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When All Else Fails
What is the truth? It can mean so many different things to so many people. This is a book about one man’s literary journey toward the truth. It is his truth, and not necessarily yours. It might make you laugh out loud, or it might make you angry, or it might make you want to hide, or it might just turn your stomach. It’s a deeply personal book about a deeply personal subject. There’s a little something for everyone, and a lot to think about, and in some cases, maybe, much ado about nothing at all. Livened up with the author’s own hand-penned illustrations, it is surely an effort you are unlikely to forget.
- GenresFictionPhilosophy
394 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 24, 2023
1 person is currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
Mark Lages
21 books310 followersQuickly...I was born and raised in California, but now live in South Carolina with my wife and our animals. I am neither a liberal nor a conservative. In fact, I despise politics. I think of myself as an artist, and not as a journalist. I've been influenced by Milton Friedman, Frank Lloyd Wright, Hunter S Thompson, Douglas Adams, Salvador Dali, MC Escher, JS Bach, Keith Jarrett, Vincent Price, Tom Waits, and many others. I like to smoke cigars and drink lots of coffee. And I do love to write. Lock me in a room with a box of cigars, a coffee maker, and a computer, and I will do just fine. Click here to leap to my website for more info about me and my books.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 17 reviews
April 26, 2023
If you’ve ever wondered what goes on in the mind of an author who, like Mark Lages, writes novels in a wide range of genres, this is the book for you.
Mr. Lages expounds on matters great(love, death, laughter) and small (bees, sneezes) and exhibits a remarkable honesty in revealing his own faults and failings.
You may not agree with his every opinion (I didn’t) but it is interesting to peek behind the curtain, so to speak.
Mr. Lages expounds on matters great(love, death, laughter) and small (bees, sneezes) and exhibits a remarkable honesty in revealing his own faults and failings.
You may not agree with his every opinion (I didn’t) but it is interesting to peek behind the curtain, so to speak.
April 11, 2023
This is a memoir of sort about the author, Mark Lages. There’s a bit of autobiography and researched information throughout the story as well. However, overall, I’d say it leans more toward memoir but without the familiar fiction structure.
Lages had a normal life growing up in the west coast. His younger years were very typical of an American household with his mother the main caretake of him and his siblings. He was very intelligent and was able to attend university and become an architect. Throughout his life journey, he picked up other skills/talents and also experimented with smoking and alcohol and took a liking to both. The alcohol led him into a downward spiral leading to a life he regretted at times. He was able to pick himself up and continued to build his career and family life. Through it all, he shares his thoughts, feelings, and what he’s learned about all his experiences.
I’ve been a fan of Lages’s writing style and this one didn’t disappoint. Like his other books, there’s humor and a few jokes that got me to smile, and unlike his other books, this one was nonfiction. Lages focused quite a lot on religion in a way that a young child would be curious about it. It got me thinking and I realized that a lot of nonbelievers see religion this same way. I’ve come across a lot of people who blame God for so many things and it’s funny because I’d like the opportunity to explain the whys but there’s just never the opportunity. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve blamed God for a whole lot of things myself, but I always come to terms. If anything, I would say, believe in it in an adult way, not the symbolic way that young children are taught. Of course, that’s harder said than done. Having said that, this was a very interesting insight. Lages also talks a lot about politics and alcoholism. I’m not political myself but I also don’t have any addictions to anything. I’ve read a couple of books this year on addiction (drugs and cannabis) and I’m still fascinated as to how people become addicted to things. I’m aware that there are multiple types of addiction genes out there and I’m wondering why that is and what the purpose of that gene was/is for.
I enjoyed this memoir. I learned a lot about Lages and how we all have certain things we can relate to. For instance, just like Lages, I’ve had multiple dreams where I can’t find my way back home (or back to where I started from) or I’m still in college and I’m taking a math exam, but I don’t remember how to do the math, etc. I’m reading these parts and going, “Same here!” I love it when I can relate to a person in this strange way. It just means as humans, we go through very similar thoughts and mind experiences even if our life outside of our head is very different. I also enjoyed the informative sections on the flies, human mind, paper clips, etc. These little pieces of knowledge were insightful.
