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Happy People Are Annoying
A wonderfully candid, hilarious, and mesmerizing memoir-with-life-lessons from one of the most recognizable faces of a generation, actor, writer, Youtuber, and television superstar, Josh Peck. In this inspiring and spellbinding book, Josh reflects on the wreckage of his past--including his early struggles with weight, self-esteem, shame, drugs, and self-sabotage--and traces his zigzagging path to redemption. Written with such impressive detail and aching honesty, Happy People are Annoying is a visceral and striking memoir about accepting the past, good bad and ugly, and making peace with the complicated person in the mirror.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published March 15, 2022
476 people are currently reading
14836 people want to read
About the author
Josh Peck
2 books110 followersJoshua Michael Peck is an American actor, comedian, and YouTuber. Peck began his career as a child actor in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and had an early role on The Amanda Show from 2000 to 2002. Peck rose to prominence for his role as Josh Nichols alongside Drake Bell's character in the Nickelodeon sitcom Drake & Josh from 2004 to 2007, and in its two television films in 2006 and 2008. He then acted in films such as Mean Creek (2004), Drillbit Taylor (2008), The Wackness (2008), ATM (2012), Red Dawn (2012), Battle of the Year (2013), Danny Collins (2015), and Take the 10 (2017) and played the main role in the Disney+ original series Turner & Hooch, a continuation of the 1989 movie Turner & Hooch. Peck provided the voice of Eddie in the Ice Age franchise since Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006), and voiced Casey Jones in the Nickelodeon animated series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012–2017). He also starred with John Stamos in the Fox comedy series Grandfathered (2015–2016). In 2017, Peck started a comedic lifestyle YouTube channel, Shua Vlogs, featuring his wife Paige O'Brien, David Dobrik, and many of the vlogsquad members.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,872 reviews
March 17, 2022
I feel like Josh Peck gave himself far less credit than he deserves.
Like many Millennials, I discovered Josh on The Amanda Show. But he's widely know for his role on Drake and Josh, which is a show I literally still watch and I'm now 26.
I was kind of expecting Happy People Are Annoying to be a tell all of what it's like to be a child actor. But Josh quickly mentions how ordinary that is, and he's anything but ordinary. He goes on to say people have a habit of assuming because we watched him (or any other character) grow up on television, that we somehow know who they are as a person. But let me tell you, I was unprepared for everything he talked about in this book.
This book kind of humanized Josh in a way that felt relatable. He repeatedly had to change his preconceived notions of what it means to make it in Hollywood. He talks about being sober. He talks about his insecurities. He talks about being in his 20's and thinking, "I have no idea what I'm doing with my life." AND THAT'S ALL SO RELATABLE.
So, my suggestion is we make Josh the leader of the millennials.
That's all.
More reviews at A Reader's Diary!
Like many Millennials, I discovered Josh on The Amanda Show. But he's widely know for his role on Drake and Josh, which is a show I literally still watch and I'm now 26.
I was kind of expecting Happy People Are Annoying to be a tell all of what it's like to be a child actor. But Josh quickly mentions how ordinary that is, and he's anything but ordinary. He goes on to say people have a habit of assuming because we watched him (or any other character) grow up on television, that we somehow know who they are as a person. But let me tell you, I was unprepared for everything he talked about in this book.
This book kind of humanized Josh in a way that felt relatable. He repeatedly had to change his preconceived notions of what it means to make it in Hollywood. He talks about being sober. He talks about his insecurities. He talks about being in his 20's and thinking, "I have no idea what I'm doing with my life." AND THAT'S ALL SO RELATABLE.
So, my suggestion is we make Josh the leader of the millennials.
That's all.
More reviews at A Reader's Diary!
May 21, 2023
As a mom of two young kids in the early 2000’s, I was well acquainted with Nickelodeon programming, and two of my kids’ favorite shows were The Amanda Show and Drake & Josh, both of which featured a charming, whipsmart funny young teenager named Josh Peck.
Perhaps you’re saying … who?
You may have seen him over the following years in movies like The Wackness or Mean Creek, newer TV shows like Grandfathered, Turner & Hooch and How I Met Your Father or heard his voice acting in The Ice Age movies and other animated features. Maybe you’ve never heard of him at all - no matter. With the perfect blend of humility and self-effacing humor, Peck offers the wisdom he’s gleaned from the successes and failures of his life.
Now, I can almost hear the collective groan from everyone … oh, there goes yet ANOTHER former child actor telling their sad tale of the pitfalls of celebrity, their spiral into drugs and alcohol, and the closed doors that come when you’re no longer the cute, funny kid on TV, so why should I listen to him? Here’s why:
Some people take the things that happen to them, grow from it and share the lessons in a way that benefits others, and others just use the attention to make sure the world knows how hard they had it. He chose the former, and I think he has a lot of worthwhile insight to share.
