Magical Thinking: True Stories

This is my second Burroughs book (after reading Running with Scissors). It is really funny. Each chapter is a stand alone story or anecdote, not necessarily related to the others. This made it such a quick read becuase each story goes so fast. This author has a great sense of humor and narrates the stories in a way that you feel like your friend is telling you them. He talks about his faults, dreams, relationships, and other aspects of his sometimes crazy life---all which make him very likable. Not to sound cliche, but I was actually laughing out loud at times while reading this book and I don't say that often. Highly recommend to anyone whether they are familiar with this author or not. I enjoyed it so much and didn't want to put it down.

i absolutely love augusten burroughs, well his writing anyway. this book is as solid as anyone would expect after the wonderful book dry. what is that i love about his writing? in all honesty i love the fact that he embraces his neuroses. he has so many problems and issues that so many people can relate to him on just about any level. he is paranoid and dramatic and thoughtful and whiny, to sum it up he is human. there seems to be at least one aspect in ourselves that is also an aspect of burroughs' personality. magical thinking is sucha great book that even reading the table of contents makes me laugh because i remeber all the fantastic stories they tell, not to mention the titles are funny in themselves. i loved the story i kid you not, reason being i love the fact that he does not feel the need to become a parent and the fact that he told off that little girl had me laughing, and why, because she deserved it. debby's rewuirements was also very good and i love how they exacted revenge on her. i could go on and on, but there are some stories that are not appropriate to discuss on a public website. one of the most appealing aspects of this book is how in most of the stories augusten blends human nature into them. he has a way of revealing human nature in subtle ways that if you really think about the stories you realize that there is always part of humanity buried in them. to me he is one of the great emerging voices in literature right now. burroughs is growing as a writer and all i can say is i hope that he keeps the quality work coming because it is great reading. i literally did not want to put the book down. not only do his stories put a smile on my face, but they also make me laugh right out loud. i cannot wait for another of his books and i know i will have to but i can always read them over and still love them again and again.

Author Augusten Burroughs has hit a home run again in this funny, sometimes acerbic collection of true anecdotes that reveals the dark thoughts we all sometimes have, and then carries them out to their seemingly insane conclusions...but with wit and that satirical twist.

These snippets are not presented in any particular chronological order, but begin in childhood, with memories about a Tang commercial, and lead us through the panicky drinking days and the one-night stands.

One of my favorites is the chapter about a rat he finds in the bathtub in the middle of the night, and the panic that ensues. Described beautifully in this excerpt:

"The fact was: if a rat/thing managed to claw its way out of my tub and enter the main area of the studio apartment, I would never be able to locate it. Everywhere there were mounds of foreign magazines, month-old newspapers, a thousand or more empty sixteen-ounce beer cans. I happened to live in squalor that was more than four-feet deep throughout the apartment. If the rat/thing made it into my debris field, it could easily make a nest for itself under the bed in an old aluminum beef vindaloo container or it could simply die beneath an old copy of Italian Vogue. It could die and it could rot."

He then creates a scenario in which he quests for a way to eradicate the rat that had me rolling around with laughter, imagining myself in a similar situation.

And then there's the chapter on telemarketers, and how they call numerous times at night and repeatedly, with the "frequent urgency of dumped boyfriends." Now who hasn't wanted to seek revenge on them? Well, read on and learn....

There are thoughts about almost anything that may have crossed your mind, but that you were afraid to articulate. This author crams Magical Thinking: True Stories with all of those thoughts and more.

As I turned the final, very satisfying page, I wanted "seconds." But instead, I'll just have to occasionally pick it up again and savor the moments. Five happy stars for this one!

I loved Magical Thinking. I love Augusten Burroughs. I think the man is genius. You'll immediately recognize his writing in the third memoir as well as recognize some people from DRY and my personal favorite, RUNNING WITH SCISSORS. Here's just an example of the Augusten I love (from MAGICAL THINKING):

"When I was in the fourth grade all the girls wore Calvin Klein corduory jeans and wanted to be psychologists. All the boys wore Levis and wanted to play pro football. I wore polyester stretch pants with bell-bottoms and wanted to be Christine Jorgensen, the world's first famous transexual" (p. 25)

See what I mean? priceless. enjoy.

On reflection at the end of "Magical Thinking," I entertain the idea that somehow Augusten Burroughs has plied his talent to amazingly get a late-middle-aged straight lady to become hypnotized into finishing a book that had some places I never intended to go. And it seemed from the beginning, I would finish this book as quickly as I could ply away the time.

"Debby's Requirements" became my favorite story for two reasons:

1. A belly laugh that just would not quit over an elaborte set-up and punch that still makes me laugh.

2. One of her "requirements" shined up my dull solid cherry furniture that I have all over my house.

"Up the Escalator" made me feel understood when my feet feel like iron balls walking up broken escalators.

"My Last First Date" made me wish explore a relationship with a guy who treats me a lot like Burroughs' Dennis.

The big payoff for me was Burroughs' ability to allow me to truly know what another person thought and felt in real life situations as honestly as he could remember and tell me, like I was the best interviewer in the world and I had adeptly pried every thought and feeling out of him, even the ones that made him uncomfortable revealing. He gayness and my straightness stopped being important.

I discovered throughout that, God forgive, I actually got Burroughs' sense of humor.

I also got a strange buzz from feeling like I was one up because I got to know so much about him without revealing anything about myself. You go Augusten and thanks for the memories!

These stories are what most people who write blogs are trying to achieve when they drone on about the minutia of their daily lives. The only difference is that Augusten Burroughs is able to make us laugh in the process, and often at our selves. He portrays himself as a tad absurd, and we can't help but relate. Sometimes his stories seem to touch on the profound, but it's often fleeting and never in a way that seems overly contrived by Burroughs. Occasionally while reading I would wonder what made this collection worthy of publishing instead of being banished to life on computer screens, but then I would read a particularly witty and insightful passage which would remind me of Burrough's unique gifts in story telling. I give this collection 4 stars instead of 5 because it lacks some of the emotional resonance I would want from a five star book. It's still an entertaining read, and one I would recommend to anyone.

Augusten Burroughs has a knack for satire and other aspects of dark humor. I loved his novel Sellevision and looked forward to reading more books by this talented author. Magical Thinking is one of the funniest short-story collections I have ever read. This darkly funny collection will have you in stitches of laughter while at the same time making you shake your head with disgust at some of the bold scenes, raunchy situations and disarming language in the stories. This book is even darker in content than Sellevision! My favorite stories are "Transfixed by Transsexuals," "Model Behavior," "Holly Blow Job," "I'm Gonna Live Forever," "My Last First Date," and "Cunnilungusville." Augusten Burroughs is one of the most talented authors out there and I cannot wait till he releases another novel. In the meantime, I think I will give his memoirs a whirl.

This book is downright hilarious and billed as "true stories." I am sure there is a grain of truth in much of what he says, however, there is also a lot that has tongue in cheek in the saying. I have not yet read his other books, but I shall in the near future. One of his major occupations (before becoming an author) was creating advertising copy and he talks about that a little bit, but his funny declarations all involve his personal life from being a complete slob and an alcoholic to becoming civilized due to the discipline of his roommate. I do not want to tell you about anything specific as it might take the joy away from discovering events in his life that are too funny for words...almost.

After reading the true story of the unbelieveably weird childhood of Augusten Burroughs in "Running with Scissors", I thought to myself "this guy is probably living in an institution for the crimally insane somewhere." Imagine my surprise and awe when I read his book "Magical Thinking" which shows that not only did Augusten survive his dysfunctional childhood, he did it with grace and humor. His collection of essays are at times cruel, often funny and sometimes very graphic. But they are all "real life" and something about them leads me to believe that Augusten himself is a "real life" kind of guy. It should give every reader hope that someone with a childhood and adolesence like Augusten had can eventually find life and love.

i loved both dry and running with sissors. i couldn't put running with sissors down and after staying up all night to finish it i ran out the next morning and bought dry. i thought dry was even better. this is why i wasted no time in buying magical thinking. saddly, i thought it was very disappoingting. first, he regularly references his previous two memoirs but gives no explaination of there content. i feel that if i hadn't read these many of the references in the book would have been lost on me. secondly, there were occational funny moments and observations but overall i felt the stories lacked personal insight and could have done with a very heavy handed editor. i felt there was too much of an attempt to add an insightful and witty one-liner at the end of each story where many stories would not have left such a bad taste in my mouth had that last sentance been ommited. lastly, i appreciate both david sedaris and augusten bouroughs for very different reasons, but in magical thinking there seemed to be too much of an attempt to be like sedaris, but, sadly, where sedaris can make the most mundane funny, bouroughs seemed to be deliberately looking for funny stories in his life and though i know this isn't true seemed to be running low.

i'm certainly not turned off to bouroughs forever, but i fear that someone who may read this book first would not necessarily be inspired to read the rest of his work. he is an amazing voice with an incredible life story that deserves to be told. i think over time and with practis his craft will be honed. i just hope he takes some time and reflection as he continues writing.

Everyone I know is gobbling up Augusten Burroughs' books. A friend just bought a first-edition, autographed Dry from Augusten's brother. So it's tough to approach one of his books without feeling automatically biased toward him. And why shouldn't I just give myself over to loving him? This guy is fun, fun, fun. His essays in Magical Thinking had me smirking sometimes, nodding with recognition other times, rolling my eyes occasionally. Some of the early ones smack of exaggeration, and so I trod suspiciously through his memories. But that didn't keep me from being entertained. (By the way, the mouse story is ugly and may speak to a psychological disturbance that portends worse events, but didn't we already know that?)