This is one of those books you want to take with you on a long vacation or if you have ample time to read. There are books you can rush through and then there are books like this where you want to read every word.
Lages had a normal life growing up in the west coast. His younger years were very typical of an American household with his mother the main caretake of him and his siblings. He was very intelligent and was able to attend university and become an architect. Throughout his life journey, he picked up other skills/talents and also experimented with smoking and alcohol and took a liking to both. The alcohol led him into a downward spiral leading to a life he regretted at times. He was able to pick himself up and continued to build his career and family life. Through it all, he shares his thoughts, feelings, and what he’s learned about all his experiences.
I’ve been a fan of Lages’s writing style and this one didn’t disappoint. Like his other books, there’s humor and a few jokes that got me to smile, and unlike his other books, this one was nonfiction. Lages focused quite a lot on religion in a way that a young child would be curious about it. It got me thinking and I realized that a lot of nonbelievers see religion this same way. I’ve come across a lot of people who blame God for so many things and it’s funny because I’d like the opportunity to explain the whys but there’s just never the opportunity. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve blamed God for a whole lot of things myself, but I always come to terms. If anything, I would say, believe in it in an adult way, not the symbolic way that young children are taught. Of course, that’s harder said than done. Having said that, this was a very interesting insight. Lages also talks a lot about politics and alcoholism. I’m not political myself but I also don’t have any addictions to anything. I’ve read a couple of books this year on addiction (drugs and cannabis) and I’m still fascinated as to how people become addicted to things. I’m aware that there are multiple types of addiction genes out there and I’m wondering why that is and what the purpose of that gene was/is for.
I enjoyed this memoir. I learned a lot about Lages and how we all have certain things we can relate to. For instance, just like Lages, I’ve had multiple dreams where I can’t find my way back home (or back to where I started from) or I’m still in college and I’m taking a math exam, but I don’t remember how to do the math, etc. I’m reading these parts and going, “Same here!” I love it when I can relate to a person in this strange way. It just means as humans, we go through very similar thoughts and mind experiences even if our life outside of our head is very different. I also enjoyed the informative sections on the flies, human mind, paper clips, etc. These little pieces of knowledge were insightful.
This is one of those books you want to take with you on a long vacation or if you have ample time to read. There are books you can rush through and then there are books like this where you want to read every word.
April 13, 2023
This is the 21st book written by this talented and prolific author. This one is different, being non-fiction. I thought I had read every previous word he has written. I have a bookshelf holding nothing but his previous works and I only counted 15 books. To say that I enjoy his writing style would be a gross understatement. In his non-fiction work, he is always relevant, distinctive and relatable. In When All Else Fails, the author is no longer hiding behind a narrator or protagonist, he is offering his (almost) no-holds-barred thoughts on many aspects of life.
This book has a different tone to it than any of his other works. It is more serious. It is often more cynical. It also feels like it could be his last hurrah as an author. While pleased with the books he has written, all in the past seven years since he's turned 60 years-old, he had hoped to have a larger audience and more commercial success.
Before he gets started, Mark states that some of what he has to say will be disagreed with. While he stays away from politics for the most part, he does hit on religion quite a bit, always an area of discussion that spawns disagreement. He also devotes a good chunk of time to coping with alcoholism, a challenge for him for most of his life.
Despite all the ups-and-downs in his life and all the things he is critical of in this world of ours, the author proclaims himself a happy man today. I always, or almost always, found something uplifting in his fiction works, and I root for him to remain a happy man whether he writes another book or moves on to other ventures.
This book has a different tone to it than any of his other works. It is more serious. It is often more cynical. It also feels like it could be his last hurrah as an author. While pleased with the books he has written, all in the past seven years since he's turned 60 years-old, he had hoped to have a larger audience and more commercial success.
Before he gets started, Mark states that some of what he has to say will be disagreed with. While he stays away from politics for the most part, he does hit on religion quite a bit, always an area of discussion that spawns disagreement. He also devotes a good chunk of time to coping with alcoholism, a challenge for him for most of his life.
