{"product_id":"id-rather-not-essays-9781586423780","title":"I'd Rather Not: Essays","description":"\u003cb\u003e\"A decidedly skewed, hilarious collection of life reflections and colorful storytelling.\" -- \u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAn endlessly entertaining collection of wayward autobiographical tales about a search for a richer life thwarted at every turn by beagles, bureaucrats, and ill-advised love affairs \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe unlikely story of how a failed dishwasher, tour guide, cabinet maker, bus driver, bookseller and literary journal publisher became one of Australia's hottest humor essayists \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003ePerfect for fans of humorous, thought-provoking authors like Sloane Crosley, Jenny Lawson, Samantha Irby, and David Sedaris \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThis wryly subversive book of adventures (and misadventures) offers an original and utterly hilarious take on work, escape, and that something more we all need. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eRobert Skinner arrives in the city, searching for a richer life. Things begin badly and then, surprisingly, get slightly worse. Pretty soon he's sleeping rough and trying to run a literary magazine out of a dog park. His quest for meaning keeps being thwarted, by gainful employment, house parties, ill-advised love affairs, camel trips, and bureaucratic entanglements. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe book's 14 essays\/stories can be savored one at a time, or binge read: \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eWar and Peace\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Perfect Host\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eCinderella Pays the Rent\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eLessons from Camels\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eHow to Make It in Business\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Stopover\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eKings of Sweden\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eHouse Party\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eCar Sick\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eI Fought the Law\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eAlways Coming Home\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Art of Tour Guiding\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eA Fisherman's Lament\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eEpilogue: Dying Art of Hitchhiking\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRobert's distinctive voice possesses uncommon immediacy, at once humorous and soulful, self-effacing and wise. Perhaps most important of all, he is endlessly entertaining.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRobert Skinner was born and raised on the Adelaide Plains. His writing appears frequently in \u003ci\u003eThe Monthly, \u003c\/i\u003e and has also been featured in \u003ci\u003eThe Best Australian Essays, Best Australian Comedy Writing\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eInternazionale\u003c\/i\u003e. He currently lives in Melbourne, where he works in a bookshop and plays football at the lowest level.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Steerforth Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50644754104594,"sku":"9781586423780","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_7a2f131b-eb2c-49b4-8675-aa9e2471be61.jpg?v=1733124565","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/id-rather-not-essays-9781586423780","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}