Mentally Incontinent

by Joe Peacock

You need a description of Mentally Incontinent ? Well, here you In this book, Joe Peacock screws over a major department store (really badly, too), witnesses an armed robbery gone awry, grabs a log of poo poo from a toilet while simultaneously insulting Scientologists, has a dolphin throw up on him in front of his 6th grade class, has animal rights protesters dressed as cows steal his dinner off of his plate, gets vomited upon during his first ever sexual experience, has nipple piercings ripped from his chest, suffers through multiple laptop malfunctions (including one explosion) and deals with outsourced technical support, and has a girl attempt suicide over him. Oh, and he also orders seppuku in a sushi restaurant and his wife gets arrested for stealing meat from a grocery store. The 21 stories in this book were chosen by the more than 500,000 readers of the website by the same name (MentallyIncontinent.com) over the course of three years, producing the world's first internet-based reader edited book. Joe The Peacock's stories have been featured on websites and in magazines ranging from CNN, MSNBC, Fark, the Village Voice, the Mad Pundit, Zug and a host of others, where they (and the Mentally Incontinent project itself) were met with massive critical acclaim.

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, Memoir, Essays

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Tiffany · Rating 2 out of 5]

Joe Peacock (p.s. worst name ever) probably surrounded himself with people that said "Joe! Dude, you need to write about book about all the weird things that have happened to you!" not considering that there are other people in the world -- ok, in this country, even, that most definitely have had weirder things happen to them. In fact, I guarantee ever single reader of Mentally Incontinent has said aloud, "If this guy thinks he's got problems, then he should look at my life, because..."

He talks of the one time his stalker showed up at his home. Oh yeah, Joe?! How 'bout the time MY stalker hid in the bushes at college and Campus Security revoked his dorm-privileges? How's that, Joe? Oh, and you think it's weird that you spent your birthday in a hospital? Try having amnesia and not even realizing it even IS your birthday, and just figuring that people are giving you cards and presents because they like you.

You get my point. All of us had weird things happen to us. And we all think they're either funny, humiliating, outrageous, crazy, whatever. The only difference is that we're all not so egocentric to believe that our stories deserve to be read by the masses.

If you have a stack of books on your "To Read" list, put this one on the bottom and reserve it only for the time that you have nothing else left to read.

***

(I don't think I've ever written such a mean review before. Sorry, Joe Peacock.)

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun and easy read. Truly, it would make a perfect bathroom reader. I mean . . . not like I know from experience or anything.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joe is supposed to be funny. Joe was my next door neighbor when he was a kid. Now that he is rich and famous, he won't give me money - how funny is that?

Really, this collection of stories, voted the -best of- by his devoted blog readers is a great read and I would have rated it the same regardless. A lot of strange stuff happens to some people, and Joe is one of those people!

[Kosta Pribić · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title gives quite a good hint on the tone and the author has just the right amount of self deprecating humor do make it work.

[Evelyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another one I am reading without knowing exactly why. They say the new Dave Barry, no, no he isn't.

Jokes fall flat, the audacity is not a cute or as clever as he thinks it is. Sorry, a big nothing-burger.

The best thing I can say about it is it isn't difficult to finish in a few hours.-

[Mihaela Jugaru · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely funny. I devoured it in 4 hours.

[Cailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

He’s funny but I really don’t appreciate his attitude towards women in general, especially his previous lovers. It was kind of upsetting so I didn’t even finish the book. No thanks

[Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was surfing my favorite internet waste of time, StumbleUpon, the other day when a rather old school website popped up, circa 2005 or something. I was going to skip right through it when the name of the article caught my eye; The Wal-Mart Story, an account of minimum wage vengeance and Black Friday mayhem. It turned out to be a nostalgic and hilarious account of late ‘90s suburban life written by a man named Joe Peacock, who apparently has since become pretty big online and even has his own book of short autobiographical stories out, including the Wal-Mart Story. I said, why not read more, so I requested the book from the library.

Whether through bad luck or just bad ideas, weird and uncomfortable escapades have a tendency to happen to Peacock throughout his life and he has a gift in be able to turn these trying times into snappy, amusing stories with just a little bit of heart; whether a little poetic license has been taken is beside the point as the tales often have a confessional vibe, showing off Peacock's flaws and triumphs as a human. Laughing at/with Peacock as he wrestles with high school, relationships, and the working world (and SNES, of course) made for a fast, mildly humorous read.

