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Unplugged
The only problem with getting everything you ever wanted is that it forces you to reassess everything you ever wanted in the first place.
Thirty-two-year-old Dan Johnson has it all; a nine-digit net worth, a gorgeous fiancé and a luxury riverside brownstone. The only problem is, he doesn't want any of it. And the endless distractions of digitized society give him no head space to figure out what he does want.
So, Dan unplugs. He abandons all things digital technology, effectively retreating from society to live an analog lifestyle geared at perfecting the art of avoidance. When a case of mistaken identity launches Dan into a series of bizarro relationships and absurd events, it represents an unexpected path to reconnect him with a world he never knew existed.
Dark, offbeat and laugh-out-loud funny, Unplugged is a coming of middle-age story about finding authentic connections and meaning in today's hyper-digitized society.
Thirty-two-year-old Dan Johnson has it all; a nine-digit net worth, a gorgeous fiancé and a luxury riverside brownstone. The only problem is, he doesn't want any of it. And the endless distractions of digitized society give him no head space to figure out what he does want.
So, Dan unplugs. He abandons all things digital technology, effectively retreating from society to live an analog lifestyle geared at perfecting the art of avoidance. When a case of mistaken identity launches Dan into a series of bizarro relationships and absurd events, it represents an unexpected path to reconnect him with a world he never knew existed.
Dark, offbeat and laugh-out-loud funny, Unplugged is a coming of middle-age story about finding authentic connections and meaning in today's hyper-digitized society.
255 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 7, 2020
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4237 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
March 3, 2022
As usual Mr. Barrett's creative genius shines through in this extraordinarily original tale containing a plethora of outlandishly eccentric characters with their own very personal agendas.
Sarah - the intelligent, strong willed and vulnerable homeless advocate who has made helping the downtrodden her admirable plight in life.
Dan - who has come into quite a windfall selling an app at just the right time, and desperately yearns to find his purpose in life, as well authentic love. He is trying to dump his very clingy, self-absorbed and beautiful (ex)girlfriend Spencer, who does not want to let go. She is just sidesplittingly uproarious, with phenomenal levity.
Dan's sex fiend buddy, Sluggo also quite the rip-roaring-riot. . .Not to mention a stoner, perv, and absolutely obsessed with Spencer. His character is full of nonstop epic witticisms and always ripe with the quips. Hilarious.
'Unplugged' has some excellent serious social messages which are especially appreciated as a social worker.
Well done! Please keep 'em coming, Mr. Barrett.
Sarah - the intelligent, strong willed and vulnerable homeless advocate who has made helping the downtrodden her admirable plight in life.
Dan - who has come into quite a windfall selling an app at just the right time, and desperately yearns to find his purpose in life, as well authentic love. He is trying to dump his very clingy, self-absorbed and beautiful (ex)girlfriend Spencer, who does not want to let go. She is just sidesplittingly uproarious, with phenomenal levity.
Dan's sex fiend buddy, Sluggo also quite the rip-roaring-riot. . .Not to mention a stoner, perv, and absolutely obsessed with Spencer. His character is full of nonstop epic witticisms and always ripe with the quips. Hilarious.
'Unplugged' has some excellent serious social messages which are especially appreciated as a social worker.
Well done! Please keep 'em coming, Mr. Barrett.
July 29, 2020
It's not that the book is badly written; there are some amusing moments and an engaging storyline. But. The blatant chauvinism running through the book soured it for me, the male characters' views on women are appalling;
"The funny thing about Betsy is there was once a time when she was actually attractive. Not, like, Clancy attractive. But she made the best of what she had. Now, sixty pounds of baby weight and a mom-haircut later, Bill must be counting the days until his own death."
Right. God forbid a woman puts weight on after having a baby. God forbid that a marriage is based on anything deeper than superficial appearances. Betsy is financially supporting the family while Bill gets stoned while apparently looking after their baby daughter. Sorry, but what exactly is Bill bringing to this relationship? The writer paints their marriage as being toxic due to Betsy being a bitch and overweight, but being married to a lazy, lying stoner would do that to the best of us.
“I guess, what I really want is for you to walk back in there and punch that gross fishwife of yours right in her fat mouth. Figuratively speaking, of course.”
Ha ha. Domestic violence jokes are so hysterically funny. Especially in a novel which purports to understand how many women end up being homeless due to trying to escape domestic violence. Gross.
"The loose t-shirt doesn’t give away much upstairs, but she definitely has a set of legs on her."
Sarah is intelligent, compassionate, strong and spends all of her time trying to improve the lives of others... but of course, what matters most is whether or not she's got an attractive body beneath those baggy clothes.
All of the female characters are constantly evaluated on their attractiveness, objectified by Dan and his friends, as apparently it's fine for his friends and brother to have masturbatory fantasies over his girlfriends. I'm not even going to go there when it comes to his ex-fiancée and her tendency to "accidentally" expose herself as some kind of hallmark of character - in fact, this seems to be the entire sum of her characterisation, there's nothing else to be said about her. Interestingly, I don't think we're supposed to believe that Dan is chauvinistic... so what, is this just the authorial voice coming through?
If the chauvinism wasn't enough, the casual way that the narrator manipulates a group of young men he's supposedly friends with into committing mass suicide... FFS. Not funny. Are we supposed to just overlook that and think he's a great guy who deserves to get the girl? It would have been so much more gratifying for Dan to find a way to involve the faux-Irish philosophers into the WayPoint scheme so that they manage to redeem themselves and find meaning in their lives through being faced with families who have known real suffering. The group suicide was crass, unfunny and would in reality have been a PTSD-invoking level of horrific to witness. Would Sarah really still have been interested in Dan, knowing he had encouraged this? It was pointless - they knew they couldn't outdo Shaughnessy's original act, so why not find a different, more meaningful outcome for the characters?
