I love Nate Bargatze and I was so excited for this book. The structure of the book is similar to comedy show. It was so funny and I loved that Nate narrated the book. I definitely recommend this book to anyone that’s a Nate Bargatze fan!

3.8 Stars - Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an ALC of 'Big Dumb Eyes' by Nate Bargatze. If you’re a fan of Nate's dry, understated humor, you’ll love hearing him narrate 'Big Dumb Eyes'. I’m convinced the audio version had some extra touches that made it even better—maybe some jokes or delivery that wouldn’t hit the same on the page. It was a great production!

The standout moment? A hilarious story about Nate’s dad opening for his first-ever stand-up set. I won't give the joke away but will say that I legit laughed out loud for three solid minutes and still grin just thinking about it.

The rest of the book had a steady stream of chuckles, but I was low-key hoping for a bit about the iconic George Washington SNL skit (my husband’s all-time favorite—check our YouTube, he's probably watched it 50 times). I heard it’s one of the most searched sketches on YouTube, but don’t quote me—I didn’t do any deep investigative journalism.

My one disappointment was that I didn't get a PDF to view the pictures that were referenced throughout (I'm guessing it's just because this was an ALC). No doubt, Nate did a great job of referencing the pictures and giving context to each one. Overall, this one was a fun listen and a great pick for comedy fans or anyone looking for a light, feel-good audiobook.

I was a little apprehensive going into a memior with a comedian but I love Nate Bagatze so I had to give it a try! Big Dumb Eyes was a great mix of personal and family anecdotes. I listened to the audio and it was great with Nates style of dead pan comedy. I really enjoyed the fact that it was a mix of comedy and stories from growing up in the south.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ALC!

I was so excited to get the audiobook to Big Dumb Eyes to review. I am a newer fan of Nate Bargatze, but I have a feeling I’ll be a longtime fan of his. I found him through his George Washington SNL skits, like so many of us have. So naturally I had to go back and watch those, as well as almost all of his other skits, and an Amazon stand up comedy routine, before doing this review.

So what am I even reviewing now? The man or the book?? Or both?? I guess both since he narrated his own book. I’m usually a thriller or chick-lit/romance reader, so this was out of my comfort zone and it did NOT disappoint. We learn lots of background on Nate. Like the fact that his dad was a magician and a clown. And that he has an affinity for McDonald’s cheeseburgers. And that one of his best friends is named Pee Pee for a very specific reason.

The anecdotes can be read in order or at random. Since I was listening, I went in order. Of course there was laugh out loud humor throughout the book. But there was also a theme of love and devotion for family that was unexpected and very endearing. There were also some blank pages that translated to some reflective meditation time for us listeners.

I’ll say the sibling chapter— Chapter 12– was my all-time favorite. I cried with laughter. Being a middle child, I especially liked when Nate admitted that middle children are the best. I wholeheartedly agree!

You will not regret the experience of this book!

Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the advance recording of this book.

Listening to the audio felt like having a conversation with Nate, only I just laughed the entire time so it would have been a very one-sided (but hilarious) conversation. I highly recommend to anyone needing a laugh and/or fans of Nate’s standup!

If you're not familiar with Nata Bargatze's work as a standup comedian, you're missing out. And if you are familiar with it, this is an extension of his wry, dry and uniquely southern charm. I wanted to listen to this book rather than read it as I didn't think reading his material would do justice to what I knew his deadpan delivery would do. He did not disappoint. Among his many short stories and observations, Nate had several entertaining and touching anecdotes about the people he loves the most; everyone from his mom and dad, sister and brother, to his friend Peepee and wife Laura. Yes, he made me laugh out loud many times. A funny and worthy listen/read.

Wish I could have accessed the photos on the audiobook. Thank you, NetGalley and Hachette Audio, for allowing me a listen.

Autobiographic books written by comedians is one of my favorite niche genres, especially when the audio book is read by the author. This one did not disappoint! It was funny and entertaining, much like Bargatze’s standup. I think of it as standup at a bit of a slower place with a deeper explanation to the origins of the jokes. If you are a fan of Nate’s style of comedy you’ll be sure to enjoy this! Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced ready copy.

It was a great, lighthearted listen! Thanks NetGalley for the audiobook preview!It was a lighthearted listen!
Thanks NetGalley for the audiobook preview!
I am a firm believer that biographies must be listened to not read traditionally, and this is no exception. Nate's Dry wit makes this an easy, quick read and had me chuckling quite a few times at work.

Nate Bargatze’s narration style is so natural and engaging, it made the words jump off the page. He’s hilarious, but what really stood out was how sweet and authentic the stories felt. It was fun learning more about his early life and family, and the mix of humor and heart kept me hooked. His self-deprecating style just makes him that much more relatable. Definitely worth a listen if you’re a fan of his stand-up or just want something funny and genuine.

Wanted to love this as I absolutely love his comedy, but most of this just fell flat for me. Book is not the format for him to be funny, I fear.