If Augusten Burroughs ever makes a movie or gets to host his own reality TV show he might one day work his way into the center square of a future iteration of Hollywood Squares. He has the wit. He's a clever observer of contemporary mores. Add to this an ample supply of contempt for political correctness and a love for pushing the boundaries of taste. In the "true stories" that make up MAGICAL THINKING he manages to get away with virtual murder because half the time the target of his cutting satire is himself. Arranged somewhat chronologically, these stories read like outtakes from his memoirs RUNNING WITH SCISSORS. The collection begins with a story about his effort to achieve stardom at age seven when he was selected to be in a Tang commercial ("Commercial Break") and includes one about his studying to become a Barbizon model in his teens ("Model Behavior"). It includes frank stories about his dysfunctional family of origin, alcoholism, gayness, dating woes, relations with Catholic priests, boredom and frustration as an advertising copywriter, and even his "hygiene issues." "Debby's Requirements," one of my favorites in the collection, is a New York story about Burroughs' battle of wills with a domineering cleaning lady. In "The Rat/Thing" he takes the New York thing to extremes when he reveals what he will do to get rid of a rodent intruder. It's so extreme you can't help thinking he might be using his little domestic tempest in a teapot to describe something much larger--the obsessive Western mind (e.g., Bush v. Saddam). He both revels in and criticizes American obsession with celebrity culture and aspirational advertising. Shallowness (especially in gay men) is both scorned and celebrated. The collection ends on a slightly more reassuring note with several stories about a still-promising sounding relationship with a man named Dennis. I think we'll have to wait for the next collection of "true stories" to see how that one turns out.

...of our day. The Great Mark Twain had underlying humor woven into his writings, Burroughs has obvious humor written so subjectively that you forget yourself. It takes great skill to write any powerful feeling subjectively (I should know), and that is a trademark of not a good author, but a great author. I loved running with scissors, well, this is another great book of tragic humor. It is such a healing to laugh about pain, while feeling for the person simultaneously---Burrroughs elicits that response, continually. He has the gift of 'healing' via his writing. I strongly suggest that this book (or Running With Scissors) be given as gifts this Chrismas, especially to people going through crisis.

1. Augusten Burroughs

2. Chuck Palahniuk (although I thought "Stranger Than Fiction" was a yawner.)

3. David Sedaris

4. Neal Pollack (someone light a fire under him.)

5. Dave Eggers

It's not so much that I love this book...I EXPECTED to love it and I was not disapointed. Mr. Burroughs is the master. I can't wait for more fiction though. The story about the Dr. Pepper lady...even Augusten admits there is a limit to this type of account.

I do have a problem being a divorced forty-two year old mother and reading books like this...I have absolutely no one I can recommend them to.

(and he's right about the alpha hydrox....10% acid on your face and neck after a hot shower and we'd all look 30 well into our fifties!)

1. Augusten Burroughs

2. Chuck Palahniuk (although I thought "Stranger Than Fiction" was a yawner.)

3. David Sedaris

4. Neal Pollack (someone light a fire under him.)

5. Dave Eggers

It's not so much that I love this book...I EXPECTED to love it and I was not disapointed. Mr. Burroughs is the master. I can't wait for more fiction though. The story about the Dr. Pepper lady...even Augusten admits there is a limit to this type of account.

I do have a problem being a divorced forty-two year old mother and reading books like this...I have absolutely no one I can recommend them to.

(and he's right about the alpha hydrox....10% acid on your face and neck after a hot shower and we'd all look 30 well into our fifties!)

With Magical Thinking, Burroughs moves beyond the "memoir" format of his two previous essays in favor of personal essays. The transition serves him well; rather than present readers with another narrative, he offers a collection of autobiographical stories that read like journal excerpts from two distinct periods of his life: B.D. (Before Dennis, his love and muse) and A.D. (After Dennis enters his life).

The stories are graced with humor and honesty, eliciting laughs with acute observations of the absurdities of everyday life. They're also buttressed with an uncommon frankness regarding sexual matters. At the same time, the stories possess a confessional quality: the author reveals secret thoughts and ambitions as the reader takes the role of psycotherapist, listening and analyzing and assembling the pieces together.

And somehow I suspect that Burroughs would offer no objection to this analogy. :)

I borrowed this book from my Daughter, and it was my introduction to Augusten. I started reading this book on a very long road trip from Vegas to Reno, and couldn't put it down the entire way. I laughed, cried, and had these goofy smiles on my face at times which no one understood, and I also insisted on reading aloud the stories I had just enjoyed.

The real life stories that Augusten tells are very well written and just an open book into he has experienced during his life and what he is feeling in his heart. Some may be taken aback by some of the content or the honesty that he opens up about, so be prepared to be surprised!

The stories are quick reads...however, this book is begging to never be put down!