Did he get dealt a difficult hand? Yes. He was the product of a singular dalliance between his mom and a married co-worker, who upon learning about his son, wanted nothing to do with him - a trauma that would haunt him and his self-image for years. His mom struggled to make ends meet and their lives had little stability. He used food as comfort and was nearly 300 pounds when he began his career in front of the camera. One thing he did have, though? Talent. That talent has carried Peck through many ups and downs in his personal life and career, and it’s also enabled him to do one particular thing spectacularly:
Pivot. Verb: to completely change the way in which one does something. (Oxford Dictionary)
This guy knows how to pivot. He pivoted when he chose to lose weight and many fans were upset, when his two highly regarded movie performances didn’t translate into more high caliber roles, when he sought help for the self-destructive substance abuse that almost derailed his career and life, when his later TV shows got canceled and he successfully jumped into the early days of social media to support his family, when he realized his self-worth was too tied up in acting and he needed to let it go, and when he re-discovered the joy of acting simply for the love of it.
He also took this bit of advice from Sir Ben Kingsley, his co-star in The Wackness:
Find your apostles.
These are the people who will speak truth into your life, even when you don’t want to hear it. The people in your life worth listening to. Peck found those people in his mom, wife, trusted friends, and AA sponsors, turned his life around and started pursuing the things he loved without tying it to his sense of self-worth. It’s a candid, thoughtful examination of his life thus far and offers hope to anyone on the journey away from self-loathing and into self respect. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Peck himself and despite some heavier topics, his humor and good-natured personality shines. I don’t usually read memoirs, but this is one I can highly recommend!
★★★★ ½
Thanks to my library and Libby for this loan.
Perhaps you’re saying … who?
You may have seen him over the following years in movies like The Wackness or Mean Creek, newer TV shows like Grandfathered, Turner & Hooch and How I Met Your Father or heard his voice acting in The Ice Age movies and other animated features. Maybe you’ve never heard of him at all - no matter. With the perfect blend of humility and self-effacing humor, Peck offers the wisdom he’s gleaned from the successes and failures of his life.
Now, I can almost hear the collective groan from everyone … oh, there goes yet ANOTHER former child actor telling their sad tale of the pitfalls of celebrity, their spiral into drugs and alcohol, and the closed doors that come when you’re no longer the cute, funny kid on TV, so why should I listen to him? Here’s why:
Some people take the things that happen to them, grow from it and share the lessons in a way that benefits others, and others just use the attention to make sure the world knows how hard they had it. He chose the former, and I think he has a lot of worthwhile insight to share.
Did he get dealt a difficult hand? Yes. He was the product of a singular dalliance between his mom and a married co-worker, who upon learning about his son, wanted nothing to do with him - a trauma that would haunt him and his self-image for years. His mom struggled to make ends meet and their lives had little stability. He used food as comfort and was nearly 300 pounds when he began his career in front of the camera. One thing he did have, though? Talent. That talent has carried Peck through many ups and downs in his personal life and career, and it’s also enabled him to do one particular thing spectacularly:
Pivot. Verb: to completely change the way in which one does something. (Oxford Dictionary)
This guy knows how to pivot. He pivoted when he chose to lose weight and many fans were upset, when his two highly regarded movie performances didn’t translate into more high caliber roles, when he sought help for the self-destructive substance abuse that almost derailed his career and life, when his later TV shows got canceled and he successfully jumped into the early days of social media to support his family, when he realized his self-worth was too tied up in acting and he needed to let it go, and when he re-discovered the joy of acting simply for the love of it.
He also took this bit of advice from Sir Ben Kingsley, his co-star in The Wackness:
Find your apostles.
These are the people who will speak truth into your life, even when you don’t want to hear it. The people in your life worth listening to. Peck found those people in his mom, wife, trusted friends, and AA sponsors, turned his life around and started pursuing the things he loved without tying it to his sense of self-worth. It’s a candid, thoughtful examination of his life thus far and offers hope to anyone on the journey away from self-loathing and into self respect. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Peck himself and despite some heavier topics, his humor and good-natured personality shines. I don’t usually read memoirs, but this is one I can highly recommend!
★★★★ ½
Thanks to my library and Libby for this loan.
March 16, 2022
I’m a Josh Peck Stan now
March 18, 2022
so fun and insightful. i really am walking out of this one feeling like i learned something and i cannot wait to see what else josh peck does in the future
also i gotta read more memoirs this was wonderful
also i gotta read more memoirs this was wonderful
February 15, 2023
Ok, so no one is perfect. We all think we can be perfect, but we lack to know that perfection is inevitable. No one is perfect. I will not get into biblical proportions here and talk about god, perfection in the greatest of creations, because he is not sitting right next to my living each day as I do. I grew up going to catholic school. I was reminded everyday of his creations, sacrifices and blah blah blah. Let me again say, I will not go to biblical proportions, and to that nature, love him or hate him, Josh Peck gets 5 stars!
The boy went through the impractical lifestyle we have seen all childhood stars got through, and then some. He did not come out alive without his own fair share of trials and tribulations. He went through the same bullshit you do, the same curious childhood we all have, and the same heartaches, cuts and bruises and life experiences as any Joe Schmo. However, the difference between him and others is that he voiced it despite his IMENSE amount of anxiety. Anxiety, ha. Thats a common word for the average folk.
