1/15/2008: I just finished this book and I have to say that it is the funniest thing I've ever read! Although I was put off by the abundance of vulgar language, I did learn some new British swear words---so it was a learning experience! Some other things I learned are that the British form of the game "Clue" is called, "Cluedo" and that England, N. Ireland, Scotland, and Wales make up the United Kingdom.

I really liked how it ended on a positive and sentimental note and that everything really was "happily ever after" in the end! Wallace has a great ability to tell a very humorous story, while still leaving the reader is suspense as to the next turn. I read online that they are making this into a movie starring Jim Carrey. After hearing that, I showed the cover to my husband and said, "they are making a movie about this book...who do you think is starring?" He said, "Jim Carrey!" ( )

The first thing to say is that I'm someone with a relatively hypoplastic sense of humor. Very little makes me laugh out loud, and I usually find the idea of comedy kind of intimidating, because I never know if I'm finding it as funny enough. But even for someone as humor-stunted as myself, Yes Man is quite funny. Ever wonder what would happen if you said yes to the random pan-handlers, and spam e-mailers and signature-collectors and advertisements and dozens of other offers we're bombarded by? The idea is so simple, and Wallace has a beautifully dry sense of humor.

The other promise -- that I would find Yes Man insightful or thought-provoking -- didn't pan out, though. As a woman trying to make my academic career work I get the opposite advice, all the time: "Learn to say no." And Wallace did nothing to convince me that I shouldn't be working harder on not stretching myself too thin. Would it be fun to spontaneously go to Singapore? Yes. Can most people handle the major work, family and financial consequences to more spontaneity? Probably not. I had a lot of second-hand anxiety about Danny's financial straits when reading...maybe for independently wealthy mid-twenty somethings emulating this experiment is possible, but for the rest of us, taking out and using dozens of credit cards is more nightmarish than a life lesson.

Finally, the first half had an affected naivete that was neither interesting, nor convincing. We all know Nigerian princes offering millions of dollars is a scam. Say "yes" if you feel you have to, but it's tedious when you pretend to believe that there is anything real to the situation.

Overall, I found the book light and fun, but I was happy it was him and not me. ( )

Excellent book! I had a lot of fun reading the adventures of the man that said yes to everything for one year.
Lesson to be learned is that we do not have to say yes to everything but that if we say yes more often instead of immediately turning down offers or say no, you are more open to opportunities. ( )

Loved it! Funny as hell, with real laugh-out-loud parts! And so inspiring, too. The storytelling is ace. Everything comes full circle, in a way that isn't forced or unrealistic. =) ( )

I'm not a fan of the nonfiction genre because the truth can be stranger than fiction - it's not just a cliche, you know - and I'm always left wondering whether or not the author has taken some poetic liberties with his own life. But after reading some YA horror, a translation and a collection of short stories left me feeling I'd been cheated of great literature (thank you for that, Tumblr, by the way), I decided it might be time that I read a memoir of a Yes Man. And I'm glad I did.

This book is full of your feel good moments - falling in love, growing up, having adventures, larger than life characters (hypnodog!), letting go - to spiritual aspects and a few moments of depression. It's real. It's a real book - and no, I'm not accusing anyone of saying it doesn't exist - but it's a book that you can read to feel better about the world, feel better about yourself, allow yourself to make mistakes and take risks even when you normally wouldn't.

That being said, it's probably the only memoir I've ever read. Don't get me wrong, I've read several biographies and autobiographies, but never a book about a certain time the author's life. I've tried in the past - Cherry by Mary Karr comes to mind, Smashed is another one and then there's Prozac Nation- but I never got pasted the first few pages, or chapters. But Yes Man was different. How could I possibly say no to a book about saying yes?

I couldn't, and there was never a time I wanted to put it down - even when I should have been working, I was reading Danny Wallace's words, laughing with him and feeling sad when things were going differently than expected. In many ways, the book inspired me to say yes a little bit more. Even to things that I would normally find tedious or annoying - let me give it a try again. While reading, I even took down a couple of notes about references he'd make - I went as far as buying an Ian Rankin book just because he mentioned the author's name.

Maybe this book can change my life around. Or maybe my cynicism is just too strong to be pushed under the mat. Either way, I've never thought about it until I read the book. And that says something, doesn't it? ( )