Despite all the ups-and-downs in his life and all the things he is critical of in this world of ours, the author proclaims himself a happy man today. I always, or almost always, found something uplifting in his fiction works, and I root for him to remain a happy man whether he writes another book or moves on to other ventures.
April 8, 2023
I am, and have been for awhile, a Mark Lages fan.
His writing is deep, sometimes very deep and causes me to examine my thoughts and fears.
That said, this book is outrageously touching.
He tells you right at the start, you may laugh at him, be angry with him or think him a bit out of touch with the world.
He is correct, I felt all those, and more.
This book lays it out for the world to see, our built in prejudices, our need to be seen and heard, and most of all the things we want versus the things we need.
But to explain the things he feels, and shares, would be impossible for someone other than himself.
So allow me to quote him.... when he is speaking to himself, and to the world at large....
"That's why I wrote a book and not just a paragraph. Maybe I've just been trying to say that we live in a big, amazing, complicated and mind-boggling world full of joy, pain, horror,laughter, love, hatred, admiration, goodwill,fear courage, talent, creativity and and a hundred other things too numerous for me to mention off the top of my head--and we all ought to do our best to get along with each other"
And the way he laid the book out, is a very broad roadmap to doing that.
A good book from a thinking human...written, (in my humble opinion) as a book thinking humans everywhere could benefit from reading.
Thank You, Mark, for allowing me to be one of your fans.
His writing is deep, sometimes very deep and causes me to examine my thoughts and fears.
That said, this book is outrageously touching.
He tells you right at the start, you may laugh at him, be angry with him or think him a bit out of touch with the world.
He is correct, I felt all those, and more.
This book lays it out for the world to see, our built in prejudices, our need to be seen and heard, and most of all the things we want versus the things we need.
But to explain the things he feels, and shares, would be impossible for someone other than himself.
So allow me to quote him.... when he is speaking to himself, and to the world at large....
"That's why I wrote a book and not just a paragraph. Maybe I've just been trying to say that we live in a big, amazing, complicated and mind-boggling world full of joy, pain, horror,laughter, love, hatred, admiration, goodwill,fear courage, talent, creativity and and a hundred other things too numerous for me to mention off the top of my head--and we all ought to do our best to get along with each other"
And the way he laid the book out, is a very broad roadmap to doing that.
A good book from a thinking human...written, (in my humble opinion) as a book thinking humans everywhere could benefit from reading.
Thank You, Mark, for allowing me to be one of your fans.
May 3, 2023
One can't help but feel hopeful after reading a book by Mark Lages, and this memoir/autobiography of sorts is no different.
As evidenced in When All Else Fails, Mr. Lages can write a book that will make you think, reconsider what you've always thought, and open your mind to new ideas. Something I've come to appreciate about his books is that his characters have flaws, real, tangible flaws that you can feel with every fiber of your being. In this book, he exposes his flaws, mistakes made, lessons learned, and the magnificence of what can happen when we overcome all that to try to make the world a better place.
More people need to read this book. Even if you don't agree with everything he has to say, Mr. Lages is just so honest and open, writing with eloquence and grace on each page.
If you've read a book by him before, you know they are filled with fun references from older shows that don't suck, little rants that make you wonder where he's going, and a magical way he ties everything up at the end. He's done it again.
I received this book from the author because I was added to his "fans" a few years ago upon winning his book in a Goodreads giveaway. Since then, he has generously sent me his books to review, which has no influence on on my reviews. I just love what I'm reading.
As evidenced in When All Else Fails, Mr. Lages can write a book that will make you think, reconsider what you've always thought, and open your mind to new ideas. Something I've come to appreciate about his books is that his characters have flaws, real, tangible flaws that you can feel with every fiber of your being. In this book, he exposes his flaws, mistakes made, lessons learned, and the magnificence of what can happen when we overcome all that to try to make the world a better place.
More people need to read this book. Even if you don't agree with everything he has to say, Mr. Lages is just so honest and open, writing with eloquence and grace on each page.
