Saturday Read: I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell, by Tucker Max

November 14, 2009 11:30 am     Posted in Cool Stuff  Alex K. g+ page

beer-in-hellI decided to take a different approach to this weekend’s Saturday Read. Usually, I try to recommend my readers a great book. But this week, I’m looking to use a book to make a point.


By Alex K.

“I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell” is a controversial memoir by Tucker Max. If you read this website as religiously as I do, you know all about our feelings on this guy. If you are a newcomer and or live under a rock somewhere and have never heard of Max, here is his life:

Average guy.
Started a website.
Sleeps with women.
Posts his stories about the horrible things he does to said women.
Published this book and then turned it into a movie.
Guys laugh. Girls laugh.

Now, let me just say this as my disclaimer: I DO NOT AGREE WITH TUCKER MAX. I don’t think that any of the things that he does to women are right and, if they happened to me, I’m sure I would have some psychological damage. However, I have a hard time believing the truth in all of his stories (as 10% of a biography or memoir can be embellished). If you’ve read the book, you know the ridiculous things I’m talking about. And, yes, assuming that his stories are somehow exaggerated does make me feel a bit less guilty while laughing at them.

But, my point…

This book got me thinking (something I’m sure wasn’t on Max’s list of goals when writing it). In these stories Tucker does not force a woman to do any of the things they do; he simply suggests it. Obviously, some of these acts only happen because the women are beyond smashed, but really, I think Tucker inadvertently brings up a great point: why do we let men make fools of us?

The women Tucker writes about are so completely and utterly desperate that they will do WHATEVER he says. Example: After sleeping with an overweight girl, Tucker forces her to jump out of his apartment window. Yes, horrific. Beyond horrific. But THAT WOMAN AGREED. What would have happened if she had simply said, No? Probably nothing. She would have walked out the front door, Tucker’s roommates may have teased him, and I know for sure that story wouldn’t have made it into “I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell.”

Oh yeah – and this woman may still have a shred of dignity.

Because woman after woman has let Tucker get away with this stuff, he tries it on all of them. I’m sure there are some girls out there who have stood up and said no to this guy. But we don’t know about those women because their stories are never told. If all women that Tucker encountered said no, then he would have no career. He makes money off of women who have some crazy self-esteem issues so when a guy like Max comes around who shows ANY interest in them and he says “Jump!” they respond, “Out of that window?”

While Max’s book was meant to entertain (and entertain it did!), there is something to learn here. Stick up for yourself! Don’t put up with an abusive man (yes, verbal abuse and humiliation are still abuse). If a man tries to pull a Tucker Max, tell him where to shove it instead. You teach people how to teach you; respect yourself, know your self-worth and I promise you, you will end up with a partner who treats you like a princess.

So, I would like to thank Tucker Max for “I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell” and for teaching us all a lesson about respecting ourselves. Hell, it may even be worth picking up a copy and arming yourself against the kind of scummy guys in this world. But, just know that all men are not jerks and a good one will NEVER be ashamed of you.

Or humiliate you for a few bucks and a movie deal.

 

14 Comments on "Saturday Read: I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell, by Tucker Max"

  1. Emma says:
    Sat, 14th Nov 20099:40 am 

    I want to thank you for pointing out the fact that women agree to Max's propositions. Of course, there's the exception of the story of his friend in the closet with the video camera (which I'm sure someone will bring up), but barring that, Max never coerces or forces women to do anything. I'm a huge fan of Tucker Max and feel like he catches more crap than he deserves. Yes, he's an ass and a womanizer, but he readily admits both. He's famous enough that the women who are sleeping with him know what theyre getting themselves in to. And, on the off chance they don't actually know who he is, they'll witness (and suffer) enough of his ego-driven taunting to know what kind of guy he is. Max is the way he is because they, and we, let him. He has enough women throwing themselves into his bed, he doesnt need to force anyone.

    This is a great book to read if you find crude jokes and jerk behavior entertaining. If that's your taste, this is definitely the book for you.

  2. smashington the 3rd says:
    Sat, 14th Nov 20094:28 pm 

    I definitely agree with the fact that girls should stand up for themselves and not let jerks like Tucker Max push them around.

  3. ashley says:
    Sat, 14th Nov 20094:39 pm 

    While I also agree with the fact that girls should not put up bullshit like that I must make a correction to this article. I just read the story that Max wrote about his encounter with "the fat girl" and she actually didn't jump out the window she quickly ran out through the front door without his friends noticing–and why did she do it? He threw all her clothes out the window and told her to either jump or let his friends see her naked–my point with this is that that girl WAS NOT GIVEN A CHOICE but to slip out of the apartment in embarrassment. The jerk-off didnt even let her leave with her clothes on. And she trusted him–these two had been having an online friendship for weeks he wasn't just some girl he picked up at the bar. Girls may need to learn to not let these guys push them but these guys are definitely the ones in the wrong and we can't forget that

  4. Casey says:
    Sat, 14th Nov 20094:56 pm 

    Thank you! I don't think there has ever been a CC article that I agree with more.

    Ashley, and why should she have trusted him? He was SOME GUY she met ONLINE. That's what happens when you trust people you don't really know. But that's the risk you need to be aware of when you hook up randomly.

    You do make a good point though when you say we need to remember that the guys are still in the wrong, but they definitely aren't the only ones to blame.

  5. Tucker says:
    Sat, 14th Nov 20096:51 pm 

    My messageboard is down, but you can view my thoughts on the movie at http://www.quotabletuckermax.com/

  6. Emma says:
    Sat, 14th Nov 20097:08 pm 

    Sam, I sense a little bitterness. Jealousy doesn't flatter you.

  7. Emma says:
    Sat, 14th Nov 20098:27 pm 

    So you have pictures of yourself with hot girls that you've fucked all over your website? And you've published a book that's sold millions of copies about your drunken shenanigans? And you have a cult following of people who hang on to your every word? And you're so wildly famous that you don't even have to get a real job to support your party lifestyle?

    Well then, my apologies. I guess I'm preaching to the choir.

  8. Emma says:
    Sun, 15th Nov 20095:25 am 

    Oh Sam. Your anger entertains me. Altho his movie may not have been a hit, he's famous enough that someone wanted to make a movie about his book / life. What movie was made about you?

  9. Daisy says:
    Sun, 15th Nov 200911:09 am 

    Sam, are you still in high school You're acting like a 15 year old girl.

  10. Sam says:
    Sun, 15th Nov 200911:21 pm 

    Emma: Wrong again fuckhead. He couldn't even get a good distribution deal for his movie because it was so fucking awful all of the studio execs passed on it. Who did he get to act in the movie???? Z listers???? Get real. It ate shit hard at the box office and he will end up taking a loss on it. Nobody wanted to see his piece of shit movie.

    His 15 minutes were up a long time ago. He will probably end up dying of a drug overdose.

  11. Dude says:
    Mon, 16th Nov 20093:08 am 

    You forgot to add

    "-Movie bombed"

    "-Financially ruined"

    "-Professionally fucked (he used to be an attorney)"

    at the tail end of that summation of Tucker Max.

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