Sh*t My Dad Says

Justin Halpern maintains a Twitter feed, "shit my dad says," on which he posts various quotes from his blunt, earthy, highly opinionated father. It's entertaining enough that I don't even have Twitter, and I still follow it. The book version intersperses the quotes with longer dad-related anecdotes from Halpern's childhood and adulthood. The anecdotes range from amusing to moderately hilarious, and often manage to be surprisingly touching in a strange, slightly twisted way, while the quotes are just laugh-out-loud funny. Having read through it all, I've decided that I like Halpern's dad. I think I like him a lot.

My head says, "this guy has got to be making this stuff up about his dad" but my heart says, "God, I wish I knew Justin's dad! He's freakin' hilarious!" One of my favorite quotes: "The worst thing you can be is a liar. . . . Okay, fine, yes, the worst thing you can be is a Nazi, but then number two is liar. Nazi one, liar two."

I have nothing really to say about this book that I can’t say in two short words. Loved it! Justin Halpern has written a hilariously funny book by sharing short accounts detailing significant events in his life with his dad, Dr. Sam Halpern. Dr. Halpern imparts sage wisdom to all of his sons however; he can’t seem to get his point across until he uses expletives and many of them. Now, many people may not approve of the language Dr. Halpern inserts into his sentences but there is no mistaking that he loves his sons. His use of expletives seems to merely stress his point. The manner in which Justin tells his stories is so very amusing, so very hilarious that the reader is sure to laugh out loud. If you can stomach this kind of show more language, I suggest you put this book on your wishlist. If you cannot stomach this kind of language, I suggest you put this book on your wishlist, put your shock and indignation aside and enjoy this book that is just too good, too laugh out loud funny to be ignored. Pass it up and you will surely miss the love and concern this father has for his boys. A little tough love goes a long way. show less

The lines are good most of the time, but the caustic, mean-spirited sarcasm does wear thin after a while. This guy's father is definitely not the kind of parent I would have wanted to grow up with,not to mention that I am feel extra fortunate my father was nothing like that asshole. Yes, you do have to label Halpern senior for the asshole that he is. Does he have some good folk wisdom? Sure, he does have his moments, but the overall meanness did have some very unsettling moments and at least one or two examples of him breaking promises to the kid, which I found upsetting. It was upsetting because I grew up on the notion that you do not give your word lightly, but if you do, you do not break it. I thought the book would be funny, and it show more has its funny moments, mostly in the quotes. The memoir segments vary, but pretty much bring down the funny one-liners. I am hoping they mellowed it out somehow for the upcoming sitcom, which I noticed that William Shatner is playing the elder Halpern role. If they go for the cranky old guy portrayal, it may work. But if they go for the caustic, spiteful, mean old guy in the book, it won't work. To be honest, I don't quite get what the hype is around the book. Stick with reading the one-liners on Twitter. show less

This was not a typical book for me, but a friend loaned it and I thought I'd give it a try. I actually thought it was really funny. It's just a short book of anecdotes about the author's relationship with his father that create a loose memoir. The guy's dad is really funny and I was laughing out loud through a lot of the book. The dad is a smart guy (in nuclear medicine, whatever that is) but uses HORRIBLE language. I thought it was pretty funny though, and you could tell that even with the bad language and really blunt way of speaking he really loves his kids.

I liked Halpern's book, and would put it at the higher end of funny compared to most humour books out there; he is a skilled writer for sure, and as such he successfully balances the outrageous comedy with the hidden wisdom with the poignant memories that many Americans will probably be able to relate to easily when recollecting their own childhoods and sometimes uncomfortably straightforward or tactless family members. But there is one thing which continues to irk me: when his dad has to take Justin to work because his mom is getting busier studying at law school (in addition to volunteering with poor families and at shelters, and taking care of three boys, two of which are not even hers), Justin says his dad had to "pick up more and show more more of her slack" (p16, my italics). I do not know anyone who says "his" or "her" in that phrase, nor have I ever even heard anyone ever say "his" or "her" there. It is always "pick up THE slack". I thought, wtf, this woman is busting her ass working three shifts (work, school, family) and he's accusing her of slacking off-- by going to law school?! Geez, how much work is a woman supposed to do to get a little credit? But dad says funny stuff and swears a lot, so he's the one who deserves the fondness, recognition, and immortalisation online, in a book, and eventually on television, whose offhand remarks earn fame, applause, and millions of dollars. Mom just gets dissed. What a drag. Since the elder Halpern appears to stick up pretty fiercely for his wife when the kids disrespect her (an honourable quality, this guy isn't just all expletives and hyperbole), I'd like to see what he might have said to Justin about pretty much calling this damn hard-working woman a slackass. My hope is that it had something to do with advising Justin to stop sucking his thumb like an unsatisfied little baby to make room in his mouth for his foot. show less

Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern is a fun, quick read. And it's a true story. Justin's dad is vulgar, callous and often quick tempered. But he loves his family and I found it particularly refreshing to hear someone speak the truth all the time. Near the beginning and at the end, the author ventures into the realm of "talking about writing the book" which detaches me as the reader. I believe in letting the book speak for itself.