Katie

I may not find marshmallows weird, but then again, maybe I just never really thought about them all that much. I usually just eat them. Dan Fogg, on the other hand, has thought about them and finds them to be weird. He explains why in “Weirder Than Marshmallows” which is a collection of his essays.

The book, however, is not about Marshmallows. It is about things that Dan finds even weirder than marshmallows.

He divides the stories in to 5 categories:
DO NOT STOP ON TRACKS – showcasing warnings that should never have to be warned. (You know you have seen these signs and pointed them out to your friends and had a good laugh about them!)
EN MASSE – contains stories of mass ignorance.
TECHNOLOGY SUCKS explores the hazards of the technological age. (Dan comments that you need a degree in order to use some technology. I was about to protest this and then I realized I have an engineering degree so I guess that’s why technology works for me – most of the time, anyway)
THAT’S JUST FREAKY features Twilight Zone like tales of paranormality. (Those things that just can’t be explained any other way!)
WEIRD STUFF is stuff that is well, weird.

This book is a quick read and pretty amusing. I’d definitely give it 4.5 – 5 stars. After the 5 sections mentioned above, there are some musings about life and things in general that are tacked on to the end of the book. Almost every essay I was able to relate to in some way – most of them because they were rants that I have made to friends and family and coworkers in the past. (Especially loose vs lose!)

http://blog.concertkatie.com/

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Tiffany

When you actually stop to think about it marshmallows are pretty weird aren’t they?! What is even weirder is why do people do such dumb things? Dan Fogg has complied some humors observations and now you can read and laugh. Dan writes tales of stupidity and ignorance and what makes this book so funny is that everything he writes people have actually done. I throughly enjoyed reading Dan’s essays, very entertaining to say the least.

http://nimblergrove.com/

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Erica

I read this book as an eBook. But lets just say, if I had this book in hard copy, I’d own two of them. One book to put on my coffee table and the other to place in the bathroom. This book is a series of short, true, stories of life and the “stupid people” out there.

I started reading this book while waiting for Lee to get done with her dance class. I wasn’t prepared for how funny it was going to be. I caught myself laughing not just out loud but very loudly!! I even caught myself saying, oh my goodness, that’s so true. I even learned things from this book. Things like how the Greenbay Packers could have changed their name to Pickers. Oh my!!! Or that there was a pink Mc D’s on the highway I use to drive. Oh and that people sue for the stupidest things and actually win!!

Have you ever wondered why there has to be a sign that says “do not stop on tracks”? You need to read this book to find out. There is a lot of stupidity out there.

This book also made me cry though. In a good way. Kindness isn’t found much now a days and to read one of Dan’s stories on his experience with kindness will touch your heart but with a touch of laughter.
This is a quick easy read that I think you all will enjoy(unless you have been one of those stupid people, then you just might not understand it.) I’m glad to have read this book. the world needs more laughter and if we can’t laugh at ourselves then we really can’t laugh.

I am thankful that Dan Fogg’s family released some of his writings and I hope they will continue. He had amazing talent. Thank you.

http://www.bassgiraffe.com/2011/10/weirder-than-marshmallows-book-reveiw.html

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I like weird stuff. If something can be described as strange or bizarre, there’s a good chance that I’ll like it at least a little bit. So, when I read the description of Weirder Than Marshmallows- “Stories that are, like marshmallows, strange, mind boggling… hard to explain, impossible to ignore”- it appealed to me.

Weirder Than Marshmallows contains true stories and essays by the author, Dan Fogg. Most of the essays are humorous, but some are more serious and personal. Much of the humor is based on human stupidity. Fogg addresses topics such as seemingly unnecessary warning labels (i.e. “highly flammable!” on lighter fluid), technological malfunctions, and people who don’t know the difference between “lose” and “loose”- that’s a pet peeve of mine, so I can relate! The more serious essays deal with issues such as the aftermath of Columbine and the 2000 Presidential elections.
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As everyone knows I love to read. I love to read books about everything and anything. When asked to review Weirder than Marshmellows, I was amazed to learn the author is disabled (just like me)! I was also saddened to learn that the author had passed away, meaning this would be something I would truly treasure because I wouldn’t be able to read anything more by Dan Fogg!

