Mud Ride: A Messy Trip Through the Grunge Explosion

by Steve Turner

A down-and-dirty chronicle of the birth and evolution of the Seattle grunge scene—from backyard skateboard ramps and underground hardcore clubs to worldwide phenomenon—as told by one of its founding fathers and lead guitarist of legendary alternative rock band, Mudhoney.

In the late 80s and early 90s, Steve Turner and his friends—Seattle skate punks, hardcore kids, and assorted misfits—started forming bands in each other’s basements and accidentally created a unique sound that spread far beyond their once-sleepy city. Mud Ride offers an inside look at the tight-knit grunge scene, the musical influences and experiments that shaped the grunge sound, and the story of Turner's bands, Green River and Mudhoney, which went from underground flophouse shows to selling out stadiums with Nirvana and Pearl Jam. Including stories about the key moments, musicians, and albums from grunge's beginnings to its come-down from the highs of global success and stardom, this is the first account of the musical phenomenon that took over the world from someone who was there for it all.

Written by Steve Turner, lead guitarist of Mudhoney, a foundational grunge band that inspired musical icons from Kurt Cobain to Sonic Youth, Mud Ride features a foreword by Pearl Jam's Stone Gossard and never-before-seen photographs and grunge memorabilia throughout. Take a seat and ride through the messy and muddy grunge scene that grew from the basements of the Northwest and went on to circle the globe.

MUST HAVE FOR For cult fans of Mudhoney and all things Seattle grunge, this is the perfect book to add to your collection. Turner helped put Sub Pop Records on the map, a label that launched bands like Soundgarden and more. Mudhoney was also one of the first American grunge bands to tour Europe and the UK, laying the groundwork for the worldwide explosion of grunge. Learn more about the ins and outs of the birth of grunge and immerse yourself in '80s and '90s Seattle.

A GREAT GIFT FOR MUSIC For the aspiring musician or anyone wanting to learn more about music history, this is an illuminating look into grunge and Seattle bands that have gone on to become world-famous.

AN ESSENTIAL ROCK HISTORY An amazing gift for readers of Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain's Please Kill Me, John Doe and Tom DeSavia's Under the Big Black Sun, and Michael Azerrad's Our Band Could Be Your Life. Anyone wanting to learn more about the history of grunge will delight in this great tell-all read.

Perfect Music lovers, history buffs, and musicians Fans of Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Hole, Green River, and more Anyone nostalgic for the '80s and '90s pop culture scene People obsessed with grunge, rock, musical movements, or Seattle history Readers of Please Kill Me, Under the Big Black Sun, Our Band Could Be Your Life, Grunge Is Dead, and Everybody Loves Our An Oral History of Grunge Gen Z readers who have embraced all things '90s, from the decade's fashion to its music, and have sparked a resurgence in popularity of grunge bands like Nirvana

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Biography, Audiobook, Autobiography, Memoir, History

Audible Audio

Published June 13, 2023

About the author

Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name
For other authors of this name

see: Steve Turner - Music Journalism

see: Steve Turner - Artist, Squidoodle

see: Steve Turner - Poetry

Reviews

[Wendi Manning · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has information. Steve went here, did this, met people, collected things, skateboarded, and played music. That’s cool, but what’s missing is any personality or feelings behind what he’s writing.

This book is very very dry. If you’re looking for his opinions about the Seattle scene, look elsewhere. If you’re looking for any dirt, look elsewhere. But, if you’re looking for a book that reads like a diary for an expense report, here’s your book!

I wanted to like this, because I like Mudhoney and Steve’s folkier stuff. It just really really really didn’t work for me. Sorry Steve.

Thanks to NetGalley, but my opinions are all mine, unfortunately.

[Melissa Wood · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well, this was a book I read. I’ll be honest, I wanted more from this. Mudhoney isn’t my fav band from the 90s but I like them well enough and I love reading about music history but apparently Steve here never matured past the 90s mentality of being “too cool” to enjoy your success. There’s truly no passion in this book.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a Mudhoney story—I interviewed them in early 1989 for my college radio station zine. I remember Steve being very nice—he invited us out for beer afterwards but I was too young (!) to go. He actually mentions the show, opening for Danzig in Seattle, where we did the interview in the book.

Some years later, I hung out with Mudhoney backstage at a show in Salem when I was with my boyfriend who knew them. Again, Steve seemed really nice.

Conclusion: Steve Turner is a nice guy. And he’s written an interesting book.

[Patrick Duran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steve has some interesting stories relating to his years as a guitarist in Mudhoney and various other bands. He was in Seattle, where the band originated, during the early days of the grunge explosion and more famous bands actually opened for them at some point: Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Nirvana. I wish he had shared a few more stories, however. They opened for Screaming Trees, and not one word about the experience! I'm guessing that he has no kind words to say when he says nothing at all about some of the bands. He does share something about which I have long been curious: what does a musician do to pay the bills when royalties start to diminish (assuming you are not doing session work). He is not embarrassed to admit he turned to landscaping, and warehouse work. Glad to hear Mudhoney still tours, as I hope to see them one day.

[Bob Schnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steve Turner is a founding member of the original grunge band, Mudhoney. His memoir is not only the tale of how he came to be in the band, it is also the story of the music scene in Seattle and how it became the epicenter of a movement. He knows all the right people and adds plenty of new information to the story I thought I knew.

One aspect that was new to me was how crucial the skateboard scene was in fostering a musical community. Steve met many of his friends and future bandmates in the skatepark, listening to punk rock. It makes sense but I never thought of Seattle as a skateboard haven.

The book really made me wish I had been there at the birth of the scene.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really got a kick out of this. So many amazing memories of the city (the Boxing Club! Motor Sports Garage!). I think I would hire Steve to be my bookkeeper after reading how he remembers what he paid for things in like 1983. Well done.

[Mike S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steve Turner from my friends Mudhoney wrote a great book looking back at Seattle as that scene percolated into the biggest thing in American rock. And it covers Mudhoney's entire career as well as his personal life, record-collecting and skateboarding obsessions. I vaguely kid about Mudhoney being "my friends," but my old band opened for them in 2006 and I dreaded that they'd be grouchy, "we were this close to making it but never had a hit"-types. Instead, they were the nicest, most down to earth, least-asshole-ish dudes in a pretty big band I'd ever met. I love this recounting and I love that those dudes are still doing it, love making music together, and do the band on their own terms. It's inspiring and a good blueprint, honestly. Among many other things making me want to pick up a guitar and bash around in a small room with my buds these days, I'll absolutely recommend this book to any fans of grunge, punk, 80s/90s alt rock culture, or hearing about Mudhoney's collab with Sir Mixalot. Rad.

[Marti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steve Turner seems to have been mostly grounded and not desirous of rock stardom unlike most people who get as far as he did. He says many times that he was ambivelent about music as a career and almost gave it up on many occasions, but it kept pulling him back in to a point where he could no longer fight it. He seemed to care a lot more about skateboarding until he discovered hardcore punk and sixties garage rock.

Although he had had promised his parents he would get his college degree by age thirty, he kept kicking the can down the road as Mudhoney became incrementally more successful one rung of the ladder at a time. First, an ep which sold well. Then a show outside of Washington state. Then, a European tour -- the first local band to do it. I'm convinced that initially it was the sloppiness and lack of seriousness which propelled them. It's what prompted he and Mark Arm to leave Green River because they were annoyed by the professionalism and ambition of bandmate Jeff Ament [later of Pearl Jam].

Although Mudhoney was initially the most successful local group, they did not keep that position for long as the likes of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden eventually got major label deals and big houses. It's too bad because to me, Mudhoney was always more reminiscent of garage rock. I was never a fan of the more "sludge-ey" sounding bands.

The band seem to still be doing okay because the Mudhoney name always draws a crowd and they remained friendly with Jeff Ament despite the early differences of musical opinion, meaning they can always tour as openers for Pearl Jam.

I am glad it all worked out even though they eventually traded Seattle for Portland to escape the tech-bro culture that took over their hometown. What you will not get is the high drama of something like the movie Dig about the Brian Jonestown Massacre versus the Dandy Warhols. This feels more like a recitation of facts.

[Josh Drew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mudhoney was one of my favorite bands growing up and one of the least celebrated, but arguably most responsible for starting the Grunge scene in Seattle (or at least Green River possibly is owed that title). Naturally, I picked this one up and devoured it. So what's here?

This reads like a self reflection diary written for Steve by Steve, without trying to say anything deeper than simply documenting what happened. There are some very interesting behind the scenes insights sprinkled throughout from his perspective. You won't find flowery language here, there isn't a ton of emotional self reflection beyond, 'I liked this, this was rad, I didn't like this, this made me angry', etc. What is here is a documentation of what happened and where. I particularly found the early days of Grunge very interesting and how Steve connects how the Metal and Punk scenes came together. And I appreciated the current view of what it looks like to have played in an iconic band 35 years ago and what life looks like now with kids, relationships, skateboarding, and where music fits into all that.

Overall a good read. Any Mudhoney / Grunge fans will probably enjoy it. The writing isn't Shakespeare, but was Mudhoney was never Rush so it all fits. I enjoyed just hanging out with Steve and hearing what he had to say.

[Robnrel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have loved Mudhoney for nearly three decades. I own all their records. I have seen them live multiple times. So you can imagine I was very much looking forward to an Autobiography from Steve Turner. And then I read it. Now, there is nothing particularly wrong with the book, but it is just completely 100% vanilla and obvious. There is some real meat on the bones of his life and the incredible things he has witnessed. But he merely glossed over so many great moments. I will continue to love the band until I am pushing up the daisies, but sadly this book did nothing to enhance that love, as I had hoped and expected. A missed opportunity.

[Beamish13 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Skateboarding and rock music, man. There seems to be a ton of interesting shit about his family that he just cannot or will not articulate. I’m amazed by how little Mark Arm is discussed, too. “By the way, Mark had a heroin problem. Anyway, back to my boring bromance with Stone Godard. Did you know that he has outdoor AND an indoor skate parks on his property?”

[Steph Horan · Rating 2 out of 5]

mostly of a list of people he knew & places he'd been

[Brie · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF

Writing was too dry for me and too much guitar tech talk. It may be some people's thing but just not mine.

[Corto · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been listening to Mudhoney for about 30ish years now, and I see them whenever they roll through town. They were here recently, and I took my budding guitarist 12 year-old son. We stood up against the stage, right in front of Steve. My kid loved it. As the encore was ending, an asshole standing next to us reached over and grabbed the setlist that was a couple inches in front of my son. Steve saw this, and when the band finished and were about to go off-stage, he grabbed another setlist and gave to my son - along with his pick. I nearly lost it. So fucking cool. My son really appreciated the gift...but probably not as much as his old man. It was a Mean Joe Green moment for both of us.

So, this is a no-brainer 5-star for me. It was fascinating reading Steve's life story - his evolution as an artist, the lore of the Seattle music scene - pre and post-Grunge, and his view and recollection on the nuts and bolts of being a rock guitarist. (I'm not a musician, but the analysis and technique of how he made and makes music, were still interesting to read.)

I don't want to gloss over his memories of the Grunge scene. If you were around at the time, and young enough that Grunge hit you head-on, Steve's inside view of the scene is extremely fascinating.

So, if you're a Gen X'er who thought Mudhoney was the *only* real Grunge band that Seattle can lay claim to, you'll love this book. Enjoy.

[PhattandyPDX · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am an extra in Steve Turner’s life: I see him at shows (most recently the Circle Jerks, Kid Congo Powers), record stores, and Fred Meyers. He always puts up with me telling him how much I love Mudhoney. This book was a fun read. Looking forward to seeing Mudhoney at the Aladdin theater in about two weeks.

[Craig Thomson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and informative look at the grunge boom and the rest of Mudhoney guitarist Turner's career and life.

[Chris Brook · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not even a huge Mudhoney guy but enjoyed this as a snapshot of late '80s/early '90s Seattle folding in life experiences chronicling the band's ascent, stories involving Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, and Nirvana, etc. Turner also just comes across as a very amiable, friendly voice here; quick read.

