What do you think?
Rate this book
You're Doing Great!: And Other Reasons to Stay Alive
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Humor (2020)Tom Papa is a little worried about you. You seem stressed, overworked and, frankly, a little mixed up.
Everyone is fighting an overwhelming feeling that things are getting worse, that we should be doing more, that we’re not good enough. Well, life isn't perfect. There have always been problems and there always will be. You can fight for the things you believe in, you can work really, really hard, but you shouldn't lose track of the fact that while you’re doing all that, life is flying by at lightning-fast speed. If you actually take a breath and look around you’ll realize you’re actually doing great.
Here’s the We live in an amazing time filled with airplanes, scooters, and peanut butter cups. We have air conditioning, blenders, and martini shakers. It's time to refocus, enjoy it all, and stop waiting for something better! Relax with comedian and Live from Here writer and performer Tom Papa as he explores his favorite subjects,
You Don't Have to Live Your Best Life
Don't Open the Mail
I'm So Baked
I Love Your Love Handles
Don't Go Tubing
Shut Up and Eat
Recalibrate, turn off your device, and open your eyes to a better You’re doing great!
Everyone is fighting an overwhelming feeling that things are getting worse, that we should be doing more, that we’re not good enough. Well, life isn't perfect. There have always been problems and there always will be. You can fight for the things you believe in, you can work really, really hard, but you shouldn't lose track of the fact that while you’re doing all that, life is flying by at lightning-fast speed. If you actually take a breath and look around you’ll realize you’re actually doing great.
Here’s the We live in an amazing time filled with airplanes, scooters, and peanut butter cups. We have air conditioning, blenders, and martini shakers. It's time to refocus, enjoy it all, and stop waiting for something better! Relax with comedian and Live from Here writer and performer Tom Papa as he explores his favorite subjects,
You Don't Have to Live Your Best Life
Don't Open the Mail
I'm So Baked
I Love Your Love Handles
Don't Go Tubing
Shut Up and Eat
Recalibrate, turn off your device, and open your eyes to a better You’re doing great!
269 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 12, 2020
176 people are currently reading
6990 people want to read
About the author
Tom Papa
7 books141 followersThomas Papa is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, producer, and television/radio host.[1][2] He is currently the head writer and a regular performer on Live from Here (formerly A Prairie Home Companion).
He began in New York City in 1993 playing open mics and hosting at the Stand Up New York comedy club. He toured with Jerry Seinfeld after meeting him at the Comedy Cellar in New York. In 2005 he released his debut comedy album Calm, Cool, & Collected. His successful one-man show Only Human opened at the Montreal Just for Laughs Comedy Festival.
He has recorded three stand up specials for Comedy Central. The most recent, Tom Papa Live in New York City, directed by Rob Zombie, aired on 8 January 2012 and was shot at the Union Square Theater. His third special, Freaked Out, aired in July 2013. He completed his fourth special, Human Mule, in December 2016.
Papa has appeared thirteen times on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He was a frequent guest on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and Late Show with David Letterman.
In 2010, Papa hosted NBC's The Marriage Ref, which ran for two seasons.
He began in New York City in 1993 playing open mics and hosting at the Stand Up New York comedy club. He toured with Jerry Seinfeld after meeting him at the Comedy Cellar in New York. In 2005 he released his debut comedy album Calm, Cool, & Collected. His successful one-man show Only Human opened at the Montreal Just for Laughs Comedy Festival.
He has recorded three stand up specials for Comedy Central. The most recent, Tom Papa Live in New York City, directed by Rob Zombie, aired on 8 January 2012 and was shot at the Union Square Theater. His third special, Freaked Out, aired in July 2013. He completed his fourth special, Human Mule, in December 2016.
Papa has appeared thirteen times on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He was a frequent guest on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and Late Show with David Letterman.
In 2010, Papa hosted NBC's The Marriage Ref, which ran for two seasons.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 238 reviews
August 1, 2021
This was a pretty funny read. 😆 A couple laugh out loud moments. But mostly it’s the authors life in “have you ever…. I have” stories. Mostly, I appreciate the message of being satisfied with life as it is. 😎 and I’m looking forward to watching his Netflix special. 📚❤️
Update: watched the Netflix special… highly recommend… laugh out loud funny… yes!! We’re doing great!! ✌️
Update: watched the Netflix special… highly recommend… laugh out loud funny… yes!! We’re doing great!! ✌️
February 27, 2020
I swear that Tom Papa is my brother from another mother. He and I think alike on so many things. Like, a cruise ship is just a floating toilet in the sea, for one, or living with a teenager isn't much different than living with a broke coke head, for another. I could go on and on.
Here is a positive message that is delivered with wit and humor. We really are too hard on ourselves much of the time. Maybe we need to re-evaluate because we aren't half bad. Truly. Aren't we all just trying to do our best in this crazy world? Okay, maybe not ALL of us but I think for most of us we have good intentions with good hearts. I'm a firm believer in kindness unless you give me a reason not to be kind.
