Marvelous: A Novel by Molly Greeley

 I'd Like to Play Alone, Please: Essays by Tom Segura 

Title:  I'd Like to Play Alone, Please: Essays
Author: Tom Segura 

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing 
Genre:  Biographies & Memoirs 
Format:  Kindle
No. of Pages:  241
Date of Publication:  14 June, 2022
My Rating:  4 Stars

My Thoughts 

Tom Segura strikes me as someone who’d be a fun addition to a barbecue. He’s that guy (I don’t intend for this to be read as an insult - I really like barbecues), but he's that guy. The guy that your smart ass husband invited and you don't want to like (you're so ready not to after hearing the stories) but once he's there and you listen to him, you find that you just adore him. 

I originally grabbed this title for my husband who is a bigtime Segura and Kresicher podcast / standup fan. Now that I’ve read his book, I’ve come to the realization that I may be a fan myself. 

While reading, as much as I found myself saying “god, that’s terrible” about something in many a place, I would quickly find myself completely taken over with laughter. I have a habit of reading things I find funny aloud, to my husband and my teens - so, I was reading one of the early bits out loud and I start laughing to the point where I can no longer actually read aloud, tears have begun to stream from my eyes, and I can’t catch my breath for a few minutes because I’m laughing so much - real and true laughter. This happened on more than one occasion during my reading of this book. You don’t need me to tell you what a gift that is these days (thanks Tom Segura! 🙂).

I read this in less than a day, and enjoyed nearly every page. Just so you’re aware - this is not a memoir, and if you’re more than a casual fan you may already be familiar with some (or many) of these stories.

Whether you’re an existing fan of Segura’s or like me, I suggest this one to anyone who could really benefit from some laughter in their lives (if you’re hearing abled, I’d personally suggest the audiobook - Segura narrates and the reader will be able to process this as he intended (tone, inflection, pauses, etc.).

eARC kindly provided by Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley. Opinions shared are my own. 

Description

From Tom Segura, the massively successful stand-up comedian and co-host of chart-topping podcasts “2 Bears 1 Cave” and “Your Mom’s House,” hilarious real-life stories of parenting, celebrity encounters, youthful mistakes, misanthropy, and so much more.
 
Tom Segura is known for his twisted takes and irreverent comedic voice. But after a few years of crazy tours and churning out podcasts weekly, all while parenting two young children, he desperately needs a second to himself. It’s not that he hates his friends and family — he’s not a monster — he’s just beat, which is why his son’s (ruthless) first full sentence, “I’d like to play alone, please,” has since become his mantra. 
 
In this collection of stories, Tom combines his signature curmudgeonly humor with a revealing look at some of the ridiculous situations that shaped him and the ludicrous characters who always seem to seek him out. The stories feature hilarious anecdotes about Tom's time on the road, including some surreal encounters with celebrities at airports; his unfiltered South American family; the trials and tribulations of parenting young children with bizarrely morbid interests; and, perhaps most memorably, experiences with his dad who, like any good Baby Boomer father, loves to talk about his bowel movements and share graphic Vietnam stories at inappropriate moments. All of this is enough to make anyone want some peace and quiet. 
 
I’D LIKE TO PLAY ALONE, PLEASE will have readers laughing out loud and nodding in agreement with Segura's message: in a world where everyone is increasingly insane, sometimes you just need to be alone.