First half of the book was extremely funny, but for some reason I kind of lost interest after that. Well worth a read for those who appreciate cynic and passive aggressive humor. ( )

I found Apathy to quite an amusing read. The book had a very wacky tone so you never knew exactly where the story was going to go. It also was full of what I would call politically incorrect irreverent humor. ( )

This is the most hilarious book I have ever read! I was on the bus reading this book. I was cracking up and everyone was staring at me. I recommend this book to everyone 18 and older. It was amazing! ( )

Vapid and sophomoric. I'd elaborate further, but I feel as though I have wasted enough time by simply reading this book. ( )

Like most everyone else, I bought this book by Max Barry's recommendation. I'd just started reading in English and this was maybe the sixth or seventh book I read, the first three being Barry's. I've since read it fource, which, considering I virtually never reread anything, is like 400% more times than any other book I own. You could almost say it's

My Favorite Book, by snykanen

Apathy and Other Small Victories is my favorite book. It made me laugh out loud. Shane, the main character was just like me. No, I don't sleep in public toilets. I've tried and it's very uncomfortable. But I like to read on the can. It's nice, like my own little kingdom, being enthroned. Unless someone occupies the adjacent stall. I also share Shane's love-hate relationship with this absurd little world we inhabit. And am an excellent alphabetizer, too, though I rarely get credit for it.
Apathy... changed how I see things. For example, I can no longer watch people eating bananas without laughing. Not to mention vampires riding dinosaurs, oh let's not even go there. I now know up to three words in sign language, thanks to Apathy etc, so I can fluently declare to a deaf person: shit apple genius.

"D-"

OK, so the plot is a simple mystery that in itself I mightn't give more than one star to, but of course it's only a vehicle for getting into all these ludicrous situations. The thing about books is that a great book doesn't necessarily need a great or elaborate plot or a plot of any kind, really. Whereas watching a plotless movie of someone thinking aloud for two hours is usually just plain tedious. You need at least a couple of explosions and a car chase to go with it. That said, AaOSV would make an excellent movie in the right hands. I'll end this rambling piece of vomitus by saying that this book isn't about hating your life but enjoying every craptastic moment of it.

Raise your stolen saltshakers in salutation. ( )

By far, the most entertaining and comedic novel I've ever read. Neilan is a great author that holds your interest throughout the entire project. Not sure if he'll ever release a follow-up but I would certainly look forward to picking it up. ( )

Take the movie "Office Space," add some Max Barry, a dash of cheap beer and a bucket full of salt (there's a reason for that), and you have some great material. Still, you're probably not quite pinpointing Apathy. This book has a number of laugh-out-loud parts. For me, they were tempered by the constant question I had in my head as I read... "Am I too, this much of an ass?"

Not a question I'm willing to delve into deeply. But the book is definitely worth delving into. As another reviewer noted, it destroys "Then We Came to an End." If you liked that book - you are Stink! (sorry, another reference from Apathy!) ( )

Apathy, Paul Neilan's first novel, was a book that I enjoyed right up to the end. Being a huge Palahnuik fan, right of the get go I recognized many similarities in their writing styles, and after starting it I couldn't put it down. Apathy is a glimpse into the life of a middle aged man who is a sort of nomad but has recently settled into a new town where he gets an apartment and eventually a job. Neilan does a great job developing the characters and shows the reader all their quarks and oddities, especially the main character who is a kleptomaniac who steals salt shakers. Throughout the novel our hero has his ups and downs which makes for a fun read and leaves you hoping that Neilan will release another novel very soon. I especially recommend this book to any Chuck Palahnuik fans, though anyone who enjoys a good often comedic novel will also take pleasure in this page turner that will make you want to read it again. ( )

I first heard about this book from author Max Barry, who recommended this book to his readers last year on his website. It was not until recently however, that I was able to pick it up and dive in. And let me tell you, it is one of the strangest books I have ever read.

The book opens with the main character, Shane, being interviewed by the police, all the while being surrounded by salt shakers that he compulsively steals from bars and restaurants. The police are investigating the murder of Marlene, the deaf dental assistant who worked at Shane's dentist. From there the book takes off, as Shane relives the past few months to see if there are any clues to the murder. Meanwhile, his own life continues to spiral into the bizarre; from dealing with his obsessive and abusive girl friend to his landlord who strikes a deal with Shane to keep the rent down and his wife happy.

Overall, I give this book 4 stars. Its hilarious, definitely bizarre and hard to put down. ( )

This is one of my new favorite books. It kind of reminds me of Douglas Coupland meets Jerry Seinfeld...but funnier. ( )

I hope this author writes more. ( )

I'm utterly perplexed why there is so much buzz over Joshua Ferris' 'Then We Came to An End'. Apathy an Other Small Victories is everything that people say Ferris' book is and more. It's a painfully smart and funny look at the lives people find themselves entangled in. A biting satire which spares no one, that skewers corporate life, relationships and just how silly we all really are. A quick and enjoyable read this book will change the way you think about spending a little too much time in th...more I'm utterly perplexed why there is so much buzz over Joshua Ferris' 'Then We Came to An End'. Apathy an Other Small Victories is everything that people say Ferris' book is and more. It's a painfully smart and funny look at the lives people find themselves entangled in. A biting satire which spares no one, that skewers corporate life, relationships and just how silly we all really are. A quick and enjoyable read this book will change the way you think about spending a little too much time in the company bathroom. ( )

http://youresometa.blogspot.com/2008/... ( )

This is a funny book about a guy who only wants to get back to being a directionless slacker. A suspected murder and a couple of sorta girlfriends make this much more difficult than it should be. Poor guy. ( )

Good read. Some funny moments. ( )

This book had plenty of lines that made me laugh out loud, but after about half-way through the story I got pretty tired of hanging out with this guy. You kind of automatically stop believing half the things he says, and it gets old listening to him describe himself as a hero for doing pretty much the least possible in a given situation.

But I guess one should expect that if they know the title of the work. ( )

Hilarious book about an absurdly apathetic man and his trainwreck of a life. I wish it was longer. ( )

I can't even begin to say how many times I think of this book while sitting at work. It's hilarious and disturbing. My roommate was terribly offended when I recommended it to her. She found it to be extremely misogynistic.

I'm giving this book a 4.5 but only because it's the author's first novel and the writing got a little tedious near the end. Otherwise, it is a brilliantly messed-up hilarious book that I plan to read again later (and that's rare for me). I stayed up late at night cackle-giggling and shaking my head in disbelief at the same time. It's sick, but I can identify with some of the main character's experiences, too. I'll be first in line for Mr. Neilan's next book, which I hope comes out sooner than later. ( )

I'm sort of surprised at how much I liked this book. The main character is a total sad sack who spends most of his life drunk, broke, and angry about everything. As if his life weren't pitiful enough already, he works as a temp in an insurance agency as an alphabetizer. The humor is pitch black, but very, very funny.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who has ever (a) worked in a cubicle in a boring dead-end job, (b) been unable to pay the rent on time, or (c) stayed in an awful relationship just for the sex, even though it wasn't very good.

There were a few times that the writing seemed a bit stilted (I think this is the author's first novel), but for the most part, I chuckled my way through the whole thing.

One of my favorite lines from the book:

p. 224 - Two wrongs don't make a right but sometimes they make me laugh. ( )