Interspersed between the expected bouts of bizarre hilarity (Chance Bone's illustrations are perfect) are quiet, sincere, utterly lovely little gems.

Soon after that, Bo became revered in all comedy circles for being a wholly original, highly intelligent young voice. Self-fashioning as a woman—and trying to thread the needle of “acceptable” femininity, online and IRL—is an impossible task. I’m thinking books about the loss of self, the nihilistic psychology brought on by current societal ills like climate change or automation, the proliferation of technology into our everyday lives and the impacts that has, etc etc. Just think how Burnham’s own pantyfied one-man show would be received were it a one-woman affair instead.He gulps from the firehose of the internet, as so many of us did, in an attempt to pass pandemic time and seek connection. There are some times when he is just content with taking a more light-hearted approach to the whole concept of life, but in other instances he comes up with something insightful, deep, and meaningful that actually makes you pause in contemplation for a second or two. What I like most is that Harry sprinkles autobiographical passages between his poems, explaining what he was doing at the time he wrote them or explaining his inspiration.

Bo Burnham was a teenager living in his parents' attic in Massachusetts when he started posting funny songs to YouTube. The voluble praise of Inside’s relatability hinges on the elision of Burnham’s privilege, even as the comedian himself tries to acknowledge it. It’s about the way the internet promises “everything all of the time,” but often leaves us feeling enervated, isolated, and inferior.The fact the internet has turned everyone from a potential consumer into a potential creator is by now a truism. The tone of the poems, as well as the corresponding illustrations by Chance Bone, takes heavy inspiration from Shel Silverstein. His 2021 Netflix special INSIDE won three Emmy Awards and was hailed by The Guardian as 'a claustrophobic masterpiece'. In Egghead, Bo brings his brand of brainy, emotional comedy to the page in the form of off-kilter poems, thoughts, and more.

So, if you like words and you’re looking for something new to read, get your hands on these two books. There's a battle between his left and right brain, perverted miming, a song from God's perspective and much more -- what. For example, juxtaposed poems such as A Wonderful Day to be Dead and Up Above (detailing enjoying your mortality and the realisation of insignificance/delusions of grandeur that come from seeing the world from a plane window, respectively) show that Burnham can be both wildly hilarious and profoundly meaningful almost simultaneously.

But this one requires a little thought or engagement to register that it can be read as a comment on Western civilisation’s obsession with beauty and the detrimental effects it has on the self-esteem of young girls in particular. Burnham released the book in 2013, just several months ahead of his second hour-long comedy special what. A strange and charming collection of hilariously absurd poetry, writing, and illustration from one of today's most popular young comedians. Bo Burnham was a precocious teenager living in his parents' attic when he started posting material on YouTube.