This book was a nice change of pace for me. I loved Tom since I caught his Rob Zombie comedy special a few years back and when I saw this on NetGalley I nearly squealed in delight because I knew I would love it and I was right. 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Here is a positive message that is delivered with wit and humor. We really are too hard on ourselves much of the time. Maybe we need to re-evaluate because we aren't half bad. Truly. Aren't we all just trying to do our best in this crazy world? Okay, maybe not ALL of us but I think for most of us we have good intentions with good hearts. I'm a firm believer in kindness unless you give me a reason not to be kind.
This book was a nice change of pace for me. I loved Tom since I caught his Rob Zombie comedy special a few years back and when I saw this on NetGalley I nearly squealed in delight because I knew I would love it and I was right. 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
January 14, 2021
Humorous, insightful and entertaining. I discovered Mr. Papa quite by accident and his essays provided some much needed chuckles and quite a few head nods in agreement. Many of his thoughts resonated, this one in particular has stuck with me…
I wish we had the ability to see in the moment what our memories will tell us in the future.
Recommended if you enjoy essays of the snarky and intelligent variety.
I wish we had the ability to see in the moment what our memories will tell us in the future.
Recommended if you enjoy essays of the snarky and intelligent variety.
April 22, 2020
'Tom Papa is a little worried about you. You seem stressed, overworked and, frankly, a little mixed up.
Everyone is fighting an overwhelming feeling that things are getting worse, that we should be doing more, that we’re not good enough. Well, life isn't perfect. There have always been problems and there always will be. You can fight for the things you believe in, you can work really, really hard, but you shouldn't lose track of the fact that while you’re doing all that, life is flying by at lightning-fast speed. If you actually take a breath and look around you’ll realize you’re actually doing great.
Here’s the thing: We live in an amazing time filled with airplanes, scooters, and peanut butter cups. We have air conditioning, blenders, and martini shakers. It's time to refocus, enjoy it all, and stop waiting for something better! Relax with comedian and Live from Here writer and performer Tom Papa as he explores his favorite subjects in 75 essays, including:
You Don't Have to Live Your Best Life
Don't Open the Mail
I'm So Baked
I Love Your Love Handles
Don't Go Tubing
Shut Up and Eat
Recalibrate, turn off your device, and open your eyes to a better reality: You’re doing great!'
_________________________________
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.
You're Doing Great! is stand-up comedian Tom Papa's second book. It is a light-hearted take on the popular self-help genre, in which Tom tells us we don't have to continue to strive for constant improvement to attain perfection; we're pretty great as we are already.
I've been known to read a self-help book or two and my biggest issue with them is that they can often come across as a bit preachy or give you so much to address that it leaves you feeling overwhelmed instead of inspired. But that is not the case in this book. Each chapter addresses something different that you might find yourself wanting to work on, but this book says: don't sweat the small stuff! Tom gives examples from his own life in the form of amusing anecdotes. Most of the book is dedicated to helping people to accept themselves the way they are, that they are already great as they are. But there are a few chapters with some solid advice that you can follow, like not to do something because it's someone else's idea of fun; if you don't want to do something, don't.
I could recognize bits from his stand-up in the book, which I really enjoyed. I initially worried that his comedy wouldn't come across through text, but I could hear Tom Papa's voice as I read. I haven't read his first book, so I can't comment on if his voice is always this distinctive in his writing, but I would read more from him in the future when looking for something light and amusing to read.
_____
I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sharing an eARC of You're Doing Great! by Tom Papa with me for reviewing purposes. This is my honest review.
Everyone is fighting an overwhelming feeling that things are getting worse, that we should be doing more, that we’re not good enough. Well, life isn't perfect. There have always been problems and there always will be. You can fight for the things you believe in, you can work really, really hard, but you shouldn't lose track of the fact that while you’re doing all that, life is flying by at lightning-fast speed. If you actually take a breath and look around you’ll realize you’re actually doing great.
Here’s the thing: We live in an amazing time filled with airplanes, scooters, and peanut butter cups. We have air conditioning, blenders, and martini shakers. It's time to refocus, enjoy it all, and stop waiting for something better! Relax with comedian and Live from Here writer and performer Tom Papa as he explores his favorite subjects in 75 essays, including:
You Don't Have to Live Your Best Life
Don't Open the Mail
I'm So Baked
I Love Your Love Handles
Don't Go Tubing
Shut Up and Eat
Recalibrate, turn off your device, and open your eyes to a better reality: You’re doing great!'
_________________________________
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.
You're Doing Great! is stand-up comedian Tom Papa's second book. It is a light-hearted take on the popular self-help genre, in which Tom tells us we don't have to continue to strive for constant improvement to attain perfection; we're pretty great as we are already.
I've been known to read a self-help book or two and my biggest issue with them is that they can often come across as a bit preachy or give you so much to address that it leaves you feeling overwhelmed instead of inspired. But that is not the case in this book. Each chapter addresses something different that you might find yourself wanting to work on, but this book says: don't sweat the small stuff! Tom gives examples from his own life in the form of amusing anecdotes. Most of the book is dedicated to helping people to accept themselves the way they are, that they are already great as they are. But there are a few chapters with some solid advice that you can follow, like not to do something because it's someone else's idea of fun; if you don't want to do something, don't.
