This is written and produced with his trademark dry humor and I think it translates well into audio. I really enjoyed learning about his background from what his parents were like, to growing up in Tennessee with his brother and sister, to playing basketball in the NBA (not that one). Most of the book is, as Bargatze describes it, "light, funny and relaxing." Reading this gives you a little more insight, but don't go into this expecting the punch of his comedy routines.

I've been a big fan of Nate Bargatze since I first saw his Netflix special. His clean comedy act was a breath of fresh air and had me rolling with laughter. His act is so relatable, and when I saw he was releasing a book I knew I had listen to it.

This audiobook was so pleasant! I highly recommend listening as Bargatze himself narrates the work, and you definitely need his storytelling in his own voice to give this book the life it needs. Some of the stories in the book are repeats from his stand up routines, but many were new for the book and just as entertaining.

Was this book life changing? Nope.

Was it entertaining? Absolutely.

Should you read it? Eh, can't say. I really liked it because I like Bargatze's humor, but it's probably not for everyone.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this audiobook!

3.5 STARS

Nate Bargatze’s memoir, BIG DUMB EYES, is meant to be consumed via audiobook for his accent and inflection. As a fan of Bargatze’s comedy, I was excited and thankful to receive an advanced audiobook copy. The stories themselves were just fine — a mix of childhood stories, observations and opinions. A few moments were laugh-out-loud funny. An easy, lighthearted listen perfect for sitting in rush-hour traffic.

Thank you to #NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the advanced reader (audiobook) copy.

I love Nate Bargatze, like I really do. So I say this with love, you need to listen to the audio book instead of reading it… I physically couldn’t imagine reading this without his tone. His tone and inflection is what makes his comedy work so well. He’s a simple story teller, that’s not new, but it is VERY new in a written format and I think without hearing him read it, it just wouldn’t hit the same way.

Also, just for awareness for anyone that isn’t already aware of it, Nate is a Christian and grew up in a Christian household. It is more prominent in this book than in anything I’ve ever heard him share in his standup. I noticed in other reviews this actually made some people angry/upset… but I wasn’t super surprised by it because of some of his jokes in his stand up indicated his upbringing.

So overall, my review for the audiobook is a 4, but I’m pretty sure if I had read it in a physical copy, it would’ve been a 3.

Unfortunately this was very underwhelming. I was excited to listen to this and I did not enjoy it. I can appreciate the stories and effort it takes to write a book but the stories just were not funny.

I was so excited to get an advanced reader copy of Big Dumb Eyes, I love audiobooks by comedians, and Nate Bargatze definitely delivered! This book is funny, heartwarming, and full of the kind of down-to-earth stories that make you feel like you’re catching up with an old friend.

Nate shares hilarious and honest moments from growing up, his friendships, his experiences with religion and family life, and what it’s like being married. He even talks about weight loss and fitness journey into all with his signature dry humor and charm. Whether he’s talking about his dad being a magician or awkward moments with friends, his storytelling style is super entertaining.

I especially recommend this as a family road trip listen, it’s clean, relatable, and perfect for laughing together. Just a heads-up: you may want to skip the chapter about the Elf on the Shelf and Santa if you’ve got little ones in the car. Other than that, it’s a great listen all around. Highly enjoyable and definitely worth the listen, although he does mention he leaves blank pages in the book so you don’t feel like you are going to drown when reading it.

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this ARC in exchange for my honest review! I really enjoyed this!

Big Dumb Eyes, written and read by Nate Bargatze was a pleasure to hear. Like many of you, I love watching Nate's videos and I think he is hilarious. HIs unique take on everyday events often makes me laugh so hard I cry. As a bonus, I can watch his videos when my kids are around because his comedy is clean and very family friendly. When I saw that he had an audiobook out I jumped at the chance to listen and I wasn't disappointed. His familiar voice was there. Many of the people, themes and events that he shares in his act are included - but the book is even better! If you're like me and you've wished Nate had more time in his performances to go into greater depth and detail, then this audiobook is for you. Listening to if felt like spending a relaxed afternoon laughing with a friend. I'm never going to stop watching Nate perform, but after experiencing this audiobook, I think I will appreciate his performances even more. If you are looking for a few hours long escape into a simple, funny world, look no further!

Thank you to Nate Bargatze and Grand Central Publishing for this audio ARC.

If you are a fan of Nate Bargatze, then you will ABSOLUTELY love this audiobook. And if you’ve never heard of Nate Bargatze, you will also love this audiobook.

I love when audiobooks are recorded by the author and Big Dumb Eyes did not disappoint. I honestly can’t imagine reading the book, it seems so much of the humor and story telling would be lost.

Big Dumb Eyes is a compilation of stories of Nate Bargatze’s life. He approaches his life stories candidly and with humor. His accent and dry delivery made me literally laugh out loud throughout the book. I would be listening around the house and giggling to myself. His stories are hilarious but also really sweet and endearing. He is more than just a funny story, and a few parts made me tear up as well.

My kids and I are huge fans of Nate Bargatze, so I was excited to get an advanced listening copy of his memoir Big Dumb Eyes (coming out in May 6th.) Nate narrates the book and if you like his comedy, you will enjoy the book. He shares new stories about his life and gives extra details from some of the stories he has previously shared during his comedy specials. Nate sets up the expectation in the beginning of this book; he is not writing anything earth shattering or answering life’s big questions. It is simply a compilation of entertaining stories that will make you smile. I think the audiobook is a great option if you are looking for an audiobook to listen to on a road trip that is engaging and appropriate for the whole family. Thanks @HachetteAudio and NetGalley for allowing me to have an ALC in exchange for my honest review.
10 Book Reviews Professional Reader

I'm never one to pass up a comedic memoir, and "Big Dumb Eyes" is definitely top tier. Nate is a great storyteller and I chuckled at all his relatable Southern stories, especially coming from a fellow club foot baby. His Christmas story about his sister's family presents made me cry, which is rare for me to do with any type of book. "Big Dumb Eyes" has everything I enjoy in a memoir and I'm so glad I had the chance to listen to the audiobook.

**Thank you Net Galley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.**

I wasn't expecting his memoir when I got this audiobook I thought would be just more of his stand-up comedy routine. I got the humor and so much more! I really enjoyed learning about his background from what his parents were like, to growing up in Tennessee with his brother and sister, going to a Christian school, playing basketball, to leaving home to learn how to do stand-up comedy and then try to make it in this competitive field. If you have never heard of Nate Bargatze or heard his comedy routines, it is time to look him up - you have been missing out!!

His story is shared with honesty and the humor we have come to know and love from Nate Bargatze. I highly recommend the audiobook as Nate narrates his own story which really enhances this book. There is a also a pdf attached for the audiobook, or see the photos in the book if you choose to read it.

My thanks to Net Galley and Hachette Audio for this advanced copy of this audiobook.

‘Big Dumb Eyes’ is comedian Nate Bargatze’s memoir filled with laughs, memories and growing up woes. He takes us back to Tennessee living in the 90s/00s with his siblings, meeting his wife, entering adult and then parenthood. He takes us through different parts of his life and chronicles random, fond memories.

Great audiobook experience! I’m a big fan of Nate Bargatze’s stand up routines so I jumped at the chance to listen to Nate read this memoir. While we do learn a lot about his family and experiences in his routines, it was great to be able to hear more about Nate’s life highlights. This book covers so much more about Nate’s childhood, his relationship with his wife, family and friends, and other telling anecdotes about his journey to the renowned comedian he is today. While Nate makes a valiant effort to convince us that he is “dumb”, his true genius shines through! Highly recommend!
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to listen to an advanced copy of this audiobook.

It’s always fascinating to dive into the origins of someone’s talent, especially when it’s a comedian as skilled and relatable as Nate! His SNL skits and Netflix specials showcase his impeccable timing and sharp wit, so learning about how he built his comedic foundation must be such an inspiring journey.

If you like Nate's stand up, you will like this book. I listened to the audiobook, which he narrates. Recommended.

I'll admit that as a big fan of Nate Bargatze I may be biased, but I truly believe that anyone with a sense of humor will love this book!!

Nate Bargatze is truly one of the most relatable comedians I've come across. From talking about growing up with his siblings, dealing with the way your relationship with your parents changes when you're an adult and they're getting old, his jobs, his pets....it all seems so authentic. One of the examples that stands out me is when he talks about living in the south and how no one asks new people what they do for a living they ask what church you belong to. I moved from New York to Virginia when I was 25 and I must have been asked this by 50 or 60 people in the first few months and I was shocked. That's the kind of thing that's too random to just make up. It's those kinds of little details about life that he manages to make really funny that are my favorite, and this book is a whole collection of them. I absolutely loved it. Highly recommended for any of his fans but also for anyone who enjoys real life comedy. 10/10.

Thank you to Hachette Audio and Netgalley for this advanced copy of Big Dumb Eyes by Nate Bargatze. I have seen Nate Bargatze live, and love his specials, so I was really excited to listen to his narration of his own book. His stories were entertaining, some of my favorites were about the rat in Chicago and his dad forcing him to ride rollercoasters to get his money’s-worth, but at times some of the stories got a little redundant. He prefaces the book by saying that he’s going to repeat himself, to allow the book to be read out of order, but that seemed unnecessary to me. I prefer his stand-up specials over his book.

I love hearing Nate's voice and listening to his silly stories about growing up and how he got into Comedy. This book was pure fun, nothing profound, and I loved it.

I've been a fan of Nate's stand-up comedy and so when I saw he came out with a book, I was interested in checking it out. I'm sad to say that it leaves me feeling a little deflated at the lack of humorous moments and feeling a bit cringey by this peek into the story of his life. It's not that a comedian has to keep us laughing the entire time but entertained is the goal. I wasn't feeling any of that. It felt like these stories of small town life were gimmicky and I don't believe that is how he is trying to come across. I say all of that to also compliment him on his ability to make fun of himself and the circumstances of how his life has unfolded. His humility is what has won him thousands of fans. Humble and self-deprecating humor is his most interesting quality. At times, it just made me feel "bad" to laugh at some of the stories of his life particularly with his father's tough upbringing.
I'm not sure if this book will bring his fans the joy they may be seeking.

I really enjoyed Big Dumb Eyes by Nate Bargatze. I have an almost identical sibling gender/age gap dynamic, so the stories about his siblings made me nostalgic for my own childhood. I laughed so hard at the part about him hitting his sister with a pillow. I also have the exact same two orders from McDonalds, so I related to that chapter.

I received an ALC from Hachette Audio | Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.