In this, his first book, actor Jesse Eisenberg offers a collection of pieces—some of which have appeared in The New Yorker—showcasing his wit, intelligence, imagination, and keen reflections on life’s absurdities. He muses on such topics as family, dating, history, sports, and self-help, and employs a variety of styles, from longer passages that follow a narrative arc to brief punchline bits. A review of the book in Publishers Weekly noted that Jesse is frequently compared to Woody Allen, with whom Jesse has worked. Indeed, the two share an affinity for neurotic, difficult characters with anxious mothers and therapists. But as another reviewer noted, Eisenberg’s stories may have more in common with Steve Martin “in the way they often subvert comic convention and, more significantly, in how the author empathizes with his characters.” However tempting it might be to try to compare Eisenberg to some of the great comic artists, it’s clear from this book that he’s emerging as an original.