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The Odd 1s Out #1
The Odd 1s Out: How to Be Cool and Other Things I Definitely Learned from Growing Up
Hilarious stories and advice about the ups and downs of growing up, from a popularYouTube artist and storyteller.
Like any shy teen turned young adult, YouTube star James Rallison ("The Odd 1s Out") is used to being on the outside looking in. He wasn't partying in high school or winning football games like his older brother. Instead, he posted comics on the Internet. Now, he's ready to share his hard-earned advice from his 21 years of life in the funny, relatable voice his fans love.
In this illustrated collection, Rallison tells his own stories of growing up as the "odd one out": in art class with his twin sister (she was more talented), in the middle school locker room, and up to one strange year of college (he dropped out). Each story is filled with the little lessons he picked up along the way, serious and otherwise, like:
* How to be cool (in seventh grade)
* Why it's OK to be second-best at something, and
* How to survive your first, confidence-killing job interviews
Filled with fan-favorite comics and never-before-seen material, this tongue-in-cheek take on some of the weirdest, funniest parts of life is perfect for both avid followers and new converts.
Like any shy teen turned young adult, YouTube star James Rallison ("The Odd 1s Out") is used to being on the outside looking in. He wasn't partying in high school or winning football games like his older brother. Instead, he posted comics on the Internet. Now, he's ready to share his hard-earned advice from his 21 years of life in the funny, relatable voice his fans love.
In this illustrated collection, Rallison tells his own stories of growing up as the "odd one out": in art class with his twin sister (she was more talented), in the middle school locker room, and up to one strange year of college (he dropped out). Each story is filled with the little lessons he picked up along the way, serious and otherwise, like:
* How to be cool (in seventh grade)
* Why it's OK to be second-best at something, and
* How to survive your first, confidence-killing job interviews
Filled with fan-favorite comics and never-before-seen material, this tongue-in-cheek take on some of the weirdest, funniest parts of life is perfect for both avid followers and new converts.
240 pages, Paperback
First published July 31, 2018
1099 people are currently reading
6104 people want to read
About the author
James Rallison
9 books319 followersJames Rallison is an American webcomic artist from Arizona, known for his YouTube channel TheOdd1sOut.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 486 reviews
September 24, 2018
Cute illustrations with stories that had me rolling. Enough said.
June 29, 2019
A hilarious, laugh-out-loud book about James Rallison/Theodd1sout, an artist I have been following/reading his comics for some time. Delighted there is a book about him.
First up, thanks to my boyfriend for gifting me this book for Christmas! I am so happy that I now finally have the chance to read this book. Secondly, I thought this would be comics/comic bundle with all/selected comics, but instead it is a mix-up of stories about James's life and comics.
We read about his school life, about his family (I had such a laugh when a teacher mistook him and his twin sister as boyfriend and girlfriend, really, how?), about his art, about dreams, about popularity, about bugs (I still stand that bugs are creepy and butterflies are cute, no matter what he says), and tons more. We really get to know the artist (and I finally found out about who his artist name is Theodd1sout, I was already wondering about it). I had such a good time reading this, laughing so many times, and also dragging my fiance in laughing as I read some parts aloud. And I am betting (on those last Christmas chocolates) that he will also be reading this book when he has the chance).
I already knew I would love the humour, but sometimes the humour works better in comics, but I can honestly say that this guy can write stories as well as he can do comics. He really pulls you into his stories, into his life. I know I couldn't stop reading so whenever I had time yesterday, I read, read and read some more.
Now I am just hoping that he will write more books or makes a book with all his comics. Either would be perfect. \o/ Oh, and I would recommend this book to all who want to know more about this artist or are fans of him (like me!).
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
First up, thanks to my boyfriend for gifting me this book for Christmas! I am so happy that I now finally have the chance to read this book. Secondly, I thought this would be comics/comic bundle with all/selected comics, but instead it is a mix-up of stories about James's life and comics.
