This book was lighthearted and hilarious, which is exactly on par with Nate Bargatze's reputation! He shares so many funny stories and gives you insight to his life growing up that is incredibly relatable. The way he shares his family and friends, and the stories he loves is incredibly genuine. Definitely recommend for a quick, lighthearted, enjoyable read or listen!

Nate Bargatze: Big Dumb Eyes is exactly what I hoped it would be—funny, a little random, and full of that classic Nate charm. It reads just like his stand-up sounds: dry, clever, meandering in the best way, and totally clean without losing any comedic punch.

Nate has this talent for turning everyday stuff into something hilarious—and learning more about his life and perspective just made me like him even more. Yes, there are tangents, but it’s kind of what makes him Nate. If you’re already a fan, it feels like a hangout session in audiobook form.

And speaking of the audiobook—I’m so glad Nate narrated it himself. Honestly, it wouldn’t have worked any other way. His delivery is part of what makes the humor land so well, and hearing him tell these stories in his signature style was the best part.

Thanks to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest review.

Big Laughs and Bigger Stories

As a stand-up comedy junkie and longtime Nate Bargatze fan, I was all in for this one, and it totally delivered. Big Dumb Eyes is a heartfelt, laugh-out-loud collection of stories that feel like a natural extension of his stand-up sets, but with even more room to stretch out and be delightfully weird.

From his obsession with Vandy football to the mysteries of sushi, every chapter had me smiling or shaking my head in that familiar Nate way—where you’re not quite sure how you got there, but you’re glad you did. The audiobook makes the whole thing even better. Nate reads it himself and throws in some off-script tangents that make it feel like you’re sitting front row at a private show.

Sure, there are a few moments where he touches more on his faith than he typically does in his sets, but it never feels preachy, just personal. If you’re into Nate’s style of low-key, observational comedy with a lovable twist of self-deprecation, you’ll have a great time.

I flew through this one, laughed plenty, and kind of wish it was twice as long.

I think this audiobook would be great for fans of Nate. I've really only watched one segment of his show, and I really enjoyed that. This is a collection of Nate's stories growing up, like a new friend catching you up to his life so far. It makes you look forward to the next years together.

For those that love a celebrity memoir, this is such a fun read! Bargatze reads it himself and it just makes the book even funnier. I found myself chuckling along and loved this listen!

Big Dumb Eyes: Stories from a Simpler Mind

I Picked Up This Book Because: I've enjoyed the authors comedy in the past.

Media Type: Audiobook
Source: Netgalley
Dates Read: 5/29/25 - 5/31/25
Rating: 4 Stars
Narrator(s): Nate Bargatze

The Story:

A memoir told in no particular order. I think it does give a good view into how Nate’s mind works.

Nate Bargatze is one of my favorite comedians and I was thrilled to discover he was releasing a book. I was even more excited to receive a review copy of the audiobook. I started listening right away and could hardly stop, finishing it in less than 12 hours.

Big Dumb Eyes (definitely not Big DEMISE) is a wonderful collection of personal tales, thoughts, and honest confessions.

Nate himself doesn’t like to read books and is surprised this book exists.

“ Every book is just the most words. How it never lets up and it’s just more and more words until it’s like, what are you talking about? Please just make it stop.“

He tells us we’re in for a good time (in spite of all the words).

Nate Bargatze is famous for his clean, relatable humor and deadpan delivery. He finds comedy in everyday situations like family, parenting, and awkward situations. His book mirrors this style with light, funny stories about his hometown in Tennessee, his friends, family, and even his old car.

Just like in his stand-up comedy, the content of the book is clean, light, funny, and relaxing. It’s filled with stories about his hometown in Tennessee, his friends, his family, and even his old car.

Bargatze indicates that we can read the book from start to finish, or pick a random chapter here and there, and we will be just fine. Read it anyway we want.

It is easy to see why Bargatze is currently one of the highest grossing, stand-up comedians.

Overall, this audiobook was a delightful listen that I highly recommend to fans of Nate Bargatze and anyone who appreciates great comedy and personal storytelling that will have you laughing out loud.

5 Stars!!!

I laughed, I cried due to laughing, and honestly just felt better about life. The audiobook narrated by Nate makes the book even more enjoyable. In his typical deadpan humor style Nate tells stories about his life. Everyday stories that end up making you laugh and feel like you arent alone in your human experience. Being from the south I found his tales even more relatable. His wit and storytelling shine throughout the book.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys laughing and finding the joy in this little thing we call life.