[Jenni V. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded down.

http://readingatrandom.blogspot.com/2...

I didn't know anything about Joe or the website when I saw this at the library, but I enjoy short stories and that was enough for this random reader to give it a try. He's an engaging, interesting writer. Most of the stories were about stupid things he's done, and I liked them in the "wow, I'm glad I don't have to deal with him in real life" kind of way. But the last story ("The Walmart Story") made me cringe - it involved humiliation of others on a grand scale and I'm too softhearted to find the humor in that.
Overall, it was a quick, mostly enjoyable read, but I'm not going to run to his website and read everything he's ever written.

[Driftless · Rating 3 out of 5]

He's not the kind of guy I expect to be a writer. He barely finished a year of college, screwed around through most of high school and spends most of his time playing video games and getting tattoos. But about ten years ago Joe Peacock started writing on the internet and developed quite a following on his website, mentallyincontinent.com. This success eventually landed him a real book deal with a real publisher and Mentally Incontinent, the book, was born. Defying the odds, Joe Peacock is officially a writer.

You can read the rest of my review at Mentally Incontinent.

[Jae · Rating 2 out of 5]

Where to start. I like a good laugh, who doesn't? i started into this read with that in mind, something silly, a bit off the wall, and enjoyable. It's a light read, only 160 pages, and it has taken me weeks to slog through 100 pages. I literally put this book down for a month and didn't pick it up. But I can't start a book until I finish the one I'm on. So i made myself finish, by skimming, the last 60 pages. I just couldn't. The humor, after a while, was just repeated. It's all the same type of humor, the same style, form, the stories are different but it's all there. It got very dull, very fast. I'm glad to be able to move on to a new book.

[Sarah Phoenix · Rating 2 out of 5]

Contrary to the press blurb, this man is no David Sedaris. In face, a local writer I adore and envy (yes, Christa, this is you) can write this man under the train with one hand tied behind her back. The potential for entertainment can be seen but is elusively just out of reach. Okay, Christa, if this doesn't prove that I'm right about your book potential nothing else ever will!

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one was a disappointment, only because it was supposed to be funny. The stories were well-written and touching, but not really funny. The title, and subtitle, (and way off introduction) hype you up to read the craziest stories ever. Not even close.
I have experienced WAY crazier things than this guy, and comparatively, feel like I could write "funny" in my sleep.
Quick and easy, though.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it's safe to say that no book could possible live up to that delightful title, but this one comes pretty darn close. It was also absolutely what I needed at the end of a particularly dreadful day. Why, I dare say I even chuckled...Like snark? Then this one's for you!

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wasn't as funny as I thought it was going to be, but a very cute book about the mishaps that teenage and young adult boys can get into. Including, stalker girlfriends, setting Hooter's on fire, and other such adventures. Quick light read.

[Marcos Carvalho · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don't pick up this book unless you're under the age of 25. And 25 is pushing it.

After about 60 pages I put it down. I got tired of feeling like I was hanging out with teenagers and hearing their pointless stories.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely hilarious. I couldn't put it down. I was going to try and make it last me at least a couple days and I ended up finishing it in a day. The author, Joe Peacock, is a comedic genius! I cant wait to read other things he has written!

[beentsy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted this to be funnier, but it just didn't tickle my funny bone much at all. Oh well, maybe it's just me.

[Rob Rausch · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really not very obnoxious or scandalous as all. A poor man's Tucker Max.

[Andrew · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some parts of this book were funny, but most of it was the juvenile memoir of a teenage slacker/hacker.

[Kris Simonian · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh.

[Paul Werner · Rating 4 out of 5]

very funny stories. short stories good to read for fun

[Will · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short read that is fun. Not great writing, but made me laugh through-out

[Juli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lighthearted and entertaining, great reading for travel.

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light humorous memoir of countless horrible things happening to one guy. Good mindless read. The author has a good flow to his writing. Would have given 3.5, but it won't let me. :)

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Freaking hilarious! Reminded me of "I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell" type of stories. Made me literally laugh out loud, while Travis sat by watching me like I'm crazy..

[Alma Karamešić-kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fun read. Joe is hilarious!

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Joey Reyes · Rating 1 out of 5]

Joe Peacock's life is not as bizarre as the book makes it out to be, neither is it any compelling to read.

[Martha Grace]

I think Joe was writing for someone else than me -- I quit about half was through.