[Brad Tilbe · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick read mainly due to the lack of depth and scarcity of any true emotion. Subjects were glazed over and I felt that a lot of vital content was missing. I know he's an avid record collector but I found just a smidge near the end that definitely left me wanting more.
Steve, please write another book just about your collection and digging over the years.

So much of the bands history was just left out as well. There's was definitely not a lot of detail about the recording process and definitely not enough about the Seattle scene or it's history, which I was hoping to find here as it was supposedly coming "direct from the horses mouth".

That being said it was interesting to read about the different experiences that Mudhoney had touring with Nirvana and Pearl Jam. That part left me feeling pretty bummed in regards to their Nirvana experience.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Chronicle Books for an advanced copy of this memoir in music and a look at the Seattle music scene, before, during and after the rise of Grunge Music.

Changes in music happen slowly, with one band coming out with a different sound, or an old sound played a new way. People will like it, other bands will imitate and make the sound different adding something that makes it different. A band might start with 6 fans, who will tell their friends, who will tell their friends. And soon there is a scene, or a genre of music that everyone wants a part of. In the old days the media would try and figure out the good, the bad and the ugly in the scene, selling copies of magazines, the clicks of their day. Record labels appear throwing around per diems, massive advances, huge tours, have a cigar you are going to go far. And later dropping these same bands, leaving them broke, and suddenly not the hot young things they once were. This was Seattle in the early 90's. Movies, documentaries, books, magazines, zines, all discussed the Seattle sound. And Steve Turner was right in the middle of it. Songwriter and guitarist for the band Mudhoney, Turner had been in bands for years with many of the musicians who would later become famous. In his book Mud Ride: A Messy Trip Through the Grunge Explosion written with Adem Tepedelen, Turner tells of his life, his music, the scene that was, and life after Grunge.

Steve Turner grew up in a middle class family near Seattle, with a love for skateboarding, BMX racing, and nonconformity. Music was around, but not that important until West Coast Punk bands start playing the are, making others create bands. Turner seeing other kids his age playing music decided that this was something he wanted to do. Soon with guitar and a Super-Fuzz pedal for that dirty, scuzzy sound that he liked Turner was joining bands, and working with musicians who would later be in bands like Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden. Turner was there at various shows that became legendary, and around many of those who in a few short years would become idols. Turner's band Mudhoney was becomeing famous, signing to Reprise records and making a name for themselves, just as things were cresting in the Seattle sound. Soon however major label deals end, and troubles began to show in the band, though Turner's love of music never was lost, just changed.

A memoir and look at the birth, rise and fall of a music scene, told with honesty and no attempts to settle scores, or to make Turner look like a rock god. Turner likes music, likes what he does, and is not afraid to work for it, nor tell the truth about what went right, and where the band screwed up. In music that is a rarity. Turner is also a very good writer, never jumping around, but keeping a tight grip on the narrative and making sure everything is clear, and again honest. There are stories about Sub Pop, the music, other bands, Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love, never anything mean or cruel sometimes very sad. There are plenty of photos, and give a nice visual to the story that Turner is telling. Turner seems like a great guy, who has done quite well for himself and the book is a pleasure to read and quite informative.

Recommended for music fans, and for those who are thinking about trying for a career in music. Sometimes being a jukebox hero isn't everything its cracked up to be. Also for readers of cultural history to see how a scene is started, and what can happen to all those who are involved. Read with the stereo on or Spotify playing, because the music really holds up well, and is worth listening to again.

