Inside, the 470-page book looks like a poetry anthology, with double-spacing, one sentence per line and minimal photos. The stark, monochromatic cover of 'Is This Anything?' would look fresh from an Apple assembly line if not for the title's implied shrug. Released by different publishers in different centuries, Seinfeld's two books carry contrasting aesthetics, too. 'Is This Anything?' isn't just bland it accentuates the problems with what Seinfeld offers today's audience, and perhaps who he's become. In the opening pages, Seinfeld acknowledges that this book was largely his agent's idea he repurposes enough of his prior bestseller to merit asking whether his ambivalence toward the project ever waned. I began itemizing which jokes came from what specials and appearances, just to stay engaged. 6), only his second book after 'SeinLanguage' (Bantam Books) published way back in 1993. Yet as I read, nothing surprised me. Thus I should be the target audience for Seinfeld's latest book, 'Is This Anything?' (Simon & Schuster, Oct. Since then, I've devoured Jerry Seinfeld's work and 'Seinfeld'-adjacent programming ( 'Curb Your Enthusiasm,' 'Veep,' 'Silicon Valley'). The sitcom was going out on top after nine seasons having drawn devoted viewers by creating a contained yet vast universe with hundreds of characters, and each Thursday, their humdrum interactions escalated into comforting ridiculousness. My affection for 'Seinfeld' - and its creators - long outlasted the clarinet. As 76 million people settled in to watch the 'Seinfeld' finale, I was required to join my fifth-grade classmates at the spring band concert.

On May 14, 1998, I walked onstage in my best clothes, seething.

Jerry seinfeld seinlanguage