I loved this!

I was a little worried that because I've seen most of his stand-up specials that it would be recanting stories I've already heard but that was not the case.

I'm not completely against comedy not "clean" but I do find Nate Bargatze refreshing. some of the clean comedy that is out there.I just don't feel like it is as well done and he finds a way to be one of the best comedians in my opinion and clean at the same time.

I did listen to the audio version of this book and there were a couple moments where that added to the humor. for example, in one of the first few chapters he mentions that he makes a comment for people listening to the audiobooks selling them. he just learned how to pronounce a certain word, and there were a few examples of things like that that made the audiobook a little more special.

As someone who grew up in the South and as a Baptist, so many of his childhood stories hit home and had such a level of nostalgia (Church League sports with carpeted basketball courts.... 🤣🤣).

I feel like this was something that could be an easy read that you do in a day, but you could also just read a chapter at a time between other things.

if you love his sand up, I highly recommend this book!

I've always loved Nate Bargatze’s clean, clever comedy, so I was really excited to check out his book—and it absolutely delivered. There were moments I had to fight not to laugh out loud in public or look like a complete maniac cracking up while driving. But honestly, how could you not laugh? It’s Nate!

I listen to a lot of audiobooks, and this one truly stands out—especially because it’s read by Nate himself. That probably makes it even funnier. If you enjoy his stand-up, you’ll love this book. Just get it—you won’t be disappointed. Thanks for the ARC

My husband and I first learned about Nate Bargatze when he hosted SNL for the first time in Oct 2023. We were instantly fans, so it was a no brainer to try to get my hands...or ears in this case...on his book early. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for selecting me as an ARC listener.

I HIGHLY recommend the audiobook - 5 stars all the way! Of course, I'll also purchase the physical book to add to my personal library, but hearing Nate narrate "the most words" in his book just brings it to life in a way reading it can't. I have watched every video I could find of him, so as he narrated this book, I could envision his expressions and that just added to the enjoyment. His dry, self-deprecating humor is so funny and extremely relatable, in my opinion. Growing up in a Christian home and being a born-again Christian myself, I related to so much of the stories he told about his childhood and his experiences with church and "church" people. Additionally, the way Nate describes his wife and their relationship hits home because it is VERY similar to my relationship with my husband. The similarities are astounding and it just adds to the relatability of his humor.

My husband and I have a running joke that involves stating whether certain people (usually celebrities) can "come to our BBQ." If we think someone would be fun to be friends with and have at a BBQ, we say "[insert name] can come to our BBQ." Well, Nate, Laura, and Harper can TOTALLY come to our BBQ. Nate - if this BBQ doesn't happen on Earth, you guys are totally invited to our BBQ in Heaven. I'll be sure to stock up on Diet Coke (I'm an addict as well), Grape Jelly (even though it's not really our "jam"...heh heh), and we'll have fried chicken for you and grilled chicken salad for Laura.

Thank you to Nate, for sharing your wonderful talent with the world...and thank you again to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me the privilege of and early listen...now I'm going to go listen to it again!

One of the more hilarious comedian memoirs I've read. Bargatze is incredibly funny in almost every chapter and his narration is fantastic.

Nate is hilarious. My husband and I both love his comedy. This book felt like a more intimate comedy tour with him. We laughed, we cheered him on and we loved that he read it too! Can't wait to see him live again!

What an absolute joy. Nate Bargatze is so hugely deserving of his moment. So funny, smart, and effortlessly charming. I loved listening to these delightful stories from his life, read in his fabulous accent and with his unique cadence. You can tell reading aloud like this might not be his strong suit, but he manages to find his groove, and the book often feels like a fireside chat. This was so fun to go back to each day, and I could have listened to a whole lot more. Will be recommending everywhere. Thank you!

Thank you, NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the opportunity to listen to this book.
I don't have strong feelings one way or the other. I was a bit disappointed I didn't connect with this author as I do when watching him do interviews or hosting SNL.
But it was a bonus to hear him read his book.

