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List Price: $13.00 | | Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Salesrank: 479774
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| Our Price: $5.28 |
| Used Price: $2.99 |
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| Media: Paperback |
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Editorial Review:
Ellen DeGeneres published her first book of comic essays, the #1 bestselling My Point...and I Do Have One, way back in 1996. Not one to rest on her laurels, the witty star of stage and screen has since dedicated her life to writing a hilarious new book. That book is this book.
After years of painstaking, round-the-clock research, surviving on a mere twenty minutes of sleep a night, and collaborating with lexicographers, plumbers, and mathematicians, DeGeneres has crafted a book that is both easy to use and very funny. Along with her trademark ramblings, The Funny Thing Is...contains hundreds of succinct insights into her psyche, supplemented by easy-to-understand charts, graphs, and diagrams so that you'll never miss a joke.
Overseeing all aspects of production, DeGeneres labored over details both significant and insignificant, including typefaces, page number placement, and which of the thousands of world languages to use. Ultimately she selected English, as it's her mother tongue, but translations into Hindi and Pig Latin are already in the works.
DeGeneres takes an innovative approach to the organization of her book by utilizing a section in the beginning that includes the name of each chapter, along with a corresponding page number. She calls it the "Table of Contents," and she is confident that it will become the standard to which all books in the future will aspire.
Some of the other innovative features you'll find in this edition:
• More than 50,000 simple, short words arranged in sentences that form paragraphs.
• Thousands of observations on everyday life -- from terrible fashion trends to how to handle seating arrangements for a Sunday brunch with Paula Abdul, Diane Sawyer, and Eminem.
• All twenty-six letters of the alphabet.
Sure to make you laugh, The Funny Thing Is...is an indispensable reference for anyone who knows how to read or wants to fool people into thinking they do.
The Funny Thing Is... Reviews:
Ellen is so funny 
2009-09-20 - Ellen is so funny and witty; I enjoy taking this book with me to just whip it open without feeling if I'm disturbed I can't get back to where I left off. It's snippets of many things that just make you laugh out loud.
A few good laughs 
2009-08-24 - I think Ellen Degeneres is a funny lady to listen, normally. However, I actually think I would have enjoyed reading this book more than actually hearing her read it aloud. It was just something about the jokes that were involved. Although this was the case, I still enjoyed hearing the book because there were some pretty funny parts. Not all of the book is laugh out loud funny, but overall enjoyable.
Between the Covers: http://bookreview-blog.blogspot.com 
2009-05-14 - I sat debating if not the greatest question ever asked, then certainly one what would cause the entire world to scratch its head. Do audio books count as books in respect to book reviews? Then I thought to myself, "Hey, this is my blog. I do what I want." And with a sense of teenage rebellion, I stormed off and slammed my door behind me to write this review of Ellen DeGeneres's audio book that I bought on iTunes.
I love this audio book. Each chapter is like a mini-stand-up routine that kept me laughing out loud the entire time. I had my headphones in during a car ride and my entire family was getting upset with my giggling. I think they were just jealous that they were not in on the joke. And since this audio book was read by the author, it's like Ellen became my best friend and she just loves to tell me stories. "The Brunch Bunch" is a great opener when regulars Paula Abdul, Diane Sawyer, Gloria Steinem, Donatella Versace, Ed Begley Jr., and Eminem come over to Ellen's for Sunday brunch, but some have to go to the kid's table when Diane shows up with Siegfried or Roy, Ed brings Tara Lipinski, and Paula brings her drycleaner. One chapter has Ellen convincing you "why prison wouldn't be so bad" while another gives tips on getting out of embarrassing situations (such as accidentally flicking off John Travolta). In this book Ellen meets God, talks to a butterfly about the meaning of life, and even tells you how to save money by turning old fruit into blush and lip gloss (beware of bees). She is simply hilarious.
Each chapter is simply a gem. And having Ellen talk directly to you is simply one of the best experiences. She is seriously one of the funniest people, and as it turns out, not a bad writer at all. Her insights are unique and there is a natural flow to her ideas that seems like a normal conversation of the most random topics possible.
I recommend this book and audio book to everyone. Unless you are the type of person who hates having a good time, cringes at the sound of laughter, and loathes anything to do with creating positive energy, then do not read this book. If you are a fun-loving human, go get this book or even better: the audio book.
"The reading of all good books is like conversation with the finest men of the past centuries."
- Descartes
A Letdown From one of my Favorite Comedians 
2009-02-21 - As a long standing fan of Ellen's comedy, I was disappointed with this effort. She presents a collection of comedy that seemed to range between a little genuine humor and a lot of mediocre humor.
I have found myself laughing deeply at some of Ellen's standup, thus this book left me wondering if part of her comic genius is in her delivery. The book is not a total loss, as there are a few moments when Ellen reaches hilarity, but mostly the book feels like a comedic struggle.
I anticipate reading more from Ellen in the future, but hope it significantly surpasses the quality of this book.
Brilliant humor, very entertaining
2009-01-20 - This is a brilliant piece of work. The author has always been a favorite of mine. You will find this book easy to read. It will have you laughing out loud, so I would not read it in a quiet library. This is a book to read before bed, in the bath tub, if your frustrated, on your coffee break, waiting at the airport. Her tales of life experiences are fun to read or watch as it is part of her stand up comedy. I loved it.