We read about his school life, about his family (I had such a laugh when a teacher mistook him and his twin sister as boyfriend and girlfriend, really, how?), about his art, about dreams, about popularity, about bugs (I still stand that bugs are creepy and butterflies are cute, no matter what he says), and tons more. We really get to know the artist (and I finally found out about who his artist name is Theodd1sout, I was already wondering about it). I had such a good time reading this, laughing so many times, and also dragging my fiance in laughing as I read some parts aloud. And I am betting (on those last Christmas chocolates) that he will also be reading this book when he has the chance).
I already knew I would love the humour, but sometimes the humour works better in comics, but I can honestly say that this guy can write stories as well as he can do comics. He really pulls you into his stories, into his life. I know I couldn't stop reading so whenever I had time yesterday, I read, read and read some more.
Now I am just hoping that he will write more books or makes a book with all his comics. Either would be perfect. \o/ Oh, and I would recommend this book to all who want to know more about this artist or are fans of him (like me!).
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
June 13, 2018
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway and got and uncorrected ARC, so things in my copy of the book are subject to change.
If you enjoy his channel this book has the same humor as his stories on YouTube. Some of the stories are from the channel but there are also stories that are new and give reason for even the biggest fan of James to buy the book.
People who havent viewed his channel will still love the jokes and stories that this book provides, from stories about his evil dog to accidently dating his sister there are laughs to be had throughout the book.
Overall this book is great, I do wish it had more stuff that wasn't from his YouTube channel, but the new material is a great addition to a great book. It's filled with charm and fun from the dedications at the front of the book until the last page.
If you enjoy his channel this book has the same humor as his stories on YouTube. Some of the stories are from the channel but there are also stories that are new and give reason for even the biggest fan of James to buy the book.
People who havent viewed his channel will still love the jokes and stories that this book provides, from stories about his evil dog to accidently dating his sister there are laughs to be had throughout the book.
Overall this book is great, I do wish it had more stuff that wasn't from his YouTube channel, but the new material is a great addition to a great book. It's filled with charm and fun from the dedications at the front of the book until the last page.
August 3, 2018
This was a fun book to read. I've been a fan of James and his videos for awhile, so I was pretty excited when he announced he was making a book.
However, roughly one third of this book contains info that is already explained (hilariously) on youtube channel. I get that it's nice to put in some details for those who have never heard of James, but it kinda made me enjoy the book a little less.
It's hard to write a book, so I will say I think it's still a good read (ha, get it?-ok I'll stop now) for anyone who is a big fan of theodd1sout.
And also it was fun to learn more about one of my favorite youtubers.
However, roughly one third of this book contains info that is already explained (hilariously) on youtube channel. I get that it's nice to put in some details for those who have never heard of James, but it kinda made me enjoy the book a little less.
It's hard to write a book, so I will say I think it's still a good read (ha, get it?-ok I'll stop now) for anyone who is a big fan of theodd1sout.
And also it was fun to learn more about one of my favorite youtubers.
February 14, 2020
I normally spend a lot of time reading books found on bestseller lists, Pulitzer lists, etc, but the Odd 1s Out was an X-mas gift from my oldest daughter so I thought I would finally give it a try. All my kids are big fans of The Odd 1s Out YouTube channel and I am too. When you are a parent and find you have similar tastes in comedy as your children — well savor those moments. Also I didn’t know that I had a snort when I laughed — but you uncover revelations about yourself when something is this funny.
This book is a recap, with illustrations, of some of the better Odd 1s Out episodes. There are thirteen chapters and half a dozen of them are laugh out loud funny. My favorites are the Moth story, The Laser Tag Outing and The Killer Dog. Some of the most hilarious stories I’ve read.
4 stars. You get a better sense from the book — versus the videos — of how talented James Rallison is at writing episodic scripts. In fact, I think his storytelling may be better than his animation skills. I guess that may sound like a backhanded compliment. I would give even more stars but the videos are online and even more enjoyable than the book.
This book is a recap, with illustrations, of some of the better Odd 1s Out episodes. There are thirteen chapters and half a dozen of them are laugh out loud funny. My favorites are the Moth story, The Laser Tag Outing and The Killer Dog. Some of the most hilarious stories I’ve read.
