Zeus Grants Stupid Wishes: A No-Bullshit Guide to World Mythology

Myths are insane and these retellings are hilarious. You should buy this book and read it.

Now that we've got the important stuff out of the way let me talk about why I think they are so funny: it reads like someone is excitedly gushing about his favorite thing in the whole world. As a geek I love geeking out and getting excited about things and that's what this book feels like. Ancient history and mythology delivered in the same voice of a sports fan recounting a last second win or a scientist relaying some great discovery. It makes you feel happy to be around something that is so clearly a labor of love.

And it's very accurate! Seriously though, buy it. Read it. Laugh.

This is a collection of retelling of mythology, but as through the lens of coming from Brocepus who has had a little too much Natty Lite but is hanging in there and talking to whoever will listen at 2 am using exuberance to stave off passing out. Do not consume this book in one sitting. I think you will appreciate it more and less likely to burn yourself out on the humor if you take maybe one culture per session.

I'm of two minds about this book; ambivalent you could say. Most of the book is a succession of dick and fart jokes. Dick and fart jokes are amusing, but difficult to sustain for 300 pages.

But then our expectations are subverted right at the end. The last full section is on the mythology of America, and thus making a very subtle but very clever point about how we mythologize our history, and pokes holes into some of the things poured into Americans since childhood. Then after that point is made, he pokes at The Big Bang. This is worth quoting:

Now, I know what you're probably thinking:
You're probably thinking
"Wait a second, this isn't a myth.
This is science!"
Well, yes and no.
See, this
is a story
and like most stories, the most important thing
is whether it gives us a satisfying explanation
of what we see in the world
and maybe some rudimentary means
of predicting what will happen next.
That's all any of these myths have been trying to do:
to take something huge, terrifying phenomenon
something you can only stare at and go "whoa"
and turn it into something more our size
something we can fit inside our puny brains.
Something really cool, even:
a story.

The last to segments of the book elevates this from dick and fart jokes to an actual philosophical discussion. That brings me to move this from an amusing 3 Stars to an enjoyable and memorable 4 Stars.

Cool Story, Bro.

Imagine various myths and folktales as told by a belligerently drunk comedian. On Tumblr. It's hard to describe the style of humor in this book, except to say that "irreverent" doesn't seem like a strong enough word. But don't be fooled by the apparently superficial retellings: this guy has some interesting stuff to say about the purpose of myth and why we should still care and how the story of the Big Bang isn't all that fundamentally different from the other creation stories in this book. As someone with a degree in religious studies, I approve wholeheartedly of his analysis. Additional bonus features include a section on U.S. folklore, an explanation of Scientology, and giving the Old Testament the same silly treatment he gives to other religious texts. And I actually learned a little, or at least enough to go looking for more info. Honestly, I can't recommend this book (or the author's blog) highly enough

There are several parts of the book that make me laugh out loud. There are also parts where I feel like the author was just trying a little too hard to make a running joke. Still a good read.

Really funny. Warnings for homophobic, transphobic and well...everything phobic language. But stick with it. There is smart wit under the dude bro language and it's not just Greek/Roman myth that is discussed. I greatly enjoyed it and my roommate seemed to enjoy the parts I forced her to listen to while I read them aloud. At least until she locked her door. But she seemed to like it up to then.

This book was hilarious and was enjoyable all the way through. The events and characters as he describes them are largely accurate (some translations etc are still debated) and the author breathes new life and a fantastic vulgar humor into them.

This book was the absolutely standard of mythology. The writing was fast paced and the amount of hilarity that O'Brien brings to the table will keep you giggling like a crazy person throughout your entire work commute.

I think what I really like about this book, is how it kind of feels like your buddy is messaging you his version of what he knows about mythology. Each section reads like a long Skype message, from a friend that you keep the program open just to periodically chat with throughout the day. The humor is solid, the love for the history of it is apparent, it is all around a fun book to have laying around.

Why do boring books get taught in school when this masterpiece exists?

I was basically dying of laughter the whole time. Would recommend that you read it slowly so you're not exhausted from laughing so hard by the time you're finished.