Thanks for the Money: How to Use My Life Story to Become the Best Joel McHale You Can Be

by Joel McHale

Joel McHale pulls back the curtain on his personal journey to stardom! Here, for the first time, Joel reveals all that has molded him into the acclaimed comic actor he is today: a love of performance, a series of boyhood head injuries, and most importantly, a passion for financial compensation and free shoes.

It’s all here: Joel’s career trials and tribulations, his criminal trials and tribulations, and an honest, unflinching list of all the people he’s been paid money to make out with, on camera.

But the book does not stop there! Because if you want wealth, fame, and cost-free footwear, Joel will share every vital tip he has learned: an insanely low-carb diet plan, how to escape from a certain pseudo-religious celebrity cult, and more!

How can you unlock the power of the Joel McHale who lurks inside? What happened when Joel fought his Community co-star Chevy Chase? And hey, while we’re at it, what’s up with Joel’s hair – really? All will be revealed, within the pages of Thanks for the Money.

Buy now, and receive – as a special bonus – an email receipt that details your purchase!

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Humor, Audiobook, Comedy, Biography, Autobiography

320 pages, Hardcover

First published October 25, 2016

About the author

Joel Edward McHale is an American comedian, actor, writer, television producer, and television host. He is known for hosting The Soup and portraying Jeff Winger on the NBC/Yahoo! sitcom Community. He has appeared in the films Spy Kids: All the Time in the World and Ted.

Reviews

[Tony Laplume · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a big fan of McHale, at least insofar as his work in Community and a few other cursory experiences with him never had me actively hope he fell into a deathtrap set by Chevy Chase (although it would be the ultimate pratfall), I was happy to see Thanks for the Money listed in Goodreads' handy Giveaways listings, and even more pleased to find I was selected to read it for free. Plus, it seems kind of appropriate that the copy that eventually arrived in the mail had water damage. That about sums up Joel McHale right there.

I kid. This whole book is a meta exercise in celebrity memoirs/self help books/humor material. I'm sure anyone who doesn't know McHale's work that well would only be baffled by it (that's your exact level of celebrity, Joel), but then, there are plenty of references to the fact that he is in fact best known as a smarmy dick, and so this only just goes to prove his own point.

As a fan, a totally and completely biased fan, I think the book is pretty great. I mean, after a while the material becomes a little repetitive, but for all I know that was probably intentional, because there are numerous references to unnecessary padding, too (whether or not the Scientology chapter is fiction, it's probably the best material in the whole book to try and figure out how much of the results are intentional or just messing around; although it should be noted that McHale has made a moderately successful career of just messing around, which no doubt stems from his many hilarious childhood head traumas, as painstakingly detailed in this very book).

But as someone who theoretically might also be able to judge the book with a modicum of objectivity (although if McHale wants to give me money, to goose my review a little, I certainly would not pass up the offer), I can only compare it to the incomparable Dave Barry (because with me, everything eventually comes back to Dave Barry). This is something I realized after remembering that Dave sounds more like Joel McHale than Harry Anderson, who played him in the classic sitcom Dave's World, which although it received far less buzz than Community ever did, was probably viewed by far more people, and that's what really counts. Dave is best known for making witty remarks mocking everything about everything. When you've seen enough episodes of South Park, you realize that there's probably an art to it that doesn't have to look like cardboard cutout animation, which is what Dave's work reads like. Which is what McHale's book reads like, too.

No, I'm not saying that at heart Joel McHale has secretly been ripping off beloved humorist Dave Barry his whole career, getting away with it because basic public perception of McHale is a vague impression that they remember him being a smarmy dick in something they may have seen a few years ago (it's worth noting that noted guest actress Judy Greer wrote a memoir about the same kind of career!). But all the same, that's exactly what I'm saying, without actually saying it, because that would make me a smarmy dick.

(Note to Joel: your tips are already working!)

Bottom line, if you're a fan of McHale you won't at all be disappointed. If you're not? At worst, you will only confirm why you're not. If that's the case, it'll be funnier when you have to pay for it, unlike me, who because I'm a celebrity here at Goodreads (insofar as I have a membership and can therefore sign up for giveaways and hope that I win one every now and then), I can get free stuff like this, no problem.

[meghann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun book to read. I loved The Soup and watched it religiously until those bastards at E! pulled the plug. Then came Community. Pop Pop! #SixSeasonsAndAMovie! Paint ball! I loved that show so freaking much. And then those bastards at NBC pulled the plug. I saw McHale do stand up here in Phoenix. He was hilarious and kind of an asshole, and that is precisely the tone of this book. If you're looking for an autobiographical account of his life and hardships he overcame, this ain't it. But if you want to laugh at horrible things (see chapter 17: Eat a Dick, Angela Lansbury), then this book is right for you! The illustrated section on how to survive an attack by Chevy Chase is worth the price of admission alone.

[Dr. Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember Joel McHale from the Soup. My mother and brother used to watch that show all the time and I remembered it being pretty funny. Unfortunately, his book wasn't as funny. Sure there were several times I laughed throughout this book, but overall I was underwhelmed by it. Also the constant notions to the ghostwriters was weird.

This could have been worse, but maybe Joel's humor isn't as compatible to mine as I once thought. Overall an okay book that was mildly funny at times.

[Mediaman · Rating 2 out of 5]

The tone is sarcastic but the title is real--you're merely giving McHale money for nothing when buying this book. It's a fake memoir, one where he makes up stories and you never know if what he tells you is true. It's actually way too long and written by two comedy writers he worked with, filled with what they must think is humorous. The only two things worth glancing through the book for are the pages devoted to slamming Chevy Chase and David Duchovney (pages 100-109 in the hardback) and the hilarious photos section, which mocks typical celebrity memoirs by including product placement in old McHale pictures. Otherwise it's just a smark aleck making oddball comments and revealing very little of himself. It seemed funny when he did The Soup, but on paper McHale comes across as lame and emotionally stunted. Don't waste your money on it.

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this may be the first audiobook I've ever listened to from start to finish. Pretty amusing throughout, though McHale goes all in on the smug and that wears on a listener by the end. He's a good narrator though and has fun with the audio format. This was a good way to help pass time on a day-long drive in the car.

[John Lamb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summary: Everyone and everything is great (except Chevy Chase).

[Christina (A Reader of Fictions)]

Immediately found this disgusting and hateful instead of funny. The joke about calling Mexican gardener named Hector his man servant Mateo was when I officially quit.

[Cristhian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es memoir pero también no lo es.

Es un constante ir y venir de anécdotas y de lo jerk que es. No esperaba menos.

Necesita más Alison Brie, tho.

3.9/5

[Dramapuppy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is divided into two parts. The first part is the actual celebrity memoir, and the the second part is Joel McHale lecturing you about how to be a famous person.

The first part is one of the funnier celebrity memoirs I've read this year, and McHale narrates the audio well. Four stars. The second part is funny at first, but it's really just the same joke repeated over and over for half a book. Two stars. I just evened it out to three.

[Laura Ann she-her · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

I find Joel McHale hysterical. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing him live, love it, highly recommend. I’ve watched him since The Soup, superb. Community, man that show was massive pop-culture references AND the snarky Joel McHale. His new weekly show on Netflix, a reboot of The Soup, fabulous. This book, meh, he just doesn’t work and I did listen to his book. The first 2/3, I was happy to be on the ride, the final 1/3 or just dragged, for me. *Audible*

[Mo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like Joel McHale, he was great as Jeff Winger on Community and I enjoyed his barbs on The Soup. But this book is one continual overplayed shtick that got old real quick. Similar to someone who thinks he's a comedian but only has one lame joke and he keeps performing it regardless of the audience or lack thereof. So disappointing.

[Erin Sagester · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don't waste your time.

[Aaron Gourlie · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I write this as a big fan of Joel McHale. Community is one of my all time favorite shows and he was absolutely excellent in it.

The beginning of the book was really good. I loved hearing (I listened to the audiobook read by Joel McHale) about him starting out as an actor and meeting his wife (of 27 years!) and really all the beginning of the book minus the ridiculously long section stating that the specific positional way you in which you were conceived influences your personality. Was very close to fast-forwarding the little funny mostly cringe section as he kept saying "imagine your parents..." :-| ha! Like I said a little funny mostly just gross. There were other various crass language and content, but this was the one that was closest to getting fast forwarded.

But the vast majority of the first 2/3 of the book was really good. One of the things I like about McHale is that he was a little bit of a Hollywood outsider, he played college football grew up in outside of Seattle to normal parents. To an extent I feel him to be a little more humble and aware of the ridiculousness of the Hollywood world.
It was neat to hear of all of his anecdotes meeting celebrities and attempting his own stunts and giving pretty candid encounters with the acting world.

The last 1/3 of the book was a satirical look making fun of how the film and television industry. I appreciate his perspective that it is dumb, because I agree but after almost 2 hours of tongue in cheek advice on how to be successful in acting, it just pretty meh. I think it really took away from the book as a whole. I think I would have preferred it to end earlier without all of that even though I think the film industry is absolutely worthy of being made fun of.

Lots of laugh out loud moments, including a section where he talks about all the various movies stars he met or who he had enjoyed working with and then he ends each anecdote with "we have a really good relationship to this day, we do this hilarious thing where we never talk to each other or ever work with each other again."

Really I would do 3.5 stars but with the lengthy final section I think it's probably closer to 3 stars then 4.

[Ernt · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the narrator of the audiobook is the writer and the address, the fact that you are reading an audiobook or listening to it rather and is a comedian you get 5 out of five stars. The delivery on this regardless of the content is why I'm loving this book. I actually hurt myself laughing.

[Kay Russ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars, very sarcastic and funny imo. A great accompaniment to my rewatch of Community.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hm. I love Joel McHale and I was excited to learn more about him and his life. Instead, this book was like half sarcastic "self-help" parody and half stories about other celebrities? So...was pretty disappointing. But he is a funny writer and I guess he can write about what he wants in his own book so he can have 3 stars.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Joel McHale in The Soup and was interested in learning more about him. His book made me laugh out loud but also curious if he is ever not performing. His book and when he was on The Soup made me think he was playing a character, not unlike Stephen Colbert on The Colbert show. I still wonder what he is like when he is not playing to an audience.

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, does this book deserve 5 stars? Idk but I loved it. Joel McHale is hilarious, charming and a softie. If you loved Community then this book is for you.

[rors · Rating 5 out of 5]

he’s just so

[Zoran Micic · Rating 3 out of 5]

An incredibly creative and fun "autobiography" that cleverly needles at the tropes of the genre. Re-enforcing the idea from the beginning that, in the broad strokes, you don't REALLY need to be handed a book to describe the minutia of how to be a better person. Just don't be a dick. I like that sentiment.

There is a surprising amount of refreshing honesty to this autobiography filled with fake anecdotes about being a celebrity, if you have a large enough sword to cut through the layers of Sarcasm. But unfortunately I think even Excalibur would have difficulty. Between that and the pop culture references that age worse that unpasteurised milk in sun, the latter half of the book does become a bit of a slog.

More importantly it was the BALANCE between Sarcasm and sincerity that made the book more lobsided than: *insert topical joke that will be dated before the book reaches publication*. If he had spent more time balancing the sincerity he had at the beginning of this book (pointing out this book was entirely a cash-grab to level his backyard pool) I feel audiences would have enjoyed and respected it more.

But he achieved what he wanted, I am sure he made a lot of fucking money. GG WP Mr. Jeol Mhceal.

[Jake Kilroy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joel McHale has a schtick that works well for him and I, for one, have always been delighted by it. I dug his tone and delivery on "The Soup" and believed he perfected it on "Community," forever one of my favorite shows. Here, McHale combines actual memoir and life/career lessons with a regularly and profoundly exaggerated version of both categories, satirically presenting himself as a money-obsessed, delusional blowhard. There are so many throwaway bits of nonsense that it's difficult to always know what's true and what isn't. It's fun, it's funny, and it all fits. At its core, though, it reads like someone who both appreciates the wonderful life he's been able to obtain and yet finds it so outrageously absurd and lucky that addressing it honestly and earnestly would be stunningly uninteresting and repetitive because it would be so filled with gratitude. Going the character route of reflecting upon life as a smug, emotionally stunted fame whore who lacks self-awareness and a moral compass is a way more engaging bit.

[Jared Bird · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book starts out strong - in fact, all the sections dedicated to Joel’s biography are great, with just the right amount of sarcastic comedy that you would want. Once the book hits his actual celebrity life, it’s actually a little too cocky, a little too uppity. For example, he starts talking about the ghost writers writing his book, and all of a sudden I’m disaffected from the book. He talks about how he still does commercials because he just wants more money. When he was down on his luck, his condescension was more relatable, but then it got a little demeaning. In the last quarter of the book, it turns into a bunch of over-the-top metaphors about being rich and famous, and it was entirely unoriginal.

Regardless, the book is short and the beginning is fun, so I overall recommend, even though there’s a modest amount of non-explicit sexual content.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Half memoir, half “self-help”, all ridiculousness. Joel McHale’s book reads at times like a Ambien fueled fever dream. Which, for all I know, is the intended result.

While most sections feel pretty lite on the “subject matter” aspects of the book, fans of McHale’s humor (as I am) will no doubt enjoy this light and breezy read, if nothing else than for several diagrams of how to properly defend yourself in the event of a Chevy Chase attack.

[SPG · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like Joel McHale, his stand up is still the best that I have seen to date. This book is very much his usual tone and there are parts where it tends to drag on a bit too much, like a run on sentence but with sarcasm. It is overall entertaining and enjoyable though!

[Caraline Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listen to the audiobook!

[Stephen McDonnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the funniest books I’ve ever listened to. Way to be Joel!

[Sarah Ruth · Rating 2 out of 5]

So sarcastic it hurt my teeth, this coming from a Community super fan. But Joel you just doing you and I’m not even mad. Those two stars go to Jim Rash’s 30 second cameo, I love you so much😭

[Sahana Callahan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75, but on the lower side — fun, snarky, and short. a great transition audiobook, read by joel mchale with every ounce of his classic humor.

[Phoenix · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aggressively sarcastic

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the first half a lot more than the second, and especially when he spilled the tea on Chevy Chase. Nice job.