My Custom Van: And 52 Other Mind-Blowing Essays That Will Blow Your Mind All Over Your Face

If you're a fan of any of Michael Ian Black's work, you've got to read this book. His humor translates seamlessly into essay form in this laugh-out-loud journey through the minds of characters such as Billy Joel, a dispirited football coach, a young Harvard hopeful, and Abraham Lincoln. This book is as insightful as it is hilarious; we learn how to behave around our most beloved celebrities in "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Meeting People More Famous Than You" and whether or not vampires are a detriment to society in "Vampires - Good for the Economy?" Most importantly, My Custom Van is a multifaceted piece. It exhibits a broad range of humor and truly has something for everyone.

What can I expect from a collection of humorous essays introduced by Abe Lincoln? Apparently, hilarity. I have enjoyed the talents of Michael Ian Black for several years across several television stations and different program formats, but I approached the book carefully for several reasons. In my opinion, so much of comedy is in the timing of the delivery, the cadence of the speech, and the inflection in the voice that I often approach comedic books with trepidation, if not outright fear, of wasting my time. I have read books written by other comedians that fell flat because there was not enough thought given to the change in format. Written comedy has to be presented a little differently sometimes to still come out funny, and some jokes do not translate at all (try reading a transcript of "Who's on first?"). Additionally, many comics try to write a whole book and present it the way they would a set or a monologue. A book cannot be fine tuned to the reaction of the audience as it is read (at least, not yet) so there is no way to gauge which part you should ad lib a little on and which part you should drop. It is also hard to be topical because some issues have no lasting impact and you cannot really revisit them. Few comedic books have earned my respect and few still have been recommended by me to friends and family. Somehow, Mr. Black managed to discover a way to not only preserve his delivery but also to give us a book with humor that has no expiration date. Presenting his work as a collection of essays gives the reader options not available in a traditional format. Here, if I start reading an essay and it does not suit my mood I can simply flip a couple of pages and move on to a different entry. It also makes it something you can easily put down and come back to again (see Sarah Silverman's suggestion on the back cover). The delivery works, the format works, and the humor is the sort I can visit over and over again when I need a good laugh. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys sarcasm, laughter, and occasional nonsense.

My Custom Van is, if not one of the funniest, then THE funniest book I have ever read. Each of these fifty or so essays produced not a chuckle, not a polite laugh, but deep belly laughs, the kind that bring tears to your eyes. I admit to being a complete and utter fan of Black's appearances on the VH1 "I Love the..." series of television specials. Black's humor is biting and well-timed, with zingers that will get you in the gut. Thankfully, he's an equally talented writer with a wonderful imagination. Who else but Michael Ian Black would: wonder what would happen if he colored his personal area with a magic marker? write letters to a squirrel, or to the first girl he ever intimately encountered while at sleepaway camp? Or even pen some of the most obnoxiously funny "erotica" ever to land on the page? While I certainly got fifty kicks out of reading this book, I can definitely see how some readers might not be as amused. I think Black's humor might not be for everybody, but I'm not exactly sure what makes me think that. But if you're the kind who enjoys a quick romp through a tome written by a guy with a unique sense of humor and point of view, perhaps you should check this book out. You may actually find yourself with a yen for eating fudge in the back of Black's custom flokati and bamboo covered van.

As difficult as it is to type with skull fragments lodged in my tear ducts and grey matter up my nose, I am soldiering through it from the sheer love of this book. Michael Ian Black is a sage of the ages. You will glean practical and immensely wise advice, and learn the answers to such age old questions as: 1) How can _I_ use the Socratic Method to do unspeakable things? 2) Who is Socrates? 3) How exactly does Michael Ian Black party? (Answer: hardy.) 4) What's the deal with unicorns? There is much much more, but the bone shards are making me cry, and I must stop now. I think I will apply a heavy salve of funny, courtesy of Michael Ian Black. This book also cures cancer. Enjoy!