This stirring coming of age tale of a young Austrian countess and the baron who steals her heart … just kidding, you totally know what you’re getting into with a Nick Offerman book, and this doesn’t disappoint. Basically he’s a less gruff, more artistic version of Rom Swanson, and it’s utterly refreshing how little Offerman cares for the stereotypical trappings of manhood his fans seem to think he epitomizes. Like he himself points out, he’s an actor, an artist by trade; it’s not like the man sweats whiskey and cries bacon fat even if he enjoys both those things.
Once you know that Offerman is Swanson – bro x Bob fosse, you know what this is gonna be. Offerman talks about his path to Hollywood, his love of craft in many forms masculine and otherwise, that bone dry midwestern humor, and the land and people that shaped it.
It’s great, particularly his awe of his wife and the obvious love he has for Megan Mullally. I love that masculinity doesn’t come at the expense of femininity. I love that he and mullally married at the height of her fame when he was an unknown. There are surprises here, but they are in details and not in tone. If you think this book is for you, buy it; it’s exactly what you’d expect.