, he dreamed of being “an electric engineer, or a brain doctor, or maybe a math person who does like, math things for a living.” Afterwards, a voice in his head told him, “It’s okay. You’re dumb now. All you got is standup.”* But the “math things’ industry’s loss is our gain because Nate went on to become one of today’s top-grossing comedians who breaks both attendance and streaming records.
In his highly-anticipated first book, Nate talks about life as a non-genius. From stories about his first car (named Old Blue, a clunky Mazda with a tennis ball for a stick shift), life as a Southerner (Northerners constantly ask him things like, do you believe in dinosaurs?), and his first apartment where a rat chewed a hole right through the wall to how his wife keeps him in line and so much more. He also reflects on such topics as Vandy football and the origins of sushi (how can a Philadelphia roll be from old-time Japan?).
Nate’s book is full of heart and it will make readers laugh out loud and nod in recognition, but it probably won’t make them think too much.
*Nate’s family disputes this entire story
Nate Bargatze used to be a genius. That is, until the summer after seventh grade when he slipped, fell off a cliff, hit his head on a rock, and “my brain got, like, dented or something.” Before this accident, he dreamed of being “an electric engineer, or a brain doctor, or maybe a math person who does like, math things for a living.” Afterwards, a voice in his head told him, “It’s okay. You’re dumb now. All you got is standup.”* But the “math things’ industry’s loss is our gain because Nate went on to become one of today’s top-grossing comedians who breaks both attendance and streaming records.
In his highly-anticipated first book, Nate talks about life as a non-genius. From stories about his first car (named Old Blue, a clunky Mazda with a tennis ball for a stick shift), life as a Southerner (Northerners constantly ask him things like, do you believe in dinosaurs?), and his first apartment where a rat chewed a hole right through the wall to how his wife keeps him in line and so much more. He also reflects on such topics as Vandy football and the origins of sushi (how can a Philadelphia roll be from old-time Japan?).
Nate’s book is full of heart and it will make readers laugh out loud and nod in recognition, but it probably won’t make them think too much.
*Nate’s family disputes this entire story
240 pages, Hardcover
First published May 6, 2025
3076 people are currently reading
27872 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,633 reviews
August 27, 2025
2.5 stars
I really enjoy Nate Bargatze’s standup, so imagine my disappointment when I barely chuckled while listening to all 6.5 hours of him narrating the audiobook. I always thought his whole “I’m not too smart” shtick was just that, a shtick, because comedians have to be inherently intelligent to come up with funny insights/jokes. Especially if you purposefully avoid being offensive or crude like Nate does - that takes effort and skill. But maybe he really is telling the truth about his relative “smarts” because he says at the end that he took two years to write this, and he really doesn’t have much to show for it.
- There’s five chapters of “random food things” and none of them are funny
- There’s literal filler blank pages (yes that is narrated)
- There’s a recounting of every dog he has ever partially taken care of (also none of that was funny or interesting and I love animals)
On top of the boring filler, I also got the major ick when Nate very early on mentions how his dad’s mother was this awful abusive parent and yet the dad was the one who apologized when she was on her deathbed. This is told as if it’s perfectly normal and as a touching moment. Um, I think your dad needs therapy Nate and maybe this should have been cut from the book until he works that out.
Oh and Nate also mentions listening to Joe Rogan 🤢 so yeah. Don’t really recommend unless you really really like this comedian and also can lower your expectations.
I received an ARC of the audiobook through Netgalley but this did not influence my rating or review.
I really enjoy Nate Bargatze’s standup, so imagine my disappointment when I barely chuckled while listening to all 6.5 hours of him narrating the audiobook. I always thought his whole “I’m not too smart” shtick was just that, a shtick, because comedians have to be inherently intelligent to come up with funny insights/jokes. Especially if you purposefully avoid being offensive or crude like Nate does - that takes effort and skill. But maybe he really is telling the truth about his relative “smarts” because he says at the end that he took two years to write this, and he really doesn’t have much to show for it.
- There’s five chapters of “random food things” and none of them are funny
- There’s literal filler blank pages (yes that is narrated)
- There’s a recounting of every dog he has ever partially taken care of (also none of that was funny or interesting and I love animals)
On top of the boring filler, I also got the major ick when Nate very early on mentions how his dad’s mother was this awful abusive parent and yet the dad was the one who apologized when she was on her deathbed. This is told as if it’s perfectly normal and as a touching moment. Um, I think your dad needs therapy Nate and maybe this should have been cut from the book until he works that out.
Oh and Nate also mentions listening to Joe Rogan 🤢 so yeah. Don’t really recommend unless you really really like this comedian and also can lower your expectations.
I received an ARC of the audiobook through Netgalley but this did not influence my rating or review.
April 25, 2025
A memoir being released by my favorite comedian? Yes, please. If you are already a fan get a copy. If you aren't a fan yet, you will be after you read this book. I recommend the audio and be sure to check out the pics in the PDF.
We have tickets to see Nate in KC this September. Can. Not. Wait! 🤣
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and Edelweiss+ for a digital ARC and to Audio and NetGalley for an audio ARC. Such a delightful read. Love the clean content!
We have tickets to see Nate in KC this September. Can. Not. Wait! 🤣
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and Edelweiss+ for a digital ARC and to Audio and NetGalley for an audio ARC. Such a delightful read. Love the clean content!
May 29, 2025
Nate Bargatze has always been the kind of comedian who doesn’t need to yell or swear to get a laugh. He just tells you a story—usually something very normal that spirals into absurdity—and suddenly you’re dying over a conversation about whether sushi was invented in California or feudal Japan. (Spoiler: he’s not sure either.) That’s the magic here. It’s not big, dramatic punchlines. It’s him trying to explain to his wife that yes, he did go grocery shopping—he just went to one aisle, and it was the candy aisle.
Big Dumb Eyes is basically a printed version of that lovable, bewildered guy we’ve seen onstage. It’s full of short chapters that feel like standalone bits: there’s the time he lived in an apartment that was basically a rat hotel, the saga of his busted Mazda with a tennis ball for a gearshift, and his slow realization that “adulting” mostly means arguing about chores and pretending to understand health insurance. Additionally, he’s joked for years that he doesn’t read books. He even has whole bits about how reading is hard. So the fact that he wrote one? That’s comedy in itself. But here’s the twist: he built in a workaround.
I enjoyed the audio version. Nate reads it himself, and there’s just no substitute for his timing, his tone, and that sweet spot between confused and confident that only he can pull off. It's like hanging out with your funniest friend who also maybe once fell on his head.
Reading Big Dumb Eyes feels like flipping through a scrapbook of someone else’s most embarrassing, ridiculous memories—and realizing you’ve basically lived them too. Bargatze doesn’t pretend to be wise or edgy. He’s just baffled, like the rest of us, and he’s somehow made a career out of it.
It’s also worth mentioning: this is maybe the least offensive comedy book you’ll ever read. No vulgarity, no shock jock energy—just clever, observational humor that’s relatable whether you’re 22 or 62. You could give it to your parents, your kids, or that one coworker who always plays it safe with HR. And they’d all laugh.
Bottom line? Big Dumb Eyes is like a stand-up special for your brain. If your brain is a little tired, a little distracted, and desperately in need of something fun that doesn’t require a whiteboard or a glossary, this is your book. Or audiobook. Or both.
Big Dumb Eyes is basically a printed version of that lovable, bewildered guy we’ve seen onstage. It’s full of short chapters that feel like standalone bits: there’s the time he lived in an apartment that was basically a rat hotel, the saga of his busted Mazda with a tennis ball for a gearshift, and his slow realization that “adulting” mostly means arguing about chores and pretending to understand health insurance. Additionally, he’s joked for years that he doesn’t read books. He even has whole bits about how reading is hard. So the fact that he wrote one? That’s comedy in itself. But here’s the twist: he built in a workaround.
I enjoyed the audio version. Nate reads it himself, and there’s just no substitute for his timing, his tone, and that sweet spot between confused and confident that only he can pull off. It's like hanging out with your funniest friend who also maybe once fell on his head.
Reading Big Dumb Eyes feels like flipping through a scrapbook of someone else’s most embarrassing, ridiculous memories—and realizing you’ve basically lived them too. Bargatze doesn’t pretend to be wise or edgy. He’s just baffled, like the rest of us, and he’s somehow made a career out of it.
It’s also worth mentioning: this is maybe the least offensive comedy book you’ll ever read. No vulgarity, no shock jock energy—just clever, observational humor that’s relatable whether you’re 22 or 62. You could give it to your parents, your kids, or that one coworker who always plays it safe with HR. And they’d all laugh.
Bottom line? Big Dumb Eyes is like a stand-up special for your brain. If your brain is a little tired, a little distracted, and desperately in need of something fun that doesn’t require a whiteboard or a glossary, this is your book. Or audiobook. Or both.
May 6, 2025
DNF at 30%. I think his stand up is funny but this was just listening to a guy at a barbecue tell mediocre stories.
May 2, 2025
This audiobook gives all the feels! The stories are funny, heartwarming, and relatable. The Christmas elf, COVID barber, and Whataburger story are some of my favorites. Nate Bargatze’s narration was a treat and greatly enhanced the enjoyment and entertainment of this nostalgic collection. Thank you, NetGalley and Hachette Audio, for my audiobook.
April 11, 2025
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I am a fan of Nate’s style of comedy, mixing humble stories of his life with silly situations, and some xennial flair. I was really curious to read what he’d consider worthy to be in a book. And make no mistake, this is 100% written in his voice. You can hear the cadence and style with every word. I was a little reluctant to start reading this one. Not that I don’t like him, but it’s hard to be funny for a couple hundred pages no matter who you are. And I’m sorry to say I was right to be apprehensive. As much as I enjoy his stand up routines, there were a few themes that popped up that made me uncomfortable. One is religion. I get it, the south is steeped in it. But that doesn’t mean I want to read about it in a book from a comedian. Another is about his grandmother, which he admits is an abusive alcoholic who abused his dad. It’s not the description that’s the issue, it’s the story of his dad visiting on her deathbed asking for forgiveness for “not being a better son”. Coming from my own abusive past, this jangled a lot of nerves. Everyone deals with their issues differently but this feels like a dangerous vignette to appear so casually. This is all in the first 10% of the book, too.
Overall, it’s ok. Nothing that really blows the doors off. And truly, I don’t think it was meant to. It’s a collection of stories. Some are funny and heartwarming, like the Men in Black story with his little sister. Some are a product of their time where you truly had to be there or like alive during that era (church basketball, old blue, McDonald’s menu change). Others are sad like the cliff story, his dad’s childhood and poor Cosmo the cat. And the whole Vanderbilt sports story. (Yay sports ball?)
If anything by the end of the book, it’s much easier to understand how Nate ended up in stand up. With family like his, it truly was the only possible outcome.
I am a fan of Nate’s style of comedy, mixing humble stories of his life with silly situations, and some xennial flair. I was really curious to read what he’d consider worthy to be in a book. And make no mistake, this is 100% written in his voice. You can hear the cadence and style with every word. I was a little reluctant to start reading this one. Not that I don’t like him, but it’s hard to be funny for a couple hundred pages no matter who you are. And I’m sorry to say I was right to be apprehensive. As much as I enjoy his stand up routines, there were a few themes that popped up that made me uncomfortable. One is religion. I get it, the south is steeped in it. But that doesn’t mean I want to read about it in a book from a comedian. Another is about his grandmother, which he admits is an abusive alcoholic who abused his dad. It’s not the description that’s the issue, it’s the story of his dad visiting on her deathbed asking for forgiveness for “not being a better son”. Coming from my own abusive past, this jangled a lot of nerves. Everyone deals with their issues differently but this feels like a dangerous vignette to appear so casually. This is all in the first 10% of the book, too.
Overall, it’s ok. Nothing that really blows the doors off. And truly, I don’t think it was meant to. It’s a collection of stories. Some are funny and heartwarming, like the Men in Black story with his little sister. Some are a product of their time where you truly had to be there or like alive during that era (church basketball, old blue, McDonald’s menu change). Others are sad like the cliff story, his dad’s childhood and poor Cosmo the cat. And the whole Vanderbilt sports story. (Yay sports ball?)
If anything by the end of the book, it’s much easier to understand how Nate ended up in stand up. With family like his, it truly was the only possible outcome.
July 8, 2025
Nate Bargatze (b. 1979) is an American comedian who's known for his family-friendly act.
Nate Bargatze
Bargatze likes to say he never reads books (too many words) but he guarantees folks will like THIS book because it's funny and has lots of stories that aren't in his act. And Bargatze's right; this is an entertaining memoir.
Nate Bargatze doing his stand-up act
Bargatze grew up in the tiny burg of Lakewood, Tennessee, which was later incorporated into Old Hickory - a DuPont company town. The burg had six police officers whose only job was to give traffic tickets, and the cops would 'sit across from the Piggly Wiggly, shaking down families on their way to church.'
When Nate was a kid, his father Stephen was a professional clown who later morphed into a funny magician. Bargatze writes, "My dad's story is like the stories of a lot of funny people I know, in that it doesn't start out funny at all." Stephen had a difficult childhood with an abusive alcoholic mother, and he hit rock bottom before relatives helped him turn his life around. Afterwards, Stephen believed "we needed to laugh at ourselves and at each other" and he became a clown.
Little Nate and his father Stephen, a professional clown
Little Nate and his father Stephen, a professional clown
For Nate, having a clown dad was normal and fun, except when kids at his birthday party preferred watching Yo-Yo to playing with him. When Bargatze began his comedy career, he got his magician dad to open for him at a 2007 Nashville show. Bargatze asked his dad not to be TOO funny, since Nate wanted to be the funniest guy that night. But Bargatze's dad absolutely KILLED - and Nate still has Stephen open shows for him to this day.
Nate Bargatze's father Stephen is a magician
Nate Bargatze's father Stephen sometimes opens shows for him
Bargatze was a good student until the 7th grade, after which things went downhill. Bartgatze blames this on a concussion resulting from a terrible fall. Afterwards, Nate barely graduated from high school, had one year of community college, and flunked out of Western Kentucky University. Along the way Nate hung out with his friends, watched TV, ate pizza, and had sundry temporary jobs. In a fun story, Nate writes about being a water-meter-reader who helped guard a Tennessee water facility from the Taliban after 9/11.
Young Nate Bargatze
For transportation, Nate's parents bought him a 1985 Mazda 626 jalopy that he named 'Old Blue', and Bargatze confides, "Every single one of my passwords, to this day is OldBlue626# - and now, I will have to change them all."
Bargatze riffs on a variety of subjects in the book. These include:
His obsession with the correct socks;
His conviction that competing brands can't be worn together (Adidas clothes and Reebok shoes are a no-no);
Getting cut from his high school basketball team but making it to the NBA (Nashville Baptist Association);
Being a dog owner (in Old Hickory, people didn't leash or clean up after their dogs);
His love for the Vanderbilt Commodores;
His food preferences (McDonald's two cheeseburgers meal is a favorite);
Being Christian in small-town Tennessee (the first thing you ask people is 'Where do you go to church?');
And the culture shock when he moved away from his hometown and not everyone was Christian.
Note: Vanderbilt's athletics teams are called the Commodores in honor of the nickname given to Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided a million dollars in 1873 for the university's establishment.
Nate Bargatze is a loyal Vanderbilt fan
Bargatze also has lots of anecdotes about his parents, his younger brother Derek, and his little sister Abigail. Nate and Derek had an ongoing rivalry, and one afternoon Derek rushed home and reported to their mother Carol that Nate had used the 'f-word'. Bargatze recalls, "Even my mom, with her sailor's mouth, was appalled." Mom then found out Derek meant 'fart', and laughed, but decided she wasn't a fan of that f-word either.
Nate Bargatze's brother Derek
Nate Bargatze's mother Carol
Nate loved his sister Abigail from the day she was born, and they bonded over Disney songs and 'Men in Black' movies.
Nate Bargatze's sister Abigail
It's clear the Bargatze brothers are VERY competitive, sister Abby is much loved; and the entire family is close and supportive.
When Bargatze was twenty, he decided to try a career in stand-up comedy, and moved to Chicago to get a start. Bargatze has lots of amusing tales about life in Chicago, like the giant rat that chewed through a baseball glove and pushed a heavy old-fashioned TV out of the way. When Nate's future wife Laura visited Chicago, Nate managed to hide the rat problem, and now that they're married, Laura is in charge of any rodent infestations in their home.
Nate Bargatze early in his career
Nate Bargatze with his wife Laura
Bargatze later moved to New York, and suddenly life and dogs got a lot more complicated. Nate writes, "I'd barely ask [people] what church they went to before they'd tell me to get to the point: I'm in a hurry! Don't you see how much dog stuff I still got to clean up?" During this time Nate worked day and night to advance his career, struggled to take care of his dog Sasha, and got married to his fiancée Laura - and the memoir has gobs of fun yarns about those days. Bargatze's career took off when he was in New York, and of course he's a very successful comic today.
Nate Bargatze and his wife Laura
Bargatze jokes about how cheap his father and wife are, but it's good-natured ribbing. For instance, Nate and Laura got married in Old Hickory on Friday the 13th because the club basically said, "We will pay YOU money to get married on this date, because everyone else will be home hoping they don't get murdered by a dude in a hockey mask."
After more 'frugality' anecdotes, Bargatze quips, "Next time you need your lawn mowed, your driveway sealed, your brick drilled, or a refrigerator dragged flat on its back across your front yard, just call 1-800-BARGATZE. We work real cheap."
There's lots more entertainment in the book, and Bargatze's sincere affection for his family and friends comes through as well.
If you're a Bargatze fan, you'll probably like the book, and if you're unfamiliar with the comic, the book can help you get to know him.
Nate Bargatze on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon
Nate Bargatze on Saturday Night Live
Nate Bargatze as George Washington on Saturday Night Live
I liked 'Big Dumb Eyes' and enjoy Bargatze's specials on streaming services. Nate's daughter Harper occasionally introduces her dad before he goes onstage, which is a nice touch.
Nate Bargatze with his wife Laura and daughter Harper
Thanks to Netgalley, Nate Bargatze, and Grand Central Publishing for a copy of the book.
You can follow my reviews at http://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com
May 11, 2025
I was very disappointed in the audiobook read by the author. The stories were boring and unpolished as if he was saving the good stuff for his comedy shows. I’m still a fan, but not of the book.
July 1, 2025
One of my favorite stand-up comedians currently is Nate Bargatze, who has, apparently, been working the stand-up circuits for many, many years. It has been fairly recently, however, that his career has skyrocketed to the point that his name is almost a household one. He has had several successful Netflix specials, appeared on SNL as host twice, and now has a best-selling book out. As someone who is very critical and nit-picky about stand-up comedians, I would have to say that his success is well-deserved.
A large part of his appeal is the fact that Bargatze is a "clean" comic. He never uses profanity, and his jokes never involve awkward sexual innuendo. I have watched his Netflix specials with my 11-year-old daughter and never worried once that she was hearing something inappropriate for her age. Even my wife finds him hilarious, and she normally detests stand-up. He is proof that one can be funny without dropping countless "f" bombs or constantly talking about one's penis or vagina.
His book, "Big Dumb Eyes", is basically his stand-up routine in written form. In other words, it's hilarious. It's also a quick read, as another part of his appeal is that he's not afraid to make fun of himself, including the fact that he's a college drop-out who isn't very smart. (I will hazard a guess that part of his "dumb" schtick is just that: a schtick. One that he's cleverly cultivated over the years. The fact of his rising success is proof that he's smarter than he acts.)
Besides all the silliness, the book does delve into some semi-serious and heart-warming episodes in his life, including how he met his wife and the birth of his daughter. He also talks quite unashamedly about the fact that he was born and raised in a devout Christian home, and that he is, still to this day, a (semi-) regular church-goer. This is actually kind of refreshing. Mostly, though, it's hilarious.
A large part of his appeal is the fact that Bargatze is a "clean" comic. He never uses profanity, and his jokes never involve awkward sexual innuendo. I have watched his Netflix specials with my 11-year-old daughter and never worried once that she was hearing something inappropriate for her age. Even my wife finds him hilarious, and she normally detests stand-up. He is proof that one can be funny without dropping countless "f" bombs or constantly talking about one's penis or vagina.
His book, "Big Dumb Eyes", is basically his stand-up routine in written form. In other words, it's hilarious. It's also a quick read, as another part of his appeal is that he's not afraid to make fun of himself, including the fact that he's a college drop-out who isn't very smart. (I will hazard a guess that part of his "dumb" schtick is just that: a schtick. One that he's cleverly cultivated over the years. The fact of his rising success is proof that he's smarter than he acts.)
Besides all the silliness, the book does delve into some semi-serious and heart-warming episodes in his life, including how he met his wife and the birth of his daughter. He also talks quite unashamedly about the fact that he was born and raised in a devout Christian home, and that he is, still to this day, a (semi-) regular church-goer. This is actually kind of refreshing. Mostly, though, it's hilarious.
June 9, 2025
DNF, I didn’t find it funny or original or interesting in any way. Just some rambling stories. Put down after 30%.
May 23, 2025
3 Stars- Nate Bargatze is one of my absolute favorite comedians ever. I was so excited for this book and was surprised that it wasn’t really funny at all. It was interesting to hear about his family and childhood but it was mostly just a lot of mundane stories. I guess he should stick to the stage.
May 13, 2025
i love nate bargatze's simple observations and deadpan delivery—his clever storytelling genuinely makes me laugh every time.
but this memoir? i hate to say it, but this was almost a dnf for me! i was barely amused and hardly chuckled at all. these stories just didn't land the way his stand-up usually does.
but this memoir? i hate to say it, but this was almost a dnf for me! i was barely amused and hardly chuckled at all. these stories just didn't land the way his stand-up usually does.
June 20, 2025
What an excellent book! So funny and very well written the guy is a great storyteller
May 6, 2025
TW/CW: alcoholism, toxic parent relationships, abusive parents, child abuse, death by suicide attempt
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
Nate Bargatze used to be a genius. That is, until the summer after seventh grade when he slipped, fell off a cliff, hit his head on a rock, and “my brain got, like, dented or something.” Before this accident, he dreamed of being “an electric engineer, or a brain doctor, or maybe a math person who does like, math things for a living.” Afterwards, a voice in his head told him, “It’s okay. You’re dumb now. All you got is standup.”* But the “math things’ industry’s loss is our gain because Nate went on to become one of today’s top-grossing comedians who breaks both attendance and streaming records.
Release Date: May 6th, 2025
Genre: Memoir
Pages: 24
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
What I Liked:
1. Some of the stories were interesting
2. Author narrates audiobook
What I Didn't Like:
1. Pretty dull and flat
2. Not funny
3. Random stories about outside characters
Final Thoughts:
Omg omg omg I also drive with two feet too!
I struggled to understand why this book was even written. It was so flat and unfunny. Such a shame because I was excited to get a funny bunch of stories that shaped Nate, but a lot of the stores left me bored and not even a chuckle.
I dnfed because life is too short to be so bored and uninspired by a book.
IG | Blog
Thanks toGrand Central Publishing and Netgalley for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
Nate Bargatze used to be a genius. That is, until the summer after seventh grade when he slipped, fell off a cliff, hit his head on a rock, and “my brain got, like, dented or something.” Before this accident, he dreamed of being “an electric engineer, or a brain doctor, or maybe a math person who does like, math things for a living.” Afterwards, a voice in his head told him, “It’s okay. You’re dumb now. All you got is standup.”* But the “math things’ industry’s loss is our gain because Nate went on to become one of today’s top-grossing comedians who breaks both attendance and streaming records.
Release Date: May 6th, 2025
Genre: Memoir
Pages: 24
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
What I Liked:
1. Some of the stories were interesting
2. Author narrates audiobook
What I Didn't Like:
1. Pretty dull and flat
2. Not funny
3. Random stories about outside characters
Final Thoughts:
Omg omg omg I also drive with two feet too!
I struggled to understand why this book was even written. It was so flat and unfunny. Such a shame because I was excited to get a funny bunch of stories that shaped Nate, but a lot of the stores left me bored and not even a chuckle.
I dnfed because life is too short to be so bored and uninspired by a book.
IG | Blog
Thanks toGrand Central Publishing and Netgalley for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 11, 2025
This might be the easiest five stars I’ve ever given a book. I listened to the audio version of the book which is narrated by Nate himself, and there are times where I nearly had to pull my car over from laughing so hard. This book is full of hilarious stories l, but it also has heartwarming tales about his family and upbringing. This is one of my favorite reads/listens of the year and I cannot recommend it highly enough. 5 stars.
*I received this as an ARC from the publisher*
*I received this as an ARC from the publisher*
April 18, 2025
This book was… fine. I expected to laugh out loud more but it felt like I was listening to ramblings more than a story or even bites of comedy.
The audio production was good. There were very few parts where the it sounded as if the audio was recorded at a different time than the rest. I enjoyed the extra production on pieces like phone calls, which I don’t feel is common in a lot of memoirs.
Overall, I don’t feel I took much away from the book about life or about Nate, and that disappointed me.
Thanks to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the advanced copy!
The audio production was good. There were very few parts where the it sounded as if the audio was recorded at a different time than the rest. I enjoyed the extra production on pieces like phone calls, which I don’t feel is common in a lot of memoirs.
Overall, I don’t feel I took much away from the book about life or about Nate, and that disappointed me.
Thanks to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the advanced copy!
May 9, 2025
Nate Bargatze is so unbelievably funny! In this book he tells about how he grew up, lots about his family (mother, father, siblings, wife and daughter), and many funny stories about his own eccentricities.
Also, I'm sure reading the book would be funny enough -- BUT if you can listen to the audio book, Do It! The audio production and narration were excellent. And Nate is hilarious as he reads the book. Sometimes he laughs during the reading, I loved that!
If you just need something light between heavy reads, and if you like to laugh, you need to read this book! Enjoy!!!! ;)
I’d like to thank NetGalley, Nate Bargatze, Hatchett Audio and Grand Central Publishing for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for my unbiased review.
Also, I'm sure reading the book would be funny enough -- BUT if you can listen to the audio book, Do It! The audio production and narration were excellent. And Nate is hilarious as he reads the book. Sometimes he laughs during the reading, I loved that!
If you just need something light between heavy reads, and if you like to laugh, you need to read this book! Enjoy!!!! ;)
I’d like to thank NetGalley, Nate Bargatze, Hatchett Audio and Grand Central Publishing for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for my unbiased review.
May 12, 2025
Basically a 7 hour comedy special, which is all I’ve ever wanted from Nate.
June 13, 2025
I usually start my book review with a quote from the book that I like. I didn’t do that with this one: 1) because I decided to just read it as if I was sitting at one of his shows, not wanting to be distracted by writing anything down and 2) it’s so anecdotal that to reduce it any of his bits to quotes feels like you miss too much.
If you’ve seen him live or watched one of his Netflix specials (do it) then reading this book will feel a lot like the show. You can hear his voice and delivery as you read, the same straight-faced humor about weird jobs, his dad being a clown, the dynamics between him and his wife, and his love of McDonalds.
I think my favorite part of the book were the blank pages he included to give us a break every now and then. In one of his bits about how ‘books are the key to smart,’ he mentions how he wished books had more of that so I applaud that he got to see that dream come to fruition.
This book is part memoir, part funny story-telling. He says from the very beginning that there is not really an overarching message:
“This book is never trying to say anything even close to important… you can open it to any random chapter you want and you’ll be just fine. There isn’t any real order. No rhyme or reason behind much of anything.”
And I would say he delivered on that. In a good way! It’s an easy, enjoyable read that will make you smile. It’s something you can come back to and read part or all of again whenever you just want something light and funny to escape from the chaos of the day.
There is a little bit of overlap with what has been in his shows but there were lots of new stories or details and background to previously mentioned moments that kept it fresh. There are even pictures— although I wish they would have been in color so you could see them better.
The first time I watched Nate Bargatze was with friends when he performed at our local comedy club, The Funny Bone. There were like 50 people there. The second time was a slightly bigger audience in the college town of Ames, Iowa. The third was a bigger audience at a bigger venue, and the last time was the Wells Fargo Arena— the biggest venue in Des Moines and it was packed.
It’s been fun to see his success and his audience grow. What’s even better is that he did it without resorting to using profanity, sexual innuendo, or controversial material. It’s just relatable stories about his life that connects with people and allows us to watch his comedy with our families.
I wish more comics had the same principles because it shows that you don’t have to be raw, raunchy, or explicit to be hilarious!
I’m surprised by people who give this negative reviews if they’ve seen his shows before. If you haven’t, then you might be underwhelmed by the book. If you have, you should understand that the underwhelm is part of his schtick. He’s not dramatic or over-the-top or super expressive or loud. He’s just a normal guy talking about normal stuff. He’s just a friend pointing out the humorous parts of ordinary lives.
It appears that the main qualms people have with this book, other than if they thought it was boring (it wasn’t), were basically two-fold:
First, he talked about God and faith, mostly in relation to his dad. I just read Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (the Olympian)’s book and people were upset she talked about faith too. Which is really wild to me. For Sydney’s book it was the primary objective. What Nate does with it is not even close to how explicitly Sydney delivers the gospel and yet people’s feathers are ruffled by it. As if a comedian isn’t allowed to ‘bring religion’ into anything. For a culture obsessed with identity a lot of people really want to limit what can be allowed to shape a person.
Second, he mentions his dad’s abusive mother and her deathbed scene where he apologizes for not being a better son or trying harder to include her in the family. It’s a very short part but readers who had experienced abuse were really turned off by the way it was described as if he was the problem, not the abusive mother. I can see how that puts a bad taste in your mouth when you’ve dealt with abuse and manipulative people— why should he be the one to apologize?
I’m not entirely sure why he included that in the book— perhaps to share the tenderness of his father’s heart and his desire for reconciliation in his life?— and I think it could be argued that this wasn’t the right place to put it. I’m sure there is a lot more to the story and information that wasn’t shared that may speak into the dissonance for us. He chose not to go into all that, which makes sense to me, and I’m not going to use that moment to tear apart his entire book.
I will say that the chapter on Vanderbilt threw me a little bit. Maybe if I listened to his podcast more I would have heard him mention Vandy more— it hasn’t really been in his shows that I can remember. So to hear his passion for Vandy and read an entire chapter about it felt like seeing a new facet of Bargatze that I hadn’t known was there— the sports fanatic Nate.
I can see how some might not care about that and you wouldn’t really be missing much to skip over that one. That’s the freedom of the book— you can pick and choose what you want to read when you want to read it.
I think it’s cool that Nate decided to write a book. It’s an accomplishment, especially for someone who’s never read one before. I mean there’s part of me that laments how easy it is for famous people to get a book published when all of us nobodies are sitting on a story we can’t get in front of anyone, but I am happy for him and his success.
It looks like he’s most likely stepping off the stand-up track to pursue movie-making. I would venture to guess that his time will be spent wrapped up in that rather than more book writing, but I believe this book achieved what Nate wanted it to achieve. I’m pretty much here for anything he does or will do because I think he’s a funny guy and a good dude and I appreciate his willingness to hold the line of clean comedy even when he gets pushback about it.
Stay strong, man!
Recommendation
I totally recommend it.
Also, shoutout to P.P. Hopefully I can hear the story behind your name sometime.
Book Review Blog | Facebook | Pinterest | StoryGraph
If you’ve seen him live or watched one of his Netflix specials (do it) then reading this book will feel a lot like the show. You can hear his voice and delivery as you read, the same straight-faced humor about weird jobs, his dad being a clown, the dynamics between him and his wife, and his love of McDonalds.
I think my favorite part of the book were the blank pages he included to give us a break every now and then. In one of his bits about how ‘books are the key to smart,’ he mentions how he wished books had more of that so I applaud that he got to see that dream come to fruition.
This book is part memoir, part funny story-telling. He says from the very beginning that there is not really an overarching message:
“This book is never trying to say anything even close to important… you can open it to any random chapter you want and you’ll be just fine. There isn’t any real order. No rhyme or reason behind much of anything.”
And I would say he delivered on that. In a good way! It’s an easy, enjoyable read that will make you smile. It’s something you can come back to and read part or all of again whenever you just want something light and funny to escape from the chaos of the day.
There is a little bit of overlap with what has been in his shows but there were lots of new stories or details and background to previously mentioned moments that kept it fresh. There are even pictures— although I wish they would have been in color so you could see them better.
The first time I watched Nate Bargatze was with friends when he performed at our local comedy club, The Funny Bone. There were like 50 people there. The second time was a slightly bigger audience in the college town of Ames, Iowa. The third was a bigger audience at a bigger venue, and the last time was the Wells Fargo Arena— the biggest venue in Des Moines and it was packed.
It’s been fun to see his success and his audience grow. What’s even better is that he did it without resorting to using profanity, sexual innuendo, or controversial material. It’s just relatable stories about his life that connects with people and allows us to watch his comedy with our families.
I wish more comics had the same principles because it shows that you don’t have to be raw, raunchy, or explicit to be hilarious!
I’m surprised by people who give this negative reviews if they’ve seen his shows before. If you haven’t, then you might be underwhelmed by the book. If you have, you should understand that the underwhelm is part of his schtick. He’s not dramatic or over-the-top or super expressive or loud. He’s just a normal guy talking about normal stuff. He’s just a friend pointing out the humorous parts of ordinary lives.
It appears that the main qualms people have with this book, other than if they thought it was boring (it wasn’t), were basically two-fold:
First, he talked about God and faith, mostly in relation to his dad. I just read Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (the Olympian)’s book and people were upset she talked about faith too. Which is really wild to me. For Sydney’s book it was the primary objective. What Nate does with it is not even close to how explicitly Sydney delivers the gospel and yet people’s feathers are ruffled by it. As if a comedian isn’t allowed to ‘bring religion’ into anything. For a culture obsessed with identity a lot of people really want to limit what can be allowed to shape a person.
Second, he mentions his dad’s abusive mother and her deathbed scene where he apologizes for not being a better son or trying harder to include her in the family. It’s a very short part but readers who had experienced abuse were really turned off by the way it was described as if he was the problem, not the abusive mother. I can see how that puts a bad taste in your mouth when you’ve dealt with abuse and manipulative people— why should he be the one to apologize?
I’m not entirely sure why he included that in the book— perhaps to share the tenderness of his father’s heart and his desire for reconciliation in his life?— and I think it could be argued that this wasn’t the right place to put it. I’m sure there is a lot more to the story and information that wasn’t shared that may speak into the dissonance for us. He chose not to go into all that, which makes sense to me, and I’m not going to use that moment to tear apart his entire book.
I will say that the chapter on Vanderbilt threw me a little bit. Maybe if I listened to his podcast more I would have heard him mention Vandy more— it hasn’t really been in his shows that I can remember. So to hear his passion for Vandy and read an entire chapter about it felt like seeing a new facet of Bargatze that I hadn’t known was there— the sports fanatic Nate.
I can see how some might not care about that and you wouldn’t really be missing much to skip over that one. That’s the freedom of the book— you can pick and choose what you want to read when you want to read it.
I think it’s cool that Nate decided to write a book. It’s an accomplishment, especially for someone who’s never read one before. I mean there’s part of me that laments how easy it is for famous people to get a book published when all of us nobodies are sitting on a story we can’t get in front of anyone, but I am happy for him and his success.
It looks like he’s most likely stepping off the stand-up track to pursue movie-making. I would venture to guess that his time will be spent wrapped up in that rather than more book writing, but I believe this book achieved what Nate wanted it to achieve. I’m pretty much here for anything he does or will do because I think he’s a funny guy and a good dude and I appreciate his willingness to hold the line of clean comedy even when he gets pushback about it.
Stay strong, man!
Recommendation
I totally recommend it.
Also, shoutout to P.P. Hopefully I can hear the story behind your name sometime.
Book Review Blog | Facebook | Pinterest | StoryGraph
May 23, 2025
Our experiences shape us. There is good and bad. Big breaks and tough breaks. And most things are out of our control. What we do with our experiences though, how we frame them, how we use them - this we do get some say in. Nate Bargatze’s “Big Dumb Eyes” is a really fun, lighthearted stroll down his wry and witty lane of memory. It was particularly fun listening to him read it, to hear it as he intended it to be read. And right behind all the laughs and wily stories, lies a subtle inspiration to take your experiences, find the good, and give joy to others.
May 21, 2025
I just finished listening to Nate Bargatze narrate his upcoming book, Big Dumb Eyes. I’m happy to report: I was not disappointed.
Even if you don’t immediately recognize the name, you’ve almost certainly seen his face (and those unmistakable “big dumb eyes”). With hit specials on Netflix and Amazon Prime, guest spots on SNL, and a steady stream of clips across social media, Bargatze is everywhere these days.
Celebrity memoirs-comedian edition-are a mixed bag, but Big Dumb Eyes lands squarely in the sweet spot. The book unfolds as a series of personal and family anecdotes, each delivered with Bargatze’s signature comedic timing and deadpan charm. It feels less like reading a memoir and more like listening in on a string of stand-up bits.
Nate’s narration is spectacular. It’s intimate, almost like having a private conversation with him. Too many comedians opt for a dry, monotone reading of their memoirs-never my favorite approach. To quote Kurt Cobain: “Here we are now, entertain us.” Bargatze delivers.
If you’re from the South, live in the South, or even think you might want to live in the South, you’ll find something to love here. If you grew up Christian, converted to Christianity, or are just Christianity-curious, this book is for you. If you’ve ever dated, married, or considered marrying someone you’ve dated, you’ll relate. In other words: Bargatze’s stories are broad, but always relatable.
Looking for tales of the seedy underbelly of stand-up? Scandalous affairs? Wild, hedonistic adventures? You won’t find them here. But if you want an all-ages-friendly, genuinely funny book to share on your next family road trip, you’re in luck.
Big Dumb Eyes won’t stretch your brain, but it will relax it-and probably leave with a smile.
My only gripe: I didn’t have access to the bonus photo album PDF that Nate kept referencing. I had to use my imagination, which, come to think of it, is exactly how regular books work.
Disclaimer: I received a free advanced reader copy (ARC) from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. These opinions are my own.
Even if you don’t immediately recognize the name, you’ve almost certainly seen his face (and those unmistakable “big dumb eyes”). With hit specials on Netflix and Amazon Prime, guest spots on SNL, and a steady stream of clips across social media, Bargatze is everywhere these days.
Celebrity memoirs-comedian edition-are a mixed bag, but Big Dumb Eyes lands squarely in the sweet spot. The book unfolds as a series of personal and family anecdotes, each delivered with Bargatze’s signature comedic timing and deadpan charm. It feels less like reading a memoir and more like listening in on a string of stand-up bits.
Nate’s narration is spectacular. It’s intimate, almost like having a private conversation with him. Too many comedians opt for a dry, monotone reading of their memoirs-never my favorite approach. To quote Kurt Cobain: “Here we are now, entertain us.” Bargatze delivers.
If you’re from the South, live in the South, or even think you might want to live in the South, you’ll find something to love here. If you grew up Christian, converted to Christianity, or are just Christianity-curious, this book is for you. If you’ve ever dated, married, or considered marrying someone you’ve dated, you’ll relate. In other words: Bargatze’s stories are broad, but always relatable.
Looking for tales of the seedy underbelly of stand-up? Scandalous affairs? Wild, hedonistic adventures? You won’t find them here. But if you want an all-ages-friendly, genuinely funny book to share on your next family road trip, you’re in luck.
Big Dumb Eyes won’t stretch your brain, but it will relax it-and probably leave with a smile.
My only gripe: I didn’t have access to the bonus photo album PDF that Nate kept referencing. I had to use my imagination, which, come to think of it, is exactly how regular books work.
Disclaimer: I received a free advanced reader copy (ARC) from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. These opinions are my own.
May 9, 2025
2.5 ⭐️s
🎧 Read
I’m a big fan of Nate. I’ve seen him live twice and have watched his stand-up specials multiple times. My stomach cramps from laughing every single time. Maybe because of that- my expectations were too high. Figured the book would provide some good laughs in a different format, and expected to encounter some of Nate’s familiar bits. Unfortunately, I found myself rarely laughing. The “head above water” bit was about the only exception.
This book definitely read as more of a memoir that included various stories from his childhood into adulthood. And it’s tough to remain funny for the entire length of a book. Particularly when Nate is, in his own words, just a regular guy. Because I went the audiobook route, Nate’s delivery was what carried the book for me.
What I wasn’t prepared for was to encounter quite so much talk of and reference to religion. And it was quite prevalent throughout the book. One particular story involving his dad, abusive grandmother, and forgiveness really didn’t sit well with me. Religion isn’t my cup of tea, so I may be an outlier with this.
Outside of that, Nate included various stories about his childhood, sports, college, McDonalds, meeting his wife, and others. I’m bummed that this book fell a bit flat for me but it won’t stop me from continuing to eat up all his stand-up!
🎧 Read
I’m a big fan of Nate. I’ve seen him live twice and have watched his stand-up specials multiple times. My stomach cramps from laughing every single time. Maybe because of that- my expectations were too high. Figured the book would provide some good laughs in a different format, and expected to encounter some of Nate’s familiar bits. Unfortunately, I found myself rarely laughing. The “head above water” bit was about the only exception.
This book definitely read as more of a memoir that included various stories from his childhood into adulthood. And it’s tough to remain funny for the entire length of a book. Particularly when Nate is, in his own words, just a regular guy. Because I went the audiobook route, Nate’s delivery was what carried the book for me.
What I wasn’t prepared for was to encounter quite so much talk of and reference to religion. And it was quite prevalent throughout the book. One particular story involving his dad, abusive grandmother, and forgiveness really didn’t sit well with me. Religion isn’t my cup of tea, so I may be an outlier with this.
Outside of that, Nate included various stories about his childhood, sports, college, McDonalds, meeting his wife, and others. I’m bummed that this book fell a bit flat for me but it won’t stop me from continuing to eat up all his stand-up!
May 18, 2025
I love Nate Bargatze. I’ve seen every stand-up special, interview, and SNL skit he’s in. He is so funny! However, this book was so UNfunny. I didn’t laugh once. The stories were boring and had no point or punchline. The writing was just bad. His humor was bad. I do not recommend. I will still love and support him on any other project, though.
Read
April 21, 2025Thank you bunches to Hachette Audio and Grand Central Publishing for the ALC in exchange for an honest review!
July 21, 2025
because of Nate, I’ll now be referring to anything from my childhood as the 1900’s
Read
August 3, 2025Fun, easy listen and full of laughs!
May 23, 2025
I like Nate’s stand-up a lot and when he does skits on SNL or the Christmas show in Nashville. I thought listening to the audiobook which was read by him would entertain me similarly. For me though, this just isn’t his most entertaining medium.
May 10, 2025
You probably have to be a fan of Nate already for this to be the most interesting. Mostly just stories about his various family members and friends, I wish he had gotten more into his comedy career.
Very high quality audiobook production
Very high quality audiobook production
May 14, 2025
I like Nate’s stand up and I usually like comedians books and I don’t usually expect anything more from them than some fun stories and a laugh. And that’s basically what you get here, but this one missed the mark from me. There’s sections I really like, his chapter on Bowling and working in an Applebees and accidentally taking his kids to a Make a Wish Disney event were hilarious. But also, maybe because I’m a husband and an adult now (as opposed to the teen I was when I discovered him), I just no longer find weaponized incompetence funny.
He makes multiple references to his wife (the primary breadwinner for years and years while he struggles as a standup) being upset about him consistently blowing their budget on dumb items and he jokes about her like she’s the crazy one for doing that. That’s a joke he only gets to make because he’s now rich and successful. Had he never made it, consistently blowing your wife’s budget, that she as the only money maker is setting, on “hats from Lidz” would be grounds for divorce. He constantly jokes about not doing the chores his wife asks because “dishes are hard”.
I really do hope he’s just making it all up for the joke because if not this book should just be called “Big Dumb Wife” for staying with this guy.
I’d say, get the audiobook if you’re going to get this, as I think his delivery is a saving grace for this book. It’s about 6 hours, so save it for a day when you have a three hour drive somewhere and a three hour drive back. It’ll get you through your drive and you’ll have a chuckle or two. His comedy is crystal fucking clean so you could even listen with a kid in the car. Besides that, there’s some other comedians books I recommend reading instead (Bob Odenkirk; Colin Jost; Michael Richard’s).
He makes multiple references to his wife (the primary breadwinner for years and years while he struggles as a standup) being upset about him consistently blowing their budget on dumb items and he jokes about her like she’s the crazy one for doing that. That’s a joke he only gets to make because he’s now rich and successful. Had he never made it, consistently blowing your wife’s budget, that she as the only money maker is setting, on “hats from Lidz” would be grounds for divorce. He constantly jokes about not doing the chores his wife asks because “dishes are hard”.
I really do hope he’s just making it all up for the joke because if not this book should just be called “Big Dumb Wife” for staying with this guy.
I’d say, get the audiobook if you’re going to get this, as I think his delivery is a saving grace for this book. It’s about 6 hours, so save it for a day when you have a three hour drive somewhere and a three hour drive back. It’ll get you through your drive and you’ll have a chuckle or two. His comedy is crystal fucking clean so you could even listen with a kid in the car. Besides that, there’s some other comedians books I recommend reading instead (Bob Odenkirk; Colin Jost; Michael Richard’s).
April 18, 2025
3 ⭐️ I really like Nate as a comedian but this book didn’t really translate as a super interesting or overly funny read. Nate’s upbringing in the South is pretty typical, it reads like a normal person giving a basic and somewhat boring history of their childhood. There are a lot of “you had to be there” type stories with his friends. He glosses over some of his Father’s personal childhood trauma, which is understandable. I guess, I just didn’t find any relatability, inspiration or nostalgia in his story, which is a large part of why I read these “celebrity” memoirs. I am glad I got the audiobook narration, as Nate reads this himself. It is written and produced with his trademark dry humor and I think it translates well into audio. I am not sure how it would work in a written book. So if you pick this up, I definitely recommend the audio version. I wish it came with the PDF of pictures that he referred to a lot throughout the book. I also really enjoyed the “blank” pages and breaks inserted into the book in a few parts, very original.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this ALC in exchange for my honest opinion. This book will publish on May 5, 2025.
This was my 40th book of 2025
Format: NetGalley ALC
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this ALC in exchange for my honest opinion. This book will publish on May 5, 2025.
This was my 40th book of 2025
Format: NetGalley ALC
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