The Smartest Book in the World: A Lexicon of Literacy, a Rancorous Reportage, a Concise Curriculum of Cool

This audiobook takes an amusing look into what Proops considers the most important things in the world: baseball, movies, words, books, poetry, history, and more. It’s an irreverent jaunt through things that Proops wants to share (or has already shared in some form, as this book is adapted from his iTunes podcast series). Proops narrates with all the zeal and zaniness that one comes to expect from the comedian. Beyond knowing how to deadpan and deliver jokes, he does well with speed and emphasis. He reads quickly and fluidly through a paragraph in one section but slows down to recite a poem in the next section. He is a lively and emotional reader, never leaving listeners to doubt where he stands on a given subject. This fun and versatile collection of personal tidbits works well in the audio format; listeners quickly realize that if the current section doesn’t entirely engage them, there is something new coming up shortly. A S&S/Touchstone hardcover. (May)