I could recognize bits from his stand-up in the book, which I really enjoyed. I initially worried that his comedy wouldn't come across through text, but I could hear Tom Papa's voice as I read. I haven't read his first book, so I can't comment on if his voice is always this distinctive in his writing, but I would read more from him in the future when looking for something light and amusing to read.
_____
I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sharing an eARC of You're Doing Great! by Tom Papa with me for reviewing purposes. This is my honest review.
June 9, 2021
3.5 stars 🌟🤩✨😍
May 25, 2020
This was an enjoyable, light, humor-filled book of essays by an accomplished comedian. If you're looking for a boost to your self esteem, especially during these times where it seems like you just cannot seem to win or make the right choices, this book will help you to realize that yes, you are doing the best you can and doing great!
If you watch Papa's Netflix routine by the same name, there are some word-for-word bits that are in the book. But his delivery makes it even more enjoyable, and the book expands on some of the stories even more. I don't often laugh out loud during books, but this one did make me laugh out loud many times.
All in all it is clean, fun, observational comedy that will hopefully help you to realize that you're doing just fine.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
If you watch Papa's Netflix routine by the same name, there are some word-for-word bits that are in the book. But his delivery makes it even more enjoyable, and the book expands on some of the stories even more. I don't often laugh out loud during books, but this one did make me laugh out loud many times.
All in all it is clean, fun, observational comedy that will hopefully help you to realize that you're doing just fine.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
July 17, 2020
I discovered Tom Papa when he was on Joe Rogan's podcast, and I instantly loved his humour. When I saw that he had a book coming out, I was thrilled! Not only was I looking for more comedy books but I could support one awesome comedian! And luckily, I was not disappointed! This book is incredibly amusing and super fun.
This book is a collection of silly stories from Tom's past. It's funny, light hearted and made me smile throughout. There's also a really positive message about how we're all going our best and doing a great job. Life isn't easy, and some of these stories go over how it isn't (but make it way more fun sounding) but it points out that life is a series of obstacles that we can make the best of.
Tom weaves his stories to make them enjoyable, easy to follow and addicting to read. I was shocked how fast I got this book done! I couldn't put the book down and I found myself re-reading some of the stories because they were so good, so funny and just made me feel good. I wish self help books were as fun as this.
I will definitely be keeping my copy and sharing it with all of my friends. This book made me feel so good! It's a light, fun read that you can either binge or just read in a series of short tales.
Five out of five stars!
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
This book is a collection of silly stories from Tom's past. It's funny, light hearted and made me smile throughout. There's also a really positive message about how we're all going our best and doing a great job. Life isn't easy, and some of these stories go over how it isn't (but make it way more fun sounding) but it points out that life is a series of obstacles that we can make the best of.
Tom weaves his stories to make them enjoyable, easy to follow and addicting to read. I was shocked how fast I got this book done! I couldn't put the book down and I found myself re-reading some of the stories because they were so good, so funny and just made me feel good. I wish self help books were as fun as this.
I will definitely be keeping my copy and sharing it with all of my friends. This book made me feel so good! It's a light, fun read that you can either binge or just read in a series of short tales.
Five out of five stars!
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
June 11, 2021
You're Doing Great!: And Other Reasons to Stay Alive is Tom Papa's second book and actually the first book of his I read. The main message throughout the novel was just what the title suggests, that you are doing great. It did get a little self-helpy which wasn't something I loved, but I understood what he was getting at and could appreciate it. Like his first book, this felt like an extension of his standup, and some stories were pure hilarity while others have the feel of a personal essay and are more informative and heartfelt. I loved that every chapter started with "Have you ever?" and then proceeded to tell the reader if he had done that certain thing or if someone he knew had. There were a lot of relatable moments for me, and I found myself nodding along to so much of what he said. I even got a little teary in this one!
I listened to the audiobook, and I don't think I could ever get sick of hearing Papa speak. I mean, what could be better than a comedian reading his own book? I haven't actually seen much of his standup yet, so I don't know if You're Doing Great! has any of his actual bits in it, but this was a very entertaining read, and I was so glad he narrates it. I also found out more about his life, including that he has a ghost! If you want to know what that means you better check this out. It's perfect to listen to on a road trip which is what I did, and my husband loved it even more than I did. I really do think the audiobook is the way to go with this one, and it is a short, easy listen with plenty of dry humor and snark.
I listened to the audiobook, and I don't think I could ever get sick of hearing Papa speak. I mean, what could be better than a comedian reading his own book? I haven't actually seen much of his standup yet, so I don't know if You're Doing Great! has any of his actual bits in it, but this was a very entertaining read, and I was so glad he narrates it. I also found out more about his life, including that he has a ghost! If you want to know what that means you better check this out. It's perfect to listen to on a road trip which is what I did, and my husband loved it even more than I did. I really do think the audiobook is the way to go with this one, and it is a short, easy listen with plenty of dry humor and snark.
February 20, 2020
Tom Papa's "You're Doing Great!: And Other Reasons to Stay Alive" is a warm hug of a book. I'm not talking about one of those semi-friendly one-armed hugs, but one of those full-body, two-armed wrap-around hugs that make you feel as if you can listen to the person's heartbeat when you're hugging them.
If I were to meet Tom Papa on the street now, I would feel like I know him and I would feel like he knows me. If I were to go watch Tom Papa perform, I would feel a special bond like I was watching an old friend hit the big time. I would want to shake his hand and give him a hug and it would be a familiar hug because I would feel like I knew him and he would instantly know he knew me even though we'd just actually met.
Truthfully, I didn't expect to end up giving "You're Doing Great." Truthfully, I'm not even totally sure it's a great book. For most of the book, I was in the solid 4-star range - hey, that's no shabby rating. It's like 1-star down from the best and it's quite a bit better, in my opinion, than the more middling-range 3-star rating. A 4-star rating says "Hey, you're doing great!"
But then, I got to the end of the book and I realized I felt great. I had laughed. I'd been hugged. I'd smiled. I'd never actually cried, but that would be kind of weird in a humor book. Still, I was incredibly touched by the stories because you can tell that Tom Papa loves his wife and loves his two daughters and loves his friends and loves his life, though none of these things could be called perfect.
After all, he refers to both himself and his wife as mutts. I have a feeling his wife considers it a compliment, though probably a weird compliment.
"You're Doing Great!" occasionally wanders. There were a handful of the 75 essays where I asked myself "What does that have to do with being great? That's just a life story that's kind of cute." I wanted to go ahead and dock the book a star because it wasn't perfect, but it's kind of hard to justify that when the entire theme of the book is that it's okay to not be perfect.
Mission accomplished. Imperfectly.
If you don't know Tom Papa, though you probably do know Tom Papa, he's a comedian who I believe mostly does clean comedy and "You're Doing Great!" is most certainly all clean comedy. Most comics will tell you that doing clean comedy is much more difficult than doing the more hardcore stuff and it's pretty impressive that Papa has built a pretty darn amazing career out of clean comedy including being the head writer and a performer for NPR's Live From Here and a popular SiriusXM host among quite a few other gigs.
He's probably not a household name, but he's doing great.
"You're Doing Great!" is at its best when Papa actually focuses his essays around the entire theme of "You're Doing Great!" These essays are simultaneously warm and affectionate and funny without the pressure of having to live up to standards that we don't really need to live up to in order to be truly happy. "You're Doing Great" lands with a little less of an impact when Papa moves away from this theme, which is something that's probably going to happen when you write 75 essays. You can really only pull off the humorous sideline life coach meets best buddy shtick for so long, but Tom Papa makes it work and it never feels like a shtick. It feels like the friend you meet at Denny's when you've had a crappy day at work and you feel like your life sucks - your friend looks at you with dead-on sincerity and says "You're doing great!"
Indeed.
So, "You're doing great!" is probably a 4-star book that I'm giving a 5-star rating because I'm a paraplegic/double amputee with spina bifida who's been off work for three months following what is actually my 3rd amputation and I needed to laugh and I needed to feel like I was still worth something. Tom Papa made me feel like I was doing great and I'm guessing he'll do the same thing for you because, well, it's true. "You're doing great!"
If I were to meet Tom Papa on the street now, I would feel like I know him and I would feel like he knows me. If I were to go watch Tom Papa perform, I would feel a special bond like I was watching an old friend hit the big time. I would want to shake his hand and give him a hug and it would be a familiar hug because I would feel like I knew him and he would instantly know he knew me even though we'd just actually met.
Truthfully, I didn't expect to end up giving "You're Doing Great." Truthfully, I'm not even totally sure it's a great book. For most of the book, I was in the solid 4-star range - hey, that's no shabby rating. It's like 1-star down from the best and it's quite a bit better, in my opinion, than the more middling-range 3-star rating. A 4-star rating says "Hey, you're doing great!"
But then, I got to the end of the book and I realized I felt great. I had laughed. I'd been hugged. I'd smiled. I'd never actually cried, but that would be kind of weird in a humor book. Still, I was incredibly touched by the stories because you can tell that Tom Papa loves his wife and loves his two daughters and loves his friends and loves his life, though none of these things could be called perfect.
After all, he refers to both himself and his wife as mutts. I have a feeling his wife considers it a compliment, though probably a weird compliment.
"You're Doing Great!" occasionally wanders. There were a handful of the 75 essays where I asked myself "What does that have to do with being great? That's just a life story that's kind of cute." I wanted to go ahead and dock the book a star because it wasn't perfect, but it's kind of hard to justify that when the entire theme of the book is that it's okay to not be perfect.
Mission accomplished. Imperfectly.
If you don't know Tom Papa, though you probably do know Tom Papa, he's a comedian who I believe mostly does clean comedy and "You're Doing Great!" is most certainly all clean comedy. Most comics will tell you that doing clean comedy is much more difficult than doing the more hardcore stuff and it's pretty impressive that Papa has built a pretty darn amazing career out of clean comedy including being the head writer and a performer for NPR's Live From Here and a popular SiriusXM host among quite a few other gigs.
He's probably not a household name, but he's doing great.
"You're Doing Great!" is at its best when Papa actually focuses his essays around the entire theme of "You're Doing Great!" These essays are simultaneously warm and affectionate and funny without the pressure of having to live up to standards that we don't really need to live up to in order to be truly happy. "You're Doing Great" lands with a little less of an impact when Papa moves away from this theme, which is something that's probably going to happen when you write 75 essays. You can really only pull off the humorous sideline life coach meets best buddy shtick for so long, but Tom Papa makes it work and it never feels like a shtick. It feels like the friend you meet at Denny's when you've had a crappy day at work and you feel like your life sucks - your friend looks at you with dead-on sincerity and says "You're doing great!"
Indeed.
So, "You're doing great!" is probably a 4-star book that I'm giving a 5-star rating because I'm a paraplegic/double amputee with spina bifida who's been off work for three months following what is actually my 3rd amputation and I needed to laugh and I needed to feel like I was still worth something. Tom Papa made me feel like I was doing great and I'm guessing he'll do the same thing for you because, well, it's true. "You're doing great!"
May 16, 2020
This book is such a fun time!!!! For those unfamiliar with Tom Papa, I HIGHLY recommend looking him up on Netflix and watching one of his fabulous stand up specials. They are amazing and hilarious and so so relatable (especially if you are a parent).
This essay collection is a companion to his newest special, You’re Doing Great! It contains many of the same stories but also so much more. So even if you’ve already seen the special, this is definitely worth the read! It expands on those stories and also has a lot of other fun extra content!
I related to so many things throughout this book and laughed through the entire thing. I grew up in the 90s but my parents were old school and I related to so many of his childhood stories. Especially growing up as Fan People and your dad buying a Pachinko machine at a garage sale. Every story is absolutely hilarious! I highlighted so many passages to revisit later and laugh all over again.
This can be a really quick, easy read or even a good one to grab and read a chapter here and there if you need a little pick me up. All of it is wonderful and it will definitely keep you giggling throughout! I highly recommend both this book and any of Papa’s other works! He is an expert at his craft! I can't rave about this book or his specials enough. If you haven't already, please read either of his books or listen to his stand up. You definitely won't regret it!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me the chance to read and review this book! It was an absolute treat!! I know I will definitely be picking up a finished copy of this book and reading again in the future! (Or rereading my favorite stories when I need a little pick me up!)
This essay collection is a companion to his newest special, You’re Doing Great! It contains many of the same stories but also so much more. So even if you’ve already seen the special, this is definitely worth the read! It expands on those stories and also has a lot of other fun extra content!
I related to so many things throughout this book and laughed through the entire thing. I grew up in the 90s but my parents were old school and I related to so many of his childhood stories. Especially growing up as Fan People and your dad buying a Pachinko machine at a garage sale. Every story is absolutely hilarious! I highlighted so many passages to revisit later and laugh all over again.
This can be a really quick, easy read or even a good one to grab and read a chapter here and there if you need a little pick me up. All of it is wonderful and it will definitely keep you giggling throughout! I highly recommend both this book and any of Papa’s other works! He is an expert at his craft! I can't rave about this book or his specials enough. If you haven't already, please read either of his books or listen to his stand up. You definitely won't regret it!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me the chance to read and review this book! It was an absolute treat!! I know I will definitely be picking up a finished copy of this book and reading again in the future! (Or rereading my favorite stories when I need a little pick me up!)
February 20, 2020
I’ve got to say, I was pretty impressed by how relatable this book was!
I suppose I typically walk around with the ‘why me’ attitude or ‘this could only happen to me’ mindset, but leave it to Tom Papa to truly ensure the reader that we are not alone when dealing with “shit people” in the world and make you feel better about your stupid life-threatening decisions in life.
This is not your average and repetitive self-help book. These essays are a series of eye-opening stories with hilarity along the way. Tom Papa is a true story teller!
I suppose I typically walk around with the ‘why me’ attitude or ‘this could only happen to me’ mindset, but leave it to Tom Papa to truly ensure the reader that we are not alone when dealing with “shit people” in the world and make you feel better about your stupid life-threatening decisions in life.
This is not your average and repetitive self-help book. These essays are a series of eye-opening stories with hilarity along the way. Tom Papa is a true story teller!
February 19, 2020
This was such an entertaining read. I recommend it highly. I found myself laughing often at the authors antidotes and then closing the book and remembering parts of my own life in a renewed light. This was a surprising delight and I have to read Tom Papa's first book now.
February 23, 2021
And enjoyable and light-hearted book that will leave you chuckling and laughing at several points. A nice compilations of stories and ancedotes about living a regular life. Perfect for the doldrums of winter.
January 30, 2023
Sure it’s corny and maybe over-earnest, but it’s breezy and sweet, and although I didn’t laugh out loud very often, it made me smile most of the way through.
For a comedian, Papa has an atypically gentle and positive vibe that I really like.
For a comedian, Papa has an atypically gentle and positive vibe that I really like.
May 1, 2020
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for giving me a free copy of the uncorrected e-galley version of You're Doing Great!
This was my first experiment with a NetGalley-provided book, and I deem it highly successful. Not only did NetGalley make it very easy to obtain my copy, but the book is great!
Tom Papa and I must share a lot of DNA. If I believed in such things, I'd be tempted to surmise we're soulmates. Whatever it is, Tom Papa gets me. On almost every page, I found myself nodding along in recognition as he narrates one hilarious life event after another.