If you've read a book by him before, you know they are filled with fun references from older shows that don't suck, little rants that make you wonder where he's going, and a magical way he ties everything up at the end. He's done it again.
I received this book from the author because I was added to his "fans" a few years ago upon winning his book in a Goodreads giveaway. Since then, he has generously sent me his books to review, which has no influence on on my reviews. I just love what I'm reading.
June 22, 2023
3.75 stars
I am at an impasse as to how I feel regarding this book. I do not even know how to classify it by genre. The closest I can describe it is "semi-autobiographical."
Via a multitude of short stories, the author expounds upon various topics that have had/continue to have an affect upon his life. Some I agree with, some I am on the proverbial fence about and a few I outright disagree with.
The major peeve that remains with me is, for once, not editing errors, but the egregious overuse of multiple descriptive nouns, verbs and examples to convey his feelings on a particular subject. This manner of writing nearly drove me bonkers. Having to read numerous "same, yet worded differently" items vanquished a major portion of the joy from reading this book. To the point that as I neared the ending, I just wanted to finish the book and shelve it.
Essentially plotless, the stories meandered through the author's peeves, thoughts and experiences throughout his life as he experienced them. Some were logical and offered new insights into age old topics. A few were humorous, others tragic. Others were slightly offensive and controversial.
I am, however, glad that the author wrote this book. And I hope he writes many more, just with a solid plot, an identifiable cast of characters and scenarios and containing his normally shining prose.
I am at an impasse as to how I feel regarding this book. I do not even know how to classify it by genre. The closest I can describe it is "semi-autobiographical."
Via a multitude of short stories, the author expounds upon various topics that have had/continue to have an affect upon his life. Some I agree with, some I am on the proverbial fence about and a few I outright disagree with.
The major peeve that remains with me is, for once, not editing errors, but the egregious overuse of multiple descriptive nouns, verbs and examples to convey his feelings on a particular subject. This manner of writing nearly drove me bonkers. Having to read numerous "same, yet worded differently" items vanquished a major portion of the joy from reading this book. To the point that as I neared the ending, I just wanted to finish the book and shelve it.
Essentially plotless, the stories meandered through the author's peeves, thoughts and experiences throughout his life as he experienced them. Some were logical and offered new insights into age old topics. A few were humorous, others tragic. Others were slightly offensive and controversial.
I am, however, glad that the author wrote this book. And I hope he writes many more, just with a solid plot, an identifiable cast of characters and scenarios and containing his normally shining prose.
May 23, 2023
Mr. Lages has once again hit it out the ballpark!
Mr. Lages, tells his personal journey and his truths in an insightville way, plus he has a sense of humor that I personaly love. As you read you learn a good bit about his battle with alcoholism, family, as well as the depression he works through. When All Else Fails, is written in such a way that, both sides, to his personal opinion can be understood. A point/counterpoint opinion.
He refers to how his views have changed as he grows older ( I must agree on this aging change). There comes a point as we age to realize that life is to short and most things are not worth arguing over, espicially if we can find a middle ground. Mark is in his mid sixties, and he points out several time how his views have changed over time. I am 61 and I must say that somewhere in my late 50's, I found myself taking inventory of my beliefs and views. This book is spot on regarding everything I felt in my late 50's, I thought it was only me!
Thank you for writing a very insightful book and reminding the reader that life does change!!!
If you have not read any of Mark Lages' books, I highly recommend him as a MUST read author!
Mr. Lages, tells his personal journey and his truths in an insightville way, plus he has a sense of humor that I personaly love. As you read you learn a good bit about his battle with alcoholism, family, as well as the depression he works through. When All Else Fails, is written in such a way that, both sides, to his personal opinion can be understood. A point/counterpoint opinion.
He refers to how his views have changed as he grows older ( I must agree on this aging change). There comes a point as we age to realize that life is to short and most things are not worth arguing over, espicially if we can find a middle ground. Mark is in his mid sixties, and he points out several time how his views have changed over time. I am 61 and I must say that somewhere in my late 50's, I found myself taking inventory of my beliefs and views. This book is spot on regarding everything I felt in my late 50's, I thought it was only me!