I became a fan of Nate Bargatze not too long ago, after seeing him on some videos and podcasts with my favorite comedian Dusty Slay, so I was excited to find out he was writing a book. It took me a little while to start listening to it though, because I wasn't in the right headspace for a "comedy" book. I decided to start listening to it on my drive to work one morning and I was INSTANTLY laughing out loud. When he mentioned that reading books was "just the most words," with no ending in sight, I laughed so hard that I had to really concentrate on driving. And moments later, he suggested pulling over if it became too funny. As with most (decent) comedians, there are some not-so-funny moments that need to be brought up in order to paint the whole picture, and that was true a few times in this book as well. Parts were actually a little emotional! But mostly he painted some pictures with his words that were very funny. I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would! I was happy to actually hear him mention Dusty Slay in the book as well! (Maybe one day we'll get a book by Dusty too. --looking at you, Hachette Audio!) Would definitely recommend Big Dumb Eyes if you like memoirs and/or laughing.

If you like Nate Bargatze's stand-up, you will love this book. I listened to his narration of the audiobook, and it is like attending one of his shows!

What’s the deal with Nate Bargatze? Crowned “The Nicest Man in Stand-Up” by The Atlantic, he keeps it clean, just like his hero, Jerry Seinfeld only with a Southern drawl and the quiet confusion of someone who still doesn’t totally trust Bluetooth.

If you’re already a fan like me, Big Dumb Eyes: Stories from a Simpler Mind is a no-brainer. And if you’re going to read it, do yourself a favour and and opt for the audiobook. Bargatze’s signature deadpan delivery takes every low-stakes disaster and slice-of-life observation to new, quietly hilarious heights. Bonus points for narrating the book’s blank pages as if they were a built-in intermission. It sounds strange, but it works.

You won’t come away quoting specific stories, but you will remember the good vibes: Nate grew up in a tiny town in Tennessee, with a magician dad and a best mate named Pee Pee. Honestly, what other career path could possibly have been up his sleeve? Welding?

If you’ve ever tried to explain how the cloud works, or asked, “What’s the name of that movie with the guy from that thing?”, Big Dumb Eyes gets you. It sees you. With its big… dumb… eyes.

I listened to this audiobook all in one day while doing yard and house work. I probably looked pretty insane when I would randomly laugh out loud or shake my head in disapproval. I enjoyed all the bits, minus the sports talk because I couldn’t care less about any of the that but he still managed to make it funny. #BigDumbEyes #NetGalley

Anyone who loves Nate’s standup will really enjoy this book. Nate gives us a, somewhat random, glimpse into his life with hilarious stories of his past, his family, and his various food quirks. I love that Nate narrates this himself. It really made listening to it feel like an immersive experience with his accent and great timing… *almost* as fun as his normal standup. His dry and self-deprecating humor packed its usual punch and had me laughing through every chapter. I loved that the stories within the book felt both organized and random, which just seems to fit him.
I highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys his comedy, wouldn’t mind knowing a little more about him, and/or just wants a light, entertaining read.
Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and Grand Central Publishing for providing the ALC.

Nate Bargatze is one of my favorite stand up comedians, so when this hit my radar, I had to have it.
I absolutely adore his little antidotes from his life. The way he romanticizes being 'dumb' had me laughing out loud repeatedly. His chapters on dogs and his wife being the man of the house absolutely killed me. This journey throughout his life was truly exactly what I needed. I needed the laughs and the light hearted vibes.
If you are needing a break from literally any genre, I cannot recommend picking this one up enough. You will laugh and have an easy breezy good time! Thank you for my ALC!!

I am a HUGE fan of all that Nate Bargatze does and this audiobook cemented my fandom forever! I am an avid listener of his podcast and listening to this audiobook felt like an extension of that podcast but only with Nate. Through following his career I feel like I know a lot of his stories but there were so many shared that I hadn't heard before. I am sure that reading this book is great but I cannot recommend the experience of listening to Nate narrate his own book enough. There are added elements like sound effects that I have never heard before in a audiobook and would be missed in the the reading experience. It is everything you hope it will be and much more!! I would give this audiobook a big 5 stars!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Big Dumb Eyes is classic Nate Bargatze—wry, self-deprecating, and effortlessly hilarious. I especially loved the audiobook version; hearing Nate deliver the stories in his signature deadpan style made it even more enjoyable. Fans of his stand-up will feel right at home. A fun, feel-good listen!