What really pisses me off is that if this was written by a woman it would be dismissed as "chick-lit." Because it's written by a man, there's no such derogatory term for it. Ultimately the book was disappointing, not because the author can't write, he's clearly got good writing style, but because he's made such hideous choices about how to represent women, and about suicide. This book could have been a great read, but it left me feeling angry instead.
"The funny thing about Betsy is there was once a time when she was actually attractive. Not, like, Clancy attractive. But she made the best of what she had. Now, sixty pounds of baby weight and a mom-haircut later, Bill must be counting the days until his own death."
Right. God forbid a woman puts weight on after having a baby. God forbid that a marriage is based on anything deeper than superficial appearances. Betsy is financially supporting the family while Bill gets stoned while apparently looking after their baby daughter. Sorry, but what exactly is Bill bringing to this relationship? The writer paints their marriage as being toxic due to Betsy being a bitch and overweight, but being married to a lazy, lying stoner would do that to the best of us.
“I guess, what I really want is for you to walk back in there and punch that gross fishwife of yours right in her fat mouth. Figuratively speaking, of course.”
Ha ha. Domestic violence jokes are so hysterically funny. Especially in a novel which purports to understand how many women end up being homeless due to trying to escape domestic violence. Gross.
"The loose t-shirt doesn’t give away much upstairs, but she definitely has a set of legs on her."
Sarah is intelligent, compassionate, strong and spends all of her time trying to improve the lives of others... but of course, what matters most is whether or not she's got an attractive body beneath those baggy clothes.
All of the female characters are constantly evaluated on their attractiveness, objectified by Dan and his friends, as apparently it's fine for his friends and brother to have masturbatory fantasies over his girlfriends. I'm not even going to go there when it comes to his ex-fiancée and her tendency to "accidentally" expose herself as some kind of hallmark of character - in fact, this seems to be the entire sum of her characterisation, there's nothing else to be said about her. Interestingly, I don't think we're supposed to believe that Dan is chauvinistic... so what, is this just the authorial voice coming through?
If the chauvinism wasn't enough, the casual way that the narrator manipulates a group of young men he's supposedly friends with into committing mass suicide... FFS. Not funny. Are we supposed to just overlook that and think he's a great guy who deserves to get the girl? It would have been so much more gratifying for Dan to find a way to involve the faux-Irish philosophers into the WayPoint scheme so that they manage to redeem themselves and find meaning in their lives through being faced with families who have known real suffering. The group suicide was crass, unfunny and would in reality have been a PTSD-invoking level of horrific to witness. Would Sarah really still have been interested in Dan, knowing he had encouraged this? It was pointless - they knew they couldn't outdo Shaughnessy's original act, so why not find a different, more meaningful outcome for the characters?
What really pisses me off is that if this was written by a woman it would be dismissed as "chick-lit." Because it's written by a man, there's no such derogatory term for it. Ultimately the book was disappointing, not because the author can't write, he's clearly got good writing style, but because he's made such hideous choices about how to represent women, and about suicide. This book could have been a great read, but it left me feeling angry instead.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2020
I couldn't read more than a couple of chapters. I hoped it would improve, but it didn't. It's probably written for young people who have been brought up on reality tv and fake celebrities. The book is probably well written, it's just not for me.
June 7, 2020
No exaggeration. I laughed out loud again and again and again while reading author Joe Barrett’s uproarious novel. Imagine the off-the-wall absurdity of Dave Barry’s and Alan Zweibel’s Lunatics meets the ribald shenanigans of the movie Wedding Crashers.
Dan Johnson has struck it rich: he’s sold his app for hundreds of millions of dollars and now has everything he could possibly want: a five-story brownstone on a high-end Jersey City waterfront block; Clancy, a drop-dead gorgeous fiancée; a brother Bill who loves him. Except, Dan’s not really sure what he wants in life. He decides that the only way he will discover that is to free himself from all digital distractions. So, he unplugs—no phone, no tablet, no computer, no TV. And then things get really weird.
He broke up with Clancy a year ago, but he can’t make her believe it. Not only that, but his voyeuristic friend Sluggo won’t “allow” the breakup—there are too many visual benefits for being “his best friend’s girlfriend’s best guy friend,” because of the way Clancy struts her stuff. Brother Bill is a sociopath who walks the neighbors’ dogs and has told everyone he’s his rich brother Dan. And then there are the O’Shaughnessy Boys, a suicidal group of Ph.D. Philosophers who drink themselves into oblivion daily at a no-name bar, waiting for the universe to reveal a truly dramatic way for them to leave this world.
Barrett has crafted a dark delight: a novel that maintains its sometimes fiendish humor from the first page to the very last sentence. Unplugged is far and away the funniest thing I’ve read in years. A very enthusiastic five stars, and a thank you to the author from “the Sluggo in us all.”
Dan Johnson has struck it rich: he’s sold his app for hundreds of millions of dollars and now has everything he could possibly want: a five-story brownstone on a high-end Jersey City waterfront block; Clancy, a drop-dead gorgeous fiancée; a brother Bill who loves him. Except, Dan’s not really sure what he wants in life. He decides that the only way he will discover that is to free himself from all digital distractions. So, he unplugs—no phone, no tablet, no computer, no TV. And then things get really weird.
He broke up with Clancy a year ago, but he can’t make her believe it. Not only that, but his voyeuristic friend Sluggo won’t “allow” the breakup—there are too many visual benefits for being “his best friend’s girlfriend’s best guy friend,” because of the way Clancy struts her stuff. Brother Bill is a sociopath who walks the neighbors’ dogs and has told everyone he’s his rich brother Dan. And then there are the O’Shaughnessy Boys, a suicidal group of Ph.D. Philosophers who drink themselves into oblivion daily at a no-name bar, waiting for the universe to reveal a truly dramatic way for them to leave this world.
Barrett has crafted a dark delight: a novel that maintains its sometimes fiendish humor from the first page to the very last sentence. Unplugged is far and away the funniest thing I’ve read in years. A very enthusiastic five stars, and a thank you to the author from “the Sluggo in us all.”
September 11, 2021
Joe Barrett is just one of those author's who can tell an extremely funny story, and at the same time make the reader consider a plethora of other human conditions that people try to ignore by believing they don't exist.
Dan and Sarah are the two main characters. Dan is super rich and needs nothing, but chooses to become a type of hermit by retreating into an existence which has no space for modern technology. Sarah is a pro-bono lawyer for a group of homeless families who, mostly due to her own upbringing, is in constant fear of failure - especially when things are going in her favour.
Through an (innocent?) lie that grows deeper and deeper as days go by, Dan and Sarah meet, and a emotional connection/bond develops between the two. Dan, although previously knowing nothing about the homeless problem in society, finds a purpose for his own life and a reason to return to co-exist socially. Sarah finds a talking post to help talk of her worries and an ally to help homeless families. Good versus Bad, Poor versus Rich storyline. But, how can this lie be exposed for the better?
Dan's own brother (the source of the lie), ex-fiancée and her best friend and a tenant/sex pervert in the building owned by Dan, are all dysfunctional and have their own reason for Dan's existence. All want to achieve their own success via Dan.
And then, there are the O'Shannesey Boys. They are a whole different kettle of fish.
A dark (at times) but very funny read. Highly recommend.
Dan and Sarah are the two main characters. Dan is super rich and needs nothing, but chooses to become a type of hermit by retreating into an existence which has no space for modern technology. Sarah is a pro-bono lawyer for a group of homeless families who, mostly due to her own upbringing, is in constant fear of failure - especially when things are going in her favour.
Through an (innocent?) lie that grows deeper and deeper as days go by, Dan and Sarah meet, and a emotional connection/bond develops between the two. Dan, although previously knowing nothing about the homeless problem in society, finds a purpose for his own life and a reason to return to co-exist socially. Sarah finds a talking post to help talk of her worries and an ally to help homeless families. Good versus Bad, Poor versus Rich storyline. But, how can this lie be exposed for the better?
Dan's own brother (the source of the lie), ex-fiancée and her best friend and a tenant/sex pervert in the building owned by Dan, are all dysfunctional and have their own reason for Dan's existence. All want to achieve their own success via Dan.
And then, there are the O'Shannesey Boys. They are a whole different kettle of fish.
A dark (at times) but very funny read. Highly recommend.
July 9, 2023
A humorous read with a moral to the story
This book grabbed me from the first page with the funny cynical humour at the same time approaching the homeless with a much more compassionate view and those who work with them. We should all unplug for awhile so we can see the important things we may not have seen before.
This book grabbed me from the first page with the funny cynical humour at the same time approaching the homeless with a much more compassionate view and those who work with them. We should all unplug for awhile so we can see the important things we may not have seen before.
January 28, 2021
I have mixed views about this book. I didn't like many if any of the characters as they all seemed to largely be unflattering stereotypes with few if any redeeming features or traits, and I found very little of the story funny. But the idea that someone can not only change their own life after realising that the path they were on was not fulfilling and didn't suit, but can also take those changes and roll them out into the world and make a real difference was one that I did enjoy. Barrett manages to get some humanity into his main character Dan as he realises that not only did he have serious misconceptions about his own life but also about the labels society places on others. But he doesn't just change his views, he actually takes action too, which is an important message that manages to get through despite the chaos and oddities that are incorporated into the story. I will say that I did enjoy the finale and that it did pull together the various characters rather well, possibly even because of how frantic it all becomes.
January 7, 2023
This is one of those books that as soon as I downloaded it I wanted to read it and even though I had to wait every time I open my Kindle I was so tempted to sort it and now that I have an finished it I just want to say this book is one of the funniest books I have ever read. When Dan decides to give up life as he knows it it seems the book just gets funnier if you need a pick me up and are in a place where you can laugh out loud read unplugged by Joe Barrett I love his books in this one totally did not disappoint. He is one of those authors you know you’re in for a good laugh and I love that about his box. I highly recommend this book not only for the happy ending but for all the lol moments in between. Are you really happier when you have less? I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
April 20, 2020
Thank you #Netgalley for the advanced copy!
This book follows the path of a young 30 year old Dan, a man who sold his tech company and is now "unplugging" from social media and technology. He purchases a brownstone and has his brother become the handy man. During his time at home, Dan helps out his brother by walking some tenants dogs. Little did he know that this small act would change his perspective on life. During this experience, he meets new people and learns about how others live.
This book follows the path of a young 30 year old Dan, a man who sold his tech company and is now "unplugging" from social media and technology. He purchases a brownstone and has his brother become the handy man. During his time at home, Dan helps out his brother by walking some tenants dogs. Little did he know that this small act would change his perspective on life. During this experience, he meets new people and learns about how others live.