Thank you for writing a very insightful book and reminding the reader that life does change!!!
If you have not read any of Mark Lages' books, I highly recommend him as a MUST read author!
May 21, 2023
So, it took me a bit to finish this book if you happen to notice. It's in no way attributed to the book itself, but to my life and how crazy it has been this past month. I give Mark 5 stars on this one, too! I've read many of his stories and have related to so many of them. This one is about him and mostly him as he intended. It's about his thoughts, desires, goals, screw-ups, accomplishments, and failures, and the relationships he has had and still has. What a true sense of self he portrays. I relate to his writing so much that sometimes I can honestly say to myself, "Gosh, I wish I could have put those words to paper, it's exactly as I feel or think." This book is all about getting to know him and the man who writes great stories. I've passed many of his books around and in doing so hope those appreciate him as much as I do. Keep them coming, Mark!
April 24, 2023
I have been a fan of Mark Lages for a while now. I follow him and his books. I have yet to be disappointed in his writings. This is his first non-fiction work. At times, I feel that he is chronicalizing his life with the structure of this book, and I have to say it doesn't disappoint you as a reader. I learned a lot about the author in this book. I especially focused on how all can relate to certain things. It made me think how in life we all go through similar events. That made me focus on discussions I have had with friends and co-workers. He extracts feelings within you that actually make you question and examine yourself. He'll make you laugh and make you cry. I personally loved this book. I highly recommend it. I look forward to his next book.
April 13, 2023
I use to have a close friend who I would have coffee with at Denny's - no topic was off the table, a safe place where you knew you could get honest feedback on what you gave and took away. This book brought back those conversations: the same feeling of honestly was here. Mark Lages is an amazingly deep writer; and he has given us a truthful examination of what he believes. When All Else Fails is a worthwhile read that will resonate with everyone who is seeking a deeper truth - so often hidden behind the curtain of conformity.
April 24, 2023
So much fun! Fiction or non-fiction Mark Lages is a very imaginative and truly original author. Even in non-fiction it is truly a journey and adventure with this author. Sort of biographical/memoir and a bit of researched gems I relate to many topics in this book. It feels like you are sitting at the table with a group of friends discussing the topics brought up by each. A book that you may want to carry with you in your day as it comes - the topics are stand alone so you can open the book at any page and just start reading. A great author presenting a good read.
April 23, 2023
I have enjoyed all of the author’s fiction works and this is his first non-fiction work. Like his other books this book will make you think and examine yourself. Being close in age to the author his stories allow me to relate to his experiences very well. Do I agree with everything in this book? Not by a long shot but there is much common ground and makes think about about my own views and experiences. I enjoyed this book very much. Challenge yourself and pick up a copy!
June 22, 2023
I have read almost all of Mark Lages' novels. I really enjoy his writing. He has a way of telling a story that is very entertaining.
Reading his memoir and getting a glimpse into his life was very interesting. It was also interesting to see his characters from his novels in his life. He used his life experiences to help him write out his main characters.
He seems like a pretty interesting guy and it was nice to get to know him a little better.
I hope he continues to write some novels.
Reading his memoir and getting a glimpse into his life was very interesting. It was also interesting to see his characters from his novels in his life. He used his life experiences to help him write out his main characters.
He seems like a pretty interesting guy and it was nice to get to know him a little better.
I hope he continues to write some novels.
April 18, 2023
This is one of those books you want to take with you on a long vacation. It makes you think and wonder what if. Like Marks other books there's humor and a few jokes that made me smile. A great look of the authors life the good and not so good. I have a few of this author others book and for me this is the best so far.
May 3, 2023
Written in typical Mark Lages style- a little bit of story and a lot of rambling, some of it very interesting and some not so much. It’s a nice break from reading typical “story books”. I am rather fond of his earlier story books, though. If you are looking for something different, honest and open, this one is for you.
April 29, 2023
The essays were rhoughtful. The author is a few years and his life experiences are different. Yet we are all the same.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 17 reviews