I picked up this audiobook knowing nothing about Augusten Burroughs and his writings as I set out on a 10 hour drive up north...and what a wonderful find! His witty, sardonic tales are ego-driven, self-involved, neurotic, and refreshingly honest--and made great company on a long ride. Burroughs is brazen, blunt, and nasty as he provides snarky commentary and dishes in these memoirs. A young, gay Woody Allen or Joan Rivers come to mind... And it works! Burroughs' tales uncover a subtext of contemporary life that is accessible, easy to relate to, and full of "aha!" moments that kept me riveted and laughing all the way. Good pulp non fiction...with a twist.

For anyone who hasnt read "Running with Scissors" and "Dry"....Shame on you! Put down the bag of Cheetos, turn off your Tivo'd "American Idol" reruns and open a book for God's sake! For those of you who have read them, drop that coffee cup (its probably cold by now anyway) and hit the "add to cart" button! This is a true gem of a book! Being a big fan of Mr. Burroughs, I couldnt wait until this book came out. Each book leaves you wanting more- to read more, understand more and laugh more! "Magical Thinking" delivers! I have read these stories out loud to my husband, friends and even to my Mother! (If you knew her, you'd understand why its a big deal that even she enjoyed them!) I have many favorites- "Key Worst" this story is for anyone who went on vacation with high expectations only to be let down by presence of a)rain b)loudmouthed crude tourists c)obnoxious children or d)all of the above. "Telemarketing Revenge"- offers a great solution to all those annoying calls and "Vanderbilt Genes" for anyone who entertained delusions of grandeur as a child (or adult). There is not a bad apple among the bunch! I mean it...hit the "add to cart" button. You wont be sorry!

I don't necessarily like to make comparisons between authors, but when the genre is short, funny, autobiographical stories written by gay men, Sedaris has it all over Burroughs (no pun intended). Magical Thinking is very funny in places, but unfortunatly those places didn't come often enough for me. While Burroughs had me smirking, Sedaris has me spewing my coffee through my nose! The funniest of the bunch was by far "Debby's Requirements", any of us who has felt held hostage by a cleaning lady can relate to that one. Overall not a bad way to kill a couple hours, but for my money, no where near as hilarious as Sedaris

Having read Augusten Burroughs' first two memoirs Running With Scissors and Dry, I was eager to read Magical Thinking. Although not as shocking as Running With Scissors and not filled with as much angst as Dry, Magical Thinking shows off a more mature writing style. Don't worry, the shocking is still there, so is the anger and angst. It's just this book flows with a little more maturity in terms of voice - the author is at a different phase of his life and it shows in his prose. Burroughs jumps around in time and place - giving an organic, stream-of-conciousness feel to the storytelling. Overall a worthy read.

Magical Thinking has some amusing anecdotes and a sharp attention to detail told in an (at times) engaging voice. It's a little heavy on the homosexual relationship whimsy a la "Ooh my new boyfriend is just soooo understanding and I just loooove all his little quirks because he understands mine." The story about his cleaning lady is one of the best. I give the book one extra star for the author's one line jab at Tuesday's With Morrie. This is the first book I've read by this author and it's tough not to make a Sedaris comparision. All in all an alright book.

Although I am a complete Burroughs fan I will admit that this is not the top of his work. Please begin your Burroughs adventure with `Running with Scissors'. You will never regret that choice. After you appreciate what he is about you can come back to this book. This book lacks the draw of the other and is likely to not be found very enjoyable to the reader who is not familiar with his style or sense of humor. Burroughs will remind many of David Sedaris. Although, I believe there are distinct differences between their writings, it is probably a good measure to assume that if you have enjoyed one you will enjoy the other.

I read Augusten's first two memoirs, Running with Scissors and Dry, and I adored them both; his hilarious and touching insights reminded me of David Sedaris, one of my favorite authors. I adore dark humor and connected deeply with these other two books. HOWEVER - this new collection of short stories is incredibly disappointing, and can hardly be called "humorous," dark or otherwise.

These stories reveal their author to be a shallow, boring, petty person, certainly not someone I can continue to respect the way I did after reading those first two books. In one chapter he talks about the annoying fat people he runs into in Key West, and then in another, contradicts himself by saying he's always had a special fondness for fat people. He talks about looking in the mirror at himself for hours, how judgmental he is, how he writes in his journal for eight hours a day about himself, and how he recently took steroids for cosmetic reasons. Yawn, yawn, a little barf, and more yawn.

I never really laughed-out-loud in the way I did when reading Running with Scissors and Dry. One of his stories - The Rat/Thing, in which he describes how he tortures and drowns a defenseless mouse he found in his bathtub - actually gave me a stomach ache and made me cry. And somehow he thought we'd find this entertaining in some way? Funny, even? Maybe Satan or Hitler could get a chuckle out of it, but certainly not anyone with a heart.

Nevertheless, the language is still pretty tight, and I have to give him his propers for at least being honest. And there are funny moments interlaced with the disgusting ones (which unfortunately grossly outweigh the former.)