May 5, 2020
What can I say? I really liked this book; it wasn’t quite what I expected but was so much more! This follows the story of Dan, a young and unintentionally retired 30-year-old. When all your dreams come true and more what do you do next?
His friends and family think he has lost his mind, he has everything but has chosen to disconnect and live very unconventionally with nothing left to achieve or gain Dan isn’t looking for a new challenge, he drifts through life. Very reluctantly, he helps his brother out with his dog walking gig one day his eyes are opened; Dan discovers a whole new world outside his current reality.
There are some slightly strange additions to the story, mostly in the form of his new group of friends, his strange ex-fiancé who can’t seem to keep her body covered up for five minutes, and Dan’s brothers’ odd stories. With new perspective, Dan meets and makes some brilliant new friends and finds a whole new life, something with more purpose, which fulfils him more and maybe another lovely addition along the way.
His friends and family think he has lost his mind, he has everything but has chosen to disconnect and live very unconventionally with nothing left to achieve or gain Dan isn’t looking for a new challenge, he drifts through life. Very reluctantly, he helps his brother out with his dog walking gig one day his eyes are opened; Dan discovers a whole new world outside his current reality.
There are some slightly strange additions to the story, mostly in the form of his new group of friends, his strange ex-fiancé who can’t seem to keep her body covered up for five minutes, and Dan’s brothers’ odd stories. With new perspective, Dan meets and makes some brilliant new friends and finds a whole new life, something with more purpose, which fulfils him more and maybe another lovely addition along the way.
May 4, 2020
This is quite good. It includes lots of interesting characters and situations, an d humor and the author has a natural writing style. With nice pacing and an engaging plot, I read it rather quickly. Recommended for literature fans.
I really appreciate the ARC for review!!
I really appreciate the ARC for review!!
June 7, 2025
A fun, light read.
August 1, 2020
Unplugged . . . Double entendre
I won't include any spoilers, but take an exhibitionist former fiancée, a pathological liar, usually high, brother, a good Samaritan, and a group of suicidal friends with doctorates of philosophy, and a tech genius and add a homeless shelter and you've got one great read.
I won't include any spoilers, but take an exhibitionist former fiancée, a pathological liar, usually high, brother, a good Samaritan, and a group of suicidal friends with doctorates of philosophy, and a tech genius and add a homeless shelter and you've got one great read.
June 4, 2020
A SURPRISE ON EVERY PAGE
Dark and unpredictable humor along with equally unpredictable and goofy, endearing characters made this one of the few laugh-out-loud novels I’ve read lately. From Guinness-guzzling Irish drunkards who worship a mysterious “philosopher” named O’Shaughnessy to the weirdly dense yet beautiful exhibitionist Clancy, Barrett’s book is filled with entertaining surprises.
Dark and unpredictable humor along with equally unpredictable and goofy, endearing characters made this one of the few laugh-out-loud novels I’ve read lately. From Guinness-guzzling Irish drunkards who worship a mysterious “philosopher” named O’Shaughnessy to the weirdly dense yet beautiful exhibitionist Clancy, Barrett’s book is filled with entertaining surprises.
July 22, 2020
A good light read. I have to say, the last line was absolutely brilliant!!
May 26, 2023
On the cusp of building the most ultramodern daily-tech enabled apartment building known to man and moving into its penthouse with his impossibly gorgeous Ivy-league educated fiancé, multi-millionaire app entrepreneur Dan Johnson does what we all would do. He halts construction on his apartment, fills it up with dome tents and pillow forts, dumps his drop-dead gorgeous ladyfriend, renounces technology, and for all intents and purposes, unplugs from society.
Okay, none of us would do that. But that’s what makes the premise of Unplugged by Joe Barrett so intriguing. Why would Dan do this? Where’s it gonna take him? Where can I get some Tang around here?
As the story unfolds, Dan finds himself in quite the pickle thanks to his younger brother, an amusing yet surprisingly astute stoner scamp, who is one of the many unique, captivating characters that Barrett dreams up, who run the gamut from altruistic to zany.
As always, Barrett’s metaphors and analogies are insightful and entertaining. Sometimes funny, sometimes deep, always thought-provoking. Unplugged is also packed with inventive and amusing concepts, plenty of lol’s, and of course, a lot of heart. On several occasions, my eyes welled up on account of the feels. I apologize if that made me sound like AI. I’m in my mid-forties these days and can’t keep up with the cools.
Anyhoo, a subject that Unplugged delves into is the homelessness problem that currently plagues the States. And while one particular character gets a bit preachy, emitting serious Gavin Newsome vibes on the topic, Barrett does a nice job of explaining the many facets. This really hit home with me, because homelessness is my jam. Shortly after college, I distinctly remember seeing a homeless man lying on top of a NYC subway grate, trying to stay warm on a bitterly cold winter day. I thought to myself, ‘This day and age, no one should have to live like that. We need to eradicate homelessness not just here, but throughout the world, and we need to do it now.’ Other than producing that magnanimous sentiment, I’ve never actually done anything, but it’s nonetheless my lifelong cause. Any day now though, I’m gonna hit it big, and once I’ve achieved financial independence, it’s only a matter of time before I begin to start seriously thinking about potentially shifting my focus from myself, to homelessness. Prolly.
A final aspect of Unplugged that Barrett knocks out of the park is the way he builds momentum throughout the book. The plotlines continually surge forward snowballing toward an epic climax and a very satisfying conclusion. There is a palpable everything-happens-for-a-reason escalation, that keeps you wanting more all the way until the end.
