Review: Hipster Animals by Dyna Moe

Title: Hipster Animals: A Field Guide
Author: Dyna Moe
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: September 22nd 2015
Source: Ten Speed Press


Book Description:

A field guide to scenesters, trend-hoppers, and other cutting-edge species you’ve like, probably never heard of. They’re pretty obscure.

An illustrated pocket guide to the hip characters populating “cool neighborhoods” across America, Hipster Animals helps readers identify these urban wildlife in their natural habitats. Including details on the creatures’ identifying characteristics, diets, mating behavior, and calls, this parody reference guide provides a snarky glimpse into the foreign—yet all too familiar—world of the trendsetters among us.


From the Trade Paperback edition

Review:

★★★★★

Oh my god, I absolutely loved this book. Pardon my French, but I laughed my ass off. I read it aloud with my girlfriend, and it kept us amused from cover to cover. This book is a "field guide" to the different kinds of hipsters. Each one is represented like an animal in the wild, including an illustration and physical traits. There's also listings for things like call, nest, markings, dangers, diet, mating, habitat, threats, spoors, range, predators, migration, prey, and life cycle for these exotic hipster creatures.

The book is divided into sections that include things such as "Food and Drink", "Music", and "On the Scene". Perhaps what is so hilarious to me is that I know people who live up to the stereotype in most (if not all) of the categories represented. My girlfriend would also tell you that I fit into the food and drink category, but she is not to be listened to (sorry babe).

The artwork is really nicely done. It's colorful, and somehow these stereotypes are funnier and more palatable when the hipster in question is turned into a red panda or a moose. It also includes fun little snarky bonuses, such as Parade Hipster Bingo and Draw the Tattoos on the Pinup.

If you know me at all in real life, you know I make puns. A lot of them. Really bad ones. Constantly. To the point of annoyance. I am delighted at the sheer amount of puns and word play in this book. It's clever and hilarious, and entirely up my alley of humor. My absolute favorite of these jokes is a food truck entitled "Bahn Mi Talk Pretty One Day". Just, bravo and well done. -slow claps-

This book also has some great quotes. Here are my two favorites, if I'm being honest:

"With the right attitude, anything can be made into a pickle" - City Boy BBQ Pitmaster

and

"If a phenomenon is not observed, then it can't be proven to exist, and these shoes are too phenomenal to be theoretical." - Fashion Plate Photo Diarist

Some of the lovely species in this book include the Pho Authenticity Police, Way-Too-Positive Sex Crusader, and the Dandy Mixologist.

This is full of cute, douchey animals, but don't be fooled. This is a book intended for teens and adults. There's language, drugs, sex, and alcohol involved. Hilarious for adults, scarring for kids looking at stoner kittens. So, be aware of that.

I already know I'm buying a copy of this for someone I know for her birthday once it is released. This book is great for people who either don't like hipsters, or who don't mind poking fun at themselves every now and again. Or constantly.

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.