Idiot: Essays
4.7 | 7,837 ratings
Price: 13.12
Last update: 01-23-2026
Top reviews from the United States
- J.BarnettA MUST READ-Raw, Real, Funny, and InspiringTHE LONG: I discovered Laura Clery via her Help Helen Smash on social media, and I immediately connected with her out-there humor, brashness, and self-deprecating humor. I also immediately connected with her honest take on life and choosing to be positive and funny versus bitter and angry. I've since fallen in love with her adorable, amazing family. Steven is her perfect mate, and their baby boy is the cutest. Reading Laura's story has given me an even greater appreciation for her success and a far deeper understanding as to why SHE so often appears in awe of her blessings and joy. After reading the book, I now understand why she is committed to attending AA and why she needs the catharsis of meditation and yoga.
If you think Laura is fearless in her Help Helen Smash, just wait until you read her life story. I've read my share of memoirs and autobiographies, and Idiot is among the most honest and self-reflective. That in itself is inspiring to me as a reader (and human!). Laura could've chosen to put down her past on paper, then burn those words, and let it all go in a flume of smoke. But no, she took what I consider the bravest next step, she looked beyond herself. Clery shared the good, the bad, and the funny of her journey, to inspire others. She shines light on the dark, lingering effects of childhood hurts and the insidious path to addiction in a way that gives you all the feels. Her story inspires us not to give up, no matter how awful we or others have been, and to fight to become our best versions of ourselves. We're not alone! One day at a time! There's always hope!
The SHORT: I expected a funny story about a successful woman with a few skeletons in her attic (Hey, we all have 'em, right?), but what I received was that and so much more. Laura Clery's journey makes us believe that forgiveness of others and ourselves is possible, allowing us to move forward--whole and happy. - Becket Hampton WarrenNot an Idiot AnymoreLike I’m quite sure many of her readers did, I first stumbled upon Laura Clery on YouTube. I thought her quirky, silly, out-there content about her pregnancy with Alfie was inspired and hilarious. I was intrigued by her relationship with her British husband. But I did not know about this book until I saw a sketch she did that she “liberated” from the pages of Idiot: her initial meeting with her Englishman and their ever-so-brilliant discussion of hydration. I’d gathered that she had overcome addiction, but I did not know how highly she valued her sobriety until watching that clip, which was followed by a plug for the book. I ordered Idiot that day.
This memoir has a delightfully candid tone, enriched by Laura Clery’s off-beat comedy, but it is also dead serious as it reflects on the horrendously difficult thing getting and remaining sober is for people whose addictive tendencies leave them vulnerable to full-on dependence. As a person whose family tree has numerous alcoholics on it, I found myself supporting Laura’s journey with something like pride. Her success is without a doubt due to her strong, determined character, but I am glad this book contains many stories in which friends and family help her in her progress toward health.
This memoir was fun to read, inspiring, and interesting. I appreciate the author’s talent for self-written comedy, and I also appreciate her inward-looking eye. She seeks to learn the whys of her addictive past even as she moves through her more rewarding and even-keeled present life.
P.S. If you haven’t seen the October 2020 videos regarding brain scans and healing the brain, I’d urge you to view them. No doubt these experiences will figure in the next installment of her autobiography. I can’t wait. - Joshua AugustineMasterpiece! Plain and simpleFirst and foremost, I love Laura. She is such an inspiration for what life can be if you put your best foot forward, keep your head held high and focus on positive people and feelings. ❤
As for the book, this is truly a masterpiece!
I'm a guy so naturally I have a hard time crying... this book changed that. I've NEVER had a book bring me to tears, like, actual ugly girl crying! All the "bad stuff" that happened to her I can relate to because I also went through some of them. She is a fighter that pulled her life, literally, out of the pits of hell and turned it into an amazing one.
One of the reason I bought the audio is because I am slightly Empathetic. I feel people better when I hear the words coming from their mouth. Her humor and charm in the way she reads the book is amazing. Hearing her voice ever so slightly crack durning the bad moments brought a sense of real fear amd emotion that I felt in the pits of my heart. Hearing her laugh at the awkward moments when she met Steven, when she made a fool of herself or just her laughing awkwardly at her own Idiot moments also brought things into perspective.
Read/Listen, if you have any emotion at all this book will bring it out of you.
All in all, Laura is amazing and I will always love her.
10/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - TheresaLaura who?I read this for a book club. Prior to reading the book I didn't know who Laura Clery was (by name) but based on the knowledge of other members I was lead to believe this book would be humorous. This book is anything but humorous, unless you enjoy laughing at the misfortune of other people and their cringe-worthy situations. After reading the book I Googled Laura and realized I had seen some of her sketches; not my kind of humor. With all that said, the book (with the exception of the last chapter) was well written. It was intriguing and kept my attention. I found it interesting and appreciated Laura's honesty and hindsight of her situation. I would like to know more about what happened with Lavan after he phoned Laura's family; has she been in touch with him? Did she thank him for what he did for her? I could have done without the last chapter; it read more like a pat on the back and infomercial to gain more social media followers; it added nothing to the book for me.