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Penguins with People Problems
Stress-eating after a breakup?
Frustrated by the cost of a good cocktail?
Stymied by the weirdness of abstract art?
These penguins share your pain.
The "Random Penguins" are a set of quirky, lovable weirdos with minds of their own. They understand the agony of social awkwardness, the power of the perfect smoky eye, and the arm-(or wing)-flapping terror of having a bee in the car. In fact, these winged characters get into the same sticky situations we all do. They are Penguins with People Problems.
So meet your favorite new flightless friends. They're brutally honest (except when they're lying), comically insecure, and totally relatable.
Frustrated by the cost of a good cocktail?
Stymied by the weirdness of abstract art?
These penguins share your pain.
The "Random Penguins" are a set of quirky, lovable weirdos with minds of their own. They understand the agony of social awkwardness, the power of the perfect smoky eye, and the arm-(or wing)-flapping terror of having a bee in the car. In fact, these winged characters get into the same sticky situations we all do. They are Penguins with People Problems.
So meet your favorite new flightless friends. They're brutally honest (except when they're lying), comically insecure, and totally relatable.
112 pages, Hardcover
First published June 2, 2015
13 people are currently reading
1664 people want to read
About the author
Mary Laura Philpott
4 books778 followersMary Laura Philpott, author of the national bestseller I Miss You When I Blink (2019) and Bomb Shelter (forthcoming in 2022), writes essays that examine the overlap of the absurd and the profound in everyday life. Her writing has been featured frequently by the New York Times and appears in such outlets as the Washington Post, the Atlantic, the Paris Review Daily, O the Oprah Magazine, Real Simple, and more. A former bookseller, she was also the Emmy-winning co-host of an interview program on Nashville Public Television for several years. Mary Laura lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with her family. Find her books at your local bookstore.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews
January 29, 2020
this book, collected from a tumblr (naturally), has the best origin story ever as far as booknerds like me are concerned. it all started with the penguin/random house merger...
Like booknerds everywhere, Mary Laura took note of the news and wondered what the merged company would be called: Book House? Penguin House? Random Penguin? Unlike other booknerds, Mary Laura started doodling little penguin characters and couldn’t stop. Thus, THE RANDOM PENGUINS were born.
and they are so, so cute. simple, but adorable.
they remind me of these stuffed animals that are based on children's drawings, both of which i own:
you can buy your own or make your own here.
and these penguins are just like us!
this one is like me:
Word problem:
James has tried to push open the door marked "Pull" eleven times in one week. How many more times will he do this before he starts parking on the other side of the building and using a different entrance because this door is stupid?
and this one reminds me of jenny lawson!!
The health insurance form had four options for the "how often do you drink?" question: daily, weekly, rarely, and never - but she always had to write in:
"Usually twice a week, but some weeks more like daily, and sometimes at brunch if it's Saturday, but then after that none for about a week, and once none for a whole summer, but then ten in one day that time I ran over my neighbor's cat and tried to bury it and got sick and threw up on it and then the neighbor came outside and I was barfing on his dead cat."
and this one reminds me of me AND of jenny lawson
Leonora had already gotten a stern look from her boss twice, but she couldn't help it. If twirly chairs weren't for twirling, then WHY DID GOD MAKE THEM TWIRLY?
the rest of these don't remind me of anyone in particular, but they are my favorites from the book. feel free to self-identify.
If there's one thing Phoebe's proud of, it's her strong public speaking skills.
If there are two things Phoebe's proud of, they're her strong public speaking skills and the tiny extra beak on the side of her head.
Well, that didn't turn out at all like those bitches on Pinterest said it would.
Serving a cocktail in a mason jar and calling it "artisanal" doesn't make it worth $21. But it does make you notice that it's spelled "art is anal."
"Choose a career that doesn't feel like work," they said. "Do what you love, and the money will follow," they said.
So for twenty-three years, Kevin's been out here blindfolded, playing the musical bubble pipe, waiting to get rich.
Waiting.
Still waiting.
You may think you're pretty smart - but Dwayne filled a pita pocket with ice cream, so he's a genius.
Used to be, Penny had to lick the entire tray of muffins to claim them all for herself. Nowadays, all she has to do is shout "GLUTEN!" and everyone scatters.
The problem with these flappy little wings is they can reach only so far with the sunscreen.
which was also funny when it was a "t-rex trying" joke:
penguins! people! problems!
and just like that, i am in love.
come to my blog!
October 31, 2018
This is a giggle-fest bound between two covers!
