Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collection
Publication
Andrews McMeel Publishing (2014), Paperback, 148 pages
Description
Comic and Graphic Books. Fiction. HTML: This is not just a book about running. It's a book about cupcakes. It's a book about suffering. It's a book about gluttony, vanity, bliss, electrical storms, ranch dressing, and Godzilla. It's a book about all the terrible and wonderful reasons we wake up each day and propel our bodies through rain, shine, heaven, and hell. From #1 New York Times best-selling author, Matthew Inman, AKA The Oatmeal, comes this hilarious, beautiful, poignant collection of comics and stories about running, eating, and one cartoonist's reasons for jogging across mountains until his toenails fall off. Containing over 70 pages of never-before-seen material, including "A Lazy Cartoonist's Guide to Becoming a Runner" and "The Blerch's Guide to Dieting," this book also comes with Blerch race stickers..… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member imyril
This little gem had me giggling from start to finish, with its luminous illustrations and deft insights into the terrible things that drive us couch potatoes to don running shoes and go in search of endorphin highs. Highly entertaining.
LibraryThing member zzshupinga
ARC provided by NetGalley
Matthew Inman, AKA The Oatmeal, has become synonymous with becoming a voice for a generation. Creating images that capture why cats are taking over the world, rescuing Tesla’s laboratory and bringing him back to light, and standing up for creators that have had images
I have to admit when I saw the description of the book, I honestly thought it was....well a bit of a money grab. I mean the original comic inspiration behind the book is great, don’t get me wrong, but how the heck could he write an entire book about it? And...now Inman is making me eat my words. Because the book is again one that we can all relate to. Not of being the super in shape person that makes the rest of the world miserable. But about being that everyday person that struggles with wanting to not be a couch potato, but at the same time not having to get up at 5 in the morning and run and never eating sweet things again. It’s about the struggle to maintain, the struggle to keep going, no matter what it looks like outside or how we feel. Its less about running, but more about the struggle to keep going to meet our own dreams headon. And to inspire us to achieve them.
To Mr. Inman I raise a glass of tea, in thanks for making me eat my words, and for the encouragement, and challenge, of meeting my goals headon. I give the book 4 out of 5 stars.
Matthew Inman, AKA The Oatmeal, has become synonymous with becoming a voice for a generation. Creating images that capture why cats are taking over the world, rescuing Tesla’s laboratory and bringing him back to light, and standing up for creators that have had images
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stolen and making shady lawyers look crazy. Now he brings his focus to running. To exercise. To suffering to get where you want to be.I have to admit when I saw the description of the book, I honestly thought it was....well a bit of a money grab. I mean the original comic inspiration behind the book is great, don’t get me wrong, but how the heck could he write an entire book about it? And...now Inman is making me eat my words. Because the book is again one that we can all relate to. Not of being the super in shape person that makes the rest of the world miserable. But about being that everyday person that struggles with wanting to not be a couch potato, but at the same time not having to get up at 5 in the morning and run and never eating sweet things again. It’s about the struggle to maintain, the struggle to keep going, no matter what it looks like outside or how we feel. Its less about running, but more about the struggle to keep going to meet our own dreams headon. And to inspire us to achieve them.
To Mr. Inman I raise a glass of tea, in thanks for making me eat my words, and for the encouragement, and challenge, of meeting my goals headon. I give the book 4 out of 5 stars.
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LibraryThing member SeriousGrace
I cannot, cannot, cannot stress how frigging funny this "comic*" is. I found it while searching for something completely (and I do mean completely different), but sooo happy I found it. In a nutshell, it's the illustrated running biography of Matthew Inman, better known by his comic name, the
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Oatmeal. But, he's not your typical athlete. When he runs he's chased by a "fat cherub" he calls the Blerch (the little voice in your head that convinces you you're better off sleeping in or eating cake or both, maybe even at the same time). And speaking of cake, Inman is not immune to food addiction. He runs so that he can eat "like a fast moving dumpster" (p 18). His words, not mine. See what I mean? Funny. There's more: slaying kraken, being vain, running from Giant Sparrow Bees in the mountains of Japan, tips on running a marathon, even race stickers. And more. Kid you not. I had more laugh-out-loud moments than I knew what to do with. Show Less
LibraryThing member michelleannlib
I love everything about this book. If you run, read it.
LibraryThing member Urthwild
I have long been a fan of The Oatmeal so I am particularly biased when it comes to anything Matthew Inman does. I admit that I do not visit the site on a daily basis, to me it is more of a dip in and out site.
If you cannot tell what the book is about after reading the title, then, blerch, because
It will be ‘hilarious’ if the Oatmeal is your home page, or simply ‘just too funny’ if you visit the Oatmeal several times per week. If you don’t visit that often then it runs from becoming less amusing to oh my god, are they really selling this for £7.31.
I have to take issue with the UK price £7.31 (such a strange price point), is far far far too steep for 148 pages.
Strictly for fans of The Oatmeal, which is just about everyone who has ever been on the internet, right?
Received from the publisher for an honest review.
Urthwild
If you cannot tell what the book is about after reading the title, then, blerch, because
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it does what it says on the tin. A humorous look at the reasons why Inman wills himself to run and all the reasons he uses to talk himself out of running. Hounded by the Blerch a fat cherubic demon who constantly offers him cake, and cheesy (US) chips, anything to get him to stop and become the baked potato he so fears, Inman takes us through the agony of the chase.It will be ‘hilarious’ if the Oatmeal is your home page, or simply ‘just too funny’ if you visit the Oatmeal several times per week. If you don’t visit that often then it runs from becoming less amusing to oh my god, are they really selling this for £7.31.
I have to take issue with the UK price £7.31 (such a strange price point), is far far far too steep for 148 pages.
Strictly for fans of The Oatmeal, which is just about everyone who has ever been on the internet, right?
Received from the publisher for an honest review.
Urthwild
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LibraryThing member booklover3258
Meh not one of my favorites. Was hoping there would be comic panels like his other books.
LibraryThing member arewenotben
Matt Inman thinks exactly the same I do about running, was nodding along throughout. I've definitely had similar epiphanies but wouldn't be able to express it so eloquently or amusingly.
Anyone tempted to start should read this book - like him, I run to eat. I love consuming food that's bad for me,
Anyone tempted to start should read this book - like him, I run to eat. I love consuming food that's bad for me,
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I don't want to look like a beached whale. Hence I go outside and run for an hour or so every couple of days. It works. If your new year resolution was to get started or to lose a few pounds, pick this up - quietly inspiring whilst never being out of reach. If I can run a marathon you can too. Show Less
Language
Physical description
148 p.; 8.9 inches
ISBN
1449459951 / 9781449459956