[Peter Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

From about 1989-92, I thought Mudhoney was the greatest band in the world. I saw them in 1991 at the Cat's Cradle and I still rank it as one of the best shows I've ever seen. And while I wasn't quite as keen on their stuff after that, I still think their first album and EP are pretty great. Maybe they got a little cranky dealing with all the imposters and lesser bands that got much more popular during the grunge era, but they can still hold their heads high for trying to be themselves and not really selling out. This biography by their lead guitarist is a pretty fun look back at the original mid-to-late '80's Seattle scene and what turned out to be an accidental music career for a guy who was always promising his parents that he would go back to college. A lot of famous Seattle musicians make appearances (Cobain, Vedder, Courtney Love,...Bruce Dickinson?) and funny stories flow as you might expect. Did you know he was asked to be the 2nd guitarist in Nirvana? I didn't, but that was right before Nirvana imploded so maybe he made the right decision. I also appreciated that he didn't skimp on writing about settling into the middle-aged dad part of his life as I guess I can relate to that more these days. I've been reading a lot of these rock biographies lately of people who were big influences on me during my teen and young adult years and I'm glad he added another worthwhile one to my list.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Mudhoney guys always seemed like the real version of Grunge. Most fans of Pearl Jam or Soundgarden wouldn't know Mark Arm or Steve Turner if they ran into them on the street. And that's exactly what the scene should have been like. They were more about the music and the culture than the fame. They seem like the most authentic band from the Seattle story.

That's exactly what this book feels like too. A while back I read Everybody Loves Our Town: An Oral History of Grunge and it was great. But, like most Grunge histories, it was a bit 'grandiose' in scope and tone.

Steve Turner's perspective seems more like 'what things were really like'. I enjoy his simple story telling and his (relatively) minimal name-dropping.

A well written, simple story of the days of Grunge in Seattle by someone who was at the center of it all.

[Roger Mcdaniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first started this book, my knowledge of Mudhoney was almost nonexistent. Being a big fan of the grunge scene since the mid-90s, I certainly know their name, maybe even a song or two (“Touch Me, I’m Dick” and “Overblown” thanks to the Singles soundtrack), but that’s about it.

Mud Ride is much more than just a book about Mudhoney. Steve Turner takes the reader on a (Mud) ride through the birth of the grunge explosion, and everything that followed it. Of course, throughout the book, he tells his story and the massive story of Mudhoney. He speaks about his early Green River days with Jeff Ament and Stone Gossard, his solo folk career (which I plan on checking out, too), along with some great anecdotes from his personal life. He even has some cool (and very sad) Kurt Cobain stories. Steve is pretty simple: he loves his kids, punk music, skateboarding, fuzz boxes, guitars, VINYL, and of course being in Mudhoney. It’s a very well written book, a must for any grunge or music history fans. Plus, Stone Gossard (of Pearl Jam) wrote the forward!

[John Spiller · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember where I was when I first heard "In and Out of Grace". Mudhoney at The Axiom was one of my all-time favorite concerts. In a rock world populated by drug addicts, sex addicts, misanthropes, and sociopaths, Steve Turner stands out as relatable. All of which is why it pains me to say that "Mud Ride" is fairly pedestrian. I mean, Steve Turner was *there* ground zero grunge. The problem is that he is such a nice guy that he is either unwilling to share interesting stories or he largely avoided bad behavior. Instead, Turner gives a high level chronology of events interspersed with asides on some of his passions (record collecting, skateboarding, effects pedals). Look, if you are a Mudhoney fan, you will likely read this regardless of what I say. For me, though, when I want to read about Mudhoney again, I will probably re-read "Our Band Could Be Your Life" before I revisit "Mud Ride".

[Barbara Arnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mudhoney is one of my favorite local bands. They played often and were always great. Guitarist Steve Turner documents his insider Seattle music scene story. From his early days with Green River (with Stone and Jeff who later formed Pearl Jam) to his more recent acoustic records. He discusses his punk rock preference whereas other Green River members preferred a more rock basis. Mudhoney always seemed to be his steady home. He discusses their garage rock leanings emphasizing their love for the heavy fuzz tones that identified their sound with discussion about his Fuzz Box / Big Muff pedals. They never reached Nirvana success, but did tour internationally and were on a major label, but returned to Seattle and SubPop—they just released a new album. They also issued a greatest hits type album on SubPop titled March to the Fuzz. Unfortunately, SPL only has one circulating copy, so I’ll probably have to buy my own copy!

