A Paper Orchestra
In his debut collection of personal essays, Emmy-nominated screenwriter Michael Jamin (King of the Hill, Just Shoot Me, Beavis and Butt-Head, Wilfred, Maron, Rules of Engagement, Tacoma FD) recounts the true stories of a sensitive, anxious man searching for the things that are most important: identity, love, forgiveness, and redemption.
A cross between David Sedaris and Judd Apatow, Michael discovers his unlikeliest moments of growth: he fakes his way onto a college-football team to experience a moment of grace; breaks up with a woman because she can’t stop saying “just kidding”; gets caught lying during a Hollywood power meeting; takes advantage of the pandemic lockdown to repair his relationship with his daughters.
Audaciously funny yet achingly poignant, A Paper Orchestra will have you rethinking the smallest, almost forgotten moments of your life.
About The Author
Michael Jamin has been a television writer/showrunner since 1996. His many credits include King of the Hill, Beavis and Butt-Head, Just Shoot Me, Wilfred, Maron, Rules of Engagement, Out of Practice, Brickleberry, Glenn Martin DDS, and Tacoma FD. A graduate of Princeton University, Michael lives in Los Angeles.
On social media, he shares his experiences working in Hollywood under the handle @MichaelJaminWriter.
Michael has been featured in Forbes, Newsweek, The Guardian, CNN, The Washington Post and more.
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Jamin has written for television for nearly 30 years, for gag-oriented stuff like Tacoma FD and character-driven, empathetic projects like King of the Hill. Well versed in finding the nuance in how people behave in everyday situations, Jamin reflects on himself in his essay-thinkpiece collection that loosely coalesces into a memoir. His very funny and touching stories about his own tender childhood segue into pieces about his regrets, anxieties