I surprised myself by picking up this book, and you might be too. My husband’s old roommate was engrossed in it, laughing uncontrollably, which initially sparked my curiosity about I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell. When the library didn’t have a copy, it landed on my Christmas list, eventually gifted by my brother – apparently, it was deemed a bit too risqué for anyone else in the family! Despite my usual reading list discipline, I jumped right into this one and finished most of it in a single weekend.
For my Where Are You Reading? Challenge, I’m designating this as my North Carolina book, given the frequent mentions of Duke University in Tucker Max’s tales.
I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell by Tucker Max introduces us to Tucker Max, a man who proudly proclaims himself an “asshole,” and who I’d describe as a self-confessed alcoholic and womanizer. This book, a compilation of his blog posts that later inspired a movie (which I’m skipping), recounts his drunken adventures. Expect stories of run-ins with the law, bar ejections, and numerous encounters with women. Many of these narratives unfold during his time at Duke Law School and the subsequent years when he embarked on a writing career. Alcohol, crowded bars, and women with questionable morals are recurring themes throughout his stories in “I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell”.
Trying to maintain objectivity in this review is challenging, as the book genuinely disturbed me. Knowing the premise beforehand didn’t fully prepare me for the frustration it evoked, particularly concerning the portrayal of women. It’s baffling how Max consistently finds women who seemingly gravitate towards a man who openly admits he’ll treat them poorly. While I acknowledge such individuals exist, the sheer volume in Max’s world, and his ease in finding them, is unsettling. Technically, Max rarely crosses explicitly stated boundaries, making direct fault-finding difficult. However, the behavior of the women depicted, and to a lesser extent, Max’s chosen lifestyle, are certainly open to criticism.
Despite my strong negative reaction – “Tucker Max is a worthless human being” crossed my mind more than once – I must admit, buried within the debauchery, were a few insightful observations. The most striking was his assertion that men treat women as they are allowed to be treated. A woman who demands respect will either receive it or the man will move on. This is a stark, somewhat cynical, but arguably true statement. If a woman tolerates being mistreated and continues to engage, it inadvertently signals acceptance of that behavior. Max even acknowledges past manipulative behavior, admitting to feigning relationship interest for casual encounters. His eventual realization of this being wrong is a tiny sliver of redemption. Ultimately, if everyone involved is aware of the dynamic and accepts it, Max seems to argue, there’s no inherent harm.
Interestingly, a friend of mine, after reading “I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell,” expressed a desire to join a fraternity. This reaction puzzled me, especially since Max was never a fraternity member himself. While fraternities appear as book signing locations later in the book, he wasn’t part of those organizations. The idea that this book represents the “frat guy lifestyle” is misleading and frankly, offensive. Many fraternity members I know never acted this way. Conversely, I know non-fraternity guys who have. The troubling aspect is the romanticization of this lifestyle. The book showcases a judgmental environment where individuals are assessed within seconds, a lifestyle that can be incredibly destructive without self-control in other aspects of life like career, finances, and family. Furthermore, it’s astonishing that Max hasn’t contracted every STD imaginable, a sentiment echoed by one of his female partners in the book. It’s also perplexing how someone seemingly health-conscious regarding diet and fitness can subject their body to such excessive alcohol consumption and disregard for disease prevention. Seriously, use a condom! I’ve read in another book blog that Max has sought therapy and is supposedly changing his ways. One wonders if this transformation was triggered by a lack of beer, women, or, more likely, money.
Earlier last year, I read another blog-turned-book, Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I hoped for a similar experience with “I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell,” but was disappointed. Lawson’s book recounts humorous and bizarre life events growing up in rural Texas, presented chronologically, showcasing personal growth and overcoming social anxieties. In contrast, Max’s book feels disorganized. The stories lack chronological order, thematic organization, and characters often appear and vanish without context. While blogs differ from novels, Max missed an opportunity to restructure the content for print in a more coherent manner.
Writer’s Takeaway: Despite my strong dislike for Max and his persona, he undeniably entertained me. I devoured the book in three days, laughing throughout, even if disgust followed. My abs literally ached from laughter. I understand Max was the first self-published author to hit the New York Times Bestsellers list, which isn’t surprising. Much like “Fifty Shades of Grey,” shock value likely fueled sales. And, in that respect, good for him.
What can writers learn from this? Being strikingly different, even offensively so, can be advantageous. It equates to memorability, and apparently, it sells.
However, the disjointed timeline and lack of character development in “I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell” were significant drawbacks for me. The book felt unstructured and chaotic.
Ultimately, I wouldn’t recommend this book unless you are specifically looking for offensive humor and are prepared for potentially misogynistic content. However, I’d be interested in discussing it with anyone who has read it. Two out of five stars.
Until next time, write on.
Related Articles: Book Review: Tucker Max Book Series| The Nerd Nexus I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell, or how Tucker Max saved me rather too late|Be my muse I’m a feminist and I like Tucker Max|Escapist
