Stand-up comedian Nate Bargatze is often celebrated for his deadpan delivery, Southern charm, and clean comedy that somehow makes the mundane feel hilarious. With BIG DUMB EYES , Bargatze trades the stage mic for the printed page, bringing his signature humor to a book that reads like sitting across from your funniest friend at a diner booth, swapping ridiculous stories and offbeat opinions for hours. It’s not a deep book, and it doesn’t try to be. But it is heartfelt, honest, and, most importantly, funny. The premise of BIG DUMB EYES is as disarmingly silly as its title. Bargatze opens with the tale of how he used to be a genius —a self-proclaimed child prodigy dreaming of becoming a brain surgeon or world-class mathematician—until a head injury derailed his academic potential. Whether or not this is true (his family apparently disputes it), the story sets the tone for the rest of the book: tongue-in-cheek self-deprecation, exaggerated yet endearing anecdotes, and a gentle skewering...