This audiobook had me laughing out loud at points! Nate Bargatze brings his usual deadpan humor to a set of vignettes from his life under the theme “Big Dumb Eyes.” Exactly as advertised, the book doesn’t take itself too seriously and strikes the right balance of simple storytelling and clever humor. I especially enjoyed Nate’s stories from his brief stint in college and his early relationship with his now wife. Listen to (or read) this book if you’re in need of an 8 hour break to relax, refresh, and laugh!

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this ARC!

If you are a fan of Nate Bargatze's stand-up, then you will love this book. So much of his comedy is the way he expresses the irony in mundane things in his daily life. So a memoir read by the author is basically just an extension of his stand-up.

Nate Bargatze is a favorite, and this book confirmed all the reasons why.

Memoirs are a retelling of all the intricate details of a person's life...the trials and triumphs, "I was born here, moved here, went to college here," and these terrible things happened. Yes, some of that is included in Big Dumb Eyes, but mostly it's stories of friendship, family, rats, food, socks, cars, and lessons learned from the everyday happenings of life. Nate's love of his family shines through, as does his hilarious view on himself. I smiled, chuckled, and laughed out loud.

If you have the chance to listen to the audiobook, I highly recommend, as it's read from Nate himself, with his inflections and timing, which is everything in comedy.

Thank you Hachette Audio and Netgalley for allowing me to listen in exchange for my honest review.

3.25 stars

Thanks to Net Galley for the early preview of this audiobook.

Before listening to this audiobook, I did not know a lot about Nate Bargatze. I saw him a couple of times on Saturday Night Live (as George Washington) and I thought he was really funny. I learned a good deal about Nate through his memoir. I like his relationship with his family, especially his dad and little sister. It must be interesting having a professional clown magician as a dad!

While I enjoyed this book and liked the length of it, maybe it wasn’t entirely what I was expecting. I guess I was expecting a little more humor and maybe some of his comedy bits thrown in there. I remember listening to a Jerry Seinfeld memoir-of-sorts, and he put a good deal of his stand-up comedy in there.

Either way, Nate is a very likeable person, and I hope to see (and hear) more of him. Is it a worry that he was ‘smart’ in seventh grade, took a bad fall, and became ‘dumb’ in eighth grade? I mean, I know that is part of the joke of “big dumb eyes”, but to me it was just slightly alarming. I did like how people thought he was saying “big demise”. I enjoyed his bits on tipping culture, McDonalds changing their meal menu numbers, and Vanderbilt football.

Audiobook narrator Nate Bargatze rating: 4 stars
He is great at reading his own book and I wouldn’t want it any other way. His accent is fun and it’s interesting hearing him pronounce some words. But I don’t really see it as a “southern” accent as he claims.

listen if you like:
😂 comedians
📍 kentucky
👩‍❤️‍👨 funny families

summary:
Nate Bargatze is my FAVORITE comedian. His clean but smart comedy is the best, and his SNL skit of Washington crossing the Delaware is probably the funniest one I’ve ever seen. When I saw he was releasing his own book and narrating it himself, I requested it immediately.

It is a collection of stories from throughout his life, starting with growing up with a clown father (an actual clown) and a competitive brother, and through meeting his wife and his life as a comedian. His narration is identical to his stand up — clean, low-key and smart with a dry delivery and natural persona. He comes across as a normal every day man, just commenting on things he experiences in his day to day life. Some of his topics are more mundane (like his hatred of onions and love of McDonalds) and some are more about his career and entrance into comedy. Each story is the perfect length — it’s easy to listen to without losing track of the plot, but with more detail than he can provide in his regular standup routines. The pace is reasonable — if you can listen to his comedy and keep up, this audiobook will be a piece of cake for you. My only watch out is because his voice is so level and steady, it can be a little easy to fall asleep to!

I’ve also read the normal ebook, so stand by for that review soon! Thanks to Hatchette Audio, Nate Bargatze and Grand Central Publishing for the audiobook copy to review. If you love him as much as I do, check this out today!