3 ⭐️ I really like Nate as a comedian but this book didn’t really translate as a super interesting or overly funny read. Nate’s upbringing in the South is pretty typical, it reads like a normal person giving a basic and somewhat boring history of their childhood. There are a lot of “you had to be there” type stories with his friends. He glosses over some of his Father’s personal childhood trauma, which is understandable. I guess, I just didn’t find any relatability, inspiration or nostalgia in his story, which is a large part of why I read these “celebrity” memoirs. I am glad I got the audiobook narration, as Nate reads this himself. It is written and produced with his trademark dry humor and I think it translates well into audio. I am not sure how it would work in a written book. So if you pick this up, I definitely recommend the audio version. I wish it came with the PDF of pictures that he referred to a lot throughout the book. I also really enjoyed the “blank” pages and breaks inserted into the book in a few parts, very original.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this ALC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Nate Bargatze is one of my favorite comedians. His southern boy demeanor, common sense logic, and unhurried delivery are the trifecta of funny. The guy just looks like the underdog, so you root for him, even in the stories you don't.

He isn't afraid of some self-depreciating humor, obviously his book is titled Big Dumb Eyes, but what I love about his act is how gosh dang reasonable it all is. He can tell a story about walking the dog and it's hilarious. He talks about his first car. I laughed out loud. He talks about a man who worked at a furniture story he may or may not have even met, and I was rolling. Whatever the X factor is, this guy has it.

Now, Nate has famously claimed he is not a reader. He'd 'like to be' he says, but books are just 'so many words'. As such, in his own book, there are breaks. I listened to the audio version, and he plays a little bit of elevator music to cleanse the palette a little bit before jumping into the next story, as to not overwhelm you with all the words. I believe in the hard copy there are several blank pages. Hilarious, and on brand.

I was actually surprised how much I laughed at the stories in this book. Nate's humor is one of a kind and hearing these stories of his life and childhood was so nostalgic. I'd kill to be a fly on the wall at one of his family's board-game nights. They sound like a hoot.

I also love how comedy memoirs like this one (and Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are examples of this too), the comedian will tweak the narration to actually acknowledge you are listening to the book instead of reading it on paper instead of strictly reading every single word as it appears in print. If you're not a big reader, like Nate, absolutely you should still read this...just listen to it instead!

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I never get tired of hearing Nate Bargatze's stories especially told by him. The audiobook of Big Dumb Eyes was a quick enjoyable read. Some stories hit harder than others. The Chicago apartment rat and the amusement park stories were my favorites. Nate's self-deprecating comedy style was funny but also heartwarming as well. If you like Nate Bargatze's stand up, you'll enjoy this audiobook! Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this audio ARC.

Thanks Hachette Audio and NetGalley for an a copy of this audiobook.

If you like Nate (live or on streaming specials) you will certainly enjoy this book. I’m glad to have listened to this over reading because Nate Bargatze is also the narrator. Each chapter is a standalone sound bite of a story. Some are silly and some give more insight into his life and how he became a comedian.

This book was… fine. I expected to laugh out loud more but it felt like I was listening to ramblings more than a story or even bites of comedy.

The audio production was good. There were very few parts where the it sounded as if the audio was recorded at a different time than the rest. I enjoyed the extra production on pieces like phone calls, which I don’t feel is common in a lot of memoirs.

Overall, I don’t feel I took much away from the book about life or about Nate, and that disappointed me.

Big Dumb Eyes by Nate Bargatze is self-deprecating humor, absurd but true family stories (you can ask Pee-Pee), and a perspective that even the most mundane moments are hilarious. It's a collection of personal stories, recollections, and reflections on life as a "non-genius," delivered distinctly with a Southern flair.

"I used to be a genius," Nate Bargatze begins, "but then I fell off a cliff, and now I'm a comedian."

The book is structured more like a conversation than a memoir. It moves from tales of his first car (Old Blue, complete with a tennis ball for a gearshift), rats in his first apartment that move TVs, and growing up in a tiny town with a speed trap. There's something universally relatable about the chaos and affection in Bargatze's stories, especially if you grew up in the South. Listening to them felt like sitting around at a family reunion, hearing your funniest uncle tell stories you've technically heard before but still laugh every time.

