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.

Nate Bargatze is my favorite comedian, so I was so excited to listen to his audiobook! I love that he narrated it. It felt like he was just talking during one of his shows and I really enjoyed it. If you love Nate Bargatze or haven't discovered him yet, you definitely need to listen to this audiobook. It will have you laughing out loud, guaranteed. I received a free copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

If you are a fan of Nate Bargatze then you will enjoy the audiobook, Nate shares some great stories from his childhood, some random thoughts on food and his experiences moving from his small town in the South to the big city up North. You are given insight into some of the experiences that have helped mold him into the huge success that he is today. Very enjoyable read—his narration made it even better!!

4 ⭐️

Funny story told by a hilarious comedian. Love his stories and humble nature. Even better that he narrates it.

I was able to listen to the audio of this book and it was perfect. I felt like I was a a comedy show, hearing Nate talk about each story and laughing along with him. This was something my whole family enjoyed and I left it playing while we cleaned up dinner together and found that even my teen boys stuck around because they wanted to hear about Nate's NBA dreams and all of the mischief he got into at work. Thank you to Net Galley for the advanced copy!

Nate Bargatze is one of my favorite comedians so this was such a fun listen.
I enjoyed listening to all his stories from his voice.

This should be a no-brainer for fans of Nate's comedy act, but I'd also highly recommend for those new to him. This audiobook is narrated by Nate himself and you will get an absolute feel for his comedy style and get a nice look into his background. Nate takes you through the layout of the book at the beginning which is that there isn't really a layout. Each chapter is just either a story or his meandering thoughts on a topic. As with all of Nate's content, this can be enjoyed as a family and I listened to it in the car on a summer roadtrip with mine...Made the time fly! I even bought my dad a copy of the audiobook for Father's Day. Highly recommend!