Title: Yes Man
Author: Danny Wallace
First published July 7, 2005
402 pages, Paperback
Rating: 4.08
Overview
ISBN 9780091896744 is the alternate cover edition of Yes Man, the book that inspired a major film starring Jim Carrey and Zooey Deschanel. Danny Wallace was leading a dull life, staying in and avoiding people after being dumped by his girlfriend.
One night, a stranger on a bus told him to say yes more, and Danny decided to take that advice to heart. He pledged to himself that he would embrace every opportunity that came his way, saying yes to every request, invitation, and suggestion.
What followed was an exciting journey of self-discovery, as Danny’s life took unexpected turns and he found himself in situations he would have never imagined before. Yes Man is an inspiring story of how one simple word can change everything.
About the Author
Daniel Frederick Wallace is a multi-talented British artist who has made a name for himself in various fields. He is recognized for his outstanding contributions as a filmmaker, comedian, writer, actor, and presenter of radio and television.
His noteworthy works include Join Me, Yes Man, and the TV series How to Start Your Own Country. Wallace’s bestselling books have been translated into many languages.
At the young age of 13, Wallace began writing reviews for video game magazines during his school work experience. He was given the opportunity to review a game when a reviewer became ill.
Wallace started writing comedy at 18, mainly through the magazine Comedy Review. He specialized in radio production while studying at the University of Westminster.
At 22, Wallace became a BBC producer. He was part of the production team behind British Comedy Award-winning Dead Ringers, the original producer of the critically acclaimed cult hit The Mighty Boosh, and the creator and producer of Ross Noble Goes Global.
As a journalist, he has worked for various publications including The Scotsman, The Guardian, The Independent, Elle, Cosmo, and The Times.
In 1999, Wallace challenged comedian Dave Gorman, his flatmate at the time, to find 54 other people called Dave Gorman. Wallace accompanied Gorman on his quest, and they created Are You Dave Gorman?, an award-winning comedy stage show about their journey.
A BBC series followed, co-written and co-produced by Wallace, as did a book.
In 2003, Wallace’s book Join Me was published. The book explains how he accidentally started a ‘cult’ called Join Me. The movement went global, with each member committing to undertaking one random act of kindness for a stranger every Friday (‘Good Fridays’).
Tens of thousands joined. Join Me celebrates “Karmageddon 10” in December 2011, with Wallace present.
The movement is now generally referred to as the “Karma Army”, although members are still typically “Joinees”.
Wallace’s second solo book, Yes Man, was published in July 2005. In it, he describes how he spent six months “saying Yes where once I would have said No”, to make his life more interesting and positive.
The book was described as “one of those rare books that actually has the potential to change your life” by the San Francisco Bay Guardian and as “a fascinating book and a fascinating experiment” by David Letterman. A film adaptation of Yes Man was developed with Warner Bros.
and stars Jim Carrey and Zooey Deschanel.
Danny Wallace and the Centre of the Universe was published in 2006. It tells the story of Wallace’s trip to Idaho, to visit a manhole cover in a small town, whose residents have proclaimed it the centre of the universe.
Wallace’s book, Friends Like These, was released on July 3, 2008, and tells the story of how he spent a summer trying to track down his old school friends from his days in Dundee.
Editoral Review
Yes Man by Danny Wallace is an entertaining, thought-provoking book that encourages readers to take a chance and say yes to life. Wallace, a British writer and comedian, provides a humorous and insightful look at how his life changed when he decided to say yes to every opportunity that came his way.
The book is reminiscent of the self-help genre, but it is delivered in a casual, conversational style that makes it accessible to a broad audience. Wallace’s writing is engaging, and he employs a lot of humor in telling his story, making it an enjoyable read from start to finish.
The plot of Yes Man follows Wallace as he takes on the challenge of saying yes to everything for a year after attending a motivational seminar. The book explores the consequences of his decisions, the relationships he forms, and the adventures and misadventures that arise.
Readers are taken on a journey with Wallace as he travels the world, meets new people, and embraces life. The characters in Yes Man are memorable, and Wallace does an excellent job of developing them throughout the book.
His descriptions are vivid and his dialogues are realistic, adding depth to the story. Additionally, the author’s use of pop culture references and current events gives the book a contemporary feel.
While Yes Man is primarily a fun read, the book offers a deeper message about living life to the fullest. It encourages readers to challenge their preconceived notions and take risks, opening themselves up to a wider range of experiences.
Overall, Yes Man is an enjoyable, well-written book that offers both entertainment and inspiration. While it may not be groundbreaking or revolutionary in its ideas, it is an effective reminder of the importance of saying yes to life.
Whether readers are looking for a fun story or some motivation to take on new challenges, this book delivers. I would recommend Yes Man to anyone looking for a lighthearted, enjoyable read.
It is particularly suited for fans of memoirs, self-help books, and humorous fiction. With its positive message and engaging writing style, it’s hard not to be charmed by this book.
Therefore, I give it a score of 4 out of 5 stars.
