Nate Bargatze is one of my favorites. With that being said, this didn't live up to my hopes. Maybe I was expecting too much. My husband loved it. I was driving while we were listening and there was a lot of traffic. I'll blame my thoughts on that. It was great having the author read the book.

Thank you for the ARC of this audiobook! I've recently become a fan of Nate Bargatze's through his stand up specials and SNL hosting appearances. He's a very easy comic to root for and relate to and his (audio)book matches that energy. I thought some passages were watered down bits of his stand up routine, but I enjoyed the deeper dive into his family - especially his dad. It can be a bit slow at times, but overall I enjoyed it as a fan and would recommend to people who love memoirs of comedians.

Big Dumb Eyes
by Nate Bargatze
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This audiobook was hysterical! I loved his narration of the book and highly recommend listening instead of a print copy if possible! He really can make daily life so funny! Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio | Grand Central Publishing for the digital advanced listeners copy!! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Add it to your TBR!

Nate Bargatze is one of my favorite comedians so I was thrilled to receive an ALC of his book. He reads the audiobook himself and I am so happy I could listen to his delivery while reading it. He is absolutely hilarious and his storytelling is so entertaining! My family lives east of Nashville close to where he grew up and I lived in NYC the past 8 years so I also feel a personal connection to so many of his stories. The pacing of this is a bit slower than his stand-up (understandably so, as it is a book) but still packs a punch and had my laughing out loud multiple times. Bargatze is able to make the everyday mundane into hilarious comedy and it is quite a gift. He also shares many personal stories so you learn quite a bit about him in the process. If you like his stand-up and sense of humor, I think you will definitely enjoy this book as well. I highly recommend listening to him read the audiobook himself as his delivery of his own jokes can’t be beat! 5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley, Nate Bargatze, Grand Central Publishing, and Hachette Audio for the gifted ALC. This is a voluntary and honest review.

Nate Bargatze is probably my favorite comedian. His timing and laid-back demeanor is so funny to me!

I requested the audiobook because I knew Nate was reading it, and I really wanted to hear his story from his own voice. It was so worth it! It made me feel like I was right there with him as he was telling each story. His perspective was always so funny.

Me and my husband have tickets to see Nate on tour this summer and I cannot wait!

Nate Bargatze's first book - an audio book he narrated - had its funny moments. But Big Dumb Eyes wasn't quite as funny as his comedy performances. I'd describe it more as a sweet and touching memoir interspersed with its fair share of his characteristic humor.
As he tells you at the outset, it isn't necessary to listen to any of the book's chapters in a particular order- each is his own story drawn from experiences in his life. If you're a fan of his I think you'll enjoy the book. Don't expect any big guffaws - but there will be plenty of smiles and chuckles as you listen to it.

I absolutely enjoyed listening to this on audio. If you've ever enjoyed his standup you will love this book! His comedic timing makes him very funny and the book is clean just like his stand up. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone especially the audio version.

If you have ever seen a Nate Bargatze comedy special, you'll enjoy this book. The book is pretty much a collection of stories from his life. Bargatze narrates the book himself, which makes it feel almost as if he's just having a conversation with you.. I appreciate that this book is just as family friendly as his performances I've seen. It was nice to read a book about someone's life and not be disappointed to find out that they are quite different from the public persona they've established.

I would definitely recommend this book to friends, even if they are not previously acquainted with Bargatze's comedy. Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

The thing I appreciate most about Nate Bargatze and his comedy is that it is family friendly. He’s funny enough on his own that he doesn’t need to try and get the shock value of added expletives.
This audio book was great, as it was read by the author himself- it felt like another of his stand up comedy shows.
This book was easy and funny, simple to just pick up at any time, since it was truly a collection of bits and stories. It will make you smile, pass the time quickly, and learn more about Nate Bargatze and his big dum eyes.