I cannot even begin to count how many times I have picked this book up for a laugh or how many copies I’ve gifted to family and friends. For this latter, the scenario usually goes like this:
Bemused, often confused face, an arched eyebrow occasionally
Open book, read a few, smile and start to get it
Read a few more, giggle and keep turning pages (because these penguins are addictive)
Continue turning pages, often with tears of laughter running down face
Works every time. I recently gifted it to a friend who is very ill and this was the first time in a long time that I got a full-blown belly laugh. And that my friends? Priceless.
I’ve struggled with which of the drawings to share to provide a bit of flavor without taking away the full joy of discovering these penguins for yourself, but here goes. You can also go to therandompenguins.tumblr.com to get a taste of Mary Laura’s absurd, but up my alley, humor.
And get yourself a copy of this book, you need more laughter in your life and I guarantee the penguins will provide it!
I cannot even begin to count how many times I have picked this book up for a laugh or how many copies I’ve gifted to family and friends. For this latter, the scenario usually goes like this:
Bemused, often confused face, an arched eyebrow occasionally
Open book, read a few, smile and start to get it
Read a few more, giggle and keep turning pages (because these penguins are addictive)
Continue turning pages, often with tears of laughter running down face
Works every time. I recently gifted it to a friend who is very ill and this was the first time in a long time that I got a full-blown belly laugh. And that my friends? Priceless.
I’ve struggled with which of the drawings to share to provide a bit of flavor without taking away the full joy of discovering these penguins for yourself, but here goes. You can also go to therandompenguins.tumblr.com to get a taste of Mary Laura’s absurd, but up my alley, humor.
And get yourself a copy of this book, you need more laughter in your life and I guarantee the penguins will provide it!
July 26, 2019
Want a quick laugh? Follow these instructions:
-Get your hands on this book. It’s on Kindle for just $5. Same price as a latte. Just as good, except it has humor going for it and it will stay with you a lot longer. Oh, and yes, the drawings look great on a Kindle—clear, and nice and big.
-Read it. It will take you 10 to 20 minutes. Easy-peasy—slip it in between other loooooong books.
a. Don’t laugh out loud if you’re in public. People will look at you funny.
b. Don’t cry (at home or in public) because you’re sad that it’s over already. Get a grip. Maybe if we’re nice, the author will make this into a series. The more random penguins, the merrier.
-Tell everyone about this book.
Fun facts about the author:
-She wrote I Miss You When I Blink: Essays, an excellent book that I recently read.
-She works at Ann Patchett’s bookstore, Parnassus, in Nashville.
-She (and no doubt others) came up with the clever term “Random Penguins” after the merging of two big publishing companies, Random House and Penguin.
-She isn’t an artist, but her very simple penguin drawings ain’t bad. They’re cute.
-She dedicated the book to Matt Damon. (Love it!)
Chatty Cathy here:
-Love the clever book title.
-A penguin on every page, followed by funny and wise lines.
-Reminded me of All My Friends Are Dead, another short, cartoony book with wisdom.
-There will no doubt be at least one thing that you can relate to.
-Now I want to go to Antarctica and meet random penguins.
Sample goodie:
“Used to be, Penny had to lick the entire tray of muffins to claim them all for herself. Nowadays, all she has to do is shout ‘GLUTEN!’ and everyone scatters.”
-Get your hands on this book. It’s on Kindle for just $5. Same price as a latte. Just as good, except it has humor going for it and it will stay with you a lot longer. Oh, and yes, the drawings look great on a Kindle—clear, and nice and big.
-Read it. It will take you 10 to 20 minutes. Easy-peasy—slip it in between other loooooong books.
a. Don’t laugh out loud if you’re in public. People will look at you funny.
b. Don’t cry (at home or in public) because you’re sad that it’s over already. Get a grip. Maybe if we’re nice, the author will make this into a series. The more random penguins, the merrier.
-Tell everyone about this book.
Fun facts about the author:
-She wrote I Miss You When I Blink: Essays, an excellent book that I recently read.
-She works at Ann Patchett’s bookstore, Parnassus, in Nashville.
-She (and no doubt others) came up with the clever term “Random Penguins” after the merging of two big publishing companies, Random House and Penguin.
-She isn’t an artist, but her very simple penguin drawings ain’t bad. They’re cute.
-She dedicated the book to Matt Damon. (Love it!)
Chatty Cathy here:
-Love the clever book title.
-A penguin on every page, followed by funny and wise lines.