Burroughs freely admits that he is "made entirely of flaws, stitched together with good intentions." But considering that at the same time he comes across as horribly vain, shallow, and self-absorbed, this self-awareness only caused me to loathe him all the more. It's like he's saying, I know I'm a horrible person, but gee, you'll forgive me, right, because it's cute and endearing on me, and I had SUCH a hard time growing up? But No, Augusten. No, no, no, no, no. Try growing up and out of your eighth-grade-girl mentality. If this book were by a different author, I probably wouldn't be so hard on it, but after being so charmed by his first two memoirs, I couldn't help but wish I had never read this book. His "Magical Thinking" will leave you with a cold, hard, sad, and so, so disappointing dose of disenchantment.

Bottom line: Don't waste your money losing respect for this author. Or, if you absoloutely must, (and please, don't,) at least wait until it comes out in paperback.

After I read 'Running With Scissors' I couldn't wait to get it out of the house it disturbed me so much. 'Dry' surprised me with how funny someone could make recovery. After finishing 'Magical Thinking' I think I have a bit of a crush on Augusten Burroughs. With past comparisons to David Sedaris, this collection of true stories is closer in form and tone than anything else he's written. Laugh out loud funny, irreverent, and sometimes downright crude, this is the collection that people will be passing around, recommending to friends, and secure for him a legion of rabid fans waiting patiently for whatever comes next. Particular favorites were The Rat/Thing, Beating Raoul & Debby's Requirements.

I will buy anything and everything written by this author. He is absolutely brilliant, and when I read his work I am obsessed with every last word on the page. It's especially enjoyable when he writes autobiographical accounts. He can take an experience like finding a mouse in the bath tub, for example, and make it captivating and charming. I like his style of writing, the way his voice comes through so clearly, the way he writes in incomplete sentences in all the right places and makes it work. There are also a few wonderful love stories about him and Dennis, like the story that begins with Augusten going to Kmart for the iron. Although the story isn't really about a specific event, it is the most touching tribute to a partner that I have ever read. Although I don't as much enjoy the feel of holding a hardcover book, I couldn't wait until Magical Thinking came out in paperback--I had to get it immediately. And I suggest you do the same.
(Note: 'Augusten, please hurry up and publish your next book; I need my fix.)

"Running with Scissors" was so horrifying, and "Dry" was so fraught with misery, that I was a bit scared to pick up "Magical Thinking." But this collection of essays is so darned funny. Burroughs makes no pretense of being warm and fuzzy -- in fact, he is blatant about his lack of compassion and his prejudices. But that's what makes his writing -- on topics as diverse as finding love in New York, log cabins, and killing wee beasties that sneak into his apartment -- so refreshing and hilarious. A must-read for fans of David Sedaris.

After reading his book Running with Scissors, I read Magical Thinking: True Stories and I was equally pleased. Augusten Burroughs is a wonderful talent and has something genuinely worthwhile to share in his life experience and unique writing ability. There is nothing else I could compare him too and I think that's a compliment in and of itself. Plain and simple, if you liked Running with Scissors; read this book. If you've not yet read Running with Scissors, I recommend you give that a shot as well.

caution: plot spoilers in this review!

Augusten Burroughs' philosophy can best be described as nihilistic. Burroughs survived being raised by his mother's insane psychiatrist and an unsatisfactory career as an ad copywriter to become a fantastic memoirist, constructing hilariously dark autobiographical stories. Magical Thinking is Burroughs' third book and is made up of short true stories.

The most obvious elements he employs in Magical Thinking are metaphor, vivid diction, and the striking contrast between poetic language and dark, mundane reality.

Once I began reading the first story in this book, I couldn't stop. This was mostly due to the fact that each sentence is packed with surprising metaphors, such as one about how the autor's childhood home was "so 'small' New England town' one had the feeling of existing within a snowglobe at a souveneir shop." Burroughs includes details about everything he writes about without sounding as if he had simply stuck descriptive adjectives in at random intervals. Also, he doesn't shy away from exploring the more animalistic side of human nature. Directly before a tender story detailing a fight with his lover over a bottle of face moisturizer is "Debby's Requirements," an anecdote about exacting revenge on a dwarfish, demanding cleaning lady who charges huge sums for cleaning the bottom half of the author's apartment. In the end, he leaves $900 in pennies on her doorstep.

Magical Thinking is definitely worth a read. On the surface, it is a collection of thoroughly interesting stories about everything from a horrific dental surgery to a stint at the Barbizon School of Modeling. On a deeper level, the book contains deeper messages about the fate of mankind and his inability to be empathic. Or maybe not.

I loved Running With Scissors and Dry because Burroughs told his stories matter-of-factly, without asking for pity. They were stories that I thought said, "Horrible things happen, and you deal with them as best you can. Also, they can be pretty funny in retrospect." In Magical Thinking, he seems to have embraced his victimhood and his celebrity to the exclusion of all else.

