| I'm Not Really Here |  | Publisher: Bantam
Category: Book
Buy Used: $70.83
as of 2/10/2010 04:10 EST details
Used (2) from $70.83
Seller: generalshopper
Rating:  54 reviews
ISBN: 0733800955
EAN: 9780733800955
ASIN: 0733800955
Publication Date: January 1, 1996
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 54
 quantum mysticist nonsense disguised as humor but lacking in reality October 27, 2009
Jamie Beu (Orlando, FL)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Having enjoyed Tim Allen's first book (Don't Stand Too Close to a Naked Man), I got this book, expecting more comedy. Instead, I got a big dose of Deepak Chopra "reality is a myth" pseudo-philosophy, combined with an attempt at understanding quantum mechanics, with a side of humor. Unfortunately, it gives a barely passable attempt at the humor, while making a mess of the philosophy - so much so that I couldn't bring myself to add a tag of "non-fiction" to this book.
This book is closely related to the fictional book "Why Do You Think You Think" in the excellent Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, which states things like:
"Thought is a primitive superstition. Reason is an irrational idea... What you think you think is an illusion created by your glands, your emotions,... A scientist knows that a stone is not a stone at all - it is, in fact, identical with a feather pillow. Both are only a cloud formation of the same invisible, whirling particles... Are we going to be stopped by a syllogism? ... Are you going to endanger the harmony of your community - your fellowship with your neighbors, your standing, reputation, good name, and financial security - for the sake of an illusion?" (Part II, Chapter 1)
Rand demonstrated the inherent evil in this fallacy, but Allen sees it as a source of comedic material, all while presenting it as a great, new wisdom he has stumbled upon because he read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.
The strength of true philosophy (like that of Thomas Aquinas) is, in the words of G.K. Chesterton, that reality is, in fact, real. It is the strength of Thomism, and it is the fatal flaw of this book.
If you're looking for good philosophy, try Chesterton's Saint Thomas Aquinas: The Dumb Ox. If you're simply looking for humor, there's much better mental chewing gum out there than this book.
 Can Tim Allen (The ToolMan) define the Meaning of Life? November 23, 2008
Charles Hunter
Like others have said, you get a peak into the thoughts of a comedian spending a weekend without the wife (who is now his ex in real life) and the kid. Story line is held together by his search for an object that he needs to find before Monday comes around. Tim's underlying question is now that he is over 40, what does life really mean and are we really here. To answer his question he refers to text written by scientists and philosophers throwing in some of his previous / current life moments along with some humor. At the end we go over a long letter written by a buddy and to be honest I ended up wishing for the letter section to finish as it was like listening to a conversation on life by 2 people that could not come to a decision. On reflection, if this book had not been written by Tim Allen would people be buying it. For me the answer would be no as I can go to the local bar and here similar conversations. So if you are in the process of writing a biography on Tim Allen or a devoted fan, I would recommend this book otherwise save your pennies and move on to something else.
 I'm Not Really Here by Tim Allen June 2, 2007
Dale Brown
I Love the book. It arrived in good condition. Thanks
WOAH... February 3, 2007
If you are counting on a funny guy like we all know tim allen from home improvement, um... read another book. it's amazing... on home improvement, jill, his wife, seems to know alot of psycology and tim tries to learn it, but in the book, it's amazing what words he uses... you'll be amazed.
Not Really Here, not really good May 20, 2005
A. Jeno (USA)
1 out of 4 found this review helpful
Hi. I think Not Really Here has a brilliant book inside it waiting to be written. How many of the [i]sincere[/i] reviews on Amazon found the flow of consciousness idea boring and never got to the last two chapters, which were gold, but not even written by Mr. Allen? Too many. If only Mr. Allen had started with his friends letter, then elaborated on his ideas and understandings of the physics texts he'd read. Maybe he could have trotted the globe and actually talked to philosophers and scientists. Maybe he could have used the book as an excuse to actually go on a journey of discovery. Perhaps when Mr.Allen is older he can revamp the book completely and spend less time on mundane life and more on sharing (from his own voice) the excitement of discovery and wonder his new found ideas had given him. Then he'd have a book as worthy as a Brief History of Time that people who purchased it would actually read. Maybe host a PBS segment on NOVA too. -just my 2 cents
Showing reviews 1-5 of 54
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