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

I loved this experience - what a fun and engaging listen. I only wish he read the book like he tells the stories on stage because it caused some cognitive dissonance that he didn't. He did a good job at connecting us to the pictures that we couldn't see - telling us how to see them. Looking forward to his next publication.

4.5⭐️

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing, NetGalley, and the author for a chance to preview this title.

If you know of Nate Bargatze, you know that he is clean, family friendly comic. This book did not disappoint. It was a sweet, endearing, feel good (or feel bad for him) type book that had me either smiling or laughing out loud. He tells about his family growing up, the various jobs he's had, crazy antics of his friends, and his adventures with his wife and kids. Even though he pokes fun at himself constantly, it never feels self-deprecating. There are second hand cringy moments, but that is the whole point. I never felt bored, like the stories have gone on too long.

I will never stop recommending this book, especially if you need a good time and a good laugh. Definitely suitable for work!

Mara Bargatze is funny in any format but I’d imagine the audio outshines print because you just have to hear his accent. Always hilarious.

My husband and I Enjoyed this book very much. Nate does a great job! Very funny and inciteful! Nice light read.

Thanks to NetGalley and HachetteAudio for an ARC.

This is a great collection of fun stories from a great comedian! Definitely worth listening to the audiobook. You get Nate's personality, emphases, and comedic flair by listening to him read the book.

No real plot line or thread throughout the book, but he also says at the beginning that there's no real order to the chapters, so that's on par! Haha. If you're looking for an easy listen (I don't think reading it would have the same effect), it's a great and enjoyable read/listen!

⭐️⭐️⭐️
3/5

I love Nate’s voice but I enjoy watching him more than just listening to him.

Thank you NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and Nate Bargatze for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This light hearted and funny set of stories is so relatable. I'm so glad the author read this in his own voice.

This audiobook was such a fun easy listen! Nate is such a funny lighthearted guy. If you are looking for a quick easy audiobook of a chill, funny guys life stories- this is the one.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC in audiobook format.

Big Dumb Eyes: Stories from a Simpler Mind by Nate Bargatze, narrated by the author

Nate Bargatze’s Big Dumb Eyes is exactly what it promises to be: a collection of stories from a simpler mind—but don’t let the self-deprecation fool you. This audiobook is a masterclass in comedic timing, observational absurdity, and the art of making the mundane feel monumental. Delivered in Bargatze’s signature deadpan drawl, it’s less a memoir than a meandering conversation with your funniest, most bewildered friend.

The stories range from childhood mishaps (including a possibly apocryphal head injury that “dented” his genius) to adult misadventures involving rats, sushi, and the existential crisis of shopping with your spouse. What ties them together is Bargatze’s uncanny ability to find punchlines in the pauses—those awkward, overlooked moments where life doesn’t quite make sense.

As a narrator, Bargatze is pitch-perfect. His delivery is dry but never dull, and his Southern cadence adds warmth to even the most ridiculous anecdotes. Listening to him recount his confusion over California rolls or his irrational devotion to Vanderbilt football feels like sitting in on a stand-up set that just happens to be autobiographical.

What makes Big Dumb Eyes work so well in audio is its intimacy. The jokes land harder because they’re personal. The silences are funnier because they’re intentional. And the whole thing feels like a long, hilarious voicemail from someone who just needed to get a few things off his chest.

For fans of clean comedy, self-aware storytelling, and the kind of humor that sneaks up on you mid-sentence, this audiobook is a joyride through the absurdities of everyday life—with a narrator who knows exactly when to hit the brakes and when to floor it.