I opted for the audiobook because I love listening to Nate talk. I also think you are missing some of his humor if you don't listen to him read the book. The book also has a ton of sound effects while Nate recounts a story.

If you've seen some of his stand up, a few stories will be ones you know but I didn't find it boring. He's able to go into more detail. I can't wait to see what Nate does next! He is such a breath of fresh air since he is described as a "clean" comic but I honestly just think it is because his stories feel realistic and simple. He is naturally funny.

The best thing is he tells you from the beginning what to expect from the book. He isn't going too deep or personal that you feel uncomfortable. He isn't trying to reveal his secret genius self. It's just a good time!

Thank you to NetGalley, Nate Bargatze, Hachette Audio and Grand Central Publishing. I have written this review voluntarily and honestly.

Thank you, NetGalley and Hachette Audio for allowing me to read this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.

This is an autobiography from Nate Bargatze, and it was narrated by Nate. It was such a great read, and I suggest you listen to the audiobook if you have the opportunity. I always prefer the audiobook when it’s narrated by the author because then the listener gets to hear it exactly how it was intended.

This was such a joy to listen to. I am a fan of Nate’s comedy and this had a lot of the same humor, but it also gave some backstory, which I really enjoyed. He did touch on being raised as a southern Christian, but it did not force religion on the reader; rather explained how he was raised. He spoke much about his family, and the book had more heart than I anticipated. It’s formatted into many short stories that can be read separately, but they do tie in together, so I’d recommend you read them all. I highly recommend this book!

This book was amazing! As a child of the 80's, it was very relatable and like taking a walk down memory lane. I love that Nate is the narrator. It helps bring the story to life like only he can. It was laugh out loud funny! I would recommend this to anyone who is a fan of Nate or who is a child of the 80's.

Nate Bargatze, a comedian known for his clean and relatable humor, is releasing his first book, "Big Dumb Eyes: Stories from a Simpler Mind". The book, set to be released on May 6, 2025, promises to deliver the same kind of amusing and self-deprecating stories that have made him a popular stand-up comedian. Bargatze expands on material from his comedy specials, offering fans more of his silly stories in written form.

The title itself has a humorous backstory. Bargatze explains that he chose the title "Big Dumb Eyes" because people often speak to him slowly, as if he's not very bright, due to his appearance. However, the publisher initially misunderstood, thinking he said "Big Demise," which led to some confusion. This anecdote perfectly encapsulates Bargatze's comedic style, finding humor in everyday misunderstandings.

For those who enjoy Bargatze's comedy, the audiobook version of "Big Dumb Eyes" is highly recommended. Narrated by the comedian himself, it adds an extra layer of humor and personality to the stories. The audiobook is just over six hours long and includes special laughs specifically for listeners. Similar to rewatching his comedy specials, "Big Dumb Eyes" is a book that fans will likely enjoy again and again.

The book is a collection of personal stories and random musings, essentially Bargatze doing what he does best, but in book form. It's described as light, funny, and relaxing, aiming to be an easy and enjoyable read. Bargatze jokes that he has taken everything bad about books and made it the best, guaranteeing that readers will love it.

In "Big Dumb Eyes," Bargatze shares stories from his life, including his childhood in the 80s and 90s. He talks about his first car, Old Blue, a Mazda with a tennis ball for a stick shift, and his experiences as a Southerner. He also touches on topics like Vandy football and the origins of sushi, showcasing his ability to find humor in the mundane.

One reviewer mentioned that reading "Big Dumb Eyes" brought them joy, comparing laughter to medicine for the soul. They appreciated the opportunity to peek deeper into Bargatze's upbringing and home life through his stories. Another reviewer noted that the book felt like reading a transcript of his stand-up routine, which may appeal to fans of his comedy.

However, not everyone was completely won over by Bargatze's transition to author. One reviewer felt that the charm that works on stage didn't fully translate to the page, finding it more cringe than clever. Despite this, they still support him as a comedian.

Nate Bargatze's journey to comedy wasn't exactly planned. According to a story (which his family disputes), he used to be a genius until an accident in seventh grade where he fell off a cliff and hit his head. After the accident, he claims a voice in his head told him, "It's okay. You're dumb now. All you got is standup". Whether true or not, this story adds to the comedian's self-deprecating humor and relatable persona.