Burroughs repeatedly admits to being mean, selfish, and obsessed with his own celebrity, but his other two books led me to believe he was also thoughtful, observant, and bright. This book proves otherwise. The stories don't ring especially true; it's clear that Burroughs just wants to keep his gravy train rolling and present the persona he's created for himself. This would be fine if he had anything of value to say about anyone or anything else, but his world is very small and encompasses only himself (and eventually his boyfriend and dog; the chapters about Dennis and the dog are the best in the book because they feel honest, and because Burroughs focuses on someone else for once).

I'm sorry that Burroughs embraced shallowness and victimhood. I hope he proves some day that he's more than that, maybe when the glow of celebrity fades a bit.

I was not particularly captivated by Burrough's book "Running with Scissors" (I found it a bit too dark - but that's for another review) but I adored this more recent book. It is a collection of essays about all of life's mundane travails - from vacations with his partner to their escapades in dog ownership. I found myself laughing out loud and would certainly recommend it to others.

Now, these stories are real but, for some reason, they seem more fictional. At the front, before he starts dishing up dirt, he proclaims, "Some names have been changed."

Toward the end of the stories, he explains what 'magistical thinking' is from someone who is introverted and still living in that mystical period when children played such games as not ever stepping on the cracks of the sidewalk; he had to exert his individuality by stomping on all of the cracks of a sidewalk. He must have been a difficult child, or abused in some way, to keep him from growing into maturity.

One day he decided to stop drinking, afraid he already was an alcoholic. The cover picture shows the wine not going into the glass but up in the air, as in a magic trick. If only it were that easy to stop a dangerous habit which will result in an early death one way or another. He thinks he can control things with his mind, which is a little disconcerting.

His other books are mostly autobiographical as he moves from one world into another, but this one takes the cake.

I've read "Running with Scissors" and "Dry" and could really relate to them both. (My childhood and battles with addiction weren't THAT bizarre, but I could still relate.) I really enjoyed these anecdotes from his pre- and post-"Dry" years, and I especially enjoyed reading about his relationship with Dennis. That he could get through all the garbage he's gone through and find love is a miracle, indeed. I wish them all the best! Keep those books coming!

I was eager to read the latest From Mr. Burroughs, since he's obviously brilliant and wicked funny. His latest book is a huge disappointment. Never mind the $27 price tag; the book reads like a collection of musings stretched, teased, and tortured to the max in order to meet the page requirement. While there are moderately touching and funny elements to the book, I was bored to tears by many of the chapters (shopping for furniture! a new dog!) and annoyed/disgusted by others, such as the story about the mouse or the Creative Director who dies of an aneurism (funny!). Most tiresome is Burroughs constantly reminding the readers that he had a messed up childhood and was an alcoholic. Why not just add a footnote referencing the previous books, or better yet, insert an order form in this book? I'm not sure if he mentions this constantly to (a) give readers insight into why he is so self-absorbed, boring, and whiny, (b) invite sympathy, or (c) try to convince himself he's still living the edgy life of a messed up, abused, unloved, psychologically-damaged drunk (and not a privileged, loved, best-selling author) in order to channel creativity. I think he fails on all levels. It seems Burroughs has milked all the pathos from his background that he can. I agree with the other reviewer that perhaps Burroughs should return to advertising, or at least find new material.

I will buy anything and everything written by this author. He is absolutely brilliant, and when I read his work I am obsessed with every last word on the page. It's especially enjoyable when he writes autobiographical accounts. He can take an experience like finding a mouse in the bath tub, for example, and make it captivating and charming. I like his style of writing, the way his voice comes through so clearly, the way he writes in incomplete sentences in all the right places and makes it work. There are also a few wonderful love stories about he and Dennis, like the story that begins with Augusten going to Kmart for the iron. The story isn't really about a specific event; it's about his love for Dennis. Augusten has the ability to SHOW his feelings rather than to just SAY how he feels. It is certainly the most touching tribute to a partner that I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Although I don't as much enjoy the feel of holding a hardcover book, I couldn't wait until Magical Thinking came out in paperback--I had to get it immediately. And I suggest you do the same.
(Note: 'Augusten, please hurry up and publish your next book; I need my fix.)

this is the book to start with. it will familiarize you with pieces of augusten burrough's life written almost in short story form. it is so funny that i hated to put it down to go to sleep at night. i gave it to everyone i know for christmas and got rave reviews back. if you thought your life was dysfunctional, let your new best friend enter. he is endearing and impossible all in one. when you've finished this book, have 'running with scissors' ready to begin so you won't miss a beat. 'dry' is next- it is the natural progression of the effects of a family run amuck. i'm sure people with a history of addiction will relate much better to burrough's thought processes and life actions than more 'normal' people. i was in awe of his ability to spin humor into every experience. i completely love him and have already placed my order for his next unreleased book. ENJOY!