[Samuel Barker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mudride was a fun book about Mudhoney and the period leading up to the grunge explosion. Once it got there, everything just felt like running through an outline. However, the book wasn't really meant to be a grunge tell-all. There's enough of those out there. It felt like hanging with Steve Turner and getting a rundown of his life. It was enough.

Lots of cool gear information was shared, as well as approaches to playing songs and how to navigate being in a band. The stories from Green River were really enjoyable.

This was a fun, light read. You can tell Mudhoney is still together because Turner was pretty tight-lipped on his fellow band members. He mentioned Mark Arm's addiction issues in the 90s, but did not go too in-depth. It wasn't his story to tell, as he seemed to avoid it for the most part. In fact, all I kept thinking was how as the band grew, the less and less he mentioned being around the other members outside of the touring and recording cycles.

[Larry Dolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The chapters about the 80s scene in Seattle are excellent. The 90s chapters are surprisingly not very illuminating to those that have followed the band. Unfortunately, the last few chapters seem to provide very little insight with regard to being a middle aged musician and the rewards and challenges that go along with that. I realize that some artists may want to maintain a modicum of privacy around their personal lives, and Turner absolutely does this while sharing a modest amount of detail. However, while reading I felt he could have dove deeper into the day to day life and work of someone like him. Mudhoney is such a great band and they have stuck it out and continue to do the hard work of a blue collar work band. The end of the book just left me wanting more about this period and how the band continues to write, record and tour. Because if you have seen them recently, you know... they still got it. And I hope that they keep it in our face. ;-)

[Hakim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read a handful of books about the Seattle grunge scene of the late 80s/90s, the best of which is, by a country mile, Mark Lanegan's Sing Backwards and Weep. It encapsulates the spirit of that era amazingly, albeit from Lanegan's perspective only. Other books were hit-or-miss, and Mud Ride is more on the miss side. Steve Turner is compelling storyteller, but the stories he tells aren't always that interesting. He explores his background and how he came to be part of Mudhoney, how the band became a pionner of the genre, and how it persisted throughout the decades. That said, the book never truly felt like a a critical exploration of Turner and Mudhoney, but rather a simplified, high-level version of that. Turner rarely addresses the actual music, and barely touches on bandmate dynamics. Overall pleasing but could have been a lot better.

[Westley Cornett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a gem in the rough. Though Mudhoney were huge in Seattle they never really go to the heights of some of their peers and those that they inspired. I went into this not really knowing what to expect, as I have listened to Mudhoney but I wouldn't consider myself a 'fan', I like some of their music but i was never that into it.

Either way this is a fantastic book. Steve takes the reader through not only his experience from playing in bands to include Mudhoney, but also an inside look at the scene that created the 90's grunge explosion. Being a massive fan of the genre I enjoyed every bit of it. I learned alot about some of the major players and kind who were the bands that influenced the more well known groups life, Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden. To include Mudhoney who were real pioneers of the genre. If you love grunge music, definitely give this book a look.

[Marc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written as if from a music fan who despite all odds found himself in a band that was very central to one of the most influential American rock music scenes.

It reads fast and will entice anyone with a beyond surface level interest in the early Seattle hardcore, punk, and grunge scenes of the 80s and early 90s. Steve Turner saw a lot of it, and had some opinions to share and offer a bit of flare. Turners' indifference to a lot of the aspects of fame allows all the name dropping to come off quite naturally. There is some great thoughts on which clubs and bands were pivotal to the Seattle Sub Pop era. There's also a fair amount of commentary on guitar pedals. But it would have been cool to get a little more insight to how Turner made his guitar sound the way it did.

[Jerry Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/4.5

I like MudHoney and I love learning more about the Seattle scene, especially what came right before that shaped it in the 1990s.
Steve knew what we wanted, yes, it's a memoir but he throws just as much effort into the grunge family tree as it were.
The only complaint I have is that he would take the time to mention that he didn't like the music of x or y band and it was nearly every one. One major pet peeve I have is punk purists who are sniffy about all other music. It's dumb, fake and irritating. Now I will say that he didn't go quite that far but he mentioned it enough that it became irritating.
Great read though and as a bonus I read some of it in a coffee shop in Seattle and finished it on my flight home.