Grumpy Old Dan
Reflections from the Edge of Fatherhood, Fame, and Frustration
by Dan Remmes
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Pub Date Jul 14 2026 | Archive Date Jul 29 2026
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Description
From the writer of the critically acclaimed Grumpy Old Men: The Musical comes Grumpy Old Dan, a collection of hilariously sharp, self-aware essays on show business, family, and the quiet absurdities of modern life.
Dan Remmes is an acknowledged grump. He’s also warmhearted and keenly observant. After decades surviving show business, he has more than a few tales to tell. In this eclectic collection of sidesplitting stories, humiliating mishaps, social commentaries, and introspective musings, Dan also offers a healthy dose of Hollywood and New York City nostalgia. His confessional essays hold nothing back:
- awkward interactions with celebrities
- rogue mascots and schoolyard skirmishes
- bouncing off a speeding car in Times Square
- a fiery fury over flip flops
- the indignities of medical maladies
- an accidental audience with the Pope, and more
Perfect for fans of David Sedaris and Nate Bergatze, Grumpy Old Dan is a laugh-out-loud ride through the frustrations and joys of life—told by a man who is simultaneously exasperated by the world and deeply in love with it.
A Note From the Publisher
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/251901609-grumpy-old-dan?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=VdlQxbz8kS&rank=2
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Dan Remmes is an award-winning playwright, screenwriter, and actor whose work has featured Emmy-, Tony-, and Oscar-winning performers. His scripts have been produced and workshopped across Europe and North America, including at the White House. He is the writer of the critically acclaimed Grumpy Old Men: The Musical.
Advance Praise
“My generation can finally lay claim to its very own humorist in Dan Remmes. Hilarious, thoughtful, and often philosophical.”
—Rob Corddry, The Daily Show, Hot Tub Time Machine, and Ballers
“My generation can finally lay claim to its very own humorist in Dan Remmes. Hilarious, thoughtful, and often philosophical.”
—Rob Corddry, The Daily Show, Hot Tub Time Machine, and Ballers
Marketing Plan
- NetGalley campaign
- NetGalley email blast
- Editorial reviews
- Ingram Reviews Program
- Ebook discount service
- Book award submission
- Author website
- NetGalley campaign
- NetGalley email blast
- Editorial reviews
- Ingram Reviews Program
- Ebook discount service
- Book award submission
- Author website
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9781967510740 |
| PRICE | $18.95 (USD) |
| PAGES | 292 |
Links
Available on NetGalley
Average rating from 6 members
Featured Reviews
Andrea L, Reviewer
Dan Remmes’ book is hilarious, heartwarming, and packed with his signature sense of humor that regularly had me laughing out loud. His self-awareness, self-deprecation, and cringe-worthy honesty make this collection incredibly engaging and hard to put down. I was captivated by the vivid characters, his many misadventures, his traumatic near death experience, and other life-altering medical events he recounts in excruciatingly funny (though painful) detail. I found myself feeling for Grumpy Old Dan (as well as Vulnerable Little Boy Dan) and rooting for him throughout.
I flew through this collection and found myself wanting more. I sincerely hope Dan has another book (or two) in him. Beneath all the humor is a whole lot of heart.
It’s almost impossible to pick a favorite story, but “Mohegan Done” made me laugh out loud a lot, as did nearly every anecdote involving his daughters growing up.
Dan’s wit and humor in the face of life’s many twists and turns make this a touching, ridiculous, and thoroughly delightful read. I can’t recommend it enough.
ERIC G, Reviewer
This book will make you wish Dan Remmes was your friend!
An LOL on every page. Don't read in public unless you want to startle fellow commuters or coffee shop patrons with your guffaws. Mr. Remmes evokes all kinds of laughter with his wit, honesty and an abundance of TMI. Aggressive "HA!"s will burst out of you when he tells you about his Vasectomy, childbirthing classes and a trip to a fertility clinic. Also, giggles and awwws as we (throughout the book) get to witness his daughters growing up to be just as clever as their Father who chronicles their one-liners from toddlers to young women. Even when telling harrowing stories of a near-death experience, Mr. Remmes still gets big laughs.
He's a rare breed, a Bostonian-New Yorker, which should be illegal but he literally makes a case for his defense as he recounts several "New York Stories" as well as phonetically spelling his family's Boston accents throughout. This mix of bean-town-underdog and big-apple wit gives Mr. Remmes a unique voice, one that is pleasant to listen to even when he is griping about waiting in line or waiting for the humiliation of snubbing Jerry Seinfeld to subside. This unique voice really comes through in the several fictional scenes that span from the silly sales-pitching of the "flip-flop" to a couples late-night "discussion" that is all too familiar yet through Remmes' dialogue; not as painful and so much more fun!
So we may not actually be able to be BFFs with Mr. Remmes, but we can carry Grumpy Old Dan around with us and get more than a few laughs!
Paula D, Reviewer
Dan Remmes' Grumpy Old Dan is a wonderful collection of true stories told with honesty, insight and LOTS of laughs.
His self-deprecating and candid look into all aspects of his life are told in such a way that you can picture yourself sitting in a pub with Mr. Remmes as he regales you with the wonderful stories of a good friend and raconteur.
Whether he is giving us a behind the scenes glimpse at his work and struggles as a writer and actor to much more personal and serious issues like a near-fatal car accident or having a seizure while performing on stage, he always approaches it with humor and candor. He opens up about his family, fatherhood and fertility journey with sincerity and devotion. Filled with warmth, wit and wisdom, Grumpy Old Dan is a PERFECT summer read. And for me - a RE-read as I'm going back in for seconds!
Reviewer 2086743
Grumpy Old Dan kept me eagerly turning the pages, each chapter offering another relatable, insightful, and genuinely humorous story. It is a wonderfully engaging memoir that captures the complexities of navigating life's many firsts—from a young aspiring actor striving to establish himself in a competitive industry, to learning the unspoken rules and social dynamics of the entertainment world, and later, embracing the joys and challenges of marriage and parenthood.
With warmth, wit, and remarkable self-awareness, the book explores universal experiences of growth, uncertainty, and self-discovery. Whether you're a sports enthusiast, a New Yorker, a theatre lover, or simply someone who appreciates honest storytelling, you'll find plenty to laugh at, reflect on, and relate to. Grumpy Old Dan is both entertaining and deeply human, making it a thoroughly enjoyable and memorable read.
Lawrence T, Reviewer
Taken together, Remmes’ hilarious essays paint a picture of a wry and witty man reexamining his life – perhaps in hopes of finding different answers to questions that had been settled long ago. His memoirs and stories are timely and relatable, funny and insightful, and they literally made me laugh out loud.
Charlie G. T, Reviewer
Funny, thoughtful, and wonderfully authentic, Grumpy Old Dan takes readers on a journey through growing up, family, comedy, insecurities, and the wonderfully messy moments that make us human. Dan’s stories and essays move effortlessly from laugh-out-loud moments to poignant observations and personal reflections, reminding us that the things we think only happen to us are often universal and that our inner thoughts are more alike than we realize. There is nothing grumpy about Dan—he is simply telling our stories. He is all of us.