So the next time you say you don’t have anxiety, read a memoir (hypothetical mic drop).
I want to express too that he can write! Of the many different things he embarked on, writing is another adventure I am glad he took. Josh has a way of being very relatable, humble, funny and family oriented in, “Happy People are Annoying.” Life did not work out according to what he thought, but he did not let that stop him from who he wanted to be, or so he thought he wanted to be. As I mentioned before, he had drug issues. Not quite the “Drake Bell” issues, but he was a curious teenager (aren’t we all? D.A.R.E. Only made that worse lol). In a quote about his “addition” experience, I could not help but feel his analogy could speak to everyone, “Someone asked me what it felt like to be addicted to drugs, and this is how I described it: “Imagine you’ve spent your entire life trying to listen to a radio station, but every time you tuned in, there was static. You were certain you were on the right frequency, but the signal was never very strong. And then one day, you accidentally bump the knob and suddenly all the auditory goodness you’ve been waiting to hear your entire life fills your ears, in surround sound. You have been on the wrong wavelength but not anymore. That’s what drugs felt like to me, I wasn’t tuning out, I was tuning in.”
I do not give spoilers, but I do have some favorite points of this book. One quote came from an inspired actor and role model to Josh, “Ben Kingsley.” “Find the people who support you to be what you want to be, who push you to be your very best, and if you find yourself in a room with someone who doesn’t make you feel that way, leave immediately.” (Ben Kingsley; [Find your Apostles]). I guess this can be seen as a biblical proportion here, because “apostle” is used. Nonetheless, look the word up and tell me you don’t have people in your life like that? One particular apostle of Josh was his mother, and she shared some good advice for Josh when needed, “Pain is knowledge rushing into your brain with great speed.” (My mom, my first apostle).
As always, I want to leave you with some food for thought. Take this quote and think about it. Imbed it in your brain, for it is one that’s will never leave you, but always remind you where you have come from, where you have been, and where you are going.
The Greek philosopher Heraclitus said, “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it is not the same river and he is not the same man.”
The boy went through the impractical lifestyle we have seen all childhood stars got through, and then some. He did not come out alive without his own fair share of trials and tribulations. He went through the same bullshit you do, the same curious childhood we all have, and the same heartaches, cuts and bruises and life experiences as any Joe Schmo. However, the difference between him and others is that he voiced it despite his IMENSE amount of anxiety. Anxiety, ha. Thats a common word for the average folk.
So the next time you say you don’t have anxiety, read a memoir (hypothetical mic drop).
I want to express too that he can write! Of the many different things he embarked on, writing is another adventure I am glad he took. Josh has a way of being very relatable, humble, funny and family oriented in, “Happy People are Annoying.” Life did not work out according to what he thought, but he did not let that stop him from who he wanted to be, or so he thought he wanted to be. As I mentioned before, he had drug issues. Not quite the “Drake Bell” issues, but he was a curious teenager (aren’t we all? D.A.R.E. Only made that worse lol). In a quote about his “addition” experience, I could not help but feel his analogy could speak to everyone, “Someone asked me what it felt like to be addicted to drugs, and this is how I described it: “Imagine you’ve spent your entire life trying to listen to a radio station, but every time you tuned in, there was static. You were certain you were on the right frequency, but the signal was never very strong. And then one day, you accidentally bump the knob and suddenly all the auditory goodness you’ve been waiting to hear your entire life fills your ears, in surround sound. You have been on the wrong wavelength but not anymore. That’s what drugs felt like to me, I wasn’t tuning out, I was tuning in.”
I do not give spoilers, but I do have some favorite points of this book. One quote came from an inspired actor and role model to Josh, “Ben Kingsley.” “Find the people who support you to be what you want to be, who push you to be your very best, and if you find yourself in a room with someone who doesn’t make you feel that way, leave immediately.” (Ben Kingsley; [Find your Apostles]). I guess this can be seen as a biblical proportion here, because “apostle” is used. Nonetheless, look the word up and tell me you don’t have people in your life like that? One particular apostle of Josh was his mother, and she shared some good advice for Josh when needed, “Pain is knowledge rushing into your brain with great speed.” (My mom, my first apostle).
As always, I want to leave you with some food for thought. Take this quote and think about it. Imbed it in your brain, for it is one that’s will never leave you, but always remind you where you have come from, where you have been, and where you are going.
The Greek philosopher Heraclitus said, “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it is not the same river and he is not the same man.”
Read
August 24, 2024This was such a pleasant surprise. I listened via the audiobook during car journeys and it was so relatable, funny and insightful to hear about Josh’s life. The highs and lows of adulthood, being an actor in Hollywood, pivoting your career and found family. It felt like chatting to a friend, I really enjoyed it.
September 4, 2024
Listened to Josh Peck narrating this himself on Audible, which added to the refreshing frankness of this autobiography. He speaks in a very personable and honest way.
