Paddle Your Own Canoe cover art

Paddle Your Own Canoe

One Man's Fundamentals for Delicious Living

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Paddle Your Own Canoe

By: Nick Offerman
Narrated by: Nick Offerman
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About this listen

Parks and Recreation actor Nick Offerman shares his humorous fulminations on life, manliness, meat, and much more in his first book.

Growing a perfect moustache, grilling red meat, wooing a woman - who better to deliver this tutelage than the always charming, always manly Nick Offerman, best known as Parks and Recreation's Ron Swanson? Combining his trademark comic voice and very real expertise in woodworking - he runs his own woodshop - Paddle Your Own Canoe features tales from Offerman's childhood in small-town Minooka, Illinois - "I grew up literally in the middle of a cornfield" - to his theater days in Chicago, beginnings as a carpenter/actor and the hilarious and magnificent seduction of his now-wife Megan Mullally. It also offers hard-bitten battle strategies in the arenas of manliness, love, style, religion, woodworking, and outdoor recreation, among many other savory entrees.

A mix of amusing anecdotes, opinionated lessons and rants, sprinkled with offbeat gaiety, Paddle Your Own Canoe will not only tickle readers pink but may also rouse them to put down their smart phones, study a few sycamore leaves, and maybe even handcraft (and paddle) their own canoes.

©2013 Nick Offerman (P)2013 Penguin Entertainment & Celebrities Gender Studies Social Sciences Celebrity Funny Comedy Witty

Critic Reviews

“[Offerman] not only explores his Paul Bunyan-like image with tongue-in-cheek lessons on manliness, complete with illustrations and advice, but also offers poignant memories of his childhood growing up in Illinois and hilarious anecdotes from his career.” (Entertainment Weekly)

“Offerman touches on everything from his days as a break-dancing, football-playing farm boy in Minooka (about 50 miles southwest of the Loop) to his freewheeling, hedonistic 20s in Chicago to the inevitable Hollywood struggles that followed. But he doesn’t gloss over embarrassing moments, including his two trips to jail during college at the University of Illinois - one for shoplifting Ronnie Milsap cassettes from Kmart as a joke; the other, he says, a convoluted case of mistaken identity. Between anecdotes, he delivers impassioned pleas and rants…” (Chicago magazine)

“Thought-provoking, profane, and frequently hilarious…getting to know Offerman through his stumbling courtship with Megan Mullally and Kabuki theater training is well worth the price of admission.” (Publishers Weekly)
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It really was a treat to listen to Nick relating his life story up to the date of publication; I'd recommend it highly to anyone that is looking for a signpost on the road through life

Delightful autobiographical guide to being a man

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Entertaining, insightful and charismatic writing. Enjoyed Nicks style of storytelling and advice mixed with humour and intelligence.

Sublime

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First audio book and this was fantastic, really great and told just the right way

Bloody awesome

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Amazing audiobook if you like Mr Offerman’s work. The description of The entertainment industry and his journey through it all was funny and enlightening. His simple and straight forward way of thinking and living should be the guide for many people.

The man behind Swanson

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Gets a bit preachy about religion but is pretty kickass anyway. Yeah thats about it, now where to obtain a spokeshave.

Love it

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book. If you're thinking about getting it you should. Nick Offerman is enjoyable to listen to and has a magnificent way of writing.

Do it.

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Great man, great story, funny as. His approach to life as a star is refreshing and gives hope to us yet

exceptionally sensational

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Nick’s onscreen performances and wicked sense of humour has always appealed to me, so I bought this audio book in anticipation of being gifted just a little bit more Nick. Now I eat my steak medium rare with a glass of Balvenie, take good care of my facial hair, and enjoy woodwork in my spare time. I did all those things before listening to this book, but now I know I’m a man. Nick Offerman said so.
Note: If you’re the type of person that prefers to read a book over listening to a book, do yourself a favour and buy the audio version of this book. Nick’s voice makes this book 10/10.

Full on Nick Offerman!

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interesting. talks a lot about getting high and the theatre as well as life advice

A great book and very interesting to listen to

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Sage life advice and top notch narration from a master of class. Worthy of your time if you are so inclined.

A good book

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