Papa's prose style is folksy and profound, and his writing makes me giggle, belly-laugh, and sometimes even laugh 'til the tears come. On a couple of occasions, his musings were poignant enough to send me reaching for a facial tissue. Not too many people I know are as self-aware and as good at humorizing their lives as Tom Papa is. He's one of those authors I would truly love to hang out and share some good red wine, cheese, and some of his homemade bread with.
I have lamented elsewhere and too often the sad state of copy-editorial affairs in much of modern writing. I was tickled to find that this uncorrected e-galley contained less minor errors than many of the final versions of books I've read in the past few years.
If you're able to get your hands on a copy of You're Doing Great! when it comes out, I highly recommend you do so. It's timely, its message is sorely needed right now, and I have a hunch you'll love it. It being the time of Covid-19 and the worst American economic crisis since the Great Depression, we live in trying times to say the least. I myself have come dangerously close to succumbing to despair, and this book pulled me out of the depths and cheered me up. Thank you, Tom Papa, for this virtual hug of a book. You're doing great!
This was my first experiment with a NetGalley-provided book, and I deem it highly successful. Not only did NetGalley make it very easy to obtain my copy, but the book is great!
Tom Papa and I must share a lot of DNA. If I believed in such things, I'd be tempted to surmise we're soulmates. Whatever it is, Tom Papa gets me. On almost every page, I found myself nodding along in recognition as he narrates one hilarious life event after another.
Papa's prose style is folksy and profound, and his writing makes me giggle, belly-laugh, and sometimes even laugh 'til the tears come. On a couple of occasions, his musings were poignant enough to send me reaching for a facial tissue. Not too many people I know are as self-aware and as good at humorizing their lives as Tom Papa is. He's one of those authors I would truly love to hang out and share some good red wine, cheese, and some of his homemade bread with.
I have lamented elsewhere and too often the sad state of copy-editorial affairs in much of modern writing. I was tickled to find that this uncorrected e-galley contained less minor errors than many of the final versions of books I've read in the past few years.
If you're able to get your hands on a copy of You're Doing Great! when it comes out, I highly recommend you do so. It's timely, its message is sorely needed right now, and I have a hunch you'll love it. It being the time of Covid-19 and the worst American economic crisis since the Great Depression, we live in trying times to say the least. I myself have come dangerously close to succumbing to despair, and this book pulled me out of the depths and cheered me up. Thank you, Tom Papa, for this virtual hug of a book. You're doing great!
May 13, 2020
I've had the pleasure of seeing Tom Papa's standup a few times in LA (typically as a "friend" in one of those "X Comedian & Friends" shows), and he's delightful. Imagine a big Italian guy who delivers short narrative jokes with the same intonation as Jim Gaffigan, and you've got Tom Papa.
You're Doing Great! is a collection of very short essays on absolutely random topics, stories and tidbits from Papa's life, advice, and cheerful reassurances that you are doing completely fine, and you should stop putting so much pressure on yourself. This is a great piece of wisdom right here. One of my favorite recurring bits in this book is the idea that you should eat the damn bread, eat the cookies, eat the White Castles, and maybe exercise enough to not die. Life is too short to go on a juice cleanse - just do what makes you happy. And if that's gorging on enough Oreos that you feel sick afterwards, then do it.
Most of the essays that I enjoyed in this collection were not actually these positive self-help bits, but were just funny stories from Papa's life. (Side note: sometimes I feel like essay collections like this are just loosely strewn together by a vague theme to sell it as a cohesive collection. There's nothing wrong with it just being funny stories from a funny comedian!) I enjoyed Papa's traumatic tale of of receiving venik from a Russian banya, of tubing down a white-water river in upstate New York, and of the nasty way his wife plays Scrabble.
Overall, these are just some light, humorous, enjoyable stories - a perfect, easy read for a Saturday afternoon. I imagine that the audiobook, if narrated by Papa himself, would be just as comforting. Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the ARC!
You're Doing Great! is a collection of very short essays on absolutely random topics, stories and tidbits from Papa's life, advice, and cheerful reassurances that you are doing completely fine, and you should stop putting so much pressure on yourself. This is a great piece of wisdom right here. One of my favorite recurring bits in this book is the idea that you should eat the damn bread, eat the cookies, eat the White Castles, and maybe exercise enough to not die. Life is too short to go on a juice cleanse - just do what makes you happy. And if that's gorging on enough Oreos that you feel sick afterwards, then do it.
Most of the essays that I enjoyed in this collection were not actually these positive self-help bits, but were just funny stories from Papa's life. (Side note: sometimes I feel like essay collections like this are just loosely strewn together by a vague theme to sell it as a cohesive collection. There's nothing wrong with it just being funny stories from a funny comedian!) I enjoyed Papa's traumatic tale of of receiving venik from a Russian banya, of tubing down a white-water river in upstate New York, and of the nasty way his wife plays Scrabble.
Overall, these are just some light, humorous, enjoyable stories - a perfect, easy read for a Saturday afternoon. I imagine that the audiobook, if narrated by Papa himself, would be just as comforting. Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the ARC!