This book is about the struggles growing up as a child star in the spotlight, and the drug addiction that was a result of fame from a young age. Josh’s drug of choice was prescription pain meds as well as the illegal substances. It’s nice to hear he has been sober for around 15 years! He’s doing so well for himself, and by speaking so openly about his addiction struggles, will help many others am sure.
TW:// there is a lot of talk about weight and weight loss. Josh seems to have such an inner battle with his self esteem due to growing up in the spotlight as a bigger child, and then losing a drastic amount of weight as a teenager. He seems to still have issues with holding on his past with negative talk and he is doing well to acknowledge that.
This is not a book where he discusses the dark side of Nickelodeon in terms of what happened to his co-star Drake Bell, with the producer on the Amanda Show and Drake & Josh - Brian Peck (no relation to Josh!) I don’t think he had any idea it happened until the world found out this year from the shocking and eye-opening Quiet On Set documentary. If Amanda Bynes was ever well enough, and willing, to write a book - I would most definitely read that!
4 Stars
This book is about the struggles growing up as a child star in the spotlight, and the drug addiction that was a result of fame from a young age. Josh’s drug of choice was prescription pain meds as well as the illegal substances. It’s nice to hear he has been sober for around 15 years! He’s doing so well for himself, and by speaking so openly about his addiction struggles, will help many others am sure.
TW:// there is a lot of talk about weight and weight loss. Josh seems to have such an inner battle with his self esteem due to growing up in the spotlight as a bigger child, and then losing a drastic amount of weight as a teenager. He seems to still have issues with holding on his past with negative talk and he is doing well to acknowledge that.
This is not a book where he discusses the dark side of Nickelodeon in terms of what happened to his co-star Drake Bell, with the producer on the Amanda Show and Drake & Josh - Brian Peck (no relation to Josh!) I don’t think he had any idea it happened until the world found out this year from the shocking and eye-opening Quiet On Set documentary. If Amanda Bynes was ever well enough, and willing, to write a book - I would most definitely read that!
4 Stars
December 6, 2023
this book had so much character and I really enjoyed the humor in it!
it got a bit repetitive towards the end, but it was still a wonderful memoir!
it got a bit repetitive towards the end, but it was still a wonderful memoir!
April 3, 2022
I picked up this memoir because I grew up watching Josh Peck in Drake and Josh on Nickelodeon. The writing was amusing, but not necessarily laugh out loud funny. I think the more interesting part of the memoir was actually how candid Peck was about his experience with anxiety, depression, and neuroticism, and also how open he was in the book about his drug and alcohol abuse and the fact that he's now been sober since 2008. I don't recall reading as much about his substance abuse issues at the time, but I appreciate that he was so honest about that here. I also related to his deep anxiety, and I admired that he was so frank about his experience with it and that he was open about seeing a therapist! I think culturally we need to hear from more male celebrities about going to therapy so YES to that.
He was also really frank about the fact that even though he's a "famous" person (or, at least, semi-famous) that acting is NOT an easy career. He really drilled down on the idea that for many actors, the reality is that you're always chasing your next gig and that it's not a linear or reliable career path — even if you've previously been in film or television. I think we often view celebrity life as so glamorous, and of course for some celebs it is but it was great to see him write so honestly about the fact that it's a hard road without guaranteed success. I also didn't know that he had become such a successful content creator/influencer first on Vine and then on YouTube.
The book needed some more judicious editing. There were SO MANY typos. Also, the grammar nerd in me was so trouble by the comma abuse; there are comma splices left and right (semi-colon use intended here). I think the overuse of commas was probably a stylistic choice, but I didn't like it.
He was also really frank about the fact that even though he's a "famous" person (or, at least, semi-famous) that acting is NOT an easy career. He really drilled down on the idea that for many actors, the reality is that you're always chasing your next gig and that it's not a linear or reliable career path — even if you've previously been in film or television. I think we often view celebrity life as so glamorous, and of course for some celebs it is but it was great to see him write so honestly about the fact that it's a hard road without guaranteed success. I also didn't know that he had become such a successful content creator/influencer first on Vine and then on YouTube.
The book needed some more judicious editing. There were SO MANY typos. Also, the grammar nerd in me was so trouble by the comma abuse; there are comma splices left and right (semi-colon use intended here). I think the overuse of commas was probably a stylistic choice, but I didn't like it.
April 5, 2022
A pleasant surprise. This book is a gateway into who Josh Peck really is. We all have grown up either watching Drake and Josh or hearing about the show.
It isn't until reading Josh's memoir that I realized just how hard life was for Josh and despite all the hurdles he faced, he still made people laugh and challenged himself to be who is he today.
This is a novel filled with initiative and perseverance --what I liked most about it was that it is also a book that can be easily relatable for many people who are currently going through similar struggles as Josh did during his childhood.
Josh highlighted his struggle with weight gain and loss, drug addiction and withdrawal, showbusiness stigmatism, and depression.
What I found the most interesting was how sitcom actors were treated back then versus now. The cultural norms are significantly different in the 2000s versus now --this is in terms of social media, fame, societal standards, trends, fashion, and overall level of reach. Overall, this book was very eye-opening, addicting and inspiring. I hope he goes on to write more books!
It isn't until reading Josh's memoir that I realized just how hard life was for Josh and despite all the hurdles he faced, he still made people laugh and challenged himself to be who is he today.
This is a novel filled with initiative and perseverance --what I liked most about it was that it is also a book that can be easily relatable for many people who are currently going through similar struggles as Josh did during his childhood.
Josh highlighted his struggle with weight gain and loss, drug addiction and withdrawal, showbusiness stigmatism, and depression.
What I found the most interesting was how sitcom actors were treated back then versus now. The cultural norms are significantly different in the 2000s versus now --this is in terms of social media, fame, societal standards, trends, fashion, and overall level of reach. Overall, this book was very eye-opening, addicting and inspiring. I hope he goes on to write more books!
March 31, 2022
I love Josh Peck and his story is remarkable. He was such a large part of my childhood and I'm happy he wrote this book.
My primary issue with the book was his writing style. There were too many run-on sentences which made many parts of it hard to follow for me; there were several times where I had to re-read passages which got annoying after a while.
I also am a bit unclear on the book's title. There didn't seem to be any real mention of "happy people" or him getting into why happy people annoy him so much. Even at the end, when he said "happy people are still annoying", I thought to myself how he didn't really reference happy people at all. Perhaps I missed something.
Loved how transparent he was about his career, family and addiction. And it was fascinating to learn about his finances both from his tv days and his social media success.
All-in-all, it's a great story about a talented and self-aware person who's had a great career so far. While the writing style wasn't for me, this book could be a good read for anyone who loved Nickelodeon growing up.
My primary issue with the book was his writing style. There were too many run-on sentences which made many parts of it hard to follow for me; there were several times where I had to re-read passages which got annoying after a while.
I also am a bit unclear on the book's title. There didn't seem to be any real mention of "happy people" or him getting into why happy people annoy him so much. Even at the end, when he said "happy people are still annoying", I thought to myself how he didn't really reference happy people at all. Perhaps I missed something.
Loved how transparent he was about his career, family and addiction. And it was fascinating to learn about his finances both from his tv days and his social media success.
All-in-all, it's a great story about a talented and self-aware person who's had a great career so far. While the writing style wasn't for me, this book could be a good read for anyone who loved Nickelodeon growing up.
April 22, 2022
Don't let the happy title and smiling faces on the book jacket fool you--this is one depressing, negative, and unhappy memoir. There's nothing funny about it and the neurotic Peck does nothing but complain in 90% of the book. He finally claims to become "happy" in 2019, a few weeks before booking his new Disney+ show, and then a couple pages later the book ends.
Some fans will probably feel sorry for the guy, but this not only is a terribly sad autobiography but it's also poorly written. It's simply too short and lacks substantive content. There is almost nothing in it about his most famous project Drake and Josh, or any of the other failed projects he worked on. He oddly insists on peppering throughout the book quotes from other people that have little to do with what he's talking about. And his stories (if you want to call them that) are often incomplete. Peck even admits that readers are probably looking for specifics from five years on the television Nickelodeon set but "it didn't have much of an impact" on him. Seriously? It seems to me that it totally shaped the rest of his unhappy life.
There's quite a bit of self-rejection due to his weight issues and he claims that he simply got thinner through diet and exercise in his mid-teens while he was on the TV show. It's hard to believe and he doesn't go into specifics.
What's worse is that he spends way too much time in the book talking about his drug addiction, drinking issues, and AA meetings. Ironically, he says "if you're looking for a drug memoir this ain't it." I've ready hundreds of other celebrity autobiographies that involve drug use and this has about the most in it that I've encountered (if I don't count fellow child star Maureen McCormick!).
In the end Josh tries to spin things positive when he stumbles into social media success, but even then he downplays it by not knowing what he's doing. I do appreciate that he states his income for movies (which is very low) and online (which is incredibly high), but that's about the only thing worth taking away from this book and even then he seems disappointed that he's making his income from social media hits instead of his film performances.
I often think these child star autobiographies are their attempt to get away from clean images and make themselves look like edgy adults. In this case Peck, who was known for his loud comedy and goofiness, tries hard to present himself as an insecure serious actor. It's not successful. The title of the book should be "Depressingly Negative People Are Annoying," for that better describes what it's like to read about Peck's life.
Some fans will probably feel sorry for the guy, but this not only is a terribly sad autobiography but it's also poorly written. It's simply too short and lacks substantive content. There is almost nothing in it about his most famous project Drake and Josh, or any of the other failed projects he worked on. He oddly insists on peppering throughout the book quotes from other people that have little to do with what he's talking about. And his stories (if you want to call them that) are often incomplete. Peck even admits that readers are probably looking for specifics from five years on the television Nickelodeon set but "it didn't have much of an impact" on him. Seriously? It seems to me that it totally shaped the rest of his unhappy life.
There's quite a bit of self-rejection due to his weight issues and he claims that he simply got thinner through diet and exercise in his mid-teens while he was on the TV show. It's hard to believe and he doesn't go into specifics.
