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You Can't Be Serious

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You Can't Be Serious

By: Kal Penn
Narrated by: Kal Penn
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About this listen

 Actor Kal Penn recounts why he rejected the advice of his aunties and guidance counselors and, instead of becoming a doctor or “something practical,” embarked on a surprising journey that has included confronting racism in Hollywood, meeting his future husband, and working in the Obama administration, in this “incredibly joyful and insightful” (Kiefer Sutherland) memoir.

You Can’t Be Serious is a series of funny, consequential, awkward, and ridiculous stories from Kal Penn’s idiosyncratic life. It’s about being the grandson of Gandhian freedom fighters, and the son of immigrant parents: people who came to this country with very little and went very far—and whose vision of the American dream probably never included their son sliding off an oiled-up naked woman in the raunchy Ryan Reynolds movie Van Wilder…or getting a phone call from Air Force One as Kal flew with the country’s first Black president.

“By turns hilarious, poignant, and inspiring” (David Axelrod, New York Times bestselling author), Kal reflects on the most exasperating and rewarding moments from his journey so far. He pulls back the curtain on the nuances of opportunity and racism in the entertainment industry and recounts how he built allies, found encouragement, and dealt with early reminders that he might never fit in. He describes his initially unpromising first date with his now-fiancé Josh, involving an 18-pack of Coors Light and an afternoon of watching NASCAR. And of course, he reveals how, after a decade and a half of fighting for and enjoying successes in Hollywood, he made the terrifying but rewarding decision to take a sabbatical from a fulfilling acting career for an opportunity to serve his country as an Obama White House aide.

Above all, You Can’t Be Serious shows that everyone can have more than one life story. The book “is insightful, funny, and instructive for anyone who’s ever grappled with how they fit into the American dream” (Ronan Farrow, New York Times bestselling author), and demonstrates that no matter who you are and where you come from, you have many more choices than those presented to you. And okay, yes, it’s also about how Kal accidentally (and very stupidly) accepted an invitation to take the entire White House Office of Public Engagement to a strip club—because, let’s be honest, that’s the kind of stuff you really want to hear about. Entertainment & Celebrities Celebrity Social justice Funny Witty Memoir

Critic Reviews

"Penn has created a unique, honest performance, very different from the standard celebrity tell-all. This is an enjoyable and informative listen delivered by a pop-culture figure who's all grown up."
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This is hilarious… great to get a peek behind the curtain on how things really work… entertaining and insightful.

Hilarious and honest

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Great book to listen to and great narrative from the author. I am big fanof Kal Penn

great book

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I became aware of Kal Penn's career through Harold & Kumar so when i heard about this book i had to pick it up. The three acts of the migrant family upbringing, the hollywood career and the Obama years all blend it to a wonderful audible experience. Thought provoking and entertaiting. I thouroughly enjoyed this listening experience and highly recommened to anyone who may be curious about buying it.

Such a fun listen

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Ths is amazing storytelling from and amazing person. I loved that he read it himself. It's such a fantastic book.

Great storytelling

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Loved loved this book. It was so easy to listen to and there were many genuine laugh out loud moments. Kal Penn was amazing. He got his message across but had a humorous side to it as well. I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook and highly recommend it. I just wish he had talked abit more about his experiences with his movies and had shared some insights on those.

So many laugh out loud moments

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