A fun, easy listen. I found some of the material familiar (rehashed from Bargatze's comedy act) but I suppose that's to be expected in a memoir. A terrific narration style, very conversational. 4 Stars

I have watched all of Nate's specials. They usually leave me laughing so hard I'm crying and have to rewind to catch what I missed.

This book is not similar. I maybe chuckled a couple of times, but no big laughs. Hearing him denigrating himself gets old really quick. And, as the saying goes, "never meet your heroes." In this case, 'never read a memoir from a comedian you find funny or you'll learn things that will turn you off him. Probably won't ever watch another special after listening to this.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hatchett Audio for the ALC.

Big Dumb Eyes: Stories from a Simpler Mind by Nate Bargatze is a lighthearted and charming collection of personal essays that brings the comedian's signature everyman humor from the stage to the page. Known for his clean, observational comedy, Bargatze shares anecdotes from his life in Old Hickory, Tennessee, his family dynamics, and his journey into stand-up comedy.

The book is structured as a series of essays and reflections rather than a linear memoir, making it easy to pick up and enjoy in short bursts. Bargatze covers a range of topics, from his childhood to marriage, from everyday nuisances to his irrational devotion to Vanderbilt football. One of the strongest chapters explores the competitive dynamic between him and his younger brother, where casual family game nights spiral into emotionally charged battles of RISK and Spades.

The humor doesn't always translate as effectively to the written word as it does in his stand-up performances.

Nevertheless, "Big Dumb Eyes" offers a warm and relatable reading experience. Bargatze's stories are filled with heart, and his reflections on family, marriage, and everyday life resonate with sincerity and charm.

In summary, "Big Dumb Eyes" is a delightful read for fans of Nate Bargatze and those who appreciate gentle, observational humor. While it may not capture the full essence of his stand-up delivery, it provides an enjoyable glimpse into the life and mind of one of today's most beloved comedians.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the review copy of this book! This very much felt like sitting at a dinner table, surrounded by people you love and talking about nothing. His stories were nothing groundbreaking, but I appreciated the way these stories have clearly been told so many times that the details are fuzzy around the edges. He often doubles back on facts because, frankly, he doesn’t remember them. It’s not meant to be a great literary work, but it is a slice of life that is very familiar to me. It has the small town, Southern feeling.
His sense of humor shines through. I also appreciate that Bargatze doesn’t fall into the common problem with comedian memoirs, where they basically just repeat their specials all over again. Many of the stories were new to me. I believe readers who enjoy his stand-up will find that his dry, clean humor is very present with this book.
I generally enjoyed the narration. There are plenty of hilarious audio-specific parts of this book where Nate is talking to the listener, not the reader. I do think, however, that the delivery of the book could’ve been better. It’s definitely hard to transition from talking in front of people to talking alone to a microphone for six hours. It does show, and that did make for some adjustment while listening.
There were some slow parts. Going back to the “sitting at a dinner table” feeling, some of that is directly related to how much he talks about sports. It is simply not for me. I often felt my eyes glazing over, in the way that I would politely listen to an uncle on Thanksgiving. It wasn’t entirely unpleasant, but I wasn’t exactly riveted. If you love sports, you might have a different opinion entirely.
Overall I had a great time! I love Nate Bargatze’s comedy and I enjoyed this look into his life. The pictures he included were also adorable.

This is a very funny man! to have a chance to read his first (his only? since he's not a reader?) book was an opportunity not to be missed. I listened to this, and am looking forward to reading a hardcopy with pictures.

Total book candy. Take it on your next vacay, or traveling by train, plane or automobile. Read it out loud to the folks on your porch. Call your mother and read it to her. You know that teen who hides in the bathroom? sit outside that door and start reading. . . .seriously - a party piece. Highest recommend possible. Not going to spoil one of his lines - 6.5 Stars laughing so hard starlets are slamming into planets throughout the universe.

*A sincere thank you to Nate Bargatze, Hachette Audio, Grand Central Publishing, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #BigDumbEyes #NetGalley

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy of Big Dumb Eyes in exchange for an honest review.

