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Yes, My Accent Is Real
Yes, My Accent Is Real
Yes, My Accent Is Real
Audiobook6 hours

Yes, My Accent Is Real

Written by Kunal Nayyar

Narrated by Kunal Nayyar

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

4.5/5

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About this audiobook

In the spirit of Mindy Kaling’s bestseller Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? or Judd Apatow’s Sick in the Head, a collection of humorous, autobiographical essays from Kunal Nayyar, best known as Raj on CBS’s #1 hit comedy The Big Bang Theory.

Of all the charming misfits on television, there’s no doubt Raj from The Big Bang Theory—the sincere yet incurably geeky Indian astrophysicist—ranks among the misfittingest. Now, we meet the actor who is every bit as loveable as the character he plays on TV. In this revealing collection of essays written in his irreverent, hilarious, and self-deprecating voice, Kunal Nayyar traces his journey from a little boy in New Delhi who mistakes an awkward first kiss for a sacred commitment, gets nosebleeds chugging Coca-Cola to impress other students, and excels in the sport of badminton, to the confident, successful actor on the set of TV’s most-watched sitcom since Friends.

Going behind the scenes of The Big Bang Theory and into his personal experiences, Kunal introduces readers to the people who helped him grow, such as his James Bond-loving, mustachioed father. Kunal also walks us through his college years in Portland, where he takes his first sips of alcohol and learns to let loose with his French, 6’8” gentle-giant roommate, works his first-ever job for the university’s housekeeping department cleaning toilets for minimum wage, and begins a series of romantic exploits that go just about as well as they would for Raj. (That is, until he meets and marries a former Miss India in an elaborate seven-day event that we get to experience in a chapter titled “My Big Fat Indian Wedding.”)

Full of heart, but never taking itself too seriously, this witty collection of underdog tales follows a young man as he traverses two continents in search of a dream, along the way transcending culture and language (and many, many embarrassing incidents) to somehow miraculously land the role of a lifetime.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateSep 15, 2015
ISBN9781442371293
Yes, My Accent Is Real
Author

Kunal Nayyar

Kunal Nayyar was born in London and raised in New Delhi, India. He first came to the United States in 1999 to pursue a bachelor’s degree in business administration and went on to receive an MFA in acting from Temple University. Playing the character of Raj on The Big Bang Theory, he has been part of the ensemble since the show debuted in 2007. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Neha.

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Reviews for Yes, My Accent Is Real

Rating: 4.37378640776699 out of 5 stars
4.5/5

206 ratings28 reviews

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  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Very enjoyable! Some parts were funny and showed his personality well. I learned, I laughed, and I evaluated myself in a meaningful way during my experience listening to this book.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I must admit, I read it while I had a cognitive injury. I couldn't focus and had trouble understanding. I was searching for something to occupy my brain that I could actually follow and this book succeeded where others failed. The writing was quite simple and each story was relatively short. This does not mean I didn't enjoy his stories, learn a few things, and laugh along with him. However, I could read this book because he is not a complicated writer.

    This makes for a light-hearted read that's great for somewhere you have trouble focusing, like travel or a commute.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This was just delightful. I listened to it while I swam and it was perfect except for the really funny parts which are difficult to handle while you are under water. He tells a good story. It's not a memoir but just a collection of good stories. And he does the reading as well and is, no surprise really, excellent at it. This was 5 hours of good swimming.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Nayyar, an actor on The Big Bang Theory, tells little stories about himself and his journey from India to university in America to a MFA in acting to the job that made him famous to his marriage. (That sentence is a little wonky, but it is late and I am tired. Sorry, gentle reader.)I chuckled several times, and yet Nayyar's writing is not planned comedy or pretentious either. He seems like a really good guy and very wise for his age. I gave him an extra half point for being so...mature? Loving? Admirable? I can't find the right word, but it's a good book any way.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Indeed anything is possible! Thank you Kunal for sharing. Loved every word of it.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Fun audio book. It was a good way to pass some commute time. Great stories Kunal seems like he'd be a cool guy to tip a few beers with. Thumbs up
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I was hoping for more stories about the cast and set of Big Bang Theory, but Nayyar's memoir focused more on his childhood and personal life. It was still interesting to read. It also wasn't as funny as I had hoped.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    If there ever was a book that was meant to be enjoyed as an audio, it’s this book. Superbly performed by the author, if you read the print version, you missed out. Kunal Nayyar shares a variety of stories about himself and his life in India and in the United States. Some are humorous, some are sad, and some are informative, but all are entertaining. Self-deprecating and honest, Kunal relays stories about coming to the United States for college, about his time in drama classes, and about several of his auditions and the parts he didn’t get. Also included is the anguish he felt while waiting to hear back from the producers of Big Bang Theory. Kunal also includes some good advice in this collection of stories; some he garnered from his father and some he acquired through his own life experiences. He comes across as a person you’d like to have as a friend, and considering there were at least a thousand people at his wedding to a former Miss India, there must be a lot of people who feel the same way. Enlightening and entertaining, this memoir shows that Kunal is a gifted author as well as an actor.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    As a fan of The Big Bang Theory I couldn’t pass up the chance to learn more about the endearing actor who plays Raj Koothrappali, actor Kunal Nayyar.Yes, My Accent is Real: and Some Other Things I Haven’t Told You is a collection of stories and anecdotes from his life.It begins with stories from his childhood in India spent dreaming of kissing Winnie from ‘The Wonder Years’ and playing badminton like a champ, before moving on to his time at college in the US, his interest in acting and landing the role of Raj on the The Big Bang Theory.Kunar also writes about his family, especially his admiration for his father, his joy at marrying his wife, and his enjoyment and respect for the cultural traditions of his country. I was a little disappointed there wasn’t more about his daily life as part of The Big Bang Theory cast though.Kunal proves to be a sweet, genuine and self deprecating storyteller. Yes, My Accent is Real is a charming, funny and easy read.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The actor who plays Raj in "The Big Bang Theory" writes a - well, not exactly a memoir, because as he says, "I'm not a politician...or a Kardashian" - but a collection of stories and memories from growing up in New Delhi to coming to America for college to getting interested in theater and deciding to make a career out of acting. It's quirky, heartfelt, funny, and I really enjoyed hearing the author himself read it: and yes, his accent is real.
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    Constantly kept me laughing. What a great book! Go Kunaal!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Kunal timed it well. As emotions run high with The Big Bang Theory ending, listening to Kunal Nayyar voice telling his stories takes you in. Charms you, soothes you, gives you warmth.

    I have a strong suspicion that his book is an extended Raj Koothrapalli persona. No one is like this character (in the book) in real life. I am always worried with people telling “authentic personal” stories where they don’t have any character flaws or frailties or pet peeves or insecurities. May be we’d know on the next book. May be he’d get real.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This book was easy to listen to, funny, deep and made me think about life. Way to go, Kunal!! Great book!!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Amazing life stories & very entertaining! I love this book!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I don’t even watch the show, and found this book delightful. Can’t wait for a sequel
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Kunal as a reader was fabulous and I had a great time listen to it . It was fluent and smooth and it forces me to burst out laughing many times
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Nayyar's memoir isn't bad, but it's unnecessary. He says himself that he doesn't know why he's writing it. If you're a "Big Bang" fan who'd like to know more about the actors you'll probably have a good time. Otherwise, there isn't a lot here; Nayyar pretty much goes straight from a comfortable childhood to university to a major-network sitcom. He got to skip the years of toiling in obscurity that I think are key to a good acting memoir.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A very quick and easy book to listen to!

    It wasn’t filled with too much deep “knowledge sharing” and it wasn’t like other self help books. The read was a simple look into Kunal’s life and what made him the person he is today.

    Would definitely recommend ??
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Constantly kept me laughing. What a great book! Go Kunaal!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Loved the author’s character in the Big Bang Theory…. That’s how I got here. Highly recommend for immigrants who are just trying to find their way in their new world.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This book is the perfect mix of heartwarming and funny. I listened to it and could not stop it , finished it in one day!!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    A bit of a naive book, I will not become a stone in the literary firmament, but it is very enjoyable and a good background to listen to whilst performing other tasks.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    An honest review on a journey of life including migration, life, happiness and other struggles. As a fan of the show and being a migrant myself, I enjoyed this book alot. In the chapter that he describes his wedding I googled his name and his wife's name and found the experience to be twice as fun. I would say reading this book as an audio book was a great choice, easy read for the days I was too tired.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Loved listening to this! I laughed out loud many times. It was funny, yet insightful. Super entertaining.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Raj, I mean Kunal, is endearing, witty and such a sensitive person, which reflects in his story, narration, and read. Feels like a cousin telling his tale.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I loved it! The whole book I could hear in my head as I read in Kunal's voice with that accent. Funny and heartfelt, honest and serious, this book has it all!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Excellent excellent book! Very funny and “Raj” like! Loved every minute of it!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Read by the author with humor and sincerity. Very heartwarming and charming. I highly recommend it.