The reason I was drawn to this book is because not only is it full of funny (TRUE), interesting, and abnormal stories but because it gave Dan’s account of living life in a wheelchair. It gave his honest approach to life as a person with a disability, his message is simple “Everyone would like to be included and treated like a human being” (my words not his).

I truly believe this book would be great for any person, it make lights of several things that people think but rarely speak about.
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I recently had the chance to review this book published by NightFire Publications. This book is a great easy read about those little things in life that are like “duh”. . . In the book it says “Weirder Than Marshmallows showcases tales of stupidity and ignorance in the hopes of making people laugh.”

Once I started to read this I couldn’t put it down. It was so funny reading some of the stories in the book that I found myself busting out and having my kids give me a strange look. Some of the things written are like “DUH” or “DINK DINK DINK, we have a winner”. It’s those stories you hear online or see on TV that just makes you think about what were they truly thinking when this happened.

I love reading books like this that just real easy reads that I can pick up through out the day and it doesn’t matter how long it was since the last time you read it, you can pick it right back up. I would recommend this book as just one of those funny little books that would be great to read anytime or anywhere.
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“Ignorance, lack of common sense, and downright inhuman stupidity
run rampant in this country and around the world.
I watch people, and I hear stories,
and they beg, beg, beg to be mocked and ridiculed.”

I had the opportunity to review the ebook entitled “WEIRDER THAN MARSHMALLOWS” written by Dan Fogg. This ebook is actually a compilation of essays about the author’s observations on just about every random thing.

Those lines that I quoted from the book perfectly captures the overall tone of the book. It, not necessarily celebrates, perhaps highlights, the bizarre things around us that we probably just ignore. Say for example, a sign that says “Do Not Stop On Tracks” pertaining to railroad tracks. The author pokes fun at the fact that there are people who actually stop on railroad tracks that a sign had to be put up for something that should actually have been really obvious.
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My opinions of the book:
First of all I want to say, I absolutely loved this short book. I laughed so hard at some points. I am sure there are those who would not like the profanity through out, but I am open to however someone wants to express their self. I found myself chuckling and enjoying the humor he found in the situations. I also enjoyed the situations that were true to life, about Daniel’s feelings and outlook on certain things. There is definitely a great message through even the sarcasm. It is truly sad that his life was cut short, and we are unable to receive more writing from him. I recommend this read to anyone of a mature nature that would be understanding to the sarcasm, not offended by a few cuss words, and willing to be open minded.
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A serious take by the author about weird senseless things around him… stupid warning signs. Seriously funny! Take precaution and read those signs. The marshmallows doesn’t have to do about it!

This book is published by NightFire Publications. I had just read it and it makes me laugh! I had been seeing stupid warning signs about it, then telling myself if those signs are really needed. If you see some warning signs are stupid, then you’re on Dan Fogg’s side. Dan Fogg (1980 – 2002) is the author of Weirder Than Marshmallows. He died young.

Actually, useless warning signs should be for children, because children are somewhat still senseless. But would children read the signs? No. Then these warning signs are for adults? Useless warning signs for adults?
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I recently received the book Weirder than Marshmallows to review and can highly recommend it. It reminds me of the books that kids love – Goosebumps, but even better it is true stories. It reminds me a lot of the show 100 Ways to Die or the World’s Dumbest shows that are currently on television. It’s currently available in Kindle format.

My son is looking forward to reading this book next. I love when kids get excited about books and spend their time reading instead of in front of the television or playing computer games. My middle son is great about taking a book everywhere! This book is filled with great non-fiction stories that will make you stop and think.
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