I'm a huge fan of Nate Bargatze's comedy, his stories are so relatable and his delivery is very much in my comedy lane (if there is such a thing). So I was happy to see that he had a book coming out - and that he would be narrating it. I found the stories that illustrate the trajectory of his life up to now as entertaining as his comedy shows. It felt like a conversation, versus a "let me sit down and write a book about my life up to now", and I really enjoyed that approach. It was illuminating and entertaining, and while if I'd read it with my eyes I would've heard his voice in my head, I was very glad that I listened to the audiobook and actually heard the stories in his actual voice.
My thanks to Netgalley and Hachette Audio for providing a digital copy for an unbiased review.

I'd never heard of Nate Bargatze until this audiobook dropped into my phone's library and now I'll never be the same. I LOVED THIS!

Nate tells pieces of his story in individual essays that make up each chapter. Every one comes with what I've come to understand to be his sense of humor and it was PERFECT. Maybe the people who didn't give this book 5 stars did so because they didn't hear it come directly from the source (Nate reads the audiobook). That's the only reason I can come up with for those who didn't adore this hilarious memoir. I laughed out loud multiple times and have already recommended it to several friends and family members!! Nate's comedy is clean and witty and everything I could want it to be. A lot of comedians nowadays can be a little too crude and vulgar for my liking, so finding Nate has been sooooo refreshing and brought me joy these last few days catching clips on FB, IG, and YT.

HIGHLY recommend this audiobook! Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the gifted copy!

Thanks NetGalley for an early audiobook copy of this book. I love that it was narrated by Nate himself. He is one of my favorite comedians and I was so exited for this one! Unfortunately some of the chapters didn’t hit and were not very funny. I think he is more engaging doing standup material and interacting with an audience versus written word. Some of his chapters fell flat, and others were completely blank and just played elevator music on the audio version. I did enjoy getting to learn more about his upbringing, family, and his past. This book won’t win any literary awards but it is entertaining. You can pick it up at any spot because the chapters all have different topics. It didn’t manage to make me laugh out loud and I was going in expecting that because his comedy is so funny to me. It took me awhile to finish because I had a hard time staying engaged. Maybe my expectations were set too high for this and it just didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

You're doing yourself a disservice if you don't listen the audiobook version, as Bargatze's delivery is so perfect that it really adds the humor. He did a great job of mimicking the style of his stand up without recreating it, and delving further into his personal history and story. I would have liked a little more personal narrative/drive, but I got exactly what I was expecting and can't complain about that.

I absolutely loved listening to Bargatze narrate his book. I felt this was extremely necessary as I found the book to be a bit boring. I guess I expected a comedian's book to be interesting and funny. There was a few stories and chapters that were funny, but overall it was pretty bland. I understand he wanted to tell his childhood adventures, etc, but I would've liked a little more current and how he became so famous so quickly or current stories of his life and not as a child. I felt that was missing unfortunately. I think this book just felt a little forced or maybe too early in his career to write a memoir. Either way, it was sort of entertaining, a few laughs, and obviously I'll keep watching his specials and stand up because he's a really funny guy! Thanks to netgalley for the advanced copy!

Nate is absolutely hilarious, and while this was fun to listen to, some of these stories are from his standup specials and they just didnt hit quite the same. I had a fun time, but definitely found his stand up to be funnier.

I love Nate Bargatze's humor and have been excited to listen to this one (p.s. listening to the audiobook is SO the way to go!). While I do think the book is pretty funny, I think I appreciated it more as the chance to get to know a bit more about Nate's life.

I don't think his sense of humor is going to be for everyone. It's very clean and some of it is a bit cheesy with some dad-type humor. He also really plays up the dumb schtick here, which I get- it's part of his act- but it gets a tad bit cringy.

I especially loved his stories about living in a rat-infested apartment in Chicago and all the stories about his wife.

If you're already a Nate Bargatze fan, I think you'll enjoy listening to this one. But I feel like if you don't know him, his personality, and his sense of humor, you may not totally get it.

I love his stand-up, so I was not surprised when I thoroughly enjoyed listening to him tell more stories from his life and experiences. He is a funny guy and I love his delivery. I had a ton of fun listening to this audiobook.

I've been a big fan of Nate Bargatze for years, so I was really looking forward to this book—and it totally delivered. Big Dumb Eyes is full of classic Nate humor, with a bunch of funny stories that are easy to listen to.