Having said that, I’m forced to dock Barrett points for the preaching mentioned above and for not describing another character’s appearance, instead telling us to google it. #1) If you give a crap about Mother Earth, don’t be using Google no more, use Ecosia! #2) How dare you make me do your dirty work. I demand a written description. Or at least a link to your ecosia’ing of it. Minus 1 star.
But Barrett more than makes up for it by having a character mention that rather than trying to break up with his girlfriend, he should have been trying to get her to break up with him. This was a Revelation for me! It’s what I should have been doing my whole life instead of leaving town, and eventually country, each time I wanted to break up with someone. I am totally employing this method from now on. Plus half a star.
To sum up, Unplugged is a story about stepping back, taking account of your life, and searching for meaning in it. It’s a story of passion, packed with lol’s, insight, and heart. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5!
Incidentally, the last line of this book is very intriguing. Does Barrett see himself as more Bill than Dan? Is his bio just a weed-induced fantasy? Seriously, where can I get some god damn Tang around here?!
Bonus Quotes:
“Something about a pre-tween city kid making light of a serious issue like pedophilia makes me go all mushy inside, like maybe the world isn’t so screwed up after all.”
“Sometimes folks need to wear a mask in order ta be who they really are.”
“You’ve got all your basic human needs met. And you’re making yourself miserable trying to figure out how to make yourself happy.”
For more reviews, check out The Comedic Novel Review at www.pearlsbeforeswine68.com/thecomedi... which is also home to the Great White Host Blog.
Okay, none of us would do that. But that’s what makes the premise of Unplugged by Joe Barrett so intriguing. Why would Dan do this? Where’s it gonna take him? Where can I get some Tang around here?
As the story unfolds, Dan finds himself in quite the pickle thanks to his younger brother, an amusing yet surprisingly astute stoner scamp, who is one of the many unique, captivating characters that Barrett dreams up, who run the gamut from altruistic to zany.
As always, Barrett’s metaphors and analogies are insightful and entertaining. Sometimes funny, sometimes deep, always thought-provoking. Unplugged is also packed with inventive and amusing concepts, plenty of lol’s, and of course, a lot of heart. On several occasions, my eyes welled up on account of the feels. I apologize if that made me sound like AI. I’m in my mid-forties these days and can’t keep up with the cools.
Anyhoo, a subject that Unplugged delves into is the homelessness problem that currently plagues the States. And while one particular character gets a bit preachy, emitting serious Gavin Newsome vibes on the topic, Barrett does a nice job of explaining the many facets. This really hit home with me, because homelessness is my jam. Shortly after college, I distinctly remember seeing a homeless man lying on top of a NYC subway grate, trying to stay warm on a bitterly cold winter day. I thought to myself, ‘This day and age, no one should have to live like that. We need to eradicate homelessness not just here, but throughout the world, and we need to do it now.’ Other than producing that magnanimous sentiment, I’ve never actually done anything, but it’s nonetheless my lifelong cause. Any day now though, I’m gonna hit it big, and once I’ve achieved financial independence, it’s only a matter of time before I begin to start seriously thinking about potentially shifting my focus from myself, to homelessness. Prolly.
A final aspect of Unplugged that Barrett knocks out of the park is the way he builds momentum throughout the book. The plotlines continually surge forward snowballing toward an epic climax and a very satisfying conclusion. There is a palpable everything-happens-for-a-reason escalation, that keeps you wanting more all the way until the end.
Having said that, I’m forced to dock Barrett points for the preaching mentioned above and for not describing another character’s appearance, instead telling us to google it. #1) If you give a crap about Mother Earth, don’t be using Google no more, use Ecosia! #2) How dare you make me do your dirty work. I demand a written description. Or at least a link to your ecosia’ing of it. Minus 1 star.
But Barrett more than makes up for it by having a character mention that rather than trying to break up with his girlfriend, he should have been trying to get her to break up with him. This was a Revelation for me! It’s what I should have been doing my whole life instead of leaving town, and eventually country, each time I wanted to break up with someone. I am totally employing this method from now on. Plus half a star.
To sum up, Unplugged is a story about stepping back, taking account of your life, and searching for meaning in it. It’s a story of passion, packed with lol’s, insight, and heart. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5!
Incidentally, the last line of this book is very intriguing. Does Barrett see himself as more Bill than Dan? Is his bio just a weed-induced fantasy? Seriously, where can I get some god damn Tang around here?!
Bonus Quotes:
“Something about a pre-tween city kid making light of a serious issue like pedophilia makes me go all mushy inside, like maybe the world isn’t so screwed up after all.”
“Sometimes folks need to wear a mask in order ta be who they really are.”
“You’ve got all your basic human needs met. And you’re making yourself miserable trying to figure out how to make yourself happy.”
For more reviews, check out The Comedic Novel Review at www.pearlsbeforeswine68.com/thecomedi... which is also home to the Great White Host Blog.
September 23, 2025
From the reviews on Amazon: Maxy Awards - Best Literary/Humor
PenCraft Award Winner - Humor
"Undoubtedly entertaining and frequently funny." –IndieReader
From the synopsis: The only problem with getting everything you ever wanted is that it forces you to reassess everything you ever wanted in the first place.
Thirty-two-year-old Dan Johnson has it all; a nine-digit net worth, a gorgeous fiancé and a luxury riverside brownstone. The only problem is, he doesn't want any of it. And the endless distractions of digitized society give him no head space to figure out what he does want.
