How to Appear Normal at Social Events: And Other Essential Wisdom

by Lord Birthday

How to Appear Normal at Social Events is an oddly cheering book of illustrated lists. Largely based on Lord Birthday's popular Instagram account, the book offers excessively absurd, occasionally wise advice on topics ranging from finding your life's purpose to defending yourself against forest clowns. ( Set an oatmeal trap.) 

Genres: Humor, Graphic Novels, Nonfiction, Comics, Self Help, Comedy, Graphic Novels Comics

122 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2018

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

The title is the best part of this book.

Having said that, if you look at the title and say, eh? That isn't funny.

Exactly.

It is trying to be funny, to be sure. It is trying to say bizarre things, put together to sound funny, but they aren't.

And yet this man apparently has a huge following on Instagram, so there are obviously people out there that love him.

He just isn't for me. Read at your own risk. YMMV.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[Marjolein (UrlPhantomhive) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com

Not funny at all.

There is not much more to say. The stuff is so random, but not in good way, that I have trouble imagining anyone liking this who's not under the influence of something.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Morris · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm sure there is an audience out there for this book, but unfortunately it is not me. I just did not find any of it funny.

This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Becky Fink · Rating 5 out of 5]

When life gives you lemons, hopefully you've got some Lord Birthday around. As someone who grew up hooked on Far Side I really appreciate the weirdness of the good Lord. The book is predominantly lists that are playful, satirical, ironic, and even darkly comical accomplished through surprising juxtapositions of images and diction. It is funny and very weird and the language swings between high/low registers (even words it seems the Lord has made up on his lil' lonesome) with a lot with sonic texture through alliteration and rhyme and stuff. The illustrations are super odd and hilarious. There's a certain ambiguity to them that definitely communicates a discomfort I find solace in--this idea I might not be the only one out there who is a little freaked out! Isn't this the blessing of comedy? In this, I appreciate the writer's attempt to put some order into the chaos of the world through the guise of lists and absurdity. . . especially jogging and the looming apocalypse.

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

I giggled a couple of times.

I got bored a few times.

I felt compelled to give it more stars because I respect that others with a different sense of humour might dig this more than me.

I decided to give it two.

I didn’t hate it.

Thanks, Netgalley. ‘ppreciated.

[Etienne · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not funny and stupid, The tittle really is a catch-up because it's a good title, but it's the only good thing in the book. It's full of stupid sentences, nonsense, who everybody can't write with putting two stupid things with no relations in the same sentence. I like absurd humor but this isn't it. Don't waste time!

[Kayla · Rating 1 out of 5]

Feeling so much regret right now for reading this.

[Ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let it be known and I think it is significant that this is my first read of 2018.

This is a light, funny read with humorous pictures to accompany. If you're looking for something profound, look elsewhere. But if you're looking for a quick, easy, sarcastic read, this would be a good choice.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Emmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, Lord Birthday! I love his insane, off-the-wall, mostly confusing, but slightly unsettling sense of humor. I'm not entirely sure what to say about this book, but I enjoyed reading it. My main question for the author, however is this: just how high were you when you wrote this? I mean, how did you come up with any of this? Did you just toss a bunch of phrases into a hat and pull things out? Or were you seriously high as all-get-out?

Either way, I had a lot of fun.

[Amy Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually think Lord Birthday was the priest in the confession box when I went to church. I was reading my own confessions to him. I was the one who bought the pinata and smashed it alone. I was the one who said a prayer to the wrong god and it worked. Weird. Since that part was so accurate, I have since undertaken following all instructions in this book. I have appeared normal, with much success. It was as successful as the time I tried to learn Norwegian. Thanks Lord Birthday. I highly recommend this to EVERYONE IN ALL PLACES AT ALL TIMES.

[Peacegal · Rating 2 out of 5]

I appreciate weird and surreal humor, but this book stretched the joke for way too many pages.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Banger

[Hannah Peet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a huge fan of his Instagram work, and this book is so much more of that weird, satirical/sardonic wordplay that gives me a cringe from laughing so hard. It's a new appreciated twist on the comic (in both senses of the word) structure that gives these pages much more value than a simple punchline.

[Andrew Shaffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book, do not eat it.

[Bethany Woodcock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought this was some sort of self-help book for introverts like myself who hate social events, but apparently it’s much better than that. Definitely not for everyone, and minus a star for a misleading title, but I had a good laugh.

[PJ Wenzel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Silly. Silly. Silly.
Monty Python in book form. Only modernized.
Some stuff simply wrong. Like way wrong. Other stuff just stupid. But it puts a smile on your face. Well worth just borrowing (as I did) and laughing your way through it.

[Sam Crossley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laughed my face off! There are so many good things about the book. I love that you never can expect what he is thinking and what is going to be said next. Always in the edge of my seat to see what famous saying will come about. I use some of the sayings in my own life now. Giving all credit once the person laughs to the one and only lords birthday! Highly recommend this read!

[Taylor Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this Instagram account and love this book. It’s an escape from the stresses of daily life and makes me laugh like I’m 5 years old again. But as crazy as it sounds, to me, It’s more than witty, random humor — I also find deep meaning in the hilarity of LB.

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

'How to Appear Normal at Social Events: And Other Essential Wisdom' by Lord Birthday is a book full of advice to use in social situations....if you are completely maladjusted.

The book is a series of lists of "advice." The one for the title includes things like '1. Wear a hat. Do not wear a helmet. No helmets' along with other stranger bits of wisdom. There is also advice on how to avoid common kissing mistakes, or get yourself out of painful conversations.

I kept wavering between thinking this book was kind of funny and thinking this book was annoying like being stuck in a car with a 6-year old who is making up nonsense rhymes annoying. The good news is that I don't think it's meant to be read in one sitting like I did. Buy it for someone you really like or really don't like. I can't decide.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

[Kelsey Lund Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This weird, weird humor is just so delightful. Ive been following Lord Birthday on Instagram for a few years and I was so excited to see this put into book form. I don't know what it means that as I read it I simultaneously think "that's the weirdest thing I've beheld" and also, "this is an accurate representation of my soul" but there it is. Its kooky and sweet and often pretty profound. Check it out, you could use some Lord Birthday in your life.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here's how I rated this book:

1 star for original artwork
1 star for making me laugh out loud
1 star for making we want to use this quote in real life: "Do it again and I'll send you an email with no exclamation points in it."

[Anupriya]

All the wisdom I’ve gained from this book has made me an intellectual. Thanks Lord Birthday, random humour me likes.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you don't get it, you don't get it. Please continue to enjoy Cathy and Dilbert. Lord Birthday is awesome.

[Mike Sardoni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've enjoyed Lord Birthday's posts on Instagram for quite some time and decided to give the book a shot. Hilarious as always, I enjoyed the book from start to finish.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Admittedly, the best book of absurd lists I could imagine. But... there are a LOT of absurd lists. A little of that goes a long way.

I would like to frame page 17.

[Kit · Rating 2 out of 5]

Enjoyable in extremely small amounts per serving, but as a whole book? Not funny after the 65th time.

[Dan Lafferty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny in a uniquely weird way, but after about 50 comics the style of weirdness gets a little stale

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick, nonsensical, relatable, and wildly funny. A feast of sharp humor and unexpected one-liners. Been following on Instagram for years and the book lived up to every expectation.
All hail the Lord!

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like weird and random, but this was really one-note and not even clever. I did chuckle a couple of times, but the author's brand of silly got old pretty quickly. But hey it makes me hopeful: if this can get published, what's stopping me from trying?

[J.A. Carter-Winward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review: How to Appear Normal at Social Events by Lord Birthday

As usual, all my book reviews are subjective and are only my experience with said book. My opinions don't reflect on the author personally, but on the work. In that vein, if you think this book deserves less than 5 stars, you're wrong. Dead wrong. /caveat

I picked this book up based on a couple of the drawings and sample pages. At first, I wondered if the author was from the UK. Not because of the crown, no. Okay, maybe on some level. But he's from the Pacific NW, which neither shocked nor delighted me, it was merely an "Oh, I see now" moment.

The truth: this type of humor/book isn't for everyone. But it's for someone, and that someone could be you. My experience: people under the age of 30 don't seem to relate to the humor. People over the ages of 30-38, then 40-49, then 52-60, do. People in their 70s laugh at anything, they're silly, but still. And then, people aged 80 and above tend to overthink it, but that might not be a bad thing. They're usually done with all the crosswords, word searches, etc. in the paper by 9 a.m., anyway.

In all seriousness, this book, and the author, has a distinct voice and sense of humor that makes keeping the book in my kitchen a great way to keep people from stealing it or taking into the bathroom with them.

For most people who read it in front of me or with me, or when I read it to them aloud in the hospital, in the park, through the bathroom door, or on their back patios after they've had a few, it was "guffaw-cackle-hoot" and so on. When reading it to the other age groups, above, I usually got a quizzical smile, a nod of "oh, I see, it's ridiculous and absurd" and then they'd start scrolling on their phones again, chasing the digital dragon in a continual, tragic quest to feel the same rush they felt the very first time they watched "Sad Cat Diaries." Make of that what you will.

Here are some movies that, if you like them, you might like this book. (7:12 a.m.)

(7:45 a.m.) Okay, I can't think of any.

But if Wes Anderson were told, as a child, that making movies would give him the herpes, he'd have likely created a persona such as Lord Birthday, and written books as Lord Birthday (including this one), but would obey his mother when she yelled at him to stop with this "'Lord' business" and go brush his teeth.

If Tim Burton had been born into and from the Light and was an ESFJ, and if he wasn't at all distinctive, into stripes or pointy objects or being an animator, he could have very well been a Lord, or even a "Duke" Birthday.

If you are a man and you don't love this book, you are probably terrible in bed. If you're a woman and you don't love this book, it's probably because you're married to a man who is terrible in bed.

So, that said, I can't offer any more about this book other than it not only helped me appear normal in social situations, but it creates social situations wherever I go.

And much like the herpes, that is a gift that keeps on giving.

To Lord Birthday--may "Birthday" be your kingdom, and may we be invited to your parties, happily ever after.

The End