Before reading this book, it is important to remember that Burroughs is not Sedaris. While Sedaris' stories are sweet and life-affirming, Burroughs shows just how ugly and cruel the human animal can be. There is nothing "magical" about these stories. These stories are the most banal of life's events put under the microscope of a neurotic.

I have never read anything by Augusten Burroughs before but I think I'll check out some of his other books after reading this one. I have never laughed so hard or so much reading a book. Some of the stuff is just unbelievable but it doesn't matter to me. It was great and, as long as you're open minded, you may love this book too.

I bought this book at a used bookstore without knowing anything about Augusten Burroughs. The title caught my eye and I begin to read the first chapter. I enjoyed his writing style and decided to buy it. I was thoroughly enjoying the book until the 6th chapter. Each chapter is it's own separate story and are put in a seemingly random order so skipping a chapter will not hurt anything, which is why I am suggesting to skip the 6th one. Had this chapter not been in there I probably would have given the book 5 stars. As it is, it was hard for me to even give it 3. For the one paragraph in chapter six it deserves no stars. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed a lot of it, some made me laugh out loud and some parts made me upset, but I was completely outraged by what I read in that chapter to the point I had difficulty finishing the book. I continued on in the hopes some evil misfortune would befall him and judging by his brief references to his childhood I guess some evil already did befall him, but I wanted more evil after what he wrote. I am now going to quote directly from the chapter, but if you have any intention of reading this book please skip this part of the review, skip chapter six and come back to it.

"Women just smirk at baldness, as if it's cute. How adorable would they find it if they began to lose their breasts in their late twenties? If both t**s just shrunk up-unevenly I might add-and eventually turned into wine-cork nubs...As far as I am concerned, baldness is the male breast cancer, only much worse, because almost everyone gets it. True, it's not life-threatening. Just social-life threatening. But in New York City, there is no difference." I can't believe someone would even compare something like baldness to a cancer of any type. Granted I am probably more sensitive to this subject, since I do research in a cancer hospital on breast cancer and am a woman. But still!! Part of me wants to get his other memoirs so I can relish in his horrible childhood. But then again, I don't want to contribute any more money to this man. Maybe he can will the books to appear upon my doorstep.

This is a very weak effort from Mr. Burroughs. Actually, I question even how much "effort" it took. That said, I zipped through it and even laughed aloud a few times. "Debby's Requirements" is borderline hilarious, and the part of a later story about accidentally stepping on a small child's hand made me giggle. But the stories ramble and are only fitfully funny, and Mr. Burroughs seems determined to bring each one to some sort of "conclusion" which is usually the weakest part of each chapter because the stories are too diffuse for that. Strangely enough, after the wild anecdotes in "Dry" and "Running with Scissors," some of these (tamer) anecdotes don't even ring true -- you begin doubting they really happened or assuming he has embellished them. And that's a problem with the writer's conviction more than anything else.

Augusten Burroughs is the master of the written word, he has proven this with his books "RUNNING WITH SCISSORS" and "DRY". This book, "MAGICAL THINKING" is no exception. It is not quite as autobiographical as his other books, but yet it is as well. Partly funny, partly sad-your emotions will run the gambit (again true of his other works). This will be another long-term best-seller. I cannot wait to read more from him. Along the lines of best reads this summer, As with the aforementioned books, I would like to recommend --------------IF I KNEW THEN and --------------THE CHILDREN'S CORNER by Jackson McCrae-both honest reflections of different types of abuse, yet inspirational reads as well.

A friend gave me Augustens book, "Running With Scissors" to read in December 2006. I have now read everything that he has written, and intend to wait for his next book to come off the press so that I can get the first copy. He is funny, and his humor is gritty and black at times, not for the folks that think Family Circus is funny....Read his books, unless honesty scares you. I also have "Magical Thinking" read by Augusten, and really enjoyed hearing him read .

This is my 4th Burroughs novel, and although I have loved his other books, this one did not hold my attention as much. My favorite so far has been Running With Scissors...it was hard to put that one down. This one just sort of had a good story every now and then. The only ones I actually were interested in were the one about the housekeeper and the telemarketer. I just found myself saying, "So what?" to a lot of the stories. I think Burroughs' life is extremely interesting; however, I guess I enjoy an actual novel instead of the random stories / chapters on different things.

What can I say. Augusten Buroughs is the epitome of a great author. He uses hundreds of detailed descriptions that pull you into the story. He was a raging alcoholic and had a traumatic childhood. Of course, he writes well whether they be short essays or novels. He is a genius!

My favorite chapter was Rat/Thing. It is about a rat that crawls into his bathtub and his efforts to make it disappear. I was laughing so hard that I was crying as I read through the chapter. The other stories are just as humorous, well-written and disturbing too!

You will not be sorry you got this book!