What's worse is that he spends way too much time in the book talking about his drug addiction, drinking issues, and AA meetings. Ironically, he says "if you're looking for a drug memoir this ain't it." I've ready hundreds of other celebrity autobiographies that involve drug use and this has about the most in it that I've encountered (if I don't count fellow child star Maureen McCormick!).
In the end Josh tries to spin things positive when he stumbles into social media success, but even then he downplays it by not knowing what he's doing. I do appreciate that he states his income for movies (which is very low) and online (which is incredibly high), but that's about the only thing worth taking away from this book and even then he seems disappointed that he's making his income from social media hits instead of his film performances.
I often think these child star autobiographies are their attempt to get away from clean images and make themselves look like edgy adults. In this case Peck, who was known for his loud comedy and goofiness, tries hard to present himself as an insecure serious actor. It's not successful. The title of the book should be "Depressingly Negative People Are Annoying," for that better describes what it's like to read about Peck's life.
April 10, 2022
I picked this up after bingeing How I Met Your Father on Hulu, where Josh Peck plays one of my favorite characters. I didn’t know anything about him before, since I never watched Nickelodeon’s Drake and Josh. I loved this book, cover to cover. His dry, self-deprecating humor, his candidness in overcoming struggles, his willingness to put in the work to make things happen… a great, inspiring memoir.
August 14, 2022
This was a very authentic memoir and for that reason alone I am giving it 4 stars. I went into this book knowing NOTHING about Josh other than he was on The Amanda Show, Drake and Josh and he had a very recent guest spot on HIMYF that made teenage!me very happy (Lizzie McGuire & Josh from Drake and Josh!) and I was blown away by his honesty. From the moment he opens the book talking about his origins (product of a one night stand between his forty something year old mother and her sixty something year old co-worker), he is 100% himself and it shows. Flaws and all. It's been awhile since I've read a memoir (especially one by a celebrity) in which I felt like they were being truthful and honest and it made this book really enjoyable.
I hope he continues to act and I hope he gets another standout role. I'd watch it. Or at the very least, I'd read him writing about it in his memoir twenty years later.
I hope he continues to act and I hope he gets another standout role. I'd watch it. Or at the very least, I'd read him writing about it in his memoir twenty years later.
February 16, 2023
3.5 stars - I really enjoyed the first half of this book. He’s funny and honest and I really liked his writing style. What I didn’t love about the last half was how at age 30ish he still seemed desperate to remain relevant and searching for security in his ever changing career. It made me sad but also a little annoyed and I’ll be honest about that. It was somewhat redeemed by the end of it though
March 27, 2022
I am pretty much the exact opposite of Josh Peck. I'm a girl. I'm single. I have no children. I'm not an actor (or ever even wanted to be). I never drank or took drugs. I don't even really swear. My social media followers are almost exclusively friends and family. I'm Christian. My parents are still married. I have siblings.
And yet. This book resonated with me in a way I can't even put into words. (So I'm also not a writer!)
I get him. Even with having nothing in common, man do I get him!
Excellent, excellent book... and if I could, I would send him some rice krispy treats to show him that it wasn't just his mom.
And yet. This book resonated with me in a way I can't even put into words. (So I'm also not a writer!)
I get him. Even with having nothing in common, man do I get him!
Excellent, excellent book... and if I could, I would send him some rice krispy treats to show him that it wasn't just his mom.
April 26, 2022
This is now a Josh peck stan account
April 30, 2023
I didn’t know much about Josh Peck before reading this book other than from watching him on Drake & Josh. This was a really insightful, honest and humorous memoir. There was a lot of discussion about acting, addiction and, of course, happiness. I appreciated his vulnerability in the stories he shared.
March 28, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish, and I loved getting to know one of my favorite famous people just a little bit more. Okay... I got to know him a LOT more. His candid voice paired with his life's journey really resonated with me- and I felt seen by so much of what he said. I wanted to give Josh a hug by the end of this book, but I also felt like he'd gotten the hug he needed from the people in his life that support him.
Entirely recommended.
Entirely recommended.
September 11, 2022
I like memoirs by people who write well. I like feeling like I can hear the voice of someone whose career I've followed and whose work I enjoy. As enjoyable as these memoirs are, they often fail to provide a clear through-line: why write this now? Why start and stop and the points you chose? What's the takeaway? If you can't answer that, you've really written an essay collection.
Josh Peck, renowned funny guy and star of a now-classic comedy show, gets this right. The title, though a chuckler, is a little misleading; this book is about the act of attaining happiness and what that really means, especially for someone who followed such an unusual career path and dealt with addiction, body image issues, and more along the way.
Since this is a memoir of Peck's life, not his work, you will get very little about what it was like for him to be on Drake and Josh, unless it pertains to a life challenge he faced later. His reflections on growing pains, his evolving self-image, and the realization that losing weight or going on or off of drugs won't solve his issues with himself resonated with me, as I'm sure they would for many people around Josh's age or a bit younger. I also was struck by the honesty with which Peck approaches his acting ability and career, learning to accept that he won't achieve mega-stardom and learning to do what he loves in a sustainable way.
