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My Life as a Goddess: A Memoir Through (Un)Popular Culture
My Life as a Goddess: A Memoir Through (Un)Popular Culture | Guy Branum
18 posts | 19 read | 25 to read
In the vein of New York Times bestsellers Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling and We Are Never Meeting in Real Life by Samantha Irby, a collection of side-splitting and illuminating essays by the popular stand-up comedian, alum of Chelsea Lately and The Mindy Project, and host of truTV's Talk Show the Game Show. From a young age, Guy Branum always felt as if he were on the outside looking in. Self-taught, introspective, and from a stiflingly boring farm town, he couldn't relate to his neighbors. While other boys played outside, he stayed indoors reading Greek mythology. And being gay and overweight, he got used to diminishing himself. But little by little, he started learning from all the sad, strange, lonely outcasts in history who had come before him, and he started to feel hope. In this collection of personal essays, Guy talks about finding a sense of belonging at Berkeley--and stirring up controversy in a newspaper column that led to a run-in with the Secret Service. He recounts the pitfalls of being typecast as the "Sassy Gay Friend," and how, after taking a wrong turn in life (i.e. law school), he found stand-up comedy and artistic freedom. He analyzes society's calculated deprivation of personhood from fat people, and how, though it's taken him a while to accept who he is, he has learned that with a little patience and a lot of humor, self-acceptance is possible. Written with Guy's characteristic blend of wit, guile, and rumination, My Life as a Goddess is an unforgettable and deeply moving book by one of today's most endearing and galvanizing voices in comedy.
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AileenRR
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Mehso-so

I read it for the forward by Mindy, which was fine. I ended up really enjoying the parts about his undergrad years at Berkeley. Also, I thought there‘d be more Hollywood gossipy bits, so that was a let down.

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britt_brooke
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I‘m a sucker for memoirs by former Chelsea Lately writers/panelists. Guy Branum is a walking encyclopedia in the most endearing way. I mean, dude is smart! These essays are about his life, pop culture, digressions, and digressions of digressions. A thread of personal and societal gay commentary runs perfectly throughout. Poignant, funny, and so worth a listen. Branum‘s narration is on point. Do people still say “on point”? IDK.

britt_brooke @Megabooks If you haven‘t read this yet, I think you‘d like it! 3y
Cinfhen I miss Chelsea Lately!! Although her last memoir was a huge NOPE from me. I‘ll look for this one💚And I found your review ON POINT 😉🎯 3y
Megabooks I‘ve never watched Chelsea Lately, but I‘ll stack this based on your rec! 3y
See All 8 Comments
britt_brooke @Cinfhen 😂 Thank you! I miss it, too. 😭 Btw, I loved Chelsea‘s last memoir, but it was definitely a departure from her previous, funnier books. 3y
Cinfhen Interesting/ I ended up bailing on her last memoir. The funny parts weren‘t funny and she just seemed REALLY ANGRY and it was too much rage and politics ~ it wasn‘t what I was looking for, so I guess that was on me. 3y
britt_brooke @Cinfhen She‘s definitely shifted her focus over the years and comes on too strong for me sometimes. The bits from the book that really stuck with me were about her brother who died tragically when she was young. They were close. 3y
Cinfhen Yes, I do remember that part and it was really sad 😢 3y
88 likes4 stack adds8 comments
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natalieebloom
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Mehso-so

There were some really strong chapters in this book, but also some very boring asides (which explains why it took me almost a week to read it). I think I might have enjoyed it a little more if I had listened to the audiobook. I really enjoyed the last 60 pages, when Guy finally gets his start in the TV industry. I tend to struggle staying engaged with memoirs anyway, so that might be a factor in my “so-so” rating.

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ATB
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Pickpick

Glad to know I am not the only one doing it wrong.

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razmanda
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Mehso-so

I wanted to like this one more than I did. Guy Branum is charming and funny, but his editors didn‘t wield a heavy enough hand in some of these essays. There were a few gems but they got buried among a ton of rambling, contradictions and weird footnotes arguing with an audience that, if reading this book, is already in your corner.

Bookzombie I have this on my TBR. I enjoy listening to Pop Rocket, which he hosts. 6y
20 likes1 comment
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razmanda
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Tonight‘s read. Mostly enjoyable but some of the essays really needed more editing or fine tuning.

UrsulaMonarch Yuuuup! For me it was the Canadian history chapter... 6y
19 likes1 stack add1 comment
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razmanda
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Only a few pages in and I‘m already in love with this book.

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moonsinjune
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Pickpick

This book is fun as hell, Guy is ridiculously charming and I love him (and maybe Canada now too?). Shout-out to the #audiobook which is read by Guy and I feel his voice & delivery adds so much.

CoffeeNBooks Welcome to Litsy! 📚 6y
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Welcome to Litsy 📖💙 6y
9 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Melismatic
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Continuing the celeb memoir audiobook extravaganza... hoping I‘ll finish this before having to travel home for the holidays.

Melismatic Update: my fave memoir I‘ve read so far this year & im only an hour in! Guy is so quick & funny! 6y
13 likes1 comment
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moonsinjune
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Cabin vacation in White Salmon stack. Could Guy Branum be any more delightful?

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Christine
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Pickpick

This was a good book for a heavy week (the election, the relentlessness of gun violence, generalized fear and sadness re: my state‘s wildfires, specific sadness that our friends‘ home burned to the ground in Malibu...😔). Though Guy‘s irreverent humor didn‘t always work for me, it sometimes really did - I laughed out loud a lot. He‘s super smart and writes very well, and often movingly, about serious, deeply personal things. A good and funny read.

Freespirit So sad to hear about the terrible bush fires you are experiencing. I hope it rains ☔️☔️ 6y
Christine @Freespirit Thank you! ❤️ 6y
50 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Expandingbookshelf
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Pickpick

I cannot tell if @guybranum‘s “My Life As a Goddess” is more smart or funny. All I know is that I loved it. I‘ve enjoyed Guy‘s work on shows like Chelsea Lately and Lovett or Leave It but this is something a little different. Highly recommended, especially when paired with a mimosa.

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Jen2
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Pickpick

So funny

GingerAntics This looks amazing!!! I can‘t wait to get my hands on a copy of this. (edited) 6y
116 likes5 stack adds1 comment
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Jen2
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Chickens are assholes!

GingerAntics This looks absolutely amazing. 6y
88 likes4 stack adds1 comment
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Lindsy
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September TBR #bulletjournal

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ReadingSusan
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Pickpick

I love Guy Branum. I only know him through various podcasts I listen to but I always enjoy his insights and humor. I was so excited to get this book. I settled in expecting a hilarious, witty and light hearted book of essays. This book was nothing like I expected. Instead it was a book of essays full of heart wrenching insights, sadness and raw honesty. It was so much better than I expected. There was still lots of humor and funny stories.

ReadingSusan I was provided a copy of the book by the publisher via NetGalley. 6y
84 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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nikirtehsuxlol
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Thank u #NetgalleyJesus really excited about this. Dying to read about Guy and Chelsea Handler

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FairyHighRoad
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Pickpick

I spent my entire day off inside with A/C, spiked seltzer and this amazing book. Guy Branum was a comedy writer for some of my fav shows like Chelsea Lately, The Mindy Project and Billy on the Street. This book is a collection of stories detailing his childhood and teen years in a Northern CA farm town to his time spent working with comedy stars like Chelsea Handler and Joan Rivers. I devoured every word in this book. Publishing date is 7/31/18