-Reminded me of All My Friends Are Dead, another short, cartoony book with wisdom.
-There will no doubt be at least one thing that you can relate to.
-Now I want to go to Antarctica and meet random penguins.
Sample goodie:
“Used to be, Penny had to lick the entire tray of muffins to claim them all for herself. Nowadays, all she has to do is shout ‘GLUTEN!’ and everyone scatters.”
March 23, 2017
I want to tell you how great I am.
I finally got to pick up my copy of this book a few Saturdays ago. After I left the bookstore, I went to my Mom's where I gave this book to my sister to borrow. I hadn't even read it yet. I'd barely even touched it. In fact, it had been waiting for me to go get it for two weeks but since I hadn't pre-paid, like I usually do, I couldn't send Gabe to get it so it languished in the bookstore until store hours and mine coincided.
The shop owner was there when I finally picked it up and she asked, "How did you find this book?" (she is often puzzled by my book choices, I request a lot of things that store would not otherwise carry) and I said, "I internet-know the author." She replied, "Of course you do." Ok, she didn't say that at all. What she said was, "This is so cute. I need to order more copies for the store." I agreed because I want to be a source of fortune and fame for my internet-friend.
But anyway, it took me two weeks of horrible waiting to get it and before I could even read it, I lent it out because I knew it would bring my beloved sister copious amounts of joy. Which it did.
I am freaking awesome.
My sister returned this to me the following Saturday and said she'd loved it, just as I'd expected. My niece liked it, too. She's 17 so she got the humor. My nephew, age 12, wanted to get in on the conversation and exclaimed, "I thought it was funny!" I asked him, "If you could rate it with stars, 1 star being Worst Book Ever and 5 stars being I Want To Marry This Book, how many stars would you give it?" He thought a moment and said, "Four. Some of the words were too big and I didn't understand them but the rest of it made me laugh. Here is my favorite one.
"
I suspect he's less understanding of the situation and more enchanted by the term "super-cute flippity-flappity" because that's sorta how he rolls.
Regardless, this past weekend, we went to the Farmer's Market together and he purchased a crocheted penguin hat so that he can be a penguin with people problems, flippity-flappity rampages, and all.
My thoughts on this little book?
It's adorable.
Plus, I actually understood all the words so that's a bonus.
It's everything I've come to expect from the Random Penguins.
Now if M.L. would publish a book on her fashion translations, my life would be complete.
(FUN FACT! M.L. interviewed Allie Brosh for Barnes & Noble. Awesome, right?)
I finally got to pick up my copy of this book a few Saturdays ago. After I left the bookstore, I went to my Mom's where I gave this book to my sister to borrow. I hadn't even read it yet. I'd barely even touched it. In fact, it had been waiting for me to go get it for two weeks but since I hadn't pre-paid, like I usually do, I couldn't send Gabe to get it so it languished in the bookstore until store hours and mine coincided.
The shop owner was there when I finally picked it up and she asked, "How did you find this book?" (she is often puzzled by my book choices, I request a lot of things that store would not otherwise carry) and I said, "I internet-know the author." She replied, "Of course you do." Ok, she didn't say that at all. What she said was, "This is so cute. I need to order more copies for the store." I agreed because I want to be a source of fortune and fame for my internet-friend.
But anyway, it took me two weeks of horrible waiting to get it and before I could even read it, I lent it out because I knew it would bring my beloved sister copious amounts of joy. Which it did.
I am freaking awesome.
My sister returned this to me the following Saturday and said she'd loved it, just as I'd expected. My niece liked it, too. She's 17 so she got the humor. My nephew, age 12, wanted to get in on the conversation and exclaimed, "I thought it was funny!" I asked him, "If you could rate it with stars, 1 star being Worst Book Ever and 5 stars being I Want To Marry This Book, how many stars would you give it?" He thought a moment and said, "Four. Some of the words were too big and I didn't understand them but the rest of it made me laugh. Here is my favorite one.
"I suspect he's less understanding of the situation and more enchanted by the term "super-cute flippity-flappity" because that's sorta how he rolls.
Regardless, this past weekend, we went to the Farmer's Market together and he purchased a crocheted penguin hat so that he can be a penguin with people problems, flippity-flappity rampages, and all.
My thoughts on this little book?
It's adorable.
Plus, I actually understood all the words so that's a bonus.
It's everything I've come to expect from the Random Penguins.
Now if M.L. would publish a book on her fashion translations, my life would be complete.
(FUN FACT! M.L. interviewed Allie Brosh for Barnes & Noble. Awesome, right?)