I've been a huge fan of Nate Bargatze's stand up comedy since watching his Netflix special, "The Greatest Average American" in 2021. I've watched all his specials now and couldn't wait to read his book!

So glad I went with the audio since he narrated it himself. I love his deadpan delivery, it very much matches my sense of humour! One of my favourite things is the blank pages in the book - if you've watched his specials, you'll get it🎤🤣

Nate Bargatze is one of my favourite comedians. His humour is fresh, honest, and hilariously entertaining!! His book brings the same humour as his stand-up with fun stories that are so relatable and had me laughing out loud!😂

If you enjoy laughing, I highly recommend this book! Also, go check out his specials if you haven't already. He's family friendly so you can watch with anyone in your life!

I challenge you to find a bigger Nate fan than me! As a clean comedian {no cursing,no sexual content not even innuendo} he’s a great listen,follow and watch for all. The book gives us new stories and more insight that does not disappoint! The audiobook is read by Nate so you get to hear the sarcasm tone in his humor that you might not catch on the page. There’s no major life lesson here just pure entertainment making it a great summer read or road trip audiobook!

Thank you Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the ALC so I didn’t have to wait any longer!

In the book Big Dumb Eyes, comedian and now author Nate Bargatze writes about his life. This is a collection of comedic stories about Nate’s life with the clean humor he is known for. Grateful he told about his dad. But my favorite story has to be the Disney trip and getting tickets to jump the line! That was truly funny! This was a great book especially for us with simple minds. I would highly recommend this book. I love the fact that Nate did the audio-book narration. He read it as only he can! I actually did not know he could read. I received a copy of this audio-book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I knew I was going to like this book. I love stand up comedy and I love Nate Bargatze. I wasn't sure if this was going to be a biography or a book of fun stories and I am happy that it was a book of fun stories. I felt like I was reading a stand up show! From the moment it began I was laughing out load. I was interested in the stories and was never bored. So far I have not been let down when it comes to Nate's comedy from his specials, to in person live shows, and now a book. Well deserved 5 stars!

This was such a fun read-- and it was the cherry on top that Nate Bargatze read his own stories. Like during his comedy shows, the timing and dry delivery was perfect, and it was such a fun audiobook. There were just enough quirky parts and fun sound effects to make the whole thing fun to read.

Overall, I loved this! I think anyone who likes Nate or needs an easy, lighthearted read would!

I really enjoyed Big Dumb Eyes. Nate Bargatze has this laid-back, funny way of telling stories that just works. It felt like he was talking straight to me, and I laughed out loud more than a few times. What I liked most is that he doesn’t try too hard—he just owns his awkwardness and turns everyday stuff into something hilarious. It’s not over-the-top or fake funny; it’s just honest and goofy in the best way. If you like his stand-up, you’ll probably love this too.

This book was laugh out loud funny! Listening to this is a must because part of the joy is hearing Nate's delivery. I could not stop laughing. His stories about his dad, the clown, and his siblings was so genuine. I loved hearing some of the same stories from his act but with more details. I will listen to this book again!!!

Nate Bargatze is my favorite comedian, so I knew I was going to love this one. Written as a memoir in short story format, each chapter tells a different tale from his life. I really enjoyed learning more about his background through his self-deprecating and hilarious lens. He narrates the audiobook himself, and it feels like listening to one of his stand-up specials. His conversational tone really draws you in. My husband and I have tickets to see him live next week and I can’t wait! If you’re a fan already, you’ll definitely want to grab a copy. And if you’re not a fan yet, I bet you will be after you read this book!

Nate Bargatze is so unbelievably funny! In this book he tells about how he grew up, lots about his family (mother, father, siblings, wife and daughter), and many funny stories about his own eccentricities.

Also, I'm sure reading the book is funny enough -- BUT if you can listen to the audio book, Do It! The audio production and narration are excellent, and Nate is hilarious as he reads the book. Sometimes he laughs during the reading, I loved that!

If you just need something light between heavy reads, and if you like to laugh, you need to read this book! Enjoy!!!! ;)

I’d like to thank NetGalley, Nate Bargatze, and Hatchett Audio and Grand Central Publishing for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

Nate B:
If you’re a fan of Nate Bargatze, you are going to love this book! If you’re a casual fan like me, you’re still going to really enjoy it. Listening to this book feels like having a long form conversation with someone who is just honestly and casually funny.
Relatable childhood mishaps, teenage insecurities, and a healthy dose of adult self deprecation. It’s very “long form improv” in the way certain jokes are brought back up when you least expect them. Some of the stories have a point, and some are just plain relatable (the first time trying to understand Catholic communion, for example, made me laugh the hardest).
And if you are like me and enjoy your memoirs read by the author, you’ll love this one a lot. I mean, Nate narrates with a casualness that does feel like he’s sharing a story and not reading a page. Inflection, pauses and silly laughs break up the stories. Oh, and have you ever wondered how a blank page is narrated? Nate Bargatze did it best here.
Anyway, I highly recommend you consider this is you’re looking for some funny stories.
Thank you so much NetGalley for an ALC of this book- this is my honest review!