Of Dumb Importance

by Joshua Turek

A bard of the TikTok age, comedian Joshua Turek is the writer of two poetry books. His debut collection "On the Outside Looking Up" was signed and mailed to fans in all 50 states and in countries dotting the globe.

This follow up, "Of Dumb Importance" catalogues Turek's optimism and dread amid a home life fractured by natural disaster and unnatural capitalism. He charts the parallels of a Millennial's midlife crisis alongside global ones. Through the flames of his interrogation he keeps returning to the all importance of love and humor and the blessedness of public transportation.

Joshua Turek has been called a less problematic Charles Bukowski meets The Big Lebowski by a stranger on the internet. A stand up comic, he headlines clubs, bars, and laundromats possibly even in a city near you.

98 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 2, 2025

About the author

Deemed a less problematic Charles Bukowski meets The Big Lebowski by a stranger on the internet, Joshua Turek has amassed a large cult following on TikTok and Instagram with his many viral poetic comedy videos. His stand up clips and unintelligible rants have garnered over 1 billion views on TikTok alone and have brought him hundreds of thousands of fans who recognize him regularly at his day job. A stand up comic, he headlines clubs, bars, and laundromats across the globe.

Reviews

[gardenofweediiin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relatable, romantic, whimsical, cynical millennial poetry. Fun read

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5. Really enjoyed this contemporary thoughtful poet. Very of the moment. Funny, insightful.

[Kody Manke-Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many perfect lines buried throughout - mixes of optimistic and disabused, and deeply sincere. I just really like this guy.

“David Lynch made it to 79 smoking cigarettes and drinking chocolate milkshakes I'm getting a burger”

[Katie Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joshua has such a beautiful but realistic way of seeing the world. I’m happy to see everything through his eyes, even if just for a little while.

[Leeroy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked it. My naive advice is to read through the whole thing quickly, and flag the ones you want to come back to. I read a bunch more academically (eg thinking about scansion etc) and discovered that when I let go of that and just read them like Josh was telling a bunch of jokey life stories, there were a dozen or so that especially worked for me, and I went back to those after and they kinda opened up more. I am possibly a moron though, so disregard if this doesn't resonate.

[Missy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the first poetry collection I opened, but it's the first I ever finished—and that says a lot. I stumbled across Joshua Turek's own snippets on Instagram, and they pulled me right in. The collection is filled with raw, reflective musings from a man in his 40s, yet many of them felt surprisingly timely and relatable to me.

I admit I didn't fully get the context of some of the poems, but that's one of the advantages of poetry—you can always return to them and discover new meaning. What I loved most is how unpolished and honest it reads. It isn't lofty or intimidating like some poetry, but grounded in everyday experience. Turek writes with a mix of humor, vulnerability, and quiet wisdom, proving that even the "dumb" or ordinary moments in life carry meaning.

[c · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joshua’s writing hits like meeting a stranger on the street who for some reason decide to forgo the small talk and ask about the story behind the dirt your shoes instead. A simple inquiry that feels approachable yet one that opens up to a multitude of journeys for your brief conversation to lead.

Just as a conversation about the origin of the dirt on your shoes, Joshua uses candor and an unpretentious approach in his poetry to engage with existential struggles of being human in a relatable manner that I reckon all of us can resonate with.

Whether you’re a frequent reader of poetry or have yet to buy your first book, of dumb importance is a read that’s well worth your time.

[Darby Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sigh and a relief and a sideways smile.

[Nate Stringer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hits the feels. Creates connection. Easy to read. Need more artists and men being vulnerable like this.

[Jacob Zoller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tremendous!

[Holly Vavlas · Rating 5 out of 5]

He hits the nail of human existence on the head yet again. The struggles, the beauty. Relatable and simple, and also extraordinarily complex. I always look forward to his new work.

[Joshua Turek · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you can’t rate your own book five stars why write something if you’re not going to love it?

[Lewis Szymanski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I follow Joshua Turek on Instagram. I really enjoy his Metamodernist style. This is life stories and social commentary that alternates between sincerity and detached irony.