4 stars. You get a better sense from the book — versus the videos — of how talented James Rallison is at writing episodic scripts. In fact, I think his storytelling may be better than his animation skills. I guess that may sound like a backhanded compliment. I would give even more stars but the videos are online and even more enjoyable than the book.
October 8, 2018
I don't watch much YouTube. I know that once I get on, I won't get off for at least two hours. My brother, on the other hand, probably spends over half his day on YouTube, so you can imagine he's pretty well versed in YouTubers.
That being said, he tends to show me some of his favorite YouTubers from time to time, and the only one I kept watching after he showed me a video was, you guessed it, The Odd1sOut. James is literally the only YouTuber I consistently watch (excluding BookTubers). So when my brother found out I was watching The Odd1sOut in my free time, he handed me this book. I'm (obviously, I'm the one with a Goodreads) more of a reader than him, so he was more than happy to let me borrow his copy of this book.
I noticed pretty quickly that a lot of the chapters were basically the scripts of his videos, with a few extra lines added in. I still read them, because you can't just skip the chapters of a book that's so wrong they're in that order for a reason, you heathen. My only complaint for this book was that they were basically his videos in book form. I still enjoyed them, and I still kinda sorta read the book instead of studying for my college midterms, but I was hoping it was different from his videos.
All that said, I am still very happy I read this book. Yeah, it may be more aimed at middle school boys and not college age girls, but I still laughed at a lot of the jokes (yes, even the ones I had already heard on YouTube) and I enjoyed it all the way through. Only reason it got 3/5 stars was because I had already seen half the stories before I read them.
So, if you want to read a funny, light hearted book and you watch none of The Odd1sOut's videos, you should pick this up. Trust me, it's a really refreshing change of pace to go from reading a textbook on criminology, to a goofy story about "Things I Do That Most Adults Probably Don't Do." Especially because I also do some of those things.
Just know that if you've already obsessively watched most of his videos instead of studying, a lot of it is repeat. But it's James, so who cares, he's hilarious.
That being said, he tends to show me some of his favorite YouTubers from time to time, and the only one I kept watching after he showed me a video was, you guessed it, The Odd1sOut. James is literally the only YouTuber I consistently watch (excluding BookTubers). So when my brother found out I was watching The Odd1sOut in my free time, he handed me this book. I'm (obviously, I'm the one with a Goodreads) more of a reader than him, so he was more than happy to let me borrow his copy of this book.
I noticed pretty quickly that a lot of the chapters were basically the scripts of his videos, with a few extra lines added in. I still read them, because you can't just skip the chapters of a book that's so wrong they're in that order for a reason, you heathen. My only complaint for this book was that they were basically his videos in book form. I still enjoyed them, and I still kinda sorta read the book instead of studying for my college midterms, but I was hoping it was different from his videos.
All that said, I am still very happy I read this book. Yeah, it may be more aimed at middle school boys and not college age girls, but I still laughed at a lot of the jokes (yes, even the ones I had already heard on YouTube) and I enjoyed it all the way through. Only reason it got 3/5 stars was because I had already seen half the stories before I read them.
So, if you want to read a funny, light hearted book and you watch none of The Odd1sOut's videos, you should pick this up. Trust me, it's a really refreshing change of pace to go from reading a textbook on criminology, to a goofy story about "Things I Do That Most Adults Probably Don't Do." Especially because I also do some of those things.
Just know that if you've already obsessively watched most of his videos instead of studying, a lot of it is repeat. But it's James, so who cares, he's hilarious.
May 23, 2019
Now personally I love The Odd 1s Out. He is one of my favorite YouTubers and when I found out he had a book I just HAD to get it! I read this book right before my last manga classic so getting both of those books I just had high exceptions for this book and let me say how they met them with flying colors! This book is as relatable as "Adulthood Is A Myth." You should read this book.
March 27, 2019
Love this hilarious book!
September 2, 2018
MY RATING: 4/5 STARS
A copy generously provided by Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for a honest review.
Guys! I am a huge fan of TheOdd1sOut on Youtube and there might have been two days where I binged watched all his videos when I first discovered him. If you guys don't know who James is, he's a cartoonist who is known for his funny stories told through cartoons he draws himself. My favourite were some of his workplace stories and of course, him growing up as a kid.
This book is exactly like his Youtube videos. His cartoons are so adorable, expressing the exact reactions I would imagine certain characters would feel in that very moment of the story that I often found myself bursting out in giggles. James' writing is similar to his monologues in his videos so don't expect literature but expect easy writing that gets you right from the start. He has this dry silly sarcastic humour that is contagious.
The only reason why I knocked off a star was because he recycled two stories from his videos in his book so I just skimmed those. Good thing the whole book wasn't just his videos written out or else I would have been really annoyed. Next, I didn't think the subtitle to be applicable to what he was preaching in his book. It wasn't actually a guide to be cool but it was just more like this is what happened to me when I was younger. And that's it.
MY RECOMMENDATION
Definitely recommend to you if you're looking for a gift for a younger reader or someone who is a fan of James or just looking for something cute to flip through!
A copy generously provided by Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for a honest review.
Guys! I am a huge fan of TheOdd1sOut on Youtube and there might have been two days where I binged watched all his videos when I first discovered him. If you guys don't know who James is, he's a cartoonist who is known for his funny stories told through cartoons he draws himself. My favourite were some of his workplace stories and of course, him growing up as a kid.
This book is exactly like his Youtube videos. His cartoons are so adorable, expressing the exact reactions I would imagine certain characters would feel in that very moment of the story that I often found myself bursting out in giggles. James' writing is similar to his monologues in his videos so don't expect literature but expect easy writing that gets you right from the start. He has this dry silly sarcastic humour that is contagious.
The only reason why I knocked off a star was because he recycled two stories from his videos in his book so I just skimmed those. Good thing the whole book wasn't just his videos written out or else I would have been really annoyed. Next, I didn't think the subtitle to be applicable to what he was preaching in his book. It wasn't actually a guide to be cool but it was just more like this is what happened to me when I was younger. And that's it.
MY RECOMMENDATION
Definitely recommend to you if you're looking for a gift for a younger reader or someone who is a fan of James or just looking for something cute to flip through!
August 8, 2018
So I love James and have a been a fan of him since he was only at 2 million subs but this book was a cheap cash grab on his part. So many of the stories were already featured on YouTube channel. The ones that weren’t were great but it felt very cheap, if you know what I mean. The writing in this book was also pretty eh, if you know what I mean.
August 9, 2020
Amusing enough to start. I've seen Rallison's videos listed on YouTube, but before reading this book I don't recall that I ever watched any. In the middle of the book, I watched his Sooubway tetralogy to get a feel for his voice and that just left me realizing how young he is and how that was his only job before making YouTube videos for a living.
And then all I could think was:
And then all I could think was:
July 9, 2020
This book was great! I was looking for something fun and lighthearted and this was perfect. I needed a bit of a pick-me-up and this did the job. It actually had me chuckling at times! I love that this book mixed his art/comics in with his anecdotes. It was great. I highly recommend it!
August 11, 2025
I loved this book. Maybe it's only because I watch The Odd 1s Out on youtube. But whatever the case, I thought it was hilarious.
July 9, 2020
This book made me feel so happy, oh my gosh!!😂
October 12, 2018
This was a fantastic book and I couldn’t put it down. I’ve been watching James also known as, “The Odd 1s Out” for quite some time, so I was especially excited to find this book at the library. His name The Odd 1s Out basically comes from him feeling sort of different from everyone else and really just having a more creative mind. He thinks outside the box and has a sarcastic and different sense of humor, which I found funny. This book included some crazy and funny stories from his life growing up. It mainly focuses on his middle school and teen years which is a pretty weird time in your life, so a lot of his experiences made me laugh and the cartoons to go along with them were very original. One of James’ strengths would be that he is incredibly interesting. He can manage to keep someone entertained even while telling a not so intresting story. For awhile I actually wanted to be an animator and that’s how I discovered him. Although, I’m not a great artist, James’ tells that with hard work you can do great things. I really can’t name any weakness about the author because I really loved the book and would recommend it to anyone of my friends. You would really enjoy this book if you’re interested in cartoons, enjoy stories, and like to laugh. This would also be a great gift for a friend and I think almost anyone can enjoy it.
December 24, 2020
Very funny, very re-readable. I loved this a lot. Ofc this is not the best book ever but it is very fun and a real good time and you can read this over a lazy afternoon, had a good few chuckles to yourself and yeah idk then get up and work out and study and realise all this book-reading is killing your academic career. But fun book haha.
September 12, 2018
Read this because my daughter loves to watch his Youtube videos.
October 13, 2019
So I actually quite enjoyed this book
So like last week I was at my friends house and this is one of her brothers books and it was lying around with all the other random books like Diary of a Wimpy Kid and all these Legend of Zelda books and like 2 copies of every Percy Jackson book
And then I haven’t read this one and she was eating lox and I was probably being annoying by reading this and then I finished it this week
So like last week I was at my friends house and this is one of her brothers books and it was lying around with all the other random books like Diary of a Wimpy Kid and all these Legend of Zelda books and like 2 copies of every Percy Jackson book
And then I haven’t read this one and she was eating lox and I was probably being annoying by reading this and then I finished it this week
September 1, 2020
I can't decide if I would have liked this more or less if I hadn't already watched most of the Odd1sOut videos on YouTube. On one hand, having seen the videos allowed me to hear the text in Rallison's voice, which added a lot of humor and personality. On the other hand, I kept comparing the book to the videos, and the book came up lacking. I might not have missed the narration so much if I didn't know how much it adds.
Still, this was a fun and worthwhile read overall. I liked the balance of pictures to text, and each chapter was just long enough to feel satisfying but short enough to easily keep my interest. I read the book in one sitting and it made for a great afternoon. Nothing world-changing, but I'd still recommend it for both newcomers and longtime Odd1sOut fans.
Still, this was a fun and worthwhile read overall. I liked the balance of pictures to text, and each chapter was just long enough to feel satisfying but short enough to easily keep my interest. I read the book in one sitting and it made for a great afternoon. Nothing world-changing, but I'd still recommend it for both newcomers and longtime Odd1sOut fans.
December 12, 2023
2.5 This young cartoonist/animator/YouTuber is building quite a media empire with his marshmallow people cartoons.
This was his first book I think, published in 2018; and the art/print hybrid model within doesn’t seem as sophisticated as his current webcomics, which I just checked out. These current ones, while silly-and at first glance with meandering focus-seem to be improved and better drawn. The merch is cute, too.
While the book was flaky, I admire his ambition for sure.
This was his first book I think, published in 2018; and the art/print hybrid model within doesn’t seem as sophisticated as his current webcomics, which I just checked out. These current ones, while silly-and at first glance with meandering focus-seem to be improved and better drawn. The merch is cute, too.
While the book was flaky, I admire his ambition for sure.
January 10, 2021
2.5 stars.
James's humor comes across best on screen watching his videos and animations, so I found trying to read the stories in James's voice really helped to get a bit more out of them. As they are, they were amusing anecdotes and stories to dive into during brief lunch breaks or down time at work, but still no match for watching the videos.
James's humor comes across best on screen watching his videos and animations, so I found trying to read the stories in James's voice really helped to get a bit more out of them. As they are, they were amusing anecdotes and stories to dive into during brief lunch breaks or down time at work, but still no match for watching the videos.
August 15, 2023
The last chapter is my favourite. I skipped the worm chapter (ew).
April 6, 2020
I loved this okay. it's hilarious.
September 18, 2019
I was going to use the word 'hilarious', then saw word is first in description (which I still haven't read except for first word). Eh, whatever. Book was in fact hilarious.
An hilarious mix of words with the occasional inclusion of cartoons. A memoir of a professional comic writer. I've a vague believe I might have seen some of this author's work before, but I otherwise do not know this author or his work before randomly spotting his book in the store.
An hilarious mix of words with the occasional inclusion of cartoons. A memoir of a professional comic writer. I've a vague believe I might have seen some of this author's work before, but I otherwise do not know this author or his work before randomly spotting his book in the store.
