SeinLanguage

This book is a collection of material from the routine of stand-up comedian Jerry Seinfeld. To me, it's not at all funny in print. In fact, his observations about life are trivial and sophomoric, and reveal just how limited is the author's perspective and life experience. Jerry's schtick is to make clever observations about aspects of life that we all share. He apparently thinks we all live in little apartments in New York City, shop for food at a nearby neighborhood store, and seek short- term relationships with women. His material may work in smoke-filled comedy clubs where half- drunk singles are primed to laugh, but in book form it's not a success. For hard core fans only.

Does everyone else who reads this hear Seinfeld's voice in their head as they read the jokes? I give it a three because there are some good insights into human character, and I do find many of the passages funny--I think I was annoying my family on vacation because I kept reading them out loud. However, its limited in terms of re-readability, some of the jokes are straight from the show, and he is much better to watch than read. I also found some of the jokes to be a little dated--I was 3 when this book came out, so references to things like the pharmacist being two and a half feet higher up than the customers is lost on me.

Short reflections on life's vague or contradictory elements. Seinfeld wrote this 20 years ago but it still reads well over time. The dated jokes are still meaningful, if you remember the things he refers to. I enjoyed the book eventhough I wasn't expecting too much from such a short work. I haven't memorized all the Seinfeld TV episodes so this was fresh to read in literary form. Seinfeld says that books are one of the few things to show that people still do something called thinking. Not all books manifest that but at least they used to (for those not ghost written).

How time flies...This book was published in 1993, and a lot of the references, to answering machines, to household goods, etc. are just so obsolete that at adds unintentional humour to the book. Still, Jerry Seinfeld is best live, not on paper, so it is unlikely anyone will read this and laugh out loud, although as stand-up scripts these chapters are of course funny. Seinfeld is one of the funniest comedians around, rarely unkind, but with an eye for everything intentionally and unintentionally funny around us - just like the TV series. Without Seinfeld's voice in my head as I read it would have been bland, though.

I found this on the "free books" rack at the library. I read it in a few hours and laughed hysterically half the time. The jokes were hit or miss, as always, and I think that the parts that didn't have me cracking up probably WOULD have it I heard Seinfeld saying it himself (timing is everything, as he says). I love his show, like his stand-up, and the book was great too.

Some of my favorite parts were talking about the airlines (the overpriced tuna, the golf-carts, and the moving sidewalks) and most of the ones under "maintanance."

There was no funnier show than "Seinfeld" when the show finally found its rhythm and stride, but I've never thought Jerry's stand up material was all that original. Seeing it in writing only confirms that his strength isn't his material - these bits were covered more convincingly by Shandling and Reiser back in their hey-days.

I'll take "Seinfeld" seasons 4 & 5 over any of these predictable routines.

3.5 stars

I love Jerry Seinfeld's comedy, and of course I loved 'Seinfeld' the show. I know there are some people out there who have no chemistry with the show's humor, but I'm one of those it fits perfectly. I went into this book wondering if it was a musing on life or a mini bio, but found it was none of this. It's 'SeinLanguage' - pieces of Seinfeld's comedy, written on page rather than acted on stage.

The humor is good, it works, he writes well - but it'd be better to sit and watch him perform. It's identical in format to his stand-up comedy pieces. These are funnier to see him state and pause and motion his hands and face expressions rather than read. Humor in text can be hard stuff to get across.

Divided into: Freeway of Love (funny show more stuff on relationships); Personal Maintenance (as he points out, women aren't afraid to pour hot wax on our legs and rip our hair out but we freak over spiders); Paldom; Shut up and drive; Job Security; The thing is the thing; Out and back; The Ride of your life.

I'm happy to say he mentions Superman in a short skit. He's a big Superman fan and I always like watching the show and seeing the little tributes and homages he pays to the hero. Despite rumor, I've checked and it's not true there's a rule that a small tribute is in every episode, but it's in a large majority. That's yet another cool thing about Jerry Seinfeld. Here's an indepth article about the Supe references in the show

Overall it's a cute book. There's some humor in here that works better on stage but is okay written down. It's a lot of his comedy delivered in book form for leisurely pursual. Seinfeld fans should enjoy it well enough. show less