Building on "Running with Scissors" or "Dry," you could easily feel that this book might have even more to offer about this author's life. However, while I felt the stories were mildly amusing and Burrough's has a talent for sarcastic writing (like Bill Bryson or Mary Roach), this book I found overall chaotic and without merit. Why aren't the stories in chronological order at the very least? What is the point of this book? It seems almost as if you're listening to a friend talk endlessly about himself with no regard for what you might like to hear (or pay for). There's no cohesive bond to hold the stories together other than they are about the author. Perhaps it's time for time for Burrough's to show a little versatility and less self-indulgence.

Having read RUNNING WITH SCISSORS, I was eager to embrace the author's other attempts at writing. DRY was next, and then I found this book-------MAGICAL THINKING. It's truly amazing that Augusten Burroughs could keep up this pace, mining more and more elements from his childhood and adult life; molding them into hilarious and dark tales that keep the reader captivated for hours. Some of it is edgy, some raw. And some is brilliant! I must also recommend another great the store pick that I recently came across titled BARK OF THE DOGWOOD which is somewhat of a combination of Sedaris and some of the more gothic Southern writers. VERY funny and dark also.

This is what good writing is all about. Flow, plot, intrigue! Everything is excellent in this book!

I LOVE LOVE the chapter about the little girl who kicks Augusten...had me laughing out loud, literally. I was appalled by the rat story and absolutely stuck to the book reading about the scamming housekeeper! I could not put this book down and I can't wait for the next Augusten Burroughs book!

5 stars, I completely recommend this book to everyone, reguardless of literary preference!

Believe me - I really wanted to like this book! I read his first two (Dry was definitely my favorite), and ran out to get this as soon as it came out. Boy, was I disappointed. I kept thinking it would get better, but, rather the more I read, the less I liked the author. I found it odd how he refers to his beloved Dennis as "the schnaauzer" in one story. Wow, that's gotta make you feel good! There were so many put-downs of other people throughout the book that the major feeling I had after reading it was that Burroughs is mean spirited and rather full of himself. His earlier books reminded me of David Sedaris, witty and self-deprecating. But, alas, no more!

I read this in one obsessive reading jag... just seconds after finishing Possible Side Effects (finished Running with Scissors ages ago). Burroughs is entertaining and horribly and grotesquely lovable. What I love most about him is I know he'll read this review. He won't be able to help himself.

its hilarious when mr. burroughs over analyzes every minute detail of a date. its not hilarious when "critics" do it to a brilliant work. like watching a cartoon strip on a crash course to obsentiy, mr. burroughs does an excellent job of keeping the reader entertained and bearing just enough of his soul to keep us hounding for more. am eagerly awaiting, "Possible Side Effects" in may 2006!!

I've read "Running with Scissors" and "Dry," I thought these two books were too funny and the same goes for "Magical Thinking." If you don't get sarcasm or have a warped sense of humor this book is not for you. However, if you don't take things to literal you'll really enjoy this. It was very hard to put down. He tells a whole bunch of stories throughout his life that take place not in any specific order.

This is my first time reading Augusten...my boyfriend received the book as a Christmas present and I took it with me on travel for the holidays and could not put it down. The entire time I was reading this book, I was laughing out loud (which rarely happens to me when reading a book) and kept saying to myself, this book could have been written by me. Burrough's anecdotes are memories similar to so many I have had growing up and I felt like we had a similar childhood. There were references to a darker side of Augusten's past that I am very anxious to read about in his other novels, which I ordered today on the store. All three of them. Cannot wait for them to arrive. I am certainly a fan of Magical Thinking and hope the other novels are as enjoyable.

Because clearly, that is where his skillset exists. He artfully can tell a short story with poignancy and humor and utter wit. I have read Magical Thinking and Possible Side Effects, as well as Dry, Wolf at the Table and Running with Scissors and it is my opinion that where Mr. Burroughs talent lies is not in writing novels, but in spinning short tales. The longer the book, the bigger his BS factor goes up, in my opinion.

David Sedaris distills human emotion and interaction down into bittersweet elixirs that alter your mental anatomy. Augusten Burroughs, on the other hand, wants to tell you about his trip to the dentist and a fight with his housekeeper.

I have not read or listened to any of AB's other books, but this was certainly as disappointment. This is what happens to authors once they become too comfortable and entirely uninteresting.

Augusten Burroughs is a national treasure. In "Magical Thinking" the reader is brought into the strange neurotic, and colorful world of Mr. Burroughs. Beginning with his amusing early brush with fame in a Tang commercial, moving to his controlling manipulating housekeeper, and on to a late night encounter with a rodent intruder, "Magical Thinking" will keep you laughing. Highly recommended!

I love Augusten Burroughs. Just when you think he is out of stories he comes at you with more and more captivating events in his hilarious life. He is unbelievably great and all of his memoirs are a must have, must read, and must read again!

This was the first book from Augusten that I read. I enjoyed the short stories and how it developed into his life story. I now want to read all of his books and to those who don't know about him, my advise is that you need to have an open mind to be able to truly enjoy his writing.