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James Thurber
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My Life and Hard Times Mass Market Paperback – January 1, 1961

by James Thurber (Author, Illustrator)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 445 ratings
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A Bantam Classic, published in 1961. Cover and spine a little rough. Book appears to be unopened (unread). Pages lightly tan with age. Clean, bright used copy with tight binding. NEVER a library book./jl
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  1. Language
    English
  2. Publisher
    Bantam
  3. Publication date
    January 1, 1961
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000HUN320
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bantam; Binding Frayed edition (January 1, 1961)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.04 ounces
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 445 ratings

About the author

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James Thurber

James Thurber

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James Thurber (1894–1961) created some thirty volumes of humor, fiction, children's books, cartoons, and essays in just about as many years. A founding member of The New Yorker staff, Thurber wrote and illustrated such enduring books as The Thurber Carnival and My Life and Hard Times, which have appeared in countless editions and dozens of languages throughout the world.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
445 global ratings
Great Book--Horrible Design
1 Star
Great Book--Horrible Design
This book is one of my favorites and I haven't owned it for a while, so it was time to get a new copy. However, the words are light and fuzzy and they are printed on gray diamond-patterned background paper, making it extraordinarily difficult to read. HarperPerennial published it, and it's the WORST publication I have ever seen.
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Top reviews from the United States

Nebti19
5.0 out of 5 stars Funny, funny, funny....
Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2020
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James Thurber was a cartoonist and writer for the New Yorker for many years. In cartoons and writing, Thurber possessed a dry, matter-of-fact wit.

I first read My Life and Hard Times--an ostensible Thurber autobiography--in seventh grade. I found it roll-on-the-floor funny then, and mostly do so still today.

Thurber takes the eccentricities of everyday life and family and draws them out just short of the absurd. The humor is droll. And wonderful. A fabulously funny book.

I bought the book to read to my grandchildren. Though wonderful for early teens, this book will amuse and delight readers of any age.
6 people found this helpful
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Mr.E.
5.0 out of 5 stars Quick prompt delivery. Good service. Good quality item. Good condition. Good price. Good people!
Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2023
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Bought it for the contents (to read.)
Excellent for the purpose and price.
Thanks! 5-Stars! (I'd give you 10 if I could!)
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Janesview
4.0 out of 5 stars My Life and Hard Times
Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2013
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A reread of a classic James Thurber's view of his life with humor and wit. James Thurber 1894-1961
lived through some momentous times in our country and became one of its greatest writers. His writings are as readable today as then.
I read these stories thirty five years ago and still they are vivid in memory. Rereading is a nostalgic trip for me. His views of his family life, in this slim volume, are hilarious and provides one a feeling of good cheer for an afternoon. He said of himself on writing this book: I myself have accomplished nothing of excellence except a remarkable and, to some of my friends, unaccountable expertness in hitting ginger ale bottles with small rocks at a distance of thirty paces.
He was the first editor of the New Yorker magazine and contributed many books for our enjoyment
4 people found this helpful
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Richard S. Wells
5.0 out of 5 stars A Calm Look at the Absurd
Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2021
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This gem of a book takes us back to a time when humor was not forced, but honored for its presence in everyday life, if you had the gift of giving voice to it. Such a creature was Thurber. His drawings convey a maximum of meaning, with a minimum of detail. So does his prose. In this book, the visit of the ghost is a perfect example. A rare reading delight.
4 people found this helpful
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elizabeth
5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite.
Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2020
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I will always adore James Thurber. Wonderful to take him with me via kindle. A joy to laugh out loud quietly while the world lies in wait for the next tragedy. I think I may pile my shoes by the apartment door tonight and perhaps toss them all down the hall.
One person found this helpful
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Deborah Katz
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoy Thurber's simply, wry, and funny world that somehow transcends generations.
Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2020
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Growing up in Columbus and spending time in Thurber's neighborhood, I have felt a kinship with the author most of my life. This has only deepened with age, however it's not essential to enjoying his simple drawings and insightful perspectives on family situations, neighbors, and life in general. One can almost feel their blood pressure lowering as they relax into Thurber's world. Enjoy.
2 people found this helpful
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mko
5.0 out of 5 stars Therapy
Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2014
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This is my favorite book of all time. Whenever I need a laugh, I take this out and read it….again. My husband and I know parts of it by heart and use phrases from this book as shorthand to describe events around us or some activity we intend to pursue. The illustrations are like old friends because I've seen them so many times. You can show me a drawing from this book and I will know what story it illustrates, what action is taking place, and sometimes I can give you the caption verbatim. The reason I bought this book at this time was that my paperback copy is falling apart and I thought it was high time I had a hardback copy for safety's sake.

I will comment that the printing in this particular edition is blurry in several places.
6 people found this helpful
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Martina A. Nicolls
3.0 out of 5 stars simple, uncomplicated memoir
Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2018
My Life and Hard Times (1933, this edition 1999) is the memoir of American humourist James Thurber, growing up in Columbus, Ohio. This is a short, 80-page, non-serious, book of reminisces about childhood, family, dogs, farm life, and anything else he remembers. As an example, there are 10 chapters or stories, such as ‘The Night the Bed Fell’ and ‘The Day the Dam Broke.’’

Accompanying the text are the author’s cartoon drawings, which are as great as the narrative. Thurber seems to have grown up in an outrageously funny and crazy household – and his grandfather is a comical character that readers will love. This is exceptionally funny if readers want a short book of humorous stories. But if readers want an academic book about Thurber’s thoughts and philosophies, this isn’t it. It’s so short and so wickedly funny, that it’s worth a read, but don’t forget that it’s written in another era of simple, uncomplicated living.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

H.ope
5.0 out of 5 stars Clever and funny, even betterxwith age
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 20, 2020
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Simply one of the funniest, cleverest books I’ve ever read. Better part of a century old, but that just goes to show you how little human nature has changed. The simple, incisive line drawings are woven perfectly into the text for even more belly laughs.
One person found this helpful
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L.M.
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on June 4, 2017
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A very funny and charming book!
One person found this helpful
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Arijit Acharya
5.0 out of 5 stars Good
Reviewed in India on December 22, 2018
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Good book. Individual interesting short stories.
One person found this helpful
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mrgnk
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in India on May 24, 2017
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Still one of the funniest books I've read
One person found this helpful
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Hank
5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 17, 2013
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If you haven't read the greatest American Humorist start here. If you don't laugh at "The Night the Bed Fell " or "University Days" or "The Owl in the Attic" you need an injection of common sense from Gyles Brandreth's "7 Secrets of Happiness"
2 people found this helpful
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