Existential Thirst Trap

by Robert Dean

This book is a love letter to punk rock ethos, mixtape culture, and experiencing life one shot of Jameson at a time. It's raw, funny, and emotional-equal parts Sedaris and Bukowski, with an unforgettable twist. If you've ever had a drink with a stranger in a dark bar or had your heart kicked in one too many times, this book is for you. The collection touches on everything from divorce, mental health, moving to New Orleans with $300 and no job to now living in Austin, Texas, somehow, with a writing career. There's wild ass drinking stories, Buddhism, death, newfound happiness, and all that weirdness in between.
Robert Dean is a journalist, raconteur, and enlightened dumbass. His work has been featured in places like Mic, Eater, Fatherly, Yahoo, Austin American-Statesman, Consequence of Sound, Ozy, The Austin Chronicle, USA Today, to name a few. He's appeared on CNN and NPR. He also serves as features writer for Hussy Magazine, Culture Clash, and Pepper Magazine. He's Editor in Chief at Big Laugh Comedy, Texas' premier comedy production company. He lives in Austin and loves ice cream and koalas.

162 pages, Paperback

Published January 20, 2023

Reviews

[Jason Nickey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book going in, as I haven't read many books of this style. Similar to the writings of authors like Thompson and Palahniuk, Dean' stories have that combination of relatability while also carrying a sense of humor. I really.enjoyed this collection of essays.

[Benoit Lelièvre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Albeit the title and cover are a little misleading, this is a collection of essays. Think David Sedaris meets the proverbial guy at the bar telling you mind-blowing stories. A hard-living, non condescending Sedaris if you will.

This type of sensibility will not appeal to everyone. The working class, pop culture dissecting intellectual is considered a stereotype by certain standards, but Dean's passion is obvious and infectious by moments. He's very much one of these punk-rock-saved-my-life type of dudes, but his outlook shines when he's discussing any topic that's common ground, ranging from Nirvana to simply the quirks of being a music geeks. These more "mundane" essays set up more emotional ones where he discussed what I call "ordinary failure" like how getting fired from a job fucks with your insecurities or how getting a divorce fucks you up. There's an essay about cake and pie too, but I didn't care about that.

I mean, the writing is good and engaging, but this gets a five stars for the principle. The honesty and the vulnerability in this book are vibrant. Robert Dean makes himself known and seen and he's a beautiful soul. We should celebrate that.

[Ryan Hyatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A breath of fresh air. Existential Thirst Trap is a palpable addition to a literary tradition tied to Charles Bukowski, Hunter S. Thompson, and the smoke-filled, whiskey-stained underbelly of the writer’s life.

It’s as if Robert Dean has channeled the ghosts of the most endearing underdogs of literature and scribbled from their gritty spirit, and his dark insides, a screed of loving madness onto bar napkins lifted from the counter into a collection of essays that are surprisingly fresh, insightful, and human—not afraid to kiss you with smeared lipstick or punch you in the gut.

In an age in which people are forever fooled to face forward, it is refreshing to stool up next to Dean at an off-alley dive and join him on his quest of long nights, dizzying dreams, and music-soaked nostalgia. His selection of unhinged, street-side, liquor-fueled stories are sure to warm any heart, but especially those dying from the monotony of established society and longing for the kinds of adventures that only a favorite interloper on the path less travelled can reveal.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Robert Dean’s best work so far. I’ve read his two other books. They were fine but they lacked something I couldn’t quite pinpoint until now. Existential Thirst Trap is all guts. It takes guts to really put yourself out there and share your vulnerable interior. He can get a little too sad boy but that’s probably because I feel myself being called out on my own shit. If he goes back to fiction next time, I hope he inserts more of his heart and soul. It is scary AF to put yourself and your flaws out there, but keep going, man. This is all heart, guts and grit.
Cheers to tales of seedy dive bars, broken hearts, 90s grunge, and Australian dreams.

[Jill Patton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heart and soul bearing collection of short essays that will often have you rolling with laughter or reflecting on your own life moments. Super enjoyable and makes you want to have a beer with the writer.