Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company; 1st edition (November 1, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316057010
ISBN-13: 978-0316057011
Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 1 x 9.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (50 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #966,082 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #167 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Regional U.S. > New England #3104 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Movies > History & Criticism #7956 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Arts & Literature > Actors & Entertainers
When I considered buying this book, I thought, "How many times can Animal House be re-told, or revisited?" Thankfully, at least one more time. This is a great, quick book to read, but it's not for squeamish or easily offended readers. But how many of those folks are reading books about Animal House?The first thing I can recall reading by Chris Miller was a story in the National Lampoon back in the mid-70s titled "A Thanksgiving Memory", which I will forever remember as one of the most perverted, sick, and hilarious things ever printed. Miller still has the ability to write about almost every type of perversion imaginable and make it extremely funny.The book has its slow parts, and some of the stories seem revised or toned-down from earlier versions I've read here and there. However, there are so many surprises and outrageous moments in this, it's hard to be bothered by a few boring parts.My only suggestion for potential readers is don't leave this laying around where any overly-sensitive people might pick it up and glance through it. They will be extremely disappointed in you.
As Flounder once said in a similar context: "Oh, boy, is this great!" Chris Miller has managed to offer up a story of such depravity and degradation that it's hard to believe he and his fellow ADs at Dartmouth College in the early 1960s were actually bright and talented students as well - but they were. Miller himself graduated with an AB in English and an MBA from the Tuck School while taking advantage of what was then referred to as the 3-2 program, with the senior year doubling as the first year of business school. Miller is/was no dummy, and it comes across in his storytelling. In many ways, it is an outrageous book, but, if you can believe it, an honest one, as most of these things actually did happen. I know because I was there. Of course, not all of the ADs were drunken and depraved all of the time; nor were the Betas and SAEs always the saints he portrays them to be. But AD certainly had "gear" and everyone wanted to be a part of their parties with wonderful, black, r'n'r bands that they typically shared with their neighboring Chi Phi, a slightly more (but not that much more) buttoned up version of AD. This is not high literature, but if you have a long flight somewhere, take this book along and you'll find yourself at your destination before you know it. The emmets and pinheads, Balch Hill, Tanzi's, the Green Lantern (aka the Green Latrine), Lou's--it's all there and those of us who were privileged to be a part of Dartmouth during this time had some great fun.
When I saw this book on the shelf, I thought "Cool, maybe some more insight other then the movie!" As I have seen the movie, like many, hundreds of times...The great thing about this book is that it "stands alone," meaning that you will not find the antics too repetitive if you have seen the movie over and over. Sure, there are many plot lines from the movie that are OBVIOUSLY drawn from this book...However, many new hijinks! Not for the squeamish as there are many descriptive sexual shenanigans, etc...Loved it! Can't understand how anyone who loves the movie would not love this book! Many times I had to put the book down as I was LMAO! My only complaint, and a minor one at that, is that there are too many fraternity brothers names to keep up with...
This book is supposed to include many of the true college hijinks experienced by the author. Many of these experiences were included in "Animal House", but some of these stories were considered too "wild" for the movie. I found some of the stories very interesting, wild and X rated. The majority of the stories here deal with drinking beer (up to 26 glasses) and driving in this state of drunkenness. There are also descriptions of initiations to college fraternities, most of these "tests" had to do with drinking in excess, and very often literally risking their lives in the process.How much of these stories are true or written with very creative imaginations, I don't know.It seems to me that, in order to enjoy these stories, one would have to be enrolled in an Ivy League schools between 1958 and 1965. If all these stories are true, I don't know how ANY of these guys graduated and became grownups one day.This book is not a page-turner, but more like a MAD magazine version of college life in the late 50's.
Great book. Just finished reading it again.Was a fraternity member in college so the book brought back some funny memories of my own experiences while making me laugh at the story. I'm sure non-Greek folk may think some of this just didn't happen, but as wild as it seems, I don't doubt any of it. I've given copies to a number of friends and they've all enjoyed it too. Definitely can see how the movie sprouted from this.
Great book about the real Animal House. You will recognize many characters in the book in the movie. If you have seen "Animal House" you need to read this. If you haven't, then go see it and read this book.
"The Real Animal House" is just that: a "mostly lucid" memoir of activities that make the film "Animal House" seem like an episode of "Mr. Rogers Neighborhood."Chris Miller has quite a way with adjectives, some more successfully than others. Some of his descriptions are too much. It seems all the men of Alpha Delta did was drink beer, puke on command, and look for women--quite capably, it seems. Occasionally, they would study.Miller has chosen to refer to almost everyone by their nicknames. This insures that he can write without the threat of litigation, of course, although I doubt anyone would make a federal case out of what happened in 1960 in Hanover, NH. There are no real names or pictures so sometimes it gets difficult keeping Dumptruck from Round from Fat Fred. (Well, actually, Fat Fred was a girl.) But you do get the genesis of Animal House characters and some actual things that are in the film.Miller also wants to keep the reader abreast of the music and cultural trends of the time and that helps. That he also has an encyclopedic knowledge of the R&B, Doo Wop, and jazz music of the era is impressive.Miller had based the "Pinto" character in all his National Lampoon writings on himself, although the Pinto of the film is incredibly more naïve than our humble author. You also get to learn how the nickname was bestowed on him. And on the minor character named "Hardbar," who Miller himself plays in the movie."The Real Animal House" is an entertaining read for anyone who enjoyed the film and is gratefully added to the legion of lore around the making of one of the funniest comedies in Hollywood history.
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