October 31, 2019
Boi, I love pengwings (to use the Benedictian pronunciation). This tiny collection of heartwarming doodles with captions that depict our shared human frustrations and struggles is hilarious! I can relate to most of them.
The "bee in the car" for example, been there - done that (my entire family screaming), the disastrous job interview when I tried to convince my future boss "I can sell a VR headset to Warren Beatty" (I somehow confused him with Stevie Wonder, spending hours wondering what went wrong with that joke. When I told my sister about it she said "Thank God they now think you're just stupid If you'd gotten this right they'd have thought you were an insensitive bastard) and don't get me started on the youtube make up tutorials - the expectations vs reality is strong in this one. And how about loosing my wi-fi signal, hyperventilating over my router calling it "traitooooor".
Oh dear! Sometimes life happens and little books like this can make everything better. Eventually even if we can't solve a problem we can at least have a few laughs!
The "bee in the car" for example, been there - done that (my entire family screaming), the disastrous job interview when I tried to convince my future boss "I can sell a VR headset to Warren Beatty" (I somehow confused him with Stevie Wonder, spending hours wondering what went wrong with that joke. When I told my sister about it she said "Thank God they now think you're just stupid If you'd gotten this right they'd have thought you were an insensitive bastard) and don't get me started on the youtube make up tutorials - the expectations vs reality is strong in this one. And how about loosing my wi-fi signal, hyperventilating over my router calling it "traitooooor".
Oh dear! Sometimes life happens and little books like this can make everything better. Eventually even if we can't solve a problem we can at least have a few laughs!
August 28, 2019
Super short, and pretty darn cute. This one never got a laugh out of me, but it did make me smile.
October 3, 2015
Unbelievably cute little graphic novel. The humor was for teens+ but my nine year old thought that the pictures were funny.
Which penguin was my favorite? The librarian, of course!
"Angela was trying to do that hot-librarian thing where she whipped off her glasses, but she forgot she was wearing her specs on a chain and got all tangled up. Poor Angela. Failing at sexy... again."
Classic.
Which penguin was my favorite? The librarian, of course!
"Angela was trying to do that hot-librarian thing where she whipped off her glasses, but she forgot she was wearing her specs on a chain and got all tangled up. Poor Angela. Failing at sexy... again."
Classic.
November 23, 2019
MHilarious, but SO short! Love the illustrations. This is the perfect little gift book. The story of how Mary Laura’s penguins came to be is great. Maybe borrow this from the library, but I’m happy I grabbed a signed copy from Parnassus.
December 18, 2024
Cute, very, very short, book about people who happen to be penguins.
June 6, 2022
Absolutely adorable!! I guess it is really a joke book, but it is so cute! I laughed out loud at some of those penguins. I'm glad I bought the ebook because I think I will read it over and over ;)
December 27, 2016
Perfect gift for a sick friend (or a fine friend fighting a serious illness).
I received this book while undergoing a bone marrow/stem cell transplant; my request for people to "help me keep my laugh on" yielded this laugh-out-loud gem. Penguins with People Problems is a keeper.
Perhaps it was the drugs, but I found new funnies each time I opened the book. The drawings are simple yet convey the issue and the captions are easy to read (nice size type). The humor is smart and sometimes a bit cheeky, which I love. I marked a few favorites to share with my nurses ~ to help get them laughing during their life-saving work.
It's my go-to hospital / convalescence gift now. I always suggest that patients and care givers read through and find their favorite penguins. The penguins spur great conversations to get a patient distracted from the beeps and hums and pokes and scents of illness.
Well done, Mary Laura Philpott. I'd love to meet you! You could have a future in greeting cards, too!
I received this book while undergoing a bone marrow/stem cell transplant; my request for people to "help me keep my laugh on" yielded this laugh-out-loud gem. Penguins with People Problems is a keeper.
Perhaps it was the drugs, but I found new funnies each time I opened the book. The drawings are simple yet convey the issue and the captions are easy to read (nice size type). The humor is smart and sometimes a bit cheeky, which I love. I marked a few favorites to share with my nurses ~ to help get them laughing during their life-saving work.
It's my go-to hospital / convalescence gift now. I always suggest that patients and care givers read through and find their favorite penguins. The penguins spur great conversations to get a patient distracted from the beeps and hums and pokes and scents of illness.
Well done, Mary Laura Philpott. I'd love to meet you! You could have a future in greeting cards, too!
