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Those Bastards: 69 essays on life, creativity, & meaning
What happens to us after we die? Why does pornography ruin everything? Why should you never wear cargo shorts? What are the keys to a successful marriage? Why do some people commit suicide, but others don’t?
This sparkling collection of essays sets out to answer these questions and more.
With empathy, curiosity, and candor, Jared Dillian dives headlong into the central questions of existence with eyes wide open, observing life in a way that only he can.
Alternately funny and sad, Those Bastards takes you on an emotional roller coaster, drawing heavily on Dillian’s experience with debilitating mental illness and his professional failures, and overflowing with sharp critiques on music and culture. He moves effortlessly from topic to topic, in one essay riffing on how to use Twitter with honesty and integrity, and in another, describing his experience at the World Trade Center on 9/11.
Those Bastards is a literary sensation, filled with insights on what it means to be human, struggling in a world of uncertainty.
This sparkling collection of essays sets out to answer these questions and more.
With empathy, curiosity, and candor, Jared Dillian dives headlong into the central questions of existence with eyes wide open, observing life in a way that only he can.
Alternately funny and sad, Those Bastards takes you on an emotional roller coaster, drawing heavily on Dillian’s experience with debilitating mental illness and his professional failures, and overflowing with sharp critiques on music and culture. He moves effortlessly from topic to topic, in one essay riffing on how to use Twitter with honesty and integrity, and in another, describing his experience at the World Trade Center on 9/11.
Those Bastards is a literary sensation, filled with insights on what it means to be human, struggling in a world of uncertainty.
355 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 1, 2023
58 people are currently reading
130 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 2, 2023
I enjoyed this book, and listened to some of it on audiobook format.
The book is made up of 69 essays, all about various subjects, and some better than others, but all entertaining.
I like the simple language of the book and how straightforward the author is. He calls the shots how he sees them, which is definitely entertaining. There are parts of this book that will trigger people, but there are also heartfelt thoughtful moments that I will remember.
Overall, this book is basically the take of someone who has lived a full life, full of big emotional ups and downs, and who shares his perspective without anything held back.
3 stars.
The book is made up of 69 essays, all about various subjects, and some better than others, but all entertaining.
I like the simple language of the book and how straightforward the author is. He calls the shots how he sees them, which is definitely entertaining. There are parts of this book that will trigger people, but there are also heartfelt thoughtful moments that I will remember.
Overall, this book is basically the take of someone who has lived a full life, full of big emotional ups and downs, and who shares his perspective without anything held back.
3 stars.
October 4, 2023
This was a great read. Dillian is an out-of-the-box thinker. You may not always agree with him but he has interesting perspectives on life and I have to say that reading this book changed me. You can read each short chapter daily, like a little sermon, or you might just sit and plow through the book. You never know what he's going to address next. And you can't begin to guess what he is going to say about it. He is a really interesting person who is fully invested in living and experiencing life. I love that. I can't wait to see his future work, in visual art maybe?
December 30, 2023
Sometimes I think the author is too neurotic about some ideas or life perspectives that he has and I don't necessarily share or fully agree and this becomes a bit annoying because it's aggressive way of using grammar can be a bit overwhelming.
Moreover, as usually happens with this type of books from a Finance guru is that they are too focused on the USA so if you were born in another place a lot of things won't sound familiar or won't be relatable, which is a bit sad but I guess is what it is.
But, overall is a good read.
Moreover, as usually happens with this type of books from a Finance guru is that they are too focused on the USA so if you were born in another place a lot of things won't sound familiar or won't be relatable, which is a bit sad but I guess is what it is.
But, overall is a good read.
July 15, 2023
Great Book! Very Entertaining!
This is a fantastic book! Jared has a very strong voice and is an amazing storyteller.
The essays each feel like an intimate conversation with a friend. There are some really good nuggets of wisdom and advice. It’s the kind of book that you wish you read when you were 25. There is also a lot of humor that left me laughing out loud.
Regardless of what Jared says, I’m still going to rock my cargo shorts!
This is a fantastic book! Jared has a very strong voice and is an amazing storyteller.
The essays each feel like an intimate conversation with a friend. There are some really good nuggets of wisdom and advice. It’s the kind of book that you wish you read when you were 25. There is also a lot of humor that left me laughing out loud.
Regardless of what Jared says, I’m still going to rock my cargo shorts!
August 17, 2023
"Suffering is not unnecessary. It is entirely necessary. It is what makes us human."
Jared Dillian has a way with words. I don't agree with everything, but he is well worth reading.
Jared Dillian has a way with words. I don't agree with everything, but he is well worth reading.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews