by Steve Chandler and Terrence N. Hill
Authors of Two Guys Read Moby-Dick

This is the book that tells us why piano players outlive drummers; who the last living flying monkey from the film “The Wizard of Oz” was; and reveals where we go after we die. It also may just be the funniest book ever written about death.

Each of the two authors combed the obituary pages every day for a calendar year. They wrote about the Reaper's usual harvest—the famous, the infamous, and the fascinating. As in Two Guys Read Moby-Dick, their first joint project, they refused to be corralled by format and wound up writing about . . . well, basically whatever their minds bumped into. The collision is always interesting and often irreverent.

These two professional writers, who have been friends since childhood, took up the challenge to be the first two people ever to read Moby-Dick from cover to cover. The result was the critically-acclaimed, popular book: Two Guys Read Moby-Dick. Now comes the sequel—the alarmingly funny and profound: Two Guys Read the Obituaries.

"I'm standing up, applauding while typing, a feat inspired by just finishing Two Guys Read Moby-Dick. I was reluctant to start it... the topic did seem a tad unusual... but I ended up being reluctant to finish, wanting it to go on and on. I wish I could go out and buy many more "Two Guys" books. I think they have a wonderful franchise started. The idea is just funky enough and the writing is dazzling, charming and witty."
                                - Dale Dauten, King Features Syndicate

MORE REVIEWS:

The Guys Hit It Out of the Ballpark Again, November 2, 2006

Reviewer:

R. Reiber (NY, NY) -

The two guys are back and better than ever! I actually found this book more personally relatable than TGRMD because death, more than Moby Dick, is something we must all deal with. This was an especially good read for me because it actually made me stop and think about death in a quiet, contemplative way, not with the abject discomfort and mental shut down I usually devote to the topic. And, on top of that, the book is just plain hilarious. These guys are very funny and in many parts of the book I found myself laughing out loud at their silly, unique senses of the absurd. I also like the inclusion of two very different voices - Terry, the intellectual, perpetual lateral thinker and comedian, Steve, down-to-earth, the philosopher on a quest for the meaning of both life and death. Their combined voices provide a discourse that pulls the reader in and makes you question your own feelings on the topic. And, any book that makes me think about death with grace, thoughtfulness and humor is top-notch to me! Read it, you'll love it.

I loved it - absolutely loved it!, October 10, 2006 Reviewer: Susan Beadle (grosse pointe farms, mi United States)   I read the "guys" first book 2grmd and also enjoyed that one, but 2grto is one I couldn't put down. Funny, enlightening, inspiring, thought-provoking. I've not read another book that has compelled me to really contemplate death - without morbidity, rather, with a sense of reality (hey - it eventually happens to us all)and acceptance. I am a lot like Terry in the sense that I also tend to overanalyze an issue or question (I'm a lawyer, too) and so laughed my pretty-little-butt off regarding the "17, 21, 35 what comes next in the sequence" question posed by Steve, because I too, started to find the conclusion using logic and mathematics - and then I too, kicked myself when I found out the answer as that was one of my favorite tunes back in 19-aught-65 (Frank Sinatra version) when I thought 35 was really old. You'll love this book - please guys, do another, and another - I haven't finished reading a book so quickly and with so much to think about afterwords. You guys are terrific - I envy the fact that you're both on the same intelligence plane and have been friends for 50+ years, can see into each other's heads, so you can do something as innovative as this. It's a kind of memoir (seems to be the most popular writing style these days) but more like a running letter back and forth without the self-consciousness of someone outside learning your inner thoughts. Again, loved it, loved it. Do it again, boys - Please.

Even better than their first one!, October 7, 2006 Reviewer: Kathy who loves to read (CHICAGO) What's so great about this book and the Two Guys Read Moby Dick book are the hilarious exchanges mixed in with really touching observations. Unlike the other reviewer here, I was glad that this wasn't more Chandler self-help...........as Steve and Terry both show their lighter, more human sides discussing everything from death to music to Rosa Parks. This book kept me up laughing and wishing for more Two Guys books......from the Grateful Dead-like funny book cover to the literate and lyrical observations about death and dying and lives worth remembering, it's clear that this book was intended solely to give the reader a good time from start to finish....they succeeded.