Self-Help for the Bleak

by Rich Hall

The comedian and author of the best-selling Sniglets offers hilarious mock-advice on loneliness, being broke, dating, depression, and self-esteem, along with reflections on living marked by his trademark offbeat humor.

Genres: Humor, Comedy

121 pages, Paperback

First published March 23, 1994

About the author

Richard Travis Hall is an American comedian, writer, documentary maker, and musician, first coming to prominence as a sketch comedian in the 1980s. He wrote and performed for a range of American networks, in series such as Fridays, Not Necessarily the News (popularising the "sniglet" neologism), and Saturday Night Live.
After winning a Perrier Comedy Award in 2000, using the character of Tennesseean country musician Otis Lee Crenshaw, Hall became popular in the United Kingdom, regularly appearing on QI and similar panel shows. He has created and starred in several series for the BBC, including comedies with Mike Wilmot and documentaries often concerning cinema of the United States. Hall has also maintained a successful stand-up comedy career, as both Crenshaw and himself.

Reviews

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rich Hall is one of the many under-rated comedians from the 80s. From Not Neccessarily the News to Fridays to even Saturday Night Live, Rich Hall always carried with him his unique brand of insanity. Did I mention he also invented Sniglets and does a wicked Paul Harvey impression?

This parody of Self Help Books is a bona fide classic. Find it, read it, and let laughter heal, or at least help an old wound congeal.

[Jan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Let's be clear: I love Rich Hall's stand up. Which is probably why this was such a disappointment. I tried reading it internally in his iconic tone...but even that didn't work. So I'm ditching this and sticking Otis Lee Crenshaw on TV instead.

[Tammy Jorgenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Attaboy Therapy. Pretty funny stuff.

[Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rich Hall gave me a copy of this when I worked with him a thousand years ago. He was shocked when he realized he had written a bathroom book. I love bathroom books