Having Nate narrate it himself makes it even better! No one else could have narrated this book... His laid-back delivery and timing are spot on, just like in his stand-up. It honestly felt like I was hanging out with him while he told stories.

If you’re looking for something light, funny, and easy to pick up when you need a laugh, this audiobook is perfect. Loved it!
Thank you netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Fans of Nate Bargatze get a chance to find out what made him one of the funniest comics performing. I have loved his standup for many years and was so happy to see him break out and have the national spotlight shine on him. He has brought tear streaming moment to SNL.
As you can imagine, it was with great excitement that I downloaded this audiobook.
If you are looking for a book version of his stand up, this is not it. If you curious about the person that he is and how he got to be that way, well, that may be a little closer to what this is. It is really a collection of stories about his family and experiences growing up. Some are downright tragic, like his abusive grandmother and his father. Some are sweet such as the story about his sister buying him the Men In Black videotape (yes, videotape). There were some bits that were literal filler - I'm guessing that he had a number of pages in the book contract and he was finding ways to make that mark.
Overall, my honest opinion is that it was fine. I think this is not his natural medium, so he could not truly go full out memoir and yet he could not make light of many of the subjects addressed in the book. Given time, I think he will find his stride with this format and his next venture will be better.

My thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for ALC of Big Dumb Eyes in exchange for my honest review.

I love Nate Bargatze…saw him years ago on Jimmy Fallon and loved him. I enjoyed this book even though it was a little slow in parts for me and was redundant at times. I love his clean comedy and will always recommend him for a great laugh! Thanks for the ARC of this audiobook!!!

I absolutely loved listening to Big Dumb Eyes. Nate Bargatze delivers exactly what you’d hope for: laid-back, hilarious, and relatable storytelling with his signature deadpan charm. The fact that he narrates the audiobook himself makes all the difference—his comedic timing, subtle sarcasm, and quiet self-deprecation come through so naturally, it feels like you're just hanging out and laughing with a friend.

The stories range from absurd childhood memories to random adult misadventures, all tied together with his uniquely dry wit. I especially appreciated how clean and easygoing the humor is—nothing mean-spirited or over-the-top, just solid observational comedy that hits the mark every time.

Whether he’s talking about growing up in Tennessee, traveling for shows, or trying to make sense of modern life as a self-proclaimed “average guy,” every chapter had me smiling, chuckling, or flat-out laughing. The audiobook is incredibly bingeable—I finished it in a day and immediately wanted more.

If you’re already a Nate Bargatze fan, this is a must-listen. And if you’re new to him, this is the perfect introduction. I can’t recommend the audio format enough—his voice and delivery are half the experience. Five stars all the way.

A treat for fans of Nate Bargatze. I was gifted an advance listening copy of the audiobook by NetGalley. Bargatze delivers an extended set, divided up into easy to digest morsels. It was fun and fascinating to hear about his origins and more about his family. The print version includes photos and some extras, but the audio is the ticket. This may be a tough entry point if you aren't familiar with the comedian, due to its loose structure. A must for superfans and an overall delightful way to pass time.

4 stars .Before the fall—literally—Nate Bargatze was a self-declared genius. But one dented brain and a tumble off a cliff later, the man who once dreamed of brain surgery and electric engineering found himself destined for stand-up comedy instead. And thank God he did.
Big Dumb Eyes is exactly what you hope it’ll be: funny, self-deprecating, charmingly Southern, and just the right amount of ridiculous. Listening to the audiobook felt like hanging out with that one friend who always finds a way to make even a rat infestation or a Vandy football game sound hilarious. Nate’s pacing and delivery are so uniquely him that the audio version honestly feels like the best way to experience the book.
From stories about Old Blue the Mazda (with a tennis ball stick shift), his legendary dog Annie (seriously, give that girl her own memoir), the mysterious myth that is Michael Loafman, and marital wisdom courtesy of his wife who keeps him humble—Nate fills every chapter with warmth and wit. It’s not a book that’s trying to be deep, but it is deeply enjoyable.
If you like stand-up, heartwarming nonsense, and laughing at stories that sound too ridiculous to be true (but you know absolutely are), this is one to check out.
🎧 Recommendation: Go for the audiobook—you’ll thank yourself.
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Nate is one of those guys you can tell is genuinely good. He’s pretty funny and has terrible taste is podcasts. But I did laugh out loud a few times and could listen to this man tell a story about anything and know it’ll be entertaining. He cares deeply for his people and the heart was very obvious and was very endearing. Would recommend to anyone looking for a mostly light hearted chuckle.

Nate Bargatze has quickly become my favorite comedian with his quick observant wit, his distinct delivery (which this audiobook highlights so well), and his family friendly humor. This book is just the same. It's delivered exactly how his comedy is but in long form. Not a vulnerable memoir, so much, but I didn't expect it to be. It tells his life story in a similar style to his comedy, true moments with a little exaggeration and a lot of self-deprecation. I also appreciated reading him unapologetically talking about growing up in a Christian household and clearly still holding those values. It made me like him even more.
Obviously, there are whole chapters (albeit short) that were basically just bits like his comedy jokes, not made to be taken seriously but telling a little about his personality (i.e. the food chapters). Some of the reviews I've seen for this book make it clear that some people just didn't "get" the book, which I find odd when they clearly like his comedy. To me, they were the same. He told stories of his family and of his early jobs and how he met his wife. I'm sure there is a lot more to his life story, so I hope he continues to write more books. I'd love to hear more about how he came to such fame (this one sort of stops short of his big hit moments) and how he and his family have handled it. That will be fun to read one day.

The audiobook is FABULOUS if you love his comedic delivery! I also think he does quite a bit of adlibbing while reading it, and sometimes he chucks at his own stories, which I love! Highly recommend the audio!

**Thank you netgalley, Hatchell Audio, and Grand Central Publishing for a review copy of this audiobook. My opinions are my own.

hank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, this ended up being a DNF (Did Not Finish) for me, despite my best efforts to stick with it through 30%. I went into the book excited, but I found it difficult to connect with both the tone and structure.

The narration—done by Nate himself—was one of the first hurdles. While I understand the intent was likely to create a conversational, podcast-like vibe, it often felt forced. Some words were oddly emphasized or pronounced in ways that distracted from the content rather than enhancing it. What was likely meant to come off as quirky or humorous didn’t quite land for me.

The narrative itself felt disjointed. The stories bounced around quite a bit without a strong through-line, and many anecdotes didn’t seem to have a clear point or payoff. One moment in particular—where a joke was made about domestic abuse—stood out as especially jarring. It was handled in a way that felt flippant and disconnected from the serious nature of the subject matter, especially in contrast to the genuine pain described in other parts of the book regarding family relationships. That tonal mismatch made it hard to stay engaged.

Ultimately, while I appreciate the vulnerability and intent behind the memoir, the execution just didn’t work for me. Others may connect with Nate’s style and voice more than I did, but this one wasn’t the right fit for me.

I really enjoy Nate's stand-up comedy so I was very excited about this book. I must say though, I think if I had just read this I wouldn't have enjoyed as much, as hearing him telling the stories through the audiobook makes a huge difference.
It is not a book that will change your life, make you laugh until it hurts or be that memorable. It is, like he said, stories from a simpler mind. It's like having your favorite uncle tell you stories of his life, coming from a small town in Tennesse.
If you like him, grab the audiobook. It's a fun, quick listen.

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for a copy of the audiobook. All opinions are my own.

This was quick and fun. Nothing super special, but if you like him, you’ll enjoy his stories. I prefer his standup, but his book had his style and character all over it. Enjoy!

Big Dumb Eyes by Nate Bargatze 👀👀👀👀👀

I would like to thank NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing, and Hachette Audio for providing me with an advance audio-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review. It’s out today! Look for it in your local and online bookstores and libraries.

I have been a big Nate Bargatze fan for years, so I was very excited to get an advance audio copy of his new book. He narrates it himself, so if you’re like me, and his southern-boy-charm is part of the reason you like him, you’ll love this audiobook. I laughed out loud many times and had just an all around good time listening to this book. It has some unusual aspects for an audiobook. I won’t spoil them for you. They are fun little surprises!

Also, since Nate is a “clean” comic, you don’t have to worry about anyone overhearing what you’re listening to, either. 🤭 I’m sure any passersby will be happy to join you in a hearty chuckle at any one of Nate’s stories.

Nate is a big Vandy fan, so he laments quite a bit over Vandy’s struggles in sports. The quote I chose is for all of us Hog fans. At least we’re not Vandy! 🤣

“There’s something special about cheering for a team that constantly loses. You gotta be strong. You gotta be resilient. Most importantly, you have to be … a little crazy.“
— Nate Bargatze, Big Dumb Eyes