The Internet is a Playground

The Internet is a Playground compiles email exchanges and writings from David Thorne's website 27b/6. The collection features Thorne's interactions with coworkers, bill collectors, neighbors and internet commenters. The book centers on Thorne's unique style of humor as he engages in back-and-forth communication with various parties. His exchanges range from minor disputes about missing cats to more complex interactions about unpaid bills and workplace conflicts. These compiled exchanges demonstrate the particular dynamics of online communication and how misunderstandings can escalate in the digital age. Thorne's deadpan responses and commitment to absurdist humor create situations that test the limits of his correspondents' patience. The collection serves as commentary on modern communication patterns and human nature, revealing how people react when confronted with responses that defy social conventions. Through these exchanges, the book explores themes of authority, social norms, and the ways technology enables both connection and conflict.

Readers found the book funny but uneven, with most entertainment coming from Thorne's email exchanges and workplace conflicts. The collection maintains the humor from his viral "Missing Cat" and "Spider Drawing" emails. Liked: - Quick-witted responses and deadpan humor - High re-readability of classic email chains - Professional layout and design quality Disliked: - Many articles already available free online - Unstructured format feels scattered - Some exchanges seem fabricated - Humor can be mean-spirited Ratings: Goodreads: 3.82/5 (13,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (300+ ratings) Notable Reader Comments: "Like a collection of internet greatest hits" - Amazon reviewer "Funny but not worth buying if you've read his website" - Goodreads review "The email exchanges are gold, the rest is filler" - LibraryThing review "His humor walks the line between clever and cruel" - Goodreads review

I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell by Tucker Max Chronicles outrageous real-life encounters and correspondence through emails that pushed social boundaries.

Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson Presents bizarre life experiences and interactions through email exchanges and blog posts with deadpan humor.

The Basic Laws of Human Stupidity by Carlo M. Cipolla Takes a satirical approach to analyzing human behavior through mock-serious observations and correspondence.

Things I've Learned from Dying by David R. Dow Documents darkly humorous exchanges and conversations between professionals in life-or-death situations.

Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh Combines illustrated stories with email exchanges and blog posts that capture absurd moments in daily life.

📚 The book originated from David Thorne's popular website 27b/6, where he posted his outrageous email exchanges and creative pranks. 🌟 One of the most viral stories from the book involves Thorne attempting to pay a bill with a drawing of a spider, which he valued at $233.95. ✉️ Many of the email exchanges in the book are real correspondence between Thorne and various individuals, though some recipients have disputed their authenticity. 🏆 The Internet is a Playground reached #1 on Amazon's bestseller list and has been translated into multiple languages, despite beginning as a self-published collection. 🎨 Thorne, a graphic designer by trade, created all the artwork and designed the layout for the book himself, incorporating his signature irreverent style throughout.