Dad is Fat

Crown Archetype

Dad is Fat
Jim Gaffigan
2013

The Summary
"Have you ever read a book that changed your life?  Well, neither has Jim Gaffigan.  This may be because Mr. Gaffigan is lazy and has poor eyesight, or it may be because he has five very young children and lives in a two-bedroom apartment in New York City.  Yes, five children.  No, he only looks Mormon.  Jim is just like you:  busy, self-consumed, and exhausted.  The only difference that may be that Mr. Gaffigan is a comedian and very, very good-looking.

"I know what you are thinking.  Finally, another book from a comedian!  Finally, a book about parenting from a comedian.  Finally, another self-congratulatory book flap obviously written by the author.  Well, fear not, reluctant but probably book purchaser.  I'm not saying Dad is Fat is the book that will change the world, but there is strong consideration of having this book, the one you are holding, added to the New Testament.  Yes, that's right, the Bible!  All I have to do is get the pope on the phone and it's pretty much a done deal.  Anyone have his number?"

The Good
Full of laugh-out-loud stories that are sure to make parents and prospective parents giggle, Dad is Fat is both fun and funny.  It's cut into small, manageable bites, so you'll be able to read and enjoy his book even if you can't read it in one sitting.  I especially like that Jim Gaffigan manages to make his book sound just like an on-going comedy act.

No, really.

If you've ever listened to one of Gaffigan's shows on Comedy Central or Netflix, you'll recognize his voice in Dad is Fat.  It's a unique blend of sarcasm, storytelling and absolute absurdity that makes his stories hilarious and, in my opinion, gives him a singular narrative voice.

Basically, if you enjoy his brand of stand-up comedy, you'll enjoy his book.

The Bad
While I do think Jim Gaffigan is a funny guy, Dad is Fat felt like one, long stand-up show.  It's funny and, I'll admit, it kept me giggling from beginning to end; however, it has an almost repetitive quality to it.  It doesn't change and, after a while, it's humor starts to grow a little stale.

The Ugly
No complaints.  It's really very mild.  He's a "family-friendly comedian."

Well, more or less.  I'm not really sure if he identifies himself as being family-friendly.  I think he just sort of stumbled into the role.