Seedling reviewed Paddle your own canoe by Nick Offerman
Review of 'Paddle your own canoe' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
I hate to give this book even 3 stars. But I quite enjoyed reading about his growing up years (I grew up near Joliet too), relationship with his family, and growth as an actor. It was also refreshing to read how crazy he is about his wife.
I did not at all enjoy how crass he is, and I do not need that much info about your sex life with your gorgeous wife, Mr. Offerman! Pictures are now burned into my brain that I prefer were not. This really detracted from the book for me.
I read some reviews slamming him for his "ultra-liberal views". What appears to irk them is his lack of interest in organized religion or regulating marriage between consenting adults, and his endorsement of recreational marijuana use. Hardly all that far out. And, he doesn't seem interested in forcing others to live according to his lights. …
I hate to give this book even 3 stars. But I quite enjoyed reading about his growing up years (I grew up near Joliet too), relationship with his family, and growth as an actor. It was also refreshing to read how crazy he is about his wife.
I did not at all enjoy how crass he is, and I do not need that much info about your sex life with your gorgeous wife, Mr. Offerman! Pictures are now burned into my brain that I prefer were not. This really detracted from the book for me.
I read some reviews slamming him for his "ultra-liberal views". What appears to irk them is his lack of interest in organized religion or regulating marriage between consenting adults, and his endorsement of recreational marijuana use. Hardly all that far out. And, he doesn't seem interested in forcing others to live according to his lights. I really liked that about this book. He says several times, be whatever religion you like, but don't force it on anyone else - how is that a problem? You don't like church, don't go. Don't want to smoke pot? Great, more for the potheads.
He is pretty stereotypically American in other ways, he loves meat, woodworking and individualism.
Mr. Offerman is clearly quite intelligent, it's a shame that his editor didn't advise him to write a book less profane, and more focused on his subtitle "One Man's Fundamentals for Delicious Living". He actually has some good ideas - do work you enjoy (and work hard at it), value your relationships, be yourself, go outside. Shame they kind of get lost in the extraneous trash talk.