So, Dan unplugs. He abandons all things digital technology, effectively retreating from society to live an analog lifestyle geared at perfecting the art of avoidance. When a case of mistaken identity launches Dan into a series of bizarro relationships and absurd events, it represents an unexpected path to reconnect him with a world he never knew existed.
Dark, offbeat and laugh-out-loud funny, Unplugged is a coming of middle-age story about finding authentic connections and meaning in today's hyper-digitized society.
Unplugged is a very interesting book. It's different from anything I'd ever read before or probably will in the future and a few of the main characters are like nobody I've ever met, thank God. The book does make you think, though, and look at life in some new ways.
There are places in this book where I *did* laugh out loud; unfortunately, they're pretty few and far-between. And the 'dark' parts are really dark. Don't know if I'd recommend the whole 'unplug completely from technology' thing that "Dan" does, but cutting back can't hurt.
Not one I'd recommend for impressionable young people as some of the characters and situations are just *too* 'out there'.
PenCraft Award Winner - Humor
"Undoubtedly entertaining and frequently funny." –IndieReader
From the synopsis: The only problem with getting everything you ever wanted is that it forces you to reassess everything you ever wanted in the first place.
Thirty-two-year-old Dan Johnson has it all; a nine-digit net worth, a gorgeous fiancé and a luxury riverside brownstone. The only problem is, he doesn't want any of it. And the endless distractions of digitized society give him no head space to figure out what he does want.
So, Dan unplugs. He abandons all things digital technology, effectively retreating from society to live an analog lifestyle geared at perfecting the art of avoidance. When a case of mistaken identity launches Dan into a series of bizarro relationships and absurd events, it represents an unexpected path to reconnect him with a world he never knew existed.
Dark, offbeat and laugh-out-loud funny, Unplugged is a coming of middle-age story about finding authentic connections and meaning in today's hyper-digitized society.
Unplugged is a very interesting book. It's different from anything I'd ever read before or probably will in the future and a few of the main characters are like nobody I've ever met, thank God. The book does make you think, though, and look at life in some new ways.
There are places in this book where I *did* laugh out loud; unfortunately, they're pretty few and far-between. And the 'dark' parts are really dark. Don't know if I'd recommend the whole 'unplug completely from technology' thing that "Dan" does, but cutting back can't hurt.
Not one I'd recommend for impressionable young people as some of the characters and situations are just *too* 'out there'.
May 17, 2020
This is a chapter in the life story of Dan, a guy who made a gazillion dollars selling his app at the perfect moment and proceeds to throw his phone into the river, ergo the title. His life is peopled with the most outrageous characters. Clancy is Dan’s ex-fiancé, an apparent body exhibitionist, refuses to be disabused of the idea that the wedding is off. Gwen is Clancy’s best friend, the architect who was renovating Dan’s apartment until he decided he liked the demolished space with a bunch of tents better than Gwen’s vision of what was supposed to be her career uptick. Bill is Dan’s brother; he often takes Dan’s identity while on his dog walking duties. Bill lives in the basement apartment in a constant state of being stoned with his horror of a wife and their baby. Sluggo, Dan’s best friend, is a shameless pervert, often referred to as the “best friend’s girlfriend’s best guy friend”. (Just another ridiculous description within another ridiculous conversation). Sarah is a volunteer with the Way-Point project and a possible love interest. The best for last, the O’Shaughnessy crowd, a group of lads who one and all have their Doctorates in Philosophy, are in a constant drunken haze, and whom Dan has chosen to “populate his group therapy sessions”.
Oh, this was a hoot and a half with some laugh-out-loud moments. Very clever, a little bit dark and if my characterizations have not swayed you the fault is all mine. If you do not pick up this book you will never know what you have missed and who wants to miss out on some great fun?!
Thank you NetGalley and Black Rose Writing for a copy
Oh, this was a hoot and a half with some laugh-out-loud moments. Very clever, a little bit dark and if my characterizations have not swayed you the fault is all mine. If you do not pick up this book you will never know what you have missed and who wants to miss out on some great fun?!
Thank you NetGalley and Black Rose Writing for a copy
August 10, 2020
I had a love-hate relationship with this book.
First the love:
It was really well written. A great, quirky style that was fun and easy to read. The storyline was unique and well-thought-out. I loved the big ending as well, but I won't give that away. I liked Sarah as a character and Dan grew on me so that I was happy for them both in the end.
Now the hate:
Apart from Sarah, the characters were all so dysfunctional that I couldn't like them. Even Dan. He's broken up with his fiance, but she keeps showing up and he lets her in, he goes out to lunch with her family and pretends they are still together, and basically doesn't stand up to anyone.
His brother is smoking pot to escape his miserable life and lies to everyone about everything.
The ex-fiance is selfish, whiny, demanding and flashes her body parts all the time.
Dan's "best friend" helps the ex stick around because he likes watching all those body-part flashes, and he is always letting himself into Dan's apartment.
The ex's best friend is 26 and thinks she should be partner in her interior-design firm. That's more important than doing what clients actually want.
Then there's the O'shannesey boys. I won't give that away, but gosh...
Basically the book is a whole heap of train-wrecks happening in slow motion. If the book didn't have that humorous style, it would have been the most depressing book that I have ever read. But Barrett pulled it off so that I felt good at the end and awarded it 4 stars.
First the love:
It was really well written. A great, quirky style that was fun and easy to read. The storyline was unique and well-thought-out. I loved the big ending as well, but I won't give that away. I liked Sarah as a character and Dan grew on me so that I was happy for them both in the end.
