Failure Is an Option

An Attempted Memoir

De: H. Jon Benjamin

Narrado por: H. Jon Benjamin

“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.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“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

Just When You Thought You Were Out Of Options...!

Here we go!
You tired of being around over-achievers? Are you wallowing in despair because of flaws, failure, rejection?
Don't worry. In Failure Is An Option, H. Jon Benjamin has been there, done that... only ten times worse!
While I didn't laugh out loud that many times (heads up: watch for diarrhea in rental cars), I certainly did smile and chuckle my way through not quite 5 hours of tremendously clever writing and pitch-perfect delivery (seriously, Benjamin's voice cracks in despair and anguish over that rental car scene).
There are robberies that could have been foiled... just weren't quite. Children driving small electric cars (wearing shades, no less)... who are worthy of scorn and loathing. Your own wonderful fathering skills... that end with your kid eating dog poop.
Seriously, this is not a serious book. Plus, at the very end, there's a truly enlightening bit about how to fail, why it's good to fail and not take it all so dash-blast-it personally.
Worth the groans. Worth the giggles.

it explains the Charisma of mr. Benjamin

it is interesting he explains his failures throughout his life in a prideful charismatic way that they don't seem like failures but more like funny moments in his life that he just dealt with as a joke it's a good read for anyone that's had a bad day or struggling.

Of course this book is hilarious

If you know even a little bit who H. Jon Benjamin is, you already know his life story of fuckups is pure gold.

I don't reccomend this book!

One of the worst books I've ever listened to. H. Jon Benjamin is good as a voice actor but he shouldn't write ever again.

Failure Succeeds

This book is a refreshing take on real life events that doesnt focus solely on making the writer look like some divine entity with little to no fuck ups in life. Jon did an amazing job at relating his experiences to his audience and portraying them in a way that shows his acceptance of the blunders that life throws your way. I couldnt help but imagine Archer in his den with a grip of scotch wearing the all too familiar tactile-neck waiting for Brendon or Louise to stroll in and gawk in awe at the tales from the crypt that is Jon's life. 10/10

Danger Zone!