June 28, 2020
Very fun read, especially if you like watching his videos. It’s the same type of story you can enjoy while relaxing but you get credit for it on goodreads 😂 lol
May 2, 2020
I really like watching James on YouTube, so it was fun to read a story made by him.
August 31, 2018
Do you need to write a book report? Try James' Mad lib book report. It's sure to (cough) impress the teachers.
I first caught The Odd 1s Out videos when my kids were watching his Sooubway videos. I was surprised that someone on YouTube could actually be funny. Yes, I do hold a low opinion of most of the video content on that site. Anyway... When I saw the same author of The Odd 1s Out (James Rallison) was coming out with a book, I thought at first, "Ugh, this is like Dan TDM all over again." But I wanted to give it a chance, so I contact the publisher requesting a copy to review.
My son flipped through the book first before I started reading. His initial response? "These are the same videos on YouTube except in a book. I'd rather watch the video."
. . .
Ok, for those that prefer not to spend hours online (especially on YouTube), I think you'll enjoy this book. James offers a variety of funny personal stories (aka anecdotes) from catch worms for his mom to being accused of PDA (public display of affection) with his twin sister. And while, yes, he does repeat some of the videos he's done online, there are still one or two new stories (at least from what I see when searching through the list of videos). Not only does he have amusing stories, but he actually puts some thought into it, like a moral of the story or "the more you know" public service announcement.
In order to be cool in school, James recommends a few things (not without a hint of sarcasm, at least to me)... listening to depressing angsty music and wearing certain types of clothing. Keep in mind, I've read the advanced copy, so some of the sections quoted here might have changed by publication. But I hope not, because he does have some good things to say. What if after you've changed the way you look, your clothes aren't comfortable and the music isn't that great, all of which makes you unhappy?
"Cool doesn't necessarily mean happy. You gave up on happiness when you started caring about what other people think."
Wait, what? Hold on a sec. Is he actually trying to sneak in life lessons into this book?!
"Sometimes you need to fail in life. Because you're not that special. Besides, failure makes for good stories." It sure does! Which is why TheOdd1sOut has been so successful. He's managed to put a humorous spin on otherwise sad and depressing life experiences (ok, maybe not THAT sad and depressing). We all have them. I was fired over paper clips. Sounds ridiculous now, but back then being fired was not cool. Still, I wouldn't be in a job I love today if it weren't for that fail.
Don't freak out. There's plenty of just plain silly stories that should make you laugh. For example, when he described the time his dog chased a chihuahua. The chihuahua was on a leash and the owner kept turning around and around to keep her body between the two dogs, but inadvertently turned the little dog into a ceiling fan effect. That got a laugh out of me.
"Follow your dreams, but do it in a smart way. Don't listen to the haters."
I requested a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. And I'm glad I did. I've enjoyed the videos, when I have a moment to watch them. So I wasn't surprised to find that I enjoyed the book as well. I think this would be a great way for kids who love TheOdd1sOut to share that love with Grandma who really enjoys reading and doesn't get the Internet. Maybe other family members don't want to spend hours on YouTube. So how can you show one of James' videos that you find funny? By purchasing a copy The Odd 1s Out: How to Be Cool and Other Things I Definitely Learned from Growing Up by James Rallison. It may not have the Sooubway stories, but there are plenty of laughs to be had in this book.
I first caught The Odd 1s Out videos when my kids were watching his Sooubway videos. I was surprised that someone on YouTube could actually be funny. Yes, I do hold a low opinion of most of the video content on that site. Anyway... When I saw the same author of The Odd 1s Out (James Rallison) was coming out with a book, I thought at first, "Ugh, this is like Dan TDM all over again." But I wanted to give it a chance, so I contact the publisher requesting a copy to review.
My son flipped through the book first before I started reading. His initial response? "These are the same videos on YouTube except in a book. I'd rather watch the video."
. . .
Ok, for those that prefer not to spend hours online (especially on YouTube), I think you'll enjoy this book. James offers a variety of funny personal stories (aka anecdotes) from catch worms for his mom to being accused of PDA (public display of affection) with his twin sister. And while, yes, he does repeat some of the videos he's done online, there are still one or two new stories (at least from what I see when searching through the list of videos). Not only does he have amusing stories, but he actually puts some thought into it, like a moral of the story or "the more you know" public service announcement.
In order to be cool in school, James recommends a few things (not without a hint of sarcasm, at least to me)... listening to depressing angsty music and wearing certain types of clothing. Keep in mind, I've read the advanced copy, so some of the sections quoted here might have changed by publication. But I hope not, because he does have some good things to say. What if after you've changed the way you look, your clothes aren't comfortable and the music isn't that great, all of which makes you unhappy?
"Cool doesn't necessarily mean happy. You gave up on happiness when you started caring about what other people think."
Wait, what? Hold on a sec. Is he actually trying to sneak in life lessons into this book?!
"Sometimes you need to fail in life. Because you're not that special. Besides, failure makes for good stories." It sure does! Which is why TheOdd1sOut has been so successful. He's managed to put a humorous spin on otherwise sad and depressing life experiences (ok, maybe not THAT sad and depressing). We all have them. I was fired over paper clips. Sounds ridiculous now, but back then being fired was not cool. Still, I wouldn't be in a job I love today if it weren't for that fail.
Don't freak out. There's plenty of just plain silly stories that should make you laugh. For example, when he described the time his dog chased a chihuahua. The chihuahua was on a leash and the owner kept turning around and around to keep her body between the two dogs, but inadvertently turned the little dog into a ceiling fan effect. That got a laugh out of me.
"Follow your dreams, but do it in a smart way. Don't listen to the haters."
I requested a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. And I'm glad I did. I've enjoyed the videos, when I have a moment to watch them. So I wasn't surprised to find that I enjoyed the book as well. I think this would be a great way for kids who love TheOdd1sOut to share that love with Grandma who really enjoys reading and doesn't get the Internet. Maybe other family members don't want to spend hours on YouTube. So how can you show one of James' videos that you find funny? By purchasing a copy The Odd 1s Out: How to Be Cool and Other Things I Definitely Learned from Growing Up by James Rallison. It may not have the Sooubway stories, but there are plenty of laughs to be had in this book.
November 2, 2018
This was a fun little endearing read! Most of the stories are already up on James's YouTube channel, TheOdd1stOut, as videos to be watched, but there are a few anecdotes that aren't on his channel, and a little more substance to the ones that are and made it into this book.
Most of this book feels like a memoir of things James has learned or experienced since as early as kindergarten onward, and I feel like it reads as such even when it's funny.
I recommend this to fans of his channel, especially if they're younger fans, as I imagine they can take some nuggets of wisdom from his experience. (And for those who may not have seen his channel before, but stumbled upon this book, you should go watch some of his videos! They're fun, and typically get me to laugh when I need it.)
Most of this book feels like a memoir of things James has learned or experienced since as early as kindergarten onward, and I feel like it reads as such even when it's funny.
I recommend this to fans of his channel, especially if they're younger fans, as I imagine they can take some nuggets of wisdom from his experience. (And for those who may not have seen his channel before, but stumbled upon this book, you should go watch some of his videos! They're fun, and typically get me to laugh when I need it.)
September 18, 2020
Basically, working on the science fair is a lot like life. Choose your partner carefully, ask the right questions, and after you procrastinate, just launch model rockets.
Ah! I can't believe it took me this long to read. I have been a fan of James since long ago, and I had this book the moment it was out. It really, really was as funny as watching his YouTube videos and I was enchanted with it. Sadly, as fun as it was, most of the jokes weren't really new and I'd would recall them perfectly from one of his videos. I'd have loved this if this was all new material! Anyhow, I recommend this book to anybody who is a new fan of TheOdd1sOut :'D
August 18, 2018
I’ve been reading TheOdd1sOut comics for years and started following his YouTube channel last year. Not one of his videos has failed to make me laugh out loud! This book is the perfect recreation of many of his videos, and even includes new content! The talent of the simply drawn cartoons and hilarious humor produced by TheOdd1sOut is remarkable and my go-to source of daily laughter. This book is perfect for any age, whether you may be eight, seventeen, or forty- This humor reaches anyone and everyone!
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