I think Nate Bargatze is utterly hilarious, and would happily watch any of his comedy specials over and over again. I should also say, that I really appreciate that his humor is “family friendly” while my kids might not get all the jokes, I’m never worried about them hearing something too mature for them.

For this book, I HIGHLY recommend listening to the audio version. I think so much of why Nate is so funny has to do with the delivery and how he leans into his Tennessee accent. I’m sure if you are familiar with him already, you’d “hear” his voice when reading the physical book as well, but I do recommend audio for the best version.

Nate Bargatze's Big Dumb Eyes is a delightful audiobook that captures the essence of his stand-up comedy. Narrated by the author himself, the audiobook is as funny and enjoyable as his live performances. Bargatze's storytelling shines through, especially when he shares anecdotes about growing up in Tennessee during a simpler time. His humor is both relatable and heartwarming, making this audiobook a must-listen for fans of comedy and personal stories alike.

Nate has proven to be hard to dislike. He followed the playbook that Brian Regan laid out for everyone, but took it to the next level. Self-deprecation notwithstanding, Nate is pretty smart.

Thank you Hachette Audio for this advanced audiobook! This was such a great listen! I love Nate Bargatze - I can't make it through his comedy specials without uncontrollably laughing out loud. While the narrated storyline has a different vibe than stand-up, I thoroughly enjoyed getting more insight and background to some of the funny stories/jokes I've already heard.

I don't think I am the audience for this book, and that's okay! I started it, laughed, and then never had the urge to pick up and keep listening. I am happy for Nate and am glad he narrates his own story. I am sure lots of people will appreciate his balance of humor and reflective storytelling.

I loved listening to Big Dumb Eyes in his voice—he’s my favorite comedian, and hearing him tell his own stories made it feel personal, funny, and totally engaging. The delivery was great, and there were so many moments that had me laughing out loud. I knocked off one star mostly due to some repetition that, while intentional, felt just slightly annoying at times. A few parts also felt a bit random, though that’s not exactly a bad thing coming from a stand-up comedian—it kind of added to the charm. Overall, a great listen and definitely worth it if you’re a fan.

I've been a fan of Nate Bargatze's for years. I've seen him live twice, once in a fairly small venue and once in an arena. This wasn't as funny as his stand up, but it was still an enjoyable memior that delves deeper into his life than a joke ever could.

Laugh-out-loud funny and dumb in the most endearing way, Big Dumb Eyes is everything you'd want from Nate Bargatze on the page. His signature everyman humor shines through in a collection of ridiculous, relatable, and genuinely sweet stories. Whether he's talking about his tennis ball gear shift or debating the definition of "shopping" with his wife, Nate delivers with perfect comedic timing and charm. It’s delightfully absurd in places, surprisingly wholesome in others, and never takes itself too seriously. A perfect read when you need a mood boost—or just a reason to laugh until you cry.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

If you are familiar with Nate's standup, then this is exactly what you think it will be, and it's everything I wanted. I am not an audiobook fan under normal circumstances; this is the first audiobook I have listened to in years in fact. But when I heard he was narrating his own book, I knew this was the exception, and I am so glad I did. It is basically a 6 hour stand up, sprinkled with some feel good. It was the perfect drive to work distraction from real life that I was looking for!

I love Nate and his shows are hilarious! I love how he has clean comedy. This was the perfect book for him to write about his life.

I’ve been a fan of Nate Bargatze—a clean comic with a slow Southern drawl—so I was excited to listen to the audiobook version, narrated by Nate himself.

True to form, the book is light, funny, and self-deprecating. Nate admits he doesn’t like to read, so he includes blank pages (or in the audiobook, elevator music) to give readers a break. His delivery and timing make the stories about his childhood and comedy career especially entertaining.

While I didn’t laugh as much as I do during his stand-up, I was consistently amused. This is a fun and easy book to listen—especially on those days when the world feels heavy. It’s not a literary masterpiece, but it doesn’t try to be. It’s just Nate being Nate, and sometimes that’s exactly what we need.

My thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the recording of this book.

I had fun listening to this audiobook filled with silly antics and southern charm. The special touches of sound effects that he puts in made the listening experience more enjoyable and added to the stories. Would only recommend if you are a true fan of the comedian since it is more story based and not comedy based.