The standout experience, however, is the audiobook version. Narrated by Bargatze himself, it feels more like an extended comedy set than a traditional reading. He leans into his natural timing and delivery in ways that make the listening experience feel even more intimate.

It will make you laugh and remind you of everyday life's ridiculous, wonderful weirdness. And if you're going to read it, I recommend the audio version—you'll feel like you're sitting in the passenger seat of Old Blue on a long road trip with Nate himself telling you stories the whole way.

Thank you, NetGalley and Hachette Audio/ Grand Central Publishing, for the opportunity to review and provide my honest feedback. Hachette Audio/ Grand Central Publishing

“Big Dumb Eyes: Stories from a Simpler Mind” by Nate Bargatze The most fun listening experience!! I LOVE when a celebrity reads their own book. In this case, there is NO substitute for having Nate Bargatze, one of the most well-known stand-up comedians, deliver some of his own personal stories, opinions, and confessions right to my very own ears. Felt just like I was at one of his shows but without the traffic, crowds, and high ticket prices (That said, I am going to his show in Chicago this October!)

I usually listen to audiobooks at 1.5-1.8 speed; however, I listened to this one at 1.25 because part of the humor is the WAY Bargatze talks, and some of his unique voice was lost even at 1.5 plus WHAT’S THE RUSH when enjoying my private Nate Bargatze stand-up act?! Bargatze’s TONE makes his comedy, so HIGHLY recommend the audio version. I was impressed by the audio production for many reasons, one of which is little asides specifically for the audiobook listeners (i.e. “Here I am writing one [book] of my own, that you are listening to…because you don’t like reading either.” and “I don’t have to explain to you [the audiobook listeners] how I say ‘Gaaahlllly.’ The readers would read it as just “golly.”) Additionally, sometimes the audiobook versions of books can be slightly confusing, like when new chapters begin and changes in points of view and/or time. In this audiobook, it is very clear when new sections/chapters begin. The audio production is seamless!

Lastly, I loved the parts of the story where Nate shares his experience living in Chicago and working at Jake Melnick’s Corner Tap (still here!). I laughed out loud while walking outside in public when Nate shared his encounters with the “gigantic rats” unlike the “tiny little mice in Tennessee.”

I’m truly sad this audiobook is over. If you are a Nate Bargatze fan, you will love his book filled with his trademark sense of humor. It was an absolute joy! “Big Dumb Eyes” releases on May 6, 2025. Thank you to #hachetteaudio and #netgalley for the early listening copy of #bigdumbeyes!

I ran across Nate Bargatze on Ticktock, SNL, and YouTube. So when this audiobook came around I knew I wanted to listen to it especially with the author reading it. Nate is a very funny man and it’s wonderful that ANYONE can listen to him. He brings everyday thoughts and action to humor. One can agree with so much of what retells. Highly recommend this book especially the audiobook to enjoy.

I thought this audiobook was very well done. Some of the audio adaptations were a little over the top but it felt very on brand for Nate Bargatze. I am not a super fan and didn't know that much about him before reading this book. I did laugh at loud a couple times-which I never do. I think his whole, I'm dumb schtick is a little over done, but that seems to be him gimmick and people love it. As a woman, it made me feel a little bad for his wife, but hopefully he does actually have his actual life together. Definitely a fun family friendly read.

Being a fan of Nate and his humor this book hit the jackpot. It was filled with his history of growing up with his father, the Clown, his failing college, how he met his wife, and how he never reads books. There were so many fun things that were new that I hadn't heard before and it was so fun listening to him narrate his story, his book, and his jokes.

An easy one to enjoy in a day!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the gifted ALC. It's no shock that it was done absolutely perfectly with the voice of Nate Bargatze reading his own book.

I just finished listening to Nate Bargatze's new audiobook and it was a blast! I'm a fan of his standup. I recently watched one of his specials and was cracking up the whole time. So, when I saw his book pop up on NetGalley as an audiobook, it was a no brainer.

The best part is that Nate himself narrates it, which makes the whole experience feel just like you're sitting in the audience at one of his shows. Seriously, there were so many times I just burst out laughing while listening.

He's got this way of talking about everyday stuff that's just so relatable and funny. There were definitely bits where I was like, "YES! That's totally me!" If you're thinking about checking out this book, I'd definitely recommend going for the audiobook. The production quality is great, and hearing Nate deliver his jokes just makes them even funnier. For some bits there was sound effects and made the experience more enjoyable. If you enjoy his comedy, you'll really enjoy this. Go grab it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for an ALC of this audiobook. I voluntarily listened and gave an honest review.

I love Nate and his humor so much. Unfortunately, it did not translate very well to an audio book. I still enjoyed hearing more about his life though.

I am a Nate Bargatze fan. I have watched all of his standup and I think he is hilarious. The book read like a standup routine. It was lighthearted, clean, and very funny. I did not learn anything more about Nate in this book but I think that's okay - it was not a memoir, just simply funny stories. I admit, I heard some of this stories previously but that did not take away from reading them again. My favorite chapter was about the Christmas Elf and when he says, "My daughter is not my friend. She is my best friend." That line sums up the whole book, it was funny but also heartwarming. A very light read that I would recommend to anyone who just wants something stress free and funny. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

Biographies are not my usual cup of tea, but I’m a big fan of Nate Bargatze’s comedy so I jumped on the opportunity to listen to this audiobook. To be honest, it’s not breaking any boundaries, but it had me chuckling throughout. Bargatze brings his same dry, perpetually somewhat confused, delivery to his narration that he brings to his stand-up. I really think this is one that is best listening to… I’m not sure the stories would hit the same without Nate’s heavy southern drawl and acerbic wit.

I’m not sure how to rate this audiobook since it’s my first biography (or I guess collection of personal short stories) by a comedian so I don’t have much of a point of reference. But I did thoroughly enjoy it, so 4 stars it is!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the opportunity to listen to this ALC!

All the stars. This book is hilarious. If you love Nate’s stand-up, you’ll love this—same kind of confused logic, accidental wisdom, and deadpan delivery (highly recommend listening to the audiobook). It somehow feels both incredibly dumb and sneakily smart.

Super quick, super funny. Honestly, it’s like getting a peek inside the brain of the funniest, most bewildered man alive. Loved it.

“Big Dumb Eyes” is a collection of biographical comedic stories by the renowned comedian Nate Bargatze. It’s genuinely laugh-out-loud funny, especially in audiobook format, where Bargatze himself narrates.

In this collection, he shares anecdotes from his childhood, his journey into adulthood, his struggles to succeed, and his experiences meeting his wife, among other topics.

This book is guaranteed to brighten your day with his humorous insights and self-deprecating wit. I highly recommend it to both fans of his work and anyone in search of a good laugh. A special thanks to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and Grand Central Publishing for providing me with an advance listen of this comedic gem.

Nate Bargatze is one of my all time favorite comedians so I was so excited to see he wrote a book! This was SO FUNNY! I highly recommend the audio cause it really just felt like a 4 hour long comedy special and I was cracking up through the whole thing!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette audio for the ALC!

Nate Bargatze gives hope to dumb people everywhere. If he can make it, anyone can.

Nah... I'm a huge fan of Nate. I'm glad to get the chance to learn more about him and his early life. As a fellow southern Christian male who grew up poor, I can relate to so many of his stories. I love the deadpan humor, the offensive terms of endearment, and the outpouring of emotion that he displays in this book. I'm so happy for this guy... to find success in comedy while still being "clean". I absolutely loved this book.

Notes:
Nate's voice for the narration of the audiobook is essential.
Nate's friend got his nickname from getting hit with a football in the pee pee.

Thank you for the audiobook!! I am a long time fan of Nate and had high expectations for this book— It was as great as I hoped! I was especially excited about the audio. Nate’s voice and delivery and cadence is such an integral part of his comedy and it added so much to the reading experience. There were even some fun additions like music and sound effects that made me smile. This book had me laughing out loud while I was cooking, but I also really appreciated the more vulnerable essays on Nate’s family, particularly his dad. I have preordered a print copy because I need to be able to see all the photos referenced!

This book is full of some funny anecdotes from the author's life. It was enjoyable and if you like his comedy, you'll like this. I recommend the audio, the narration is well done and the author narrating always makes it more enjoyable. At times this borders on too self-deprecating and repetitive, so my rating is more for the content of the book than the narration. Thank you to Hachette Audio for the ALC to review.