Gumption
Relighting the Torch of Freedom with America's Gutsiest Troublemakers
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4.0 • 59 Ratings
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- $4.99
Publisher Description
The star of Parks and Recreation and author of the New York Times bestseller Paddle Your Own Canoe returns with a second book that humorously highlights twenty-one figures from our nation’s history, from her inception to present day—Nick’s personal pantheon of “great Americans.”
To millions of people, Nick Offerman is America. Both Nick and his character, Ron Swanson, are known for their humor and patriotism in equal measure.
After the great success of his autobiography, Paddle Your Own Canoe, Offerman now focuses on the lives of those who inspired him. From George Washington to Willie Nelson, he describes twenty-one heroic figures and why they inspire in him such great meaning. He combines both serious history with light-hearted humor—comparing, say, Benjamin Franklin’s abstinence from daytime drinking to his own sage refusal to join his construction crew in getting plastered on the way to work. The subject matter also allows Offerman to expound upon his favorite topics, which readers love to hear—areas such as religion, politics, woodworking and handcrafting, agriculture, creativity, philosophy, fashion, and, of course, meat.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Offerman explores some of his favorite historical and present-day people, all under the theme of gumption: an ability to charge ahead, be one's own person, and find not just the right way but one's own unique way in the world. His list begins with figures of American history such as George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Theodore Roosevelt, but evolves to include some unexpected and fascinating characters such as landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, furniture maker George Nakashima, and comedian Conan O'Brien. Offerman has a deep and projective voice that is lovably languid. He's in no rush to relay his thoughts and clearly relishes the telling. His enthusiasm for his subjects is always evident but never over-the-top. Several mistakes in the production of the second half of the audiobook (such as background noise and repeated lines) distract from an otherwise entertaining performance by Offerman. A Dutton hardcover.
Customer Reviews
Hey watch this...
I recommend this book to anyone with a dry & sometimes childish sense of humor. It's tickles from the inside out.
An Excellent Read
Another home run for Nick Offerman. Makes you think, makes you feel, makes you want to create something good in the world. When does book 3 come out ?!