July 3, 2015
A quick, hilarious read. If you need a laugh, this is a good one to reach for.
May 4, 2024
Relatable penguins. What’s not to like? 🐧
February 24, 2021
You just don’t understand how much you need this book. If you are a friend of mine and I need to get you a gift some time soon, sorry to ruin the surprise, but this will be it. Absolutely delightful.
June 3, 2019
3 1/2 stars
June 15, 2015
Uber quick and hilarious read
I may have laughed through this book in 10 minutes but it was a wonderful 10 minutes. This book is at times sweet, sarcastic, and utterly ridiculous. I'm sure I will be referring back to it on rainy days. Very cute overall.
I may have laughed through this book in 10 minutes but it was a wonderful 10 minutes. This book is at times sweet, sarcastic, and utterly ridiculous. I'm sure I will be referring back to it on rainy days. Very cute overall.
July 27, 2015
This charming little book is magic. Everyone you know is in it. You're even in it. The only problem with Penguins with People Problems is how tough it is to pick out which penguin is the true you. This one! No....this one!
January 23, 2019
Okay, this one was dedicated to Matt Damon so you know it's goofy. Kindergaretnish penguin illustrations used in connection with common adult people problems provide wit and wisdom in a tiny, tiny book. For more, look at therandompenguins on tumblr.
July 26, 2015
So, so funny. A quick read, but the kind of book you'll go back to often to brighten up a crummy day.
September 3, 2021
What an adorable and rejuvenating little book! A collection of flawed, misshapen and lovable little penguins coping with problems that seem all too human and relatable. After reading much weightier tomes back-to-back, these laugh-out-loud cartoon observations on life are a delight.
Irritated by the guy on the elevator whose chitchat invades your menopausal space? Viewing a health insurance form as an over-sharing confessional when it asks about your alcohol intake? Harbour a secret fear of being trapped midway through taking off your clothes? Sweet and cheeky, this tiny book will brighten your outlook and lift your spirits. A true recovery read that helps make facing the world a bit easier.
Irritated by the guy on the elevator whose chitchat invades your menopausal space? Viewing a health insurance form as an over-sharing confessional when it asks about your alcohol intake? Harbour a secret fear of being trapped midway through taking off your clothes? Sweet and cheeky, this tiny book will brighten your outlook and lift your spirits. A true recovery read that helps make facing the world a bit easier.
November 1, 2022
This had me in stitches! I made everyone at the library read it. And the more times I read it the funnier they became.
Please go buy this or at the very least get it from the library. SO.WORTH.IT.
Please go buy this or at the very least get it from the library. SO.WORTH.IT.
July 10, 2017
This was funny and adorable. Just the pick-me-up I needed today!
December 21, 2017
I lol'd at almost every page. The perfect pick me up if you have a bad day.
May 2, 2018
So, so funny!
“Never-Ending Sweat Loop: The term for when you get clean, but then you get hot while you’re drying your hair, so then you need a shower again, ad infinitum.”
“Never-Ending Sweat Loop: The term for when you get clean, but then you get hot while you’re drying your hair, so then you need a shower again, ad infinitum.”
July 17, 2018
Cute and giggle worthy.
September 20, 2019
3.5
Cute! I laughed out loud at some of them.
Cute! I laughed out loud at some of them.
March 5, 2017
Funny and witty and, well, relatable.
"Honestly, sometimes Nicole likes getting ready for the party more than the party itself." (I am familiar with this feeling.)
The one about choosing an option on a health form about how often you drink is spot-on.
This short book is a nice break from heavy reading.
"Honestly, sometimes Nicole likes getting ready for the party more than the party itself." (I am familiar with this feeling.)
The one about choosing an option on a health form about how often you drink is spot-on.
This short book is a nice break from heavy reading.
July 6, 2015
Goodreads win. Will read and review once received.
This was a very cute book. Also, it was very funny. I found myself laughing throughout most of the book. I will admit I found the book be completely random, but that just added to it. The doors were cute even when they were poorly drawn. A cute book that many will enjoy. Definitely, a mood lifter.
This was a very cute book. Also, it was very funny. I found myself laughing throughout most of the book. I will admit I found the book be completely random, but that just added to it. The doors were cute even when they were poorly drawn. A cute book that many will enjoy. Definitely, a mood lifter.
April 21, 2016
Super cute!
July 2, 2015
So cute and funny. I'm a sucker for admittedly poorly drawn cartoons with quippy captions. (See Marriage Illustrated with Crappy Pictures and Hyperbole and a Half).
Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews