I'm Just a Person cover art

I'm Just a Person

My year of death, cancer and epiphany

 Preview
Try Premium Plus free
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Unlimited access to our all-you-can-listen catalogue of 15K+ audiobooks and podcasts
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically.

I'm Just a Person

By: Tig Notaro
Narrated by: Tig Notaro
Try Premium Plus free

£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £8.99

Buy Now for £8.99

About this listen

In the span of four months in 2012, Tig Notaro was hospitalized for a debilitating intestinal disease called C. diff, her mother unexpectedly died, she went through a breakup, and then she was diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer. Hit with this devastating barrage, Tig took her grief onstage. Days after receiving her cancer diagnosis, she broke new comedic ground, opening an unvarnished set with the words: 'Good evening. Hello. I have cancer. How are you? Hi, how are you? Is everybody having a good time? I have cancer.' The set instantly went viral, and was ultimately released as Tig's sophomore album, Live, which sold one hundred thousand units in just six weeks and was later nominated for a Grammy.

Now, the wildly popular star takes stock of that no good, very bad year - a difficult yet astonishing period in which tragedy turned into absurdity and despair transformed into joy. An inspired combination of the deadpan silliness of her comedy and the open-hearted vulnerability that has emerged in the wake of that dire time, I'm Just a Person is a moving and often hilarious look at this very brave, very funny woman's journey into the darkness and her thrilling return from it.

 Funny Witty

Listeners also enjoyed...

 Confessions of a Mediocre Widow cover art
Here's the Deal cover art
I'm Walking as Straight as I Can cover art
Handbook for an Unpredictable Life cover art
Untied cover art
When I Married My Mother cover art
Rock Needs River cover art
Bite Me cover art
All That You Leave Behind cover art
RISK! cover art
There Was a Little Girl cover art
Lucky Man cover art
Born with Teeth cover art
The End of Your Life Book Club cover art
Then Again cover art
Firefly Lane cover art

Critic reviews

The book is heartbreaking, and brilliant, and funny. . . it’s fantastic.
Notaro's thrilling, candid, and hilarious memoir is a provocative and convincing rallying cry to seize the day
I’m Just a Person will make you laugh, or cry, or both.
A tragedy turned into a thing of beauty
Notaro’s story is funny not because it’s true (although it is), but because it’s told by the world-class stand-up with wit and vulnerability.
Anyone who can write a sharply funny-and bravely optimistic-story about losing her mother, going through a break up, and being diagnosed with breast cancer all in the span of four months is an absolute heroine in our book. All hail, Tig Notaro! (Glamour)
Comedian Tig Notaro takes pain and successfully converts it into laughs in I’m Just a Person… It’s an intriguing and inspiring look at one woman’s way of pressing on

I'm Just a Person is Tig's journey in her own words, taking us through the repeated and unexpected heartaches of loss, the awkwardness and humiliation that comes with being ill, and all the social and personal struggles that come with either of those taxing situations. And yet, she has penned a very funny, deeply moving narrative. This isn't emotional torture porn or blandly uplifting treacle; this is hardcore honesty and sincerity told through a hilarious, sardonic lens.
Not only is it a terrific, meaningful read, but it was a wonderful guidebook that helped me be there for a friend who endured a similar loss. Knowing what to say and what not to say is just one worthwhile lesson Tig provided amongst all those laughs and poignant words.
All stars
Most relevant
very authentic and vulnerable. and that she isn’t an “on stage/off stage” person, which i feel is pretty much non-existent among many.

insightful & beautifully written

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Such an amazing and sincere book, Finished i two days. The strength and Intelligence was so eminent throughout.

Beautiful

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I came to this already knowing a little of her story through watching One Mississippi. I really loved that, so this was fantastic for me to find out more about her.
I much prefer to hear the work read by the writer, especially if it's autobiographical. it did feel a bit "read" rather than spoken though, perhaps I noticed that more because I'm used to her performance delivery.

already a fan

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This is an autobiography (short), not a comedy sketch. There are a few jokes sparsely spread throughout the book but it is, for the most part, serious.

I think the performance is fantastic only if you have heard her stand-up shows. She wants you to know this is serious and not a joke and her tone reflects this.

Brutally honest

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
excellent book very easy listening and a true honest account of many different life events. very humbling and endearing this felt heartfelt through the cancer diagnosis and I have gone through the same so felt very connected to Tig.

endearing and heartfelt. a must read.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews