Humblebrag: The Art of False Modesty

by Harris Wittels

From comedian and writer (Parks and Recreation, Eastbound & Down) Harris Wittels comes a hysterical breakdown of boasts, brags, and self-adulation disguised as humble comments and complaints-based on his popular @humblebrag Twitter feed.


Something immediately annoyed Harris Wittels about Twitter. All of a sudden it was acceptable to brag, so long as those brags were ever-so-thinly disguised as transparent humility, such


"Just filed my taxes. Biggie was right, mo money mo problems."


"I hate when I go into a store to get something to eat and the male staff are too busy hitting on me to get my order right :( so annoying!"


Taking action by naming this phenomenon and creating the Twitter account called Humblebrag-dedicated solely to retweeting the humblebrags of others-Wittels's new word took the Internet by storm. Harris also shows readers what humblebrags might look like from some of history's most notable names, as well as devoting an entire chapter to a man who just might be the greatest humblebraggart of them all...

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, Comedy, Audiobook, Ebooks, Pop Culture

272 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Nette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm familiar with Harris Wittels from the Comedy Bang Bang podcast, so I know how funny he is, but I wasn't sure how he could talk about fake-ly modest tweets for a whole book. But he did! And it's very funny, perfect for a quiet night or long a plane trip. You know, like when you're flying home (first class) from the Oscars, and you end up sitting next to Beyonce, and she recognizes you! #weird #cantbelievethisismylife

[Matt · Rating 1 out of 5]

While I congratulate Harris Wittels on popularizing the term "humblebrag" and making it a thing to be observed and mocked because so many of us do use them, it seems a little like even he misses the point. Don't get the audiobook because him reading and commenting on hundreds of tweets is not so great a pop-culture mockery as you might imagine. Some of the tweets responded to and the responses are pretty funny, but many are off base and there's a whole chapter that seems to miss the point. His chapter on girls humblebragging about being pretty has a few good comebacks in it, but there are many of them where a woman complaining about being hit on seems to him as though she's snubbing a compliment in order to humblebrag. His inability to wrap his head around the idea that being randomly hit on could sincerely irritate women made it hard to enjoy the book as a whole. And the humor is pretty easy; his snarky responses to humblebrags aren't terribly clever or witty. I think a more capable comedian could've done a much better job with the same material. The book does have a few moments, and it is pretty comprehensive in shining a light on a really stupid commonplace part of our contemporary culture, but... I can't bring myself to recommend it all that highly. The one thing that brought up my opinion a bit was the commentary on humblebrags throughout history, especially the selection from Hitler's suicide note.

[Eddie Villanueva · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's so weird and awesome I was able to listen to Harris's book in just a weekend. This has got to be a record since I'm so dumb or whatever. #humblebrag But seriously, this is literally just Harris reading tweets and making funny comments about them. Sometimes the comments are hilarious comedy gold and sometimes just dumb and lazy. Nevertheless, it was very entertaining. Harris, you were the friend I never knew. RIP #harrisanewone

[Lindsay Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I laughed every page. And thus cried every page, because I miss this stupid guy and his jokes so much.

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, Harris Wittels wrote a book, and it's not a Deep Thoughts-style Foam Corner collection? Because that would be the proverbial shit. That would be like getting sprung off that Molly while "Harry Hood" played over the speakers at my favorite restaurant, Tapas the Mornin' to Jah. Instead, this collection of Humblebrags just doesn't have enough Wittels. Still pretty fun, though.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Not amazing, but entertaining. It's basically just him reading tweets and then making snarky comments about them. It works. I'd listen if you're considering it, it might be too tedious to read.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

At one point, he says "sorry bout them tits".

I feel like this will either be enough to pique your interest (you're the right person for this book) or annoy you (this isn't for you; sorry about your sense of humor).

[Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook. Good to hear Harris again for 4 more hours.

[Evan Mac · Rating 2 out of 5]

Audiobook is likely the worst way to experience this book.

[Terry Berger · Rating 2 out of 5]

Full disclosure - listened to 75% of book. Started it after listening to the authors sisters memoir of the year before and after his death. Weird hearing his voice and knowing he would die a few years later.

No plot. No characters. Just the author reading humblebrags and providing snarky comments. Funny, but after a while you get the point and it’s time to move on.

[booksandcarbs]

My sisters and I often lament that others don't understand the "unwritten" rules of social media that we think should be obvious. What to post, what not to, what's bragging, what's annoying, etc. Harris Wittels does understand "our" rules and proves it, quite hilariously, in this short book. I laughed out loud many times. (Side note: Harris Wittels, Rest in Peace).

[Rick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will definitely ask myself the question, "Is this a humblebrag?" before posting to social media. Also the mantra, "if they weren't there, they don't care," is gold. RIP Harris

[Wyatt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is just ok but Harris Wittels fucking ruled.

[Sean · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's funny and the idea is spot-on. Three stars is basically top score possible for a compendium of tweets.

[Edy Gies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious book that made me reconsider how I'm wording my social media posts. It was a nice break from heavy reading and difficult topics.

[Derek Hoeksema · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh, Harris.

[Billy · Rating 4 out of 5]

In honor of the late Harris Wittels, I present to you the best humblebrags I found on Twitter this week:

Diedrich Bader (@bader_diedrich)
Hey Fans! I love you and everyone knows I love the love But really, the urinal is out of bounds, especially if you’re not using one The shake becomes unnecessarily awkward

Diedrich Bader is the best friend on “The Drew Carey Show”. No, not the “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” guy, but the other one. Nice to know that he’s still so famous that he gets mobbed at the john. Good for him.

Megg Jensen (@MeggJensen)
Doc: What do you do for a living?
Me: I’m an author
Doc: Have I read your books?
Me: I don’t know. Do you read epic fantasy?
Him: What’s that?
Me: Then, no, you haven’t read my books.
#awkward

Giving her the benefit of the doubt and assuming she’s meeting this doctor for the first time – her GP just referred her to a specialist for that elbow problem that’s bothering her or some sort – it’s the way she describes herself as an epic fantasy author that’s the clencher. No, no, not just regular fantasy writing. It’s epic. Nicely done.

Kajol (@KajolAtUN)
Always been a Kajol fan

Her tweet is a picture of her with her Madame Toussaint wax statue and is followed by two winky faces and a tongue-sticking-out face. The emojis at the end are what qualifies this as the humble part (I guess) as she reminds us that she has a wax statue made of her. The funny part is that the picture is her taking a selfie with her wax statue, which means she had someone take a picture of her taking a picture with her wax statue. If the person taking the picture was another Kajol wax statue, then we’ve entered an Inception-like reality.

Chef (@Cat_InTheHatt)
The waitress at Hooters is hitting on me hella hard and I told her I had to pass because my chick will magically find out and literally come box every bitch here.

What I love about this tweet is that it conjures up the image of Chef – without his “chick” – stiffarming a Hooters waitress who’s trying to grab him Pepe Le Pew-style while he says, “I am a courted man, dear miss. That’s a good day to you, young lady.” Also, Chef is written in Affliction-style font which may or may not be pertinent.

The Brince$$ (@OGRajah)
It’s exhausting being complimented and hit on by unattractive men all day…

Quite a lazy “being hit on” humblebrag, if you ask me. Brince$$ should take notes from Kayden and E:

Kayden (@romanoffscar)
I’m drunk and the hottest girl is hitting on me at this party omg I’m shook

It’s worth noting that Kayden has a picture of Scarlett Johanson as his avatar, his name is based off her Black Widow character, and all his other tweets have to do with Marvel movies. I’m not saying I know 100% that the hottest girl at a party hit on him, but I’m 99% sure he got drunk watching The Avengers and imagined ScarJo hitting on him in his stupor.

E (@ErinSchiedler)
I’ve hit the age where more and more middle aged men have started hitting on me and I’m not ok with that.

Look, an “I’m hot” humbebrag disguised as a “I’m getting old” tweet. So how old is E, you wonder? According to her Twitter bio, she is 21. I’m guessing that what’s changed – besides getting older, of course – is that she’s now frequenting more drinking establishments where middle-aged guys hang out. Unless she started looking middle-aged herself upon turning 21, in which case I take back everything I just said.

thegemmaisabell (@thegemmaisabell)
Are you ever so generally excited and in a hurry that you forget to do simple things like screw the top onto your shaker and just spill water and powdery pre-work out all over yourself? Yeah, no me either……*laughing crying emoji* #fitgirls #fitgirlproblems #fitness #MondayMotivation

How is spilling your shake Monday Motivation? Seems like a non-sequitur if you ask me. Really, there aren’t any better humblebrags than people who tag themselves as “fitgirls” and have “fitgirlproblems”, except maybe this…

Damian Conklin (@Damconklifts)
Sometimes it is appropriate to make a funny face *flexing emoji* * winking emoji * #heavy #lightweight #deadlift #powerlifting #bodybuilding #bodybuilder #powerlifter #weights #lift #liftheavy #fit #fitness #health #gains #gainz #pr #abs #teen #fitguy #strong #muscle #pump #flex #killit #teenager #easy

Of course DamConkLifts included a picture of him lifting weights with his funny face in the tweet. But look it all those hashtags! That’s something else! The only reason to use that many hashtags is because you want as many people as humanly possible to know that you lift weights.

Then again, if it were me, I’m not sure I’d want people that look up the hashtag “Kill It” to know what I look like and my full name, but that’s just me.

Dani (@DaniCameron1331)
My hair is probably the only thing that “thick” about me. #skinnygirlproblems

Presenting the kissing cousin of the “fitgirlproblems” hashtag: “skinnygirlproblems”. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, then you probably know that most people don’t want to know about your problems if you’re skinny, especially if it’s that your hair is only thick thing on you.

And last, but by no means least...

TILA TEQUILA (@TILATEQUILA)
Hi my loves! Hehehe I forgot about this account! Anyone here?

A pretty lame humblebrag if you’re taking this at face value, but if you read her twitter feed it becomes a Memento-style reveal of a story told in reverse.

She tweets exasperatedly multiple times that, yes, she is the real Tila Tequila. Previous to that, she warns her followers someone pretending to be her. Previous to that, she asks her followers for money. Previous to that, she says she wants $$$. Previous to that, she says that if anyone has Paypal to message her. And, previous to that ON THE SAME DAY, she casually mentions she forgot about this twitter account, implying she’s either a ditz, busy, or too famous to be bothered. All in all, a pretty good twist that I didn’t see coming.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

"...if God is real and we have the same one, and a big priority for him is making sure you sell out a show at a college basketball arena, then I want out"

"The only problem I've really ever had with immigrants is that sometimes they come over here and tell jokes that sounds suspiciously similar to our jokes, and don't admit it, even when pressed on the issue on Marc Maron's podcast. In case I wasn't being specific enough, I am talking solely about Carlos Mencia."

Heh. (Wittels aint lying in that second one either, I heard that Maron podcast and Mencia was cagey and fake-nice as fuck with his answers).

Aanyway, its just mostly a book of tweets that exhibit humblebraggery, and little jokes after each one. Amusing. Wittels was the coolest. I never heard of him until after his death. RIP duude. ):

[Erin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Good concept, poor execution. This book was also five times too long. The only reason I finished it was because my power was out and I was stuck under the covers, hugging my dog and resigning myself to a frigid death.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

First off, Rest in Peace Harris Wittels, phrase coiner of the 'Humblebrag' concept and author/narrator of this book. The knowledge that Harris is deceased adds a somber element to this otherwise comedic book - in it, he jokes about wanting to write a movie one day and other thoughts for a future that will not come for him. Humblebrag, it turns out (as well as his contributions as a writer on notable comedies including one of my favorites Parks and Recreation) is his legacy.

Overall the book is a charming collection of showboat-y humble-braggy tweets where celebrities and average users boast about something in their lives - their wealth, their attractiveness, their connections, etc with a little bit of self-deprecation so as to make their gloating a little less obvious. This is paired with Wittels' commentary - sometimes his jokes land and speak to our suppressed inner eye roll and other times they (along with his delivery) fall a bit flat.

That aside, Harris Wittels we thank you for creating a phrase that so perfectly captures the conceited yet unfailingly human experience that we all are guilty of now and again. You may no longer be with us, but you created a word and a legacy and that's in an of itself is the ultimate humblebrag.

