Description

Book Synopsis
A decidedly skewed, hilarious collection of life reflections and colorful storytelling. — Kirkus Reviews

An endlessly entertaining collection of wayward autobiographical tales about a search for a richer life thwarted at every turn by beagles, bureaucrats, and ill-advised love affairs

The unlikely story of how a failed dishwasher, tour guide, cabinet maker, bus driver, bookseller and literary journal publisher became one of Australia's hottest humor essayists

Perfect for fans of humorous, thought-provoking authors like Sloane Crosley, Jenny Lawson, Samantha Irby, and David Sedaris


This wryly subversive book of adventures (and misadventures) offers an original and utterly hilarious take on work, escape, and that something more we all need. 

Robert Skinner arrives in the city, searching for a richer life. Things begin badly and then, surprisingly, get slightly worse. Pretty soon he's sleeping rough and trying to run a literary magazine out of a dog park. His quest for meaning keeps being thwarted, by gainful employment, house parties, ill-advised love affairs, camel trips, and bureaucratic entanglements.

The book's 14 essays/stories can be savored one at a time, or binge read:

  • War and Peace
  • The Perfect Host
  • Cinderella Pays the Rent
  • Lessons from Camels
  • How to Make It in Business
  • The Stopover
  • Kings of Sweden
  • House Party
  • Car Sick
  • I Fought the Law
  • Always Coming Home
  • The Art of Tour Guiding
  • A Fisherman’s Lament
  • Epilogue: Dying Art of Hitchhiking

Robert's distinctive voice possesses uncommon immediacy, at once humorous and soulful, self-effacing and wise. Perhaps most important of all, he is endlessly entertaining.

I'd Rather Not: Essays

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    £13.59

    Includes FREE delivery

    Order before 4pm today for delivery by Tue 30 Jun 2026.

    A Paperback / softback by Robert Skinner

    10 in stock


      View other formats and editions of I'd Rather Not: Essays by Robert Skinner

      Publisher: Steerforth Press
      Publication Date: 19/09/2023
      ISBN13: 9781586423780, 978-1586423780
      ISBN10: 1586423789

      Description

      Book Synopsis
      A decidedly skewed, hilarious collection of life reflections and colorful storytelling. — Kirkus Reviews

      An endlessly entertaining collection of wayward autobiographical tales about a search for a richer life thwarted at every turn by beagles, bureaucrats, and ill-advised love affairs

      The unlikely story of how a failed dishwasher, tour guide, cabinet maker, bus driver, bookseller and literary journal publisher became one of Australia's hottest humor essayists

      Perfect for fans of humorous, thought-provoking authors like Sloane Crosley, Jenny Lawson, Samantha Irby, and David Sedaris


      This wryly subversive book of adventures (and misadventures) offers an original and utterly hilarious take on work, escape, and that something more we all need. 

      Robert Skinner arrives in the city, searching for a richer life. Things begin badly and then, surprisingly, get slightly worse. Pretty soon he's sleeping rough and trying to run a literary magazine out of a dog park. His quest for meaning keeps being thwarted, by gainful employment, house parties, ill-advised love affairs, camel trips, and bureaucratic entanglements.

      The book's 14 essays/stories can be savored one at a time, or binge read:

      • War and Peace
      • The Perfect Host
      • Cinderella Pays the Rent
      • Lessons from Camels
      • How to Make It in Business
      • The Stopover
      • Kings of Sweden
      • House Party
      • Car Sick
      • I Fought the Law
      • Always Coming Home
      • The Art of Tour Guiding
      • A Fisherman’s Lament
      • Epilogue: Dying Art of Hitchhiking

      Robert's distinctive voice possesses uncommon immediacy, at once humorous and soulful, self-effacing and wise. Perhaps most important of all, he is endlessly entertaining.

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