Egghead: Or, You Can't Survive on Ideas Alone
| Company type | Book |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | October 1, 2013 |
| Founder | Bo Burnham |
| Products | Poetry collection |
Egghead: Or, You Can't Survive on Ideas Alone is a collection of poems authored by comedian Bo Burnham, with illustrations by Chance Bone, and was released on October 1, 2013.
Synopsis
The collection Egghead contains illustrated poems that The Independent characterized as combining elements both "childlike... and deeply meaningful". The Sunday Times drew parallels between this work and that of Spike Milligan and John Lennon, while NPR's Steve Inskeep highlighted its fusion of whimsy and somber tones, reminiscent of Shel Silverstein.
An example poem from the book reads:
Background
Bo Burnham, known for his musical comedy and who first rose to prominence at age 16 through YouTube, published Egghead at 23 amid his stand-up tour titled what., which featured some poems from the volume. His poetry writing began in a Los Angeles café during the production of his mockumentary series Zach Stone Is Gonna Be Famous, serving as a mental outlet where each poem explored distinct narratives.
Burnham described his poetry style as "quite literal," drawing inspiration from Twitter’s "concise, streamlined language," representing a modern poetic approach for his generation. He stressed that genuine emotion is "the most daring thing you can do today," blending cynicism with sincere sentiment.
The book was published by Grand Central Publishing in the United States and Orion Publishing Group in the United Kingdom, and it was also made available as an audiobook with Burnham himself providing narration.
Reception
Egghead secured a position on The New York Times Best Seller list and was placed 21st on the Publishers Weekly Hardcover Nonfiction bestseller chart dated October 14, 2013.