Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #96872 in Books
• Published on: 2007-01-11
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Synopsis
This book is approved for consumption by those seeking pleasure, escape, amusement, enlightenment, or general distraction. This book is not approved to treat disorders such as eBay addiction or incessant blind dating. In studies, some readers reported inappropriate convulsive laughter, a tingling sensation in the limbs and sudden gasping. Less than one per cent reported narcolepsy. Do not operate heavy machinery while reading this book, until you know what effects it may have on you. Ask your Atlantic Books sales representative about "Possible Side Effects".

Customer Reviews

laugh out loud funny
I just loved this book and finished it quickly. I went to the store to buy Clarence Thomas' new memoir and saw this had come out. If this was in hardcover, I missed it, but I grabbed it the second I saw it!

Augusten Burroughs is one of the funniest writers and most enjoyable to read. I've read all his books and would recommend them all thoroughly. There are many things to praise about Burroughs. Among them is his self-deprecating humor. He wants to be a good person (he is actually a good person) and fights the negative thoughts he has almost constantly. He's a bit insecure. I think he used to be a bit unlikeable, but he's grown up a lot in this book.

When I read Laurie Notaro's first book, I loved it. When she grew up, however, and wrote her second book, she just wasn't funny anymore. That's not the case here. Burroughs has actually gotten better with age. He faces his fears, he is more honest than he used to be, he struggles with issues like the rest of us, but does all he can to be the best person he can be. And, he writes about it with spot-on insight and humor.

All of the book is excellent, but the vignette called Moving Violations was completely hysterical and a definite must-read to anyone who appreciates Burroughs' writing and the weirdness of life.

slight disapointment
'Running with scissors' had me captured. I did not move from my chair (and at some points, the toilet) for a whole two days until I had read it, I was that captured by Augustus' spell!! Although I did find this book amusing at times, I thought that it dragged on some what. I love his style of writing, it really does hold your attention but there were some points at which I was thinking to myself: "and the moral/point of this anecdote is... hmmm, I'll keep reading, it might be leading somewhere..." but then being gravely disapointed. I've read some classics in my time as well as some truely hurrendous stuff, however I'm going to relagate this book to the 'it's alright, not great, but alright' section.

Always in stitches.
I'm never disappointed in his books. I always find myself chuckling out load and in awe with his wit. Like the above review, I did find myself questioning some of his accounts. But I checked into his website, and found what I was curious about is true.

If you're questioning whether to buy this book or not, give 'Running with Scissors' a try first. Trust me, you'll end up buying his other books soon after.