First published 2016
Michael Ian Black faces a crisis when his mother receives a serious medical diagnosis. The news forces the comedian and author to examine his own mortality as he enters his forties. Black explores his relationship with his aging body, his failures at exercise, and his genetic inheritance. He discovers he carries Neanderthal DNA and nearly gets into a fight with author Tucker Max. The settled husband and father of two children uses humor to process difficult truths about health, aging, and death. Black admits his shortcomings as a father, husband, and son while trying to improve himself. His attempts at betterment often fail, but he finds meaning in the effort. The memoir combines self-deprecating comedy with honest reflection on what it means to grow older and accept human limitations.
Genres: humor, autobiography, contemporary, biography-memoir, comedy
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: self-improvement, self-reflection
208 pages · Kindle Edition · Gallery Books