[Loki · Rating 2 out of 5]

I sort of skipped through most of the end of the book, because while there were some amusing bits it all ended up feeling pretty samey after listening to a bunch of them. It could have been more entertaining if there was more jokes to go with them, or some more thoughtful snark at least. But sometimes it was just something like 'meh' or 'ok, sure dude' level of response. Though as I've gathered from looking at the other reviews, the writer had also been on a lot of drugs when he wrote the book, so he probably wasn't really as focused as he could have been. Since he had acclaim from other sectors, I'm going to assume that this wasn't his best work.
Also, I think this is a rather limited topic for a book. It might be fun to have just read the occasional tweets on my phone as he posted them, or perhaps it could be a coffee table or bathroom book. Not really something to keep someone's interest for a long span of time.
This was a random Hoopla pick, those don't always work out as being something of actual interest to me, lol.

[Sandy Plants · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars.
it’s one thing to have a Twitter account dedicated to retweeting these people, but the comments he makes in the book just kinda made me sad after a while. It felt a bit cruel at times... or at least unnecessary...

Also, his stance on womyn not LOVING being cat-called or objectified is eye-roll worthy. That really bummed me out. Cat calling (and being objectified by the male gaze) is harassment, NOT flattery. His response to womyn complaining about being constantly hit on (or hit on in inappropriate ways) is usually something along the lines of “maybe you shouldn’t be so attractive”. Nope. Fail.

Sorry for a shitty review of your book, dead Harris. I still love your comedy and will continue to listen to all of your comedy gold mines on comedy bang bang and analyze phish ♥️

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is fine as a coffee table book to flip through, but doesn't really stand up as a comedy book on its own. I really enjoyed the first few chapters, but the more you read, the lazier the writing seems. A lot of Wittels' humblebrag retorts are either totally lazy (stuff like "Yawn." or "Okay."), rehashed several times throughout the book, or just genuinely bitter and jealous. Although Wittels coined the term "humblebrag," it doesn't seem that he fully grasps the concept many times and includes plenty of tweets that don't really fit the bill. Lastly, knowing Harris' personal demons at the time of writing, it's just kind of sad reading his responses to tweets knowing that he admittedly "wrote that entire book on so much drugs."

[Kasper · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is an excellent bathroom read. Very funny twitter responses to people who are desperate for attention.

My pants keep falling off. I need a smaller size. :(
Would a belt work? That's what most people do before jumping right to new pants.

I find it hard to gain weight. Tips to get fat people! Go!
Foods that have fat in them! Go!

No makeup on, hair's not done, toothpaste stains down the front of my shirt, pretty sure I'm not wearing deodorant. Still get hit on. *sigh*
It's probably because they didn't realize those stains were toothpaste.

R.I.P. Harris Wittles

[Jodie Sadowsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hadn’t heard of the term humblebrag and didn’t know much about the author until I read his sister’s memoir. Wittels was funny. Seriously funny and seriously talented - you can see it all over this little book. He did see the world and its players (especially the famous ones) cynically - though the last chapter he does make a place in the world for humble bragging. Glad to be called out and glad to know a bit about this brilliant soul through this book and Everything is Horrible and Wonderful by Stephanie Wittels Wach.

[Andri K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harris Wittels (may he rest in peace) changed the world (maybe) by coining the term "humblebrag", a social phenomenon that has been with our society since verbal communication was invented (so this book says, sort of). Young Harris tried to capture several notable examples of this phenomenon through his book and grouped its variations in several types. His reasoning is quite solid (and hilarious!) but some of his comeback of the tweet fell short. Overall it's a light book that didn't need to be taken so seriously. Hopefully someone will continue the torch of "exposing" humblebraggers.

[Jaleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know.. maybe he was mad about not having enough followers or RT's on twitter, but his writing felt bitter. there were some moments when he was pretty good (3 pages maybe?) but other times he just sounded like he was rejected from the prom 10 different times and took it out on everybody on twitter.

[Brent Piaskoski · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't really blame the author - the late Harris Wittles - as the book delivers on its premise - making fun of people who find a covert way to brag on Twitter, it's just that the novelty runs out pretty quickly. Wittels was no doubt a brilliant writer but this seems like something that would've been more fun to follow daily on his twitter feed than it is put together as a collection.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't really know how I feel about this book. It is a bunch of tweets that have people bragging about their accomplishments and trying to be humble at the same time. Some were funny and the rest were kind of dumb.
I wish I could have thought of the idea of posting other people's tweets and then make comments on them. I don't ultimately think this book is worth the time.

[Jake Basner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clever!

Really enjoyed this book but all it made me think of was how great Harris was. Seems like he could have done anything with his talents, so I’m very pleased to at least have this.