Now the hate:
Apart from Sarah, the characters were all so dysfunctional that I couldn't like them. Even Dan. He's broken up with his fiance, but she keeps showing up and he lets her in, he goes out to lunch with her family and pretends they are still together, and basically doesn't stand up to anyone.
His brother is smoking pot to escape his miserable life and lies to everyone about everything.
The ex-fiance is selfish, whiny, demanding and flashes her body parts all the time.
Dan's "best friend" helps the ex stick around because he likes watching all those body-part flashes, and he is always letting himself into Dan's apartment.
The ex's best friend is 26 and thinks she should be partner in her interior-design firm. That's more important than doing what clients actually want.
Then there's the O'shannesey boys. I won't give that away, but gosh...
Basically the book is a whole heap of train-wrecks happening in slow motion. If the book didn't have that humorous style, it would have been the most depressing book that I have ever read. But Barrett pulled it off so that I felt good at the end and awarded it 4 stars.
May 11, 2020
Overall Rating = 4.75
Storyline & Concept = 4.5
Writing & Delivery = 5
Editorial = 4.75
Unplugged is the story of a thirty-something man who makes his fortune in technology and has a chance to live a life that most people would envy. Instead, he unplugs himself from the digital world with the hope of finding what makes him truly happy.
If you are the type of person who embarrasses easily, I suggest you don’t read this book in a public place, because you will spontaneously laugh out loud. That being said, despite the snappy dialogue, the absurd situations, and the comedic characters, there is an underlying message in the story: sometimes you have to set aside your old way of life to discover what is important. I found this book to be very entertaining, but I have to issue a warning. The humor can be dark at times, and certain events could be disturbing to some.
Sublime Line: “Unplugged is a well-written, laugh-out-loud novel with a message delivered by zany characters and absurd incidents.”
Storyline & Concept = 4.5
Writing & Delivery = 5
Editorial = 4.75
Unplugged is the story of a thirty-something man who makes his fortune in technology and has a chance to live a life that most people would envy. Instead, he unplugs himself from the digital world with the hope of finding what makes him truly happy.
If you are the type of person who embarrasses easily, I suggest you don’t read this book in a public place, because you will spontaneously laugh out loud. That being said, despite the snappy dialogue, the absurd situations, and the comedic characters, there is an underlying message in the story: sometimes you have to set aside your old way of life to discover what is important. I found this book to be very entertaining, but I have to issue a warning. The humor can be dark at times, and certain events could be disturbing to some.
Sublime Line: “Unplugged is a well-written, laugh-out-loud novel with a message delivered by zany characters and absurd incidents.”
February 17, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. This is the second book that I’ve read and I plan on reading more. The book is about Dan. He has recently become a super millionaire. He buys a building and lets his brother live there in exchange for doing maintenance. He also has a freaky ex-girlfriend who likes to show off her private parts (accidentally...right). Despite the fact that he broke up with her a year ago, she’s not getting it. He stumbles onto the fact that his brother has been lying and introducing himself as Dan. So Dan now has to be Bill. It probably would have been okay except Bill (really Dan) falls in love with Sarah who is brutally honest and expects everyone else to be, too. If that wasn’t enough, the bunch of Irish philosophers was hilarious. O’Shaugnessy! Read the book. That will make sense.
September 8, 2023
Not worth your time
This book makes NO sense! It's about a young man (30's), Dan, swho became a millionaire when he sold an app he invented/made. Dan broke up with his fiance, Clancy, a young woman (20's) approximately a year ago. She just won't accept this & continues showing up at his apartment. His neighbor, Sluggo, is constantly interfering. Sluggo insists to Dan not to break up with her since it interferes with a sexual fantasy he has about her! Dan's brother, Bill, walks all the dogs belonging to the people in the building where they both live and uses Dan's identity with everyone he meets. ??? I don't understand why Dan can't bring himself to put a stop to all of the nonsense affecting in one way or another. I read approximately 1/3 expecting the story to make sense but I just couldn't continue.
This book makes NO sense! It's about a young man (30's), Dan, swho became a millionaire when he sold an app he invented/made. Dan broke up with his fiance, Clancy, a young woman (20's) approximately a year ago. She just won't accept this & continues showing up at his apartment. His neighbor, Sluggo, is constantly interfering. Sluggo insists to Dan not to break up with her since it interferes with a sexual fantasy he has about her! Dan's brother, Bill, walks all the dogs belonging to the people in the building where they both live and uses Dan's identity with everyone he meets. ??? I don't understand why Dan can't bring himself to put a stop to all of the nonsense affecting in one way or another. I read approximately 1/3 expecting the story to make sense but I just couldn't continue.
March 22, 2021
This was a delightful read. I was looking for something humorous, in the vein of Dave Barry, and stumbled on Unplugged. It's Dave Barry but much better crafted. The characters are convincingly portrayed, both the admirable and the failed ones. Those who should grow do, those who can't don't. The plot moves along to a great conclusion but twists and turns in wonderfully unexpected ways. Barrett makes us feel uncomfortable when he wants to, and rewards the characters we want to see succeed. I expected to see negative reviews from female readers because of the outlandish, hypersexual portrayal of the women in the book, but was (partially) wrong. This is a novel by a male author that will appeal to male readers and those females who just want to go along for the wild ride.
April 21, 2021
Not what I expected...
For some reason,I thought that this book was a mystery, which is what I mostly read. Actually, I'm not 100% certain what category this book is, but I enjoyed it immensely. Because I thought that I was reading a mystery and the protagonist was wealthy, I kept expecting him to disappear or something, so I kept reading. Nobody disappeared, but the story was so engaging that I couldn't stop reading. By the time I was near the end, I was laughing my head off...mostly about the naked vegans swinging chickens...Now you have to read it to understand that! I literally stayed up all night to finish this book...it's 5:30 a.m. now...But the ending was so worth the time.