Overall, "Big Dumb Eyes: Stories from a Simpler Mind" is expected to be a hit with fans of Nate Bargatze's comedy. It offers a lighthearted and humorous look into his life and experiences, delivered in his signature rambling and self-deprecating style. While it may not be a deep or thought-provoking read, it promises to provide plenty of laughs and entertainment.
#BigDumbEyes, #NateBargatze, #NetGalley

If you are a fan of Nate Bargatze you will love this book. If you, like me, only really know him from his SNL appearances you will still love this book!

I love Nate. He is just a classic kind of funny that doesn’t need a lot of frills. His comedy is clean, so it’s been fun to introduce my kids to the world of comedy through him.
I wish I liked this book more. There were some funny pieces for sure, but I found it lacking in interest often.
If you are going to read this book, listen to it. Love that he narrates it. It’s the best part of the book.
Thank you netgalley for this advance listen!

I’m really glad I listened to this one, as it makes it feel more like a stand-up set. I do think it emphasizes the importance of audience energy to play off of because, while I did find the book funny and chuckled several times, this book wasn’t as funny to me as Nate’s stand-up comedy specials. I really enjoyed the audio production though, especially the phone calls.

3 Stars – Funny but Nothing New

Audiobook Review for "Big Dumb Eyes" by Nate Bargatze

I’m a fan of Nate Bargatze’s easygoing, dry humor, so I was excited to check out Big Dumb Eyes. Listening to the audiobook honestly felt like sitting in on one of his stand-up sets — super relaxed, funny in that classic Nate way, and full of random, relatable stories.

That said, it didn’t feel super fresh or memorable. A lot of it was funny while I was listening, but I don't think it’ll stick with me long-term. It’s light, easy entertainment — perfect if you just want something to make you smile without needing to think too hard.

If you already love Nate, you’ll probably enjoy it. If you’re new to him, it might not be the best intro.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance listening copy!

Nate's a funny guy! It was lovely to hear more about his upbringing and how he got into comedy. From the beginning ,with his introduction to the name of the book, I knew it was going to deliver. I enjoyed that Nate, himself, narrated the book. His narration was just like his stand-up specials, of course. That brought some comfort to the stories. Overall, a solid, mostly light-hearted memoir, that made me feel like I understood Nate's backstory a little more!

Big Dumb Eyes by Nate Bargatze. Nate Bargatze is one of my favorite comedians. I think this book is definitely best enjoyed in audio form. Some of the material in the book is from his previous stand up tours, but it is expands on some of the back stories. So if you are an avid fan, you might find some of it repetitive, but is there ever really too much Nate? Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook arc it did not disappoint. 4 stars

If you're a Nate Bargatze fan, "Big Dumb Eyes: Stories from a Simpler Mind" is a no-brainer. The beloved stand-up comic, known for his deadpan delivery and clean humor, takes listeners on a charming, low-stakes adventure through his own life story — with plenty of Southern quirks and the occasional rat invasion thrown in for good measure.

Bargatze used to think he would be a "math person" or a "brain doctor" until an accident in seventh grade possibly screwed up his head. His loss turned out to be our win. Nate leans into that origin story here, using it as the jumping-off point for a series of hilarious, surprisingly heartfelt anecdotes: Old Blue, the clunky Mazda; his early days of apartment living, complete with a rat doing some home renovations; and of course, his wife keeping him grounded in the most hilarious ways.

If you're expecting "Big Dumb Eyes" to be a rapid-fire laugh riot like one of Nate's Netflix specials, you might want to manage your expectations a bit. This is more of a collection of funny life stories—sometimes silly, sometimes reflective, but always genuine.

And here's the real secret: if you're going to experience "Big Dumb Eyes," you absolutely want the audiobook. Bargatze narrates it himself, and there's just something about hearing these stories in his own voice that makes every rambling observation land perfectly.

At the end of the day, "Big Dumb Eyes" isn't trying to change your life. It's precisely what it promises: simple, hilarious slices of a not-so-genius mind. It's honest. It's sweet. And yes, it's a little dumb in the best possible way.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for an advanced reader's copy; all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I’ve only seen one or two of Nate Bargatze’s stand up shows, but I know that his content is clean and Christian based and that right there made requesting his biography on Netgalley a no brainer! This book is definitely a true memoir! Filled with personal stories, family moments, and all the random (and hilarious) experiences that helped shape who he is. There’s plenty of Nate’s signature humor throughout, but it’s also surprisingly heartfelt and real, which made me appreciate it even more.

I listened to the audiobook, and having Nate narrate it himself made the whole thing even better! His delivery, timing, and the little random comments he throws in really bring the stories to life! Whether you love his stand up or are just looking for a fun, easy, feel good listen, this book totally delivers!
Huge thank you to @netgalley @HachetteAudio for the advanced copy of this audiobook, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I'm a new Nate Bargatze fan, but if you enjoy his shows, then know that this audiobook is basically a 7-hour stand-up set. It was self-reflective and relatable in the best ways and always humorous. I really enjoyed the bits that were clearly included just for the audiobook readers.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance audiobook copy.

I found Nate Bargatze on Tik Tok (where else?). I find him to be hilarious. He's very funny and his stand up is hilarious. Last year, I listened to Kevin Hart's memoir and Josh McHale's memoir. I found them both insufferable. They might have been funny if I had read instead of listened. But with those two books, I found Hart and McHale were reading the books as though they were stand up routines. And it didn't work. Enter Nate Bergatze.

He narrates his book and does a fantastic job. He's funny. He reads the words and doesn't try to make it a stand-up routine. That's not to say that he doesn't occasionally make a side comment or give commentary on the photos. But it is to say that he knew how to read this book. And it made the book even better. I laughed out loud several times and enjoyed his conversational style. He also doesn't yell. Kevin Hart spent most of his book yelling and it drove me crazy. Listening to this book is like listening to your best storytelling friend talk about their life.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes comedy and lovely southern accents and well-read audiobooks.

As a fan of his standup comedy this was a fun listen! I loved that he narrated it himself and liked learning more about his family and life growing up in a longer format than most comedy specials provide. Thanks so much for the ARC copy!

I’ve been lucky enough to see Nate live (with his dad as one of his openers!) and have watched a bunch of his Netflix specials, so I already knew he was hilarious. What I love about Nate is he proves you don’t need crude jokes to be funny — he’s just naturally talented.

This book was such a fun listen. I loved hearing more about his childhood, how he met his wife, and the early days of his comedy career. He even shares a bit about his dad’s tougher upbringing, but keeps it all light and heartfelt. Since I had the audiobook and Nate reads it himself, it made it even better — it honestly felt like he was just telling stories directly to me.

If you’re looking for something that’ll make you smile (and laugh out loud), definitely pick this one up. Big thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the free advanced copy! I’m happy to leave this review voluntarily.

3.5 ⭐️ This book is a good read if you're a fan of Nate’s stand-up comedy. The humor is definitely there—it's quirky, relatable, and full of typical wit. You do get a good look at his life and family growing up. Some of the stories had me laughing out loud. However, I did find that some sections felt a little repetitive, especially if you're already familiar with his comedy style. It’s a fun, easy read (listen) but didn’t have the same impact as his stand-up. Overall, a good book if you like light humor with a few standout moments, but not a must-read for everyone. Nate reads his book in the audio version which did make the experience better than reading it in my opinion.

Absolutely loved this book. I loved how lighthearted it was. I loved that the author was the narrator because it helped it come more to life. It was a nice little glimpse into his life. Easy read for those who hate reading.

I was so excited to receive an advanced audio of Nate Bargatze’s “Big Dumb Eyes.”
Nate’s narration made the audio so much fun. I enjoyed his dry, laid back delivery in the telling about his family and growing up in the South.

If you enjoy his stand up comedy you will enjoy this book. It was so funny.

Thanks to Hachette audio and NetGalley for the ALC.

Big Dumb Eyes is an easy, enjoyable read that captures Nate Bargatze’s laid-back, relatable humor. It walks the line between being a more touching, revealing memoir and a genuinely funny collection of stories. While there were definitely some laugh-out-loud moments, there weren’t quite as many as I expected — and a few of the funniest bits were things I recognized from his specials.

Still, Nate’s charm and sincerity come through on every page, and even if it didn’t completely blow me away, I had a great time reading it. Fans of his comedy will appreciate getting a closer look at the man behind the jokes, and it’s a solid addition to his body of work.

I would like to thank the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.