May 9, 2020
I received an ARC from the publisher, but hadn’t heard of Tom Papa before so I didn’t know what to expect. This book is a way to tell it’s readers that they’re doing great. Think you’re ugly? We are ALL weird looking! That ghost in your house? Make it your friend! This was a fun, uplifting book. It was so easy to relate to everything the author said and made me really like him. Guess I’ll have to go watch his stand up on Netflix now.
May 12, 2020
I came across Tom in an appearance on a comedy tv show and loved him right away. Finding someone who can make you laugh at the simplest and basic things in life is harder than you think. This book has come at the perfect time where we need to laugh and find comfort in really knowing that we ARE doing great or at least trying. Thanks to him I've found some much needed laughter and will reread this again when I need a fix.
I received an advanced copy of this book for my honest review.
I received an advanced copy of this book for my honest review.
June 5, 2020
I love Tom Papas "You're Doing Great" Netflix show so when I heard he had a book released I had to get it! He instantly cheers me up if I'm feeling down and this book is no different. It is very light, easy reading and is perfect to dip in and out of.
June 7, 2020
Hilarious absurdist humor.
Tom Papa gets the subtleties in everyday human stuff, and he can find humor in it.
I discovered this book when it was recommended on social media by another brilliant absurdist, Dave Hill. We should be grateful these two authors are writing at the same time.
Tom Papa gets the subtleties in everyday human stuff, and he can find humor in it.
I discovered this book when it was recommended on social media by another brilliant absurdist, Dave Hill. We should be grateful these two authors are writing at the same time.
June 25, 2020
Great book! I love books read by authors for some reason just makes it feel like you’re listening to a friend. Tom Papa is hilarious and more than a few topics hit home making me laugh out loud! Keep up the great work Mr. Papa!
May 13, 2020
3.75
Easy, quick read, made me laugh, liked it but I didn’t love it.
Easy, quick read, made me laugh, liked it but I didn’t love it.
August 28, 2021
I'm a huge fan of stand up comedy. I have been watching it since the early 80's and I was born in 81! You might be wondering how that could be, and that is a practical question. My dad is a huge fan of stand up comedy. I inherited the love of laughing from him. I'd sit in the living room watching stand up with him on late night talk shows and on HBO or Comedy Central. I've seen just about all the greats from the 80's and 90's. From Eddie Murphy and Richard Pryor to George Carlin and Chris Rock. I love observational and sarcastic comedy the best. Name a comedian and I have probably seen their act. I watch comedy when I'm tired, when I'm bored and when I need a laugh. I especially watch the ones that I can relate to over and over. Tom Papa is one of those comedians. I've seen this stand up special "You're Doing Great" about 5 times since it's release. I never get bored. If you have seen that special on Netflix and liked it, I can guarantee you are going to love this book. 5 stars!
When I first picked up this book a week ago and read the first chapter, I was thinking...."Oh no! Please don't be his whole stand up show in written form." Not that that is a bad thing, but I was hoping for some insider info to his life or where he drew his inspiration for his comedy. Is he a watch people from a park bench kind of guy or is it random encounters with crazy people while he's going about his daily life. I'm always intrigued about the inspiration behind it all. I'm a sucker for "special features".
What I love about Tom Papa and his comedy is his timing and the little shocked face he gives when he is talking on stage. I can hear it in his words while reading this book. I love that he is mostly clean, not that I don't love a Bill Burr with a potty mouth. His book is even more so. His jokes that were a bit on the raunchy side in his special are tame in the book, so it's good for your mom or grandma to enjoy, of course if they are a lover of Lewis Black or maybe Craig Ferguson then maybe they wouldn't care.
What I also love about this book is that Tom Papa is always complimenting the reader, letting us know that what we are experiencing day to day is normal and okay. Its like a free therapy session, but in your bed or on your own couch. He is relatable and I love that. Oh and he is obsessed with bread.
If you haven't picked up a comedians memoir or book of essays you should. They are hilarious.
When I first picked up this book a week ago and read the first chapter, I was thinking...."Oh no! Please don't be his whole stand up show in written form." Not that that is a bad thing, but I was hoping for some insider info to his life or where he drew his inspiration for his comedy. Is he a watch people from a park bench kind of guy or is it random encounters with crazy people while he's going about his daily life. I'm always intrigued about the inspiration behind it all. I'm a sucker for "special features".
What I love about Tom Papa and his comedy is his timing and the little shocked face he gives when he is talking on stage. I can hear it in his words while reading this book. I love that he is mostly clean, not that I don't love a Bill Burr with a potty mouth. His book is even more so. His jokes that were a bit on the raunchy side in his special are tame in the book, so it's good for your mom or grandma to enjoy, of course if they are a lover of Lewis Black or maybe Craig Ferguson then maybe they wouldn't care.
What I also love about this book is that Tom Papa is always complimenting the reader, letting us know that what we are experiencing day to day is normal and okay. Its like a free therapy session, but in your bed or on your own couch. He is relatable and I love that. Oh and he is obsessed with bread.
If you haven't picked up a comedians memoir or book of essays you should. They are hilarious.
May 18, 2021
Some library algorithm slipped this into a feed so I checked it out. I liked Papa's Netflix special of the same name and thought I'd enjoy seeing how he stretched out as a writer. There's lots pulled from his act, and one can easily hear his delivery in the words on the page. But Papa's got more depth on the page than on the stage. There's some touching essays about family and friendship that aren't laughs a minute, but slowly build to a warm glow.
January 16, 2024
Fast and fun, had me laughing 😆
January 27, 2024
I really enjoyed this book, and if you need a book that will make you feel good and make you laugh then read it. It truly made me feel like I’m doing great!
December 7, 2020
I learned that one you start reading David Sedaris, there is no humor essayist that can even remotely compare. His writing, cleverness, and humor woven into sentences instead of a predictable punchline makes him my favorite author and one of my favorite comedians. Which is not good for Tom Papa, whose book was ultimately challenging to get through. It was funny at some parts (the one about being dumb, the first three or so were alright) but mostly it was about pretty uninteresting topics. It seemed like he was scrambling to find ideas to write about (money, bread, food, being home) and all seemed pretty basic. There were some parts that felt like a 5th grader wrote them, but apparently that's just how he talks in his stand-up specials. It's also supposed to be a "feel-good" book, but the advice he gave was really very simple and a lot of the time he seemed to be talking about nothing of substance. There was an entire essay about an annoying call with his mom, where it is transcribed verbatim interspersed with Papa getting more alcohol. The general gist of the story is, "Hey, look how annoying my mom is sometimes!" Well if that's the case then why did you even put it in the book? To annoy us?
Through this book I have learned that not everyone has life experiences special enough to warrant writing a book about them.
Through this book I have learned that not everyone has life experiences special enough to warrant writing a book about them.
May 21, 2020
I first learned of Tom Papa from listening to him on the @joerogan podcast and since then I have become a huge fan. When I saw this book on @netgalley I knew I had to request it.
.
This was a really fun, quick and easy read. Each chapter Tom discusses a topic such as Date Nights, Tubing, 7-Eleven, Staying Positive and more. He tells a funny story on each topic related to his own life experience and then relates it back to the general population. The book has the overarching message that we as humans are doing good and we are generally too tough on ourselves.
.
There are many funny stories where I found myself laughing out loud. I also highlighted some great quotes such as:
.
“It may say 7-Eleven on the sign, but inside this is the Cooperstown of snacks.”
and
“Candy apples are another horrible lie about a good time. They’re awful. First off, they’ve got it all backward. Why would you put fruit on the inside of candy? So you do all this work, get through the candy outside, and your reward is a mealy apple? What kind of incentive is that? How about if you get through the world’s most boring fruit”
.
This book is made for everyone no matter what genre you like to read and I think it’s definitely picking up. The book is available now.
.
This was a really fun, quick and easy read. Each chapter Tom discusses a topic such as Date Nights, Tubing, 7-Eleven, Staying Positive and more. He tells a funny story on each topic related to his own life experience and then relates it back to the general population. The book has the overarching message that we as humans are doing good and we are generally too tough on ourselves.
.
There are many funny stories where I found myself laughing out loud. I also highlighted some great quotes such as:
.
“It may say 7-Eleven on the sign, but inside this is the Cooperstown of snacks.”
and
“Candy apples are another horrible lie about a good time. They’re awful. First off, they’ve got it all backward. Why would you put fruit on the inside of candy? So you do all this work, get through the candy outside, and your reward is a mealy apple? What kind of incentive is that? How about if you get through the world’s most boring fruit”
.
This book is made for everyone no matter what genre you like to read and I think it’s definitely picking up. The book is available now.
April 21, 2020
What do you need during a global pandemic? Relatable musings from a life laughed-out-loud. Tom Papa delivers short excerpts of wisdom about how not taking yourself too seriously will greatly improve your happiness, if not your situation. The chapters are separated among bite-size sections of circumstance, where everyday language and snark made me constantly wonder if Mr. Papa had read my thoughts.
From bad decisions to family dynamics, there's something here for everyone. After being quarantined for so long due to the pandemic, I needed some human connection. If not direct contact, I felt a bit closer to my fellow humans.
I found myself laughing out loud, which is hard for an author to accomplish without the benefit of body language that stage comedy affords. In times like these, we could all use a good laugh. So unplug, kick up your feet, and check out this book. Don't forget - You're Doing Great!
From bad decisions to family dynamics, there's something here for everyone. After being quarantined for so long due to the pandemic, I needed some human connection. If not direct contact, I felt a bit closer to my fellow humans.
I found myself laughing out loud, which is hard for an author to accomplish without the benefit of body language that stage comedy affords. In times like these, we could all use a good laugh. So unplug, kick up your feet, and check out this book. Don't forget - You're Doing Great!
April 26, 2020
You're Doing Great continues in a similar vein to Papa's first book Your Dad Stole My Rake. Like the first book, there are several laugh-out-loud moments that are refreshingly underlined with affection and positivity. Part comedy book, part touching memoir, part the best self-help book I've ever read--quit worrying about trying to be perfect, you ARE perfect! There are a couple essays that are pretty funny, but run counter to the tone or just read as filler (though I suspect Tom Papa really does just love 7-11 snacks), but nothing offensive that really takes away from the experience. It's nice to read something legitimately funny that makes you feel good by boosting YOU rather than knocking others down. Hooray for that!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 238 reviews