As a fan of Nate Bargatze’s stand-up, it was a joy to hear him narrate the book himself. His signature inflection and delivery add an extra layer to the experience, his deadpan timing makes the punchlines land even harder in audio than they might on the page.

The production quality is fantastic. You can tell a lot of care went into the recording: the audio is clear, consistent, and well-balanced throughout, with subtle post-production touches that elevate the whole thing.

While the essays are definitely funny and full of lighthearted charm, what stood out most to me were the more heartfelt stories about his family. You can hear the love behind them, and they add a lot of warmth to the book. I did laugh out loud a few times, but I’d say the book wasn’t quite as hilarious as I expected overall. Still, it knows exactly what it is and doesn’t try to be anything more...just a breezy, easy listen.

Fans of Bargatze will absolutely enjoy it, especially in audio format.

Nate Bargatze is easily one of the funniest standup comedians on the screens these days! In his new book, Big Dumb Eyes, Nate recalls some of his funniest moments with the same self-deprecating delivery we’ve grown to love. If you need to laugh, you can count on any chapter to help you out. We learn more about the landscape of Nates childhood & the unseriousness that was ingrained in him. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this audiobook! If you are looking very some lighthearted humor—this book is a heavy hitter! Go pick up your copy today!

Nate Bargatze’s Big Dumb Eyes is as funny and silly as expected, with some sweet little sprinkles of endearment. The audiobook is crucial in both my opinion and his, he opens it by noting the importance of hearing how he says words like bowl and boil and gaaaaaaal-ee, and he’s right. There’s a lot of stories in here that will make you laugh out loud but my favorite is his life long running bit of Michael Loafman. Classic. I’ll probably say it in my head the next time I do something super lazy or real dumb. Congrats to @natebargatze and more importantly, his magical clown dad who I hope he has open for him at the Emmy’s. And thanks to @macmillan.audio for the gifted copy. Five stars!

I absolutely crushed this audiobook. Nate Bargatze is hilarious and I enjoy his humour so much. I'm grateful to have read more books than him, because this was worth it!
4.5 ⭐ rounded up where required!!

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and Netgalley for the free audiobook. All opinions are my own.
4.5 stars rounded up

I enjoy Nate Bargatze's comedy clips and his specials on Netflix. So it was no surprise that I jumped at the chance to listen to his first book, Big Dumb Eyes. With his comment about not liking to read, and apparently neither did anyone else that was listening to his book on audio, I was sold.

Part expansion of his comedy routines, part reminiscing about his family and life in general, some of the vignettes hit like gold. His stories about dogs had me laughing out loud and nodding along. Not liking changes such as McDonald's changing the item number of his most beloved meal is another. Make it make sense! Reflections on being raised by a professional clown are pretty funny, too. Looking at you, YoYo, dadgummit.

Into the mix of humor are real love letters to his parents and siblings. He also mentions friends often along with embarrassing moments between them. What makes it work is the continued friendship between these characters.

As Bargatze is known for his clean humor, there is no need not to blast this audiobook within earshot of other listeners of all ages. Just because it isn't raw doesn't mean it isn't funny or true.

If you enjoy Nate Bargatze’s standup, you’re going to get a kick out of this book.

And by book I mean audiobook. There is truly no world in which the book could be better than hearing Bargatze’s comedic timing in every line. Get the audiobook. Trust me.

One thing about me, I’m going to hype a fellow Tennessean. His material is so relatable because we all had the same little redneck childhood and I love it. I still pine for Opryland as well. 🙌🏼

Bargatze has come in with some fun new material and even expounds on a few things we’ve heard in his act. Is it a tight 45 minute set? Naw. But it’s a nice, loose 7 hours.

Now every chapter isn’t exactly created equally. Most made me giggle and several are downright hilarious, but a few are just okay. So if you’re starting out and it feels slow, keep going. You gotta let him warm up first, ya know?

If you like Nate, you’ll like listening to this too!