Harold

By: Steven Wright

Narrated by: Steven Wright

Length: 5 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

A uniquely humorous and deeply profound novel from a legendary stand-up comedian that follows the thoughts of a 1960s third grader during a single day at school.

Steven Wright is one of the most significant and influential stand-up comedians in history. Rolling Stone ranked him fifteenth on their “50 Best Stand-ups of All Time” list, while the New York Times has written of his enduring legacy: “If you made a family tree of modern stand-up, he would top one of the few major and expanding branches. The children of Mr. Wright pack the comedy scene today.” Now comes his first novel, which is sure to be unlike anything you’ve ever read.

From the outside, Harold is an average seven-year-old third grader growing up in the 1960s. Bored by school. Crushing on a girl. Likes movies and baseball—especially the hometown Boston Red Sox. Enjoys spending time with his grandfather. But inside Harold’s mind, things are a lot more complex and unusual. His thoughts come to him as birds flying through a small rectangle in the middle of his brain. He visits an outdoor cafe on the moon and is invited aboard a spaceship by famed astronomer Carl Sagan. He envisions his own funeral procession and wonders if the driver of the hearse has even been born yet.

Harold documents the meandering, surreal, often hilarious, and always thought-provoking stream-of-consciousness ruminations of the title character during a single day in class. Saturated with the witticisms and profundities for which Wright’s groundbreaking stand-up has long been venerated, this novel will change the way you perceive your daily existence. To quote one of its many memorable lines: “Everything doesn’t have to make sense. Just look at the world and your life.”

©2023 Steven Wright. All rights reserved. (P)2023 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Amazing! Bukowski-esque!

Loved this book! The thoughts are hilarious and thought provoking, and there are so many titillating factoid nuggets, like how random things came to be or random people who died, and how they died. It’s a plethora of little elements, and classic stand-up “callbacks” laced throughout that made me really enjoy this book.
Harold’s thoughts and nonsensical meanderings are EXACTLY what it’s like to be a young boy, and Wright adds humor and emotion to a simple scene, that we’ve all experienced. Sitting in class all day, escaping the monotony and wandering into our weird brains until “after 13.8 billion years and the 3 o’clock bell, the school day ended.”

Love Steve Wright, didn’t love this

I really love Steven Wright’s stand-up. This book had funny moments, but it was boring overall. The story was hard to follow, mostly because it was stream of consciousness.

Unique and interesting

One of a kind enjoyable book. At first I thought it was just an odd intro to the book but it wasn’t. It was odd and captivating from beginning to end.

So original, like nothing I've ever read A+++++

Unbelievable view into the mind of Steven Wright. I have been a fan for many years, and this book just makes me more of a fan. The story of what goes through 7 year old 3rd grader Harold is gold. Many good jokes and one liners had me laughing out loud with my headphones on, got some weird looks from family members.

Steven is genius level and its just fun to listen to him think. If I missed a second I rewound so I could keep up with the story. Lot of good life tips in it as well. I will have my kids listen, 18 and 21, hopefully they will not waste their precious time. Thanks Steven, loved it. Rogan podcast was good too, thats how I found out about the book.

Taking a trip through a surrealist comic's mind

Loved it. Been a fan of Steven Wright's comedy for a long time and have always admired how strange and interesting his brain is. He makes connections and puts things in ways I've never heard before. One of a kind! Now this book feels like being transported into his thought process at length. If you enjoy his stand-up at all, do yourself a favor and pick this up

Steven Wright is a truly a treat

Amazing read and too funny to put down. Steven has one of the best narrations I’ve ever heard.

Love Wright’s Comedy

This is Wright’s comedy in a narrative format. It’s silly, offbeat and unique. His fans should check it out. Others should check his comedy first.

strange and enjoyable

This is only a bit more bizarre than I expected. For Wright fans and enjoyers of very unusual stories, this should fit the bill.

And an illustrated book about birds.

This was so funny to me, Steven's narration and delivery is just so enjoyable to listen to. I've always loved this guy. I think Boston comedians are the funniest in the country, maybe because I'm from Boston. I'm also a Steven. I recommended this to my buddy, who apparently met him one day while working, I can't even imagine how funny he is in person !
This was a definite great listen !
"She smelled like a green crayon."
I laughed all the way through this and will never look at a bird the same way again !

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I am told that there are eight more words required for my review. Now there are none. I wonder what the voice in your head sounds like reading my review and if the voice in your head is different than the one you use to talk with. I wonder if everyone’s head voice is just a little different or if anyone’s head voice is from another country or time. Please tell me so then I’ll know.