Medallion Status: True Stories from Secret Rooms (2019 original; edició 2019)

A book of memoirs by an actor/comedian I'd never heard of (I think he was on The Daily Show a decade or two ago?). I was expecting more "travel" info, vs. personal memoirs and musings, and thus disappointed. There really wasn't anything interesting or difficult to predict from "mid-tier Brooklyn-resident Boston-born actor writes a second book", although the Scientology story was ok and moved it from 2 stars to 3 stars for me. He's a good narrator, and reasonably entertaining writer, just lacking in things to write about. ( )

I guess you have to like John Hodgman a lot to appreciate it. And I don’t know why anyone would. He’s not very funny. He’s not very popular. He hasn’t lived through any great tragedies or demonstrated expertise with the written word.

From the book, it sounds like his job is being a celebrity. But a celebrity of what, you don’t know. Like Kathy Griffin or Kim Kardashian. And it’s not even a big celebrity, more like vice-vice-vice-celebrity. And the essays in this book prove that. They’re not even funny, they’re just… diverting. Agreeable.

But not fulfilling because there’s no conflict or drama here. You either get peeved at him because of his elevated status (e.g. his quest to be in the most prestigious Delta Sky Club) or tedious musings on Disneyland (celebrities are just like us!).

High concentrations of meh. ( )

I'm delighted to report that I read Medallion Status on my own journey to achieve (Delta's) Silver Medallion.

This was an absolute joy to read! The structure, is of course airline status and all the perks you get for being on the move or for being famous. Fame and status fade, but what you really want to be is in the world and not on the outside, and these little perks just make us feel good in the world for as long as we can capture them.

John Hodgman and I have very similar worldviews, so it definitely felt like he was often a little birdie on my shoulder succinctly backing up my opinions on this or that.

Most important takeaway: I once spotted John Hodgman in Brooklyn, and next time I see him I'll make sure to say, "It's John Hodgman!" because we're all in this together. ( )

Hodgman is reliably funny. ( )

Hard not to hear this in Hodgman's voice. Flashes of poignancy and chuckle-worthy humor. ( )