Failure Is an Option cover art

Failure Is an Option

An Attempted Memoir

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Failure Is an Option

By: H. Jon Benjamin
Narrated by: H. Jon Benjamin
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About this listen

 “Writing this funny requires immense talent.”
—AV Club


H. Jon Benjamin—the lead voice behind Archer and Bob's Burgers—helps us all feel a little better about our own failures by sharing his own in a hilarious memoir-ish chronicle of failure.

Most people would consider H. Jon Benjamin a comedy show business success. But he'd like to remind everyone that as great as success can be, failure is also an option. And maybe the best option. In this book, he tells stories from his own life, from his early days ("wherein I'm unable to deliver a sizzling fajita") to his romantic life ("how I failed to quantify a threesome") to family ("wherein a trip to P.F. Chang's fractures a family") to career ("how I failed at launching a kid's show").

As Jon himself says, breaking down one's natural ability to succeed is not an easy task, but also not an insurmountable one. Society as we know it is, sadly, failure averse. But more acceptance of failure, as Jon sees it, will go a long way to making this world a different place . . . a kinder, gentler place, where gardens are overgrown and most people stay home with their pets. A vision of failure, but also a vision of freedom.

With stories, examples of artistic and literary failure, and a powerful can't-do attitude, Failure Is an Option is the book the world doesn't need right now but will get regardless. Entertainment & Celebrities Performing Arts Celebrity Comedy Memoir Funny Witty Success Biography

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Critic reviews

“His craft, and what makes him such an inspired and singular voice, is to make it look easy… That it’s decidedly not that easy is part of the gag; writing this funny requires immense talent.”
—AV Club

“It’s that voice … Had me laughing out loud.”
—The New York Times

“Benjamin’s stories run the gamut from personal to professional and will leave you laughing out loud and embracing your own failures.”
—HelloGiggles

“Benjamin’s unique take on the classic ‘fail until you succeed’ self-help industry looks to be as self-deprecating and absurd as his best work.”
—Brightest Young Things

“Irreverent, edgy and hilarious…recommend to all who need a respite from stress and a good laugh.”
—Booklist

“Benjamin is up-front and funny as he recounts his unsuccessful launch of a kids’ late-night TV talk show (tentative title: 'Midnight Pajama Jam') and documents his parental shortcomings (bad idea: babysitting an infant in a video arcade). Yet failure 'doesn’t mean the end of something,' Benjamin writes. 'Often, it’s a springboard toward something better.' He delivers these and other words to live by with concision, wit and a stand-up’s sense of timing.”
—Book Page

"Thank you for sending me a copy of the book."
—Amy Poehler

"Will try and get a quote back to you soon."
—David Cross

Automatic reply: Anderson is out of his office from December 21-22. For urgent requests, please email [redacted].
—Anderson Cooper

"Dream big and tomorrow will be brighter."
—Quotes.com

"Believe in yourself and others will follow."
—Inspirationalquotes.com
All stars
Most relevant
Simply loved it, couldn't stop laughing. His voice paired with his experiences / failures make it a compelling and entertaining audiobook.

Amazing!

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I was waiting for the story of Archer and Bob Burgers and it was worth it!
A Beautiful and hilariously embarrassing journey of a man too lazy to quit but also too lazy to get up.
Jon has taught me a lot of things!

PHRASING!

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This memoir is written with a "Failure" framing device which I felt was unnecessary. There's a lot of talk about failing in life, failing at this and that. He writes to professors to ask about failures in history and such. If he had just written his stories then it would have been hilarious.

The first chapter or two were dire but then the next few chapters were so funny I couldn't stop laughing, him as a kid home alone, bowel problems, him trying to build shelves, there was some funny stuff there.

Then he goes back to talking about Failure and complains that he had to make a certain word count. This annoyed me because I think it was true. He lists dumb business ideas or names for things and reads e-mail chains in an attempt, in my opinion, to make it up to a certain word count (this is a short book as is).

Then he gets back to funny stories and the book ends well despite an epilogue about failure. It's a shame that the good bits were sprinkled amongst some junk. The narration was good though. Nice having a book read by Archer.

Bit of a mixed bag

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I wasn't sure what to expect, but really glad I took a chance on it. My only complaint is that I wish it was longer.

Laugh-out-loud funny

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Enjoyed every word from start to finish, and having H. Jon Benjamin narrate it himself only adds to the enjoyment.

Thoroughly enjoyable.

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