The best way to describe Ed Friedman’s humor book, I Won’t Be Ignored, is that it’s like a perfectly pleasant conversation with a friend talking about nothing in particular. You bounce around telling stories and sharing thoughts and having a nice time enjoying each other’s company.

Friedman has organized the book into three sections – Things That Happened (anecdotes from his life), Things That Could Have Happened (short pieces of fiction, which makes up the bulk of the book), and Things I Think I Think (reflections and musings). Personally, my favorite section is the stories in Things That Could Have Happened. Across all the sections, and regardless of how the stories are formatted, Friedman writes with a pleasantly conversational tone that’s inviting and welcoming. Even when he’s griping about old age and dental work, it’s never harsh complaints but the kind of quips about things gone wrong told with a smile or a shake of the head. The short form serves him well and it makes sense he’s stuck with it as a writer – he often uses it effectively for a setup and punchline. Nothing overstays a welcome, which is the easiest way to kill a joke or stretch a potentially interesting or funny premise too thin.

Comedy being subjective, it’s probable that most readers will share my experience of finding some of the pieces in the book less funny than others. It also is probably that like me they’ll find a couple that bring out a smile or a chuckle if not a full on laugh. The worst that could be said about any of the stories or anecdotes would be that it’s like a minute or two of listening to your friend telling you a story about your day that doesn’t particularly interest you but you smile and listen anyway. It’s a quick and enjoyable read for anyone looking for something light.

I Won’t Be Ignored isn’t packed with non-stop full belly laughs, but it is full of a gentler everyday humor. It’s warm and invites the reader to find the ridiculous in life and laugh as they go along with it. It’s fun and endearing and keeps you smiling and at least chucking if not full on laughing as you read.