WORK Paperback – September 18, 2017

This is the second book by this author I have read. I tend to want to compare his writing style to that of Bukowski or even William Burroughs' first two books. But that would do Bud Smith a disservice. While he writes about his own everyday experiences in a straight forward style like the other two, he does it without being bombastic, angry, or cynical about life.In this book Bud Smith writes about being a heavy construction worker who happens to write in his spare time. The anecdotes about growing up, working, and being in relationships are entertaining and thoughtful. At the same time he explains the need to write and create to maintain sanity and humanity. To that point the book becomes almost a manifesto for art. But he does this without being didactic. Instead of calling himself an artist, Smith shows us that we are all artists and we just need to give ourselves permission to create things. We don't need permission from others or formal training to create something. And most importantly, what we create does not need to be precious.I cannot imagine anyone reading this book and not liking it or not thinking that it is something very special.

hey. hey you. listen: read this book.bud smith has a voice. it's a very unique, dopamine-releasing voice. it's laconic, wise, and clear. he's funny. he's touching. this book has all the emotions in it. the greatest hits.his life is interesting. sure, of course. he works heavy construction. he lives in a shitty apartment. he grew up in a campground. he's not your average alt-lit MFA whatever whoever. great, yeah, sure. but that's not the point of this. this isn't just some list of curiosities, this isn't some freakshow with a construction worker who happens to write well. this isn't some "look at the weirdo" alternative to the alternative lit scene.this is an AUTHOR. this is the real deal. this has substance. this has confession. this has lucidity. this is motivational. this is nostalgia, wisdom, art, chaos. this is WRITING. i can't get over it. this is some knausgaard-level stuff. this is beautiful.i read it in like three days. i couldn't put it down. i had to stop myself, savor it. i want more. i need a lot more. i need 2000 pages of this.do yourself a favor and read it.

I read this book on a Mexican beach, and in the plane back to America. It was perfect, a sort of saga like Andy Kaufman meets Jean Genet meets a Sufi master meets Sarah Silverman. Bud Smith is a friend and more. He grinds out books on the job; all the while loving life in its smallest grandeur. He's a tuba and a sunrise just out of sight. He's a Jersey guy with nothing to prove but love.

What it's like to live in New Jersey, be a construction worker, date a member of a trapeze family, and learn the proper way to litter from your mom. Bud gives us short pithy memories of co-workers and bandmates, some of whom lived, and some of whom did not live, and jobs- some of them he quit, and some he was fired. Finished it in three days, and totally loved it. Although more a memoir than a work of comedy, I really did laugh out loud as I was reading portions of it to my wife.It ended altogether too soon, but like Bud says, he's still young.

Bud Smith's writing reminds me of how Hemingway talked of Fitzgerald's: as natural as the pattern that was made by the dust on a butterfly's wings.No writer in recent memory consistently amazes me with their poignancy and effortlessness each time I read one of their pieces. I've been digging into Work recently, and it is no exception.

So good you won't have to put it down. It's probably one of the funniest things I have read in a long time. Inspiring as well. Do yourself a favor and 1 click this bad boy to your home right now.

This book is a must-read for writers, artists, and really just anyone trying to live a productive life. Through a series of stories and anecdotes, Bud Smith details his life growing up in New Jersey, and how he integrates his creative work with his day job in heavy construction. This memoir is funny, entertaining, touching, and important. I loved it.

Excellent autobiographical writing that resonates with my own past and present. Reading about working class artists inspires me to do more.