I will note, as others have, that Peck's discussion of his weight loss may be triggering for some. Though he makes a point to praise the body positivity movement and commend those who feel good in their bodies, it's evident that he was unhappy as a fat person, and he expresses that chagrin and embarrassment throughout the book. He presents food as one of his addictions, just like drugs and alcohol, that he had to learn to fight against. I think it's a valid take, but it's something to keep in mind if you're sensitive to that kind of thing.
Note on the format: I listened to the audiobook, read by Peck. His personality and comedic style come through well; I'd highly recommend listening to the book.
Josh Peck, renowned funny guy and star of a now-classic comedy show, gets this right. The title, though a chuckler, is a little misleading; this book is about the act of attaining happiness and what that really means, especially for someone who followed such an unusual career path and dealt with addiction, body image issues, and more along the way.
Since this is a memoir of Peck's life, not his work, you will get very little about what it was like for him to be on Drake and Josh, unless it pertains to a life challenge he faced later. His reflections on growing pains, his evolving self-image, and the realization that losing weight or going on or off of drugs won't solve his issues with himself resonated with me, as I'm sure they would for many people around Josh's age or a bit younger. I also was struck by the honesty with which Peck approaches his acting ability and career, learning to accept that he won't achieve mega-stardom and learning to do what he loves in a sustainable way.
I will note, as others have, that Peck's discussion of his weight loss may be triggering for some. Though he makes a point to praise the body positivity movement and commend those who feel good in their bodies, it's evident that he was unhappy as a fat person, and he expresses that chagrin and embarrassment throughout the book. He presents food as one of his addictions, just like drugs and alcohol, that he had to learn to fight against. I think it's a valid take, but it's something to keep in mind if you're sensitive to that kind of thing.
Note on the format: I listened to the audiobook, read by Peck. His personality and comedic style come through well; I'd highly recommend listening to the book.
September 28, 2023
I actually hate myself for giving this 2 (2.5) stars because it seems so wrong to rate a memoir at all, but especially so low. when I rate a memoir (bc I rate them anyways) I NEVER am rating their story, that's not right. however, I do rate it based on the writing style, how its executed, and the impact it has on me. I know impacts are a personal things and vary around each person differently but honestly that's the same for fiction.. anyways, josh had some very memorable stories about weight, ed, daddy issues, and more. the daddy issues hit me the most lol. but there was just something about the way this was written that irked me. I felt like he was trying too hard to cover up his trauma with humor, which I know can be a coping mechanism, but it was too forced and didn't "flow" right. the way he talked to the reader at points just bugged me too. I read the second half on audio book, and unfortunately it wasn't any better. a lot of stories and points made seem disconnected and not finished, like he was never completing thoughts, just jumping around to different times.
I will not tell you to not pick up this book because Im sure his story could help a lot of people, and touch them, but unfortunately it didn't have that effect on me.
Lastly I wanna say, I know he's not an author so its unfair to critique his writing style, however, jennette mccurdy and Madison beer are not authors and I enjoyed their memoirs immensely.
I will not tell you to not pick up this book because Im sure his story could help a lot of people, and touch them, but unfortunately it didn't have that effect on me.
Lastly I wanna say, I know he's not an author so its unfair to critique his writing style, however, jennette mccurdy and Madison beer are not authors and I enjoyed their memoirs immensely.
May 31, 2022
"Drake... where's the door hole??"
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Gosh, Josh! This book was an absolute joy to read and I'm so thankful that Jamie put it on my radar. It's going on my auto-recommend list for sure.
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Obviously, I grew up watching A LOT of Drake and Josh. That and Suite Life were family favorites. And much like reading Mara Wilson's book "Where Am I Now" (another auto-recommend!), Josh Peck's "Happy People Are Annoying" was a perfect dose of nostalgia, comfort, and inspiration.
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But this book was more than just a trip down memory lane. It was therapeutic, soothing, and honest. Peck candidly talks about his life journey with this authenticity and self-awareness that just blew me away. There are some heavy things he experienced (content warning for drug use and alcoholism) and hearing how he triumphed again and again was so damn inspiring.
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In addition to his brilliant humor sprinkled masterfully throughout, there was one phrase he mentions that really stuck with me that I think sums up the book perfectly: "I'm doing my best to figure out what is next and I'm not going to apologize for being relentlessly human."
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The audiobook (thanks @Librofm and @MainStreetBooksStCharles) is the BEST and I wish I could give this book six stars instead of five. Now, excuse me while I go binge-watch How I Met Your Father and the Curious podcast.
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Gosh, Josh! This book was an absolute joy to read and I'm so thankful that Jamie put it on my radar. It's going on my auto-recommend list for sure.
•
Obviously, I grew up watching A LOT of Drake and Josh. That and Suite Life were family favorites. And much like reading Mara Wilson's book "Where Am I Now" (another auto-recommend!), Josh Peck's "Happy People Are Annoying" was a perfect dose of nostalgia, comfort, and inspiration.
