Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)

By: Mindy Kaling

Narrated by: Mindy Kaling, Michael Schur, B. J. Novak

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In this hilarious instant classic, the creator of The Mindy Project and Never Have I Ever invites readers on a tour of her life and her unscientific observations on romance, friendship, and Hollywood.“[Kaling is] like Tina Fey’s cool little sister. Or perhaps . . . the next Nora Ephron.”—The New York Times

Mindy Kaling has lived many lives: the obedient child of immigrant professionals, a timid chubster afraid of her own bike, a Ben Affleck–impersonating Off-Broadway performer and playwright, and, finally, a comedy writer and actress prone to starting fights with her friends and coworkers with the sentence “Can I just say one last thing about this, and then I swear I’ll shut up about it?”

Perhaps you want to know what Mindy thinks makes a great best friend (someone who will fill your prescription in the middle of the night), or what makes a great guy (one who is aware of all elderly people in any room at any time and acts accordingly), or what is the perfect amount of fame (so famous you can never get convicted of murder in a court of law), or how to maintain a trim figure (you will not find that information in these pages). If so, you’ve come to the right book, mostly! With several conveniently placed stopping points for you to run errands and make phone calls, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? proves that Mindy Kaling really is just a Girl Next Door—not so much literally anywhere in the continental United States, but definitely if you live in India or Sri Lanka.

Praise for Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?

“Where have you been all our lives, Mindy?”—Glamour

“Who wouldn’t want to hang out with Mindy Kaling? . . . [Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?] is like a mash note to comedy nerds.”—Time Out New York

“Very funny.”—Boston Globe

©2011 Mindy Kaling (P)2011 Random House

Critic reviews

“She’s like Tina Fey’s cool little sister. Or perhaps… the next Nora Ephron.” (The New York Times)

“The fashion opinions of Kelly Kapoor mixed with a Miss Manners-esque advice column.” (Entertainment Weekly)

“If you love Kelly and think the three minutes or so allotted her on episodes of The Office are too few, you can take home Mindy.” (The New Yorker)

Reads Like a 10 Year Old's Dream Journal

Would you try another book from Mindy Kaling and/or Mindy Kaling and Michael Schur ?

No. Unless, of course, I suddenly became deeply interested in the inner workings of the mind of a middle school girl.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Mindy Kaling and Michael Schur ?

I love Mindy Kaling in The Office, but listening to her voice for 4 hours is like a mild form of torture.

Do you think Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No because, quite frankly, Mindy Kaling is just not interesting. The book starts off witty and entertaining and about halfway through, the whole thing loses steam and then towards the end there is an ENTIRE CHAPTER about how annoying it is when it takes a long time for a guy to tie his shoes. Obviously her comedic writing doesn't translate well into an entire book and a second one would be the worst idea since....well, since Mindy Kaling decided to write a first book.

Any additional comments?

This seems like its written by someone who still believes in unicorns and whose favorite color is

The perfect antidote to the long boring drive

What did you love best about Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)?

This is laugh out loud funny! I've listened to it on long drives twice in two months and it was great both times.

What other book might you compare Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) to and why?

The obvious comparison is Bossypants by Tina Fey. Both are by very funny female television writings. I think Mindy's book is fluffier though. She's not trying to make any big points about feminism. She's just telling stories about her life and she doesn't care that you'll probably think she's full of butterflies and rainbows and little spitfire afterwards.

What about Mindy Kaling and Michael Schur ’s performance did you like?

It's always great to hear the author read their own work. Obviously, you'll hear the timing of the jokes as she intendedd it and you'll hear the intended tone as well.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I was definitely grinning in my car all the way to Iowa. I'm sure the people passing me though I was an idiot.

Any additional comments?

On my second listen, my husband was in the car. Even though this is a very female-centric book, he really enjoyed it too.

Full on Mindy

Any additional comments?
If you like Mindy Kaling's brand of humor, you will enjoy this book. It is full of both her special embrace of American consumerism and cross-generational view from between GenX and the Millennials. Great listen!

Worth a read!

mindy kaling’s quirky narration of her childhood stories makes us all relate to it. Well written, superb read! Definitely recommend for a light read!

Great Book!

This book is funny and insightful. she's so down to earth and listening feels like you're listening to your beat friend talk!

Good easy going book

Though I found some parts similar to Tina Fey'd Bossypants, still a good audiobook forthwdrivw home. Light and easy :)

Mindy is so entertaining!

What did you love best about Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)?

The best part of the book was the fact that Mindy narrated it herself. Her reading the book is very conversational and not stiff at all.

funny and fun

Would you consider the audio edition of Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) to be better than the print version?

A little bit because of the pictures in the book.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Mindy tells a refreshingly smart and funny story. It is almost as if the reader and her are having a conversation.

What does Mindy Kaling and Michael Schur bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Voice and mood.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No.

Any additional comments?

I hope there will be a second book!

My butt is smaller thanks to mindy!

I listened to this while power walking and time flew by. I was entertained and can now fit in my skinny jeans. This is like a all night gab fest with your best girlfriend. Love her even more now.

Awsome book

I cannot wait for the next book. I love reading book from the hard copy than listening but I don't think I would enjoy it the same if i read the book mostly because when I read I love to imagine yhe situation in my head and while listening to this book I literally could not stop laughing it was so funny. Hearing Mindy's voice I kept imagining her personality and how it related to what she was saying. Her voice made all the difference. I love you mindy keep doing what u doing.