For some reason,I thought that this book was a mystery, which is what I mostly read. Actually, I'm not 100% certain what category this book is, but I enjoyed it immensely. Because I thought that I was reading a mystery and the protagonist was wealthy, I kept expecting him to disappear or something, so I kept reading. Nobody disappeared, but the story was so engaging that I couldn't stop reading. By the time I was near the end, I was laughing my head off...mostly about the naked vegans swinging chickens...Now you have to read it to understand that! I literally stayed up all night to finish this book...it's 5:30 a.m. now...But the ending was so worth the time.
December 26, 2023
I loved this book and the idea that a young successful man "unplugs" from all technology in his life to find something meaningful. When Dan unplugs , he buys a building letting his brother live there in exchange for doing some maintenance. He breaks up with his outrageous fiance. He meets a woman with a cause. He changes his whole life just to find the meaning in it. To do this he thinks he must unplug from his phone, computer and his business in order to find this true purpose.
At times outrageous, but very funny, the author shows the price of technology in our personal lives and what we might discover without its dependency.
I love Joe Barrett's humor and his willingness to take risk by exposing the world in exaggerated form.
At times outrageous, but very funny, the author shows the price of technology in our personal lives and what we might discover without its dependency.
I love Joe Barrett's humor and his willingness to take risk by exposing the world in exaggerated form.
February 13, 2021
Definitely worth a read.
I read this on a recommendation from Amazon based on my book purchases. It's a slight change from my usual genre but all the more enjoyable for it.
The characters are well written and you quickly remember them and 'get' them.
The book definitely has a slightly darker vein running through it than I'm used to but it's so well written that it seems okay and not as shocking or sad as you would expect.
The ending is well worth the wait and there are some definite chuckles written in so much so that the 'disaster' isn't as sad as you would think it's going to be.
All in all I'm so glad I went with this recommendation 🙂
I read this on a recommendation from Amazon based on my book purchases. It's a slight change from my usual genre but all the more enjoyable for it.
The characters are well written and you quickly remember them and 'get' them.
The book definitely has a slightly darker vein running through it than I'm used to but it's so well written that it seems okay and not as shocking or sad as you would expect.
The ending is well worth the wait and there are some definite chuckles written in so much so that the 'disaster' isn't as sad as you would think it's going to be.
All in all I'm so glad I went with this recommendation 🙂
June 18, 2023
anther great Joe Barrett book
I love joe’s books so much. Every single one. Quirky, insightful,oh so funny, a bit of romance and generally everything is happy ever after. So well written. So clever - the characters every time are spot on, one can imagine a Clancy, brother Bill, Dan, Sluggo etc. Each book has a different setting, different types of characters, but they are all so incredibly human with their frailties. And oh so funny. Just something special, check Joe Barrett out for yourself you won’t regret it. Start with Managed Care, I spent so much time laughing and reading bits out loud to the other half!
I love joe’s books so much. Every single one. Quirky, insightful,oh so funny, a bit of romance and generally everything is happy ever after. So well written. So clever - the characters every time are spot on, one can imagine a Clancy, brother Bill, Dan, Sluggo etc. Each book has a different setting, different types of characters, but they are all so incredibly human with their frailties. And oh so funny. Just something special, check Joe Barrett out for yourself you won’t regret it. Start with Managed Care, I spent so much time laughing and reading bits out loud to the other half!
September 7, 2024
I really enjoyed reading this book, it's not my usual genre (Mystery). I gave it a 3 star rating because I felt it didn't meet the expectations of being funny. I was expecting to "laugh out loud" which never happened. I think the book is well written and I liked the story but at the same time found it a bit frustrating. I found myself wanting to yell at the book, just tell her. I didn't like the Clancy character. I like the development of the characters but kept thinking, can these kind of people really exist? I guess that's the part that was supposed to be funny. Anyway, it's a good read and it's short just don't expect to be sitting reading and burst out laughing.
October 29, 2020
Slightly Surreal Romp with Plenty of Heart
Dan, an app developer who sells his business for millions is rich and detached from life, as is his brother, Bill, a stay-at-home dad who walks dogs for pot money and loathes his wife. Clancy, Dan’s ‘ex’ is something else!
A homeless project and a chance meeting with their pro-bono lawyer changes everything.
Lighthearted and humorous with quirky characters and a convoluted plot, Unplugged is not something I would have normally chosen to read, but I’m glad I gave it a chance.
Dan, an app developer who sells his business for millions is rich and detached from life, as is his brother, Bill, a stay-at-home dad who walks dogs for pot money and loathes his wife. Clancy, Dan’s ‘ex’ is something else!
A homeless project and a chance meeting with their pro-bono lawyer changes everything.
Lighthearted and humorous with quirky characters and a convoluted plot, Unplugged is not something I would have normally chosen to read, but I’m glad I gave it a chance.
January 9, 2022
Bizarre! There is a group of young men with a suicide pact, an inappropriate pervert neighbour, a woman uncomfortably comfortable with her body; and yet it is how Dan's (the protagonist) brain works that is absolutely bizarre. His inner monologue makes it hard to find him a solid place in your good book. But perhaps the writer made this character all too real by allowing good and bad to so often overlap in one person. Dan will not be everyone's cup of tea...but that's okay; the eccentric people surrounding him make for an interesting read.
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