•
•
But this book was more than just a trip down memory lane. It was therapeutic, soothing, and honest. Peck candidly talks about his life journey with this authenticity and self-awareness that just blew me away. There are some heavy things he experienced (content warning for drug use and alcoholism) and hearing how he triumphed again and again was so damn inspiring.
•
•
In addition to his brilliant humor sprinkled masterfully throughout, there was one phrase he mentions that really stuck with me that I think sums up the book perfectly: "I'm doing my best to figure out what is next and I'm not going to apologize for being relentlessly human."
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The audiobook (thanks @Librofm and @MainStreetBooksStCharles) is the BEST and I wish I could give this book six stars instead of five. Now, excuse me while I go binge-watch How I Met Your Father and the Curious podcast.
March 20, 2024
I had no idea who Josh Peck is. I heard him on a podcast recently and he seemed nice and I found his audiobook on Scribd so thought of giving it a try.
Its an interesting memoir, he sure has led an interesting life and is very candid and has a lot of humility in describing his life. Lots of anecdotes, quotes and quips made it a quick breezy read.
As someone also in my early 30s and also feeling like I am on crossroads, I related to what he wrote around rediscovering ourselves multiple times in life. He has an upbeat way of writing even when covering some darker parts of his life.
All in all a decent read.
Its an interesting memoir, he sure has led an interesting life and is very candid and has a lot of humility in describing his life. Lots of anecdotes, quotes and quips made it a quick breezy read.
As someone also in my early 30s and also feeling like I am on crossroads, I related to what he wrote around rediscovering ourselves multiple times in life. He has an upbeat way of writing even when covering some darker parts of his life.
All in all a decent read.
September 10, 2024
Quick easy memoir. I've recently become a fan of Josh Peck again through the good guys, so figured I'd give this a read. The majority of the book had a light and uplifting tone (even the more "serious" parts about his addiction). I even laughed a few times (rare for me with someone who is TRYING to make me laugh).
Will say I do wish we saw a bit more rawness/deeper dives into the lower points in his life without the comedic aspect. But that's a personal choice and I'm nosey. There really isn't any SUPER juicy story that you typically get with a memoir, but he does cover a lot of ground.
Coming to root for him and his success! Also s/o to his mom. She seems like a saint.
Will say I do wish we saw a bit more rawness/deeper dives into the lower points in his life without the comedic aspect. But that's a personal choice and I'm nosey. There really isn't any SUPER juicy story that you typically get with a memoir, but he does cover a lot of ground.
Coming to root for him and his success! Also s/o to his mom. She seems like a saint.
June 11, 2022
An interesting memoir about a young Jewish actor who learned to pivot when his acting career didn't take off the way he wanted to. I honestly didnt know much about Josh Peck before reading his book but I thought it was very open and honest (not to mention funny) and he covers important topics from body image issues, being overweight, drug use and alcoholism, recovery and leaning into social media as a way to earn a living. Great on audio read by the author himself.
January 8, 2023
good book! i’ve enjoyed memoirs of childhood actors. for some reason, giving them a chance to finish the narrative of their lives is soothing to me. also josh is hilarious, would recommend the audiobook format!
February 13, 2023
This was a quick listen, and I found it really enjoyable, interesting, and insightful.
Peck has a really down-to-Earth and validating writing style and voice, and his stories mixed vulnerability, humor, and reflection to have a solid impact.
Peck has a really down-to-Earth and validating writing style and voice, and his stories mixed vulnerability, humor, and reflection to have a solid impact.
May 8, 2023
this one made me giggle. i love josh peck and have gained an even greater respect for him after reading this! it was a little repetitive at times and skipped over things i wanted to hear. nonetheless, it was funny, heartwarming and extremely vulnerable. highly recommend on audio!
CW: fatphobia, disordered eating, drug addiction, parental abandonment
CW: fatphobia, disordered eating, drug addiction, parental abandonment
December 15, 2022
Josh es de esas figuras que recuerdas de tu infancia, el cual de algún modo le agarraste cariño, pero hoy en día escuchas su nombre y te preguntas: "Qué ha estado haciendo?"
Me gusta como funciona la lección de este libro en el contexto específico de él, habiendo tenido fama siendo pequeño, y que la gente asocie esa fama con que nunca tendrás problemas, pero al final del día, el igual es una persona con problemas típicos. No saber que hacer después, no tener claridad de nuestros objetivos, dudar, inseguridades, etc.
Y sí, es un libro bien "relatable". Lo disfruté sin ironía alguna
Me gusta como funciona la lección de este libro en el contexto específico de él, habiendo tenido fama siendo pequeño, y que la gente asocie esa fama con que nunca tendrás problemas, pero al final del día, el igual es una persona con problemas típicos. No saber que hacer después, no tener claridad de nuestros objetivos, dudar, inseguridades, etc.
Y sí, es un libro bien "relatable". Lo disfruté sin ironía alguna
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May 15, 2022“The reason why people are funny is usually not funny at all”
A great read! It was like having a conversation with a friend. Also, I took his advice and followed him on Instagram.
A great read! It was like having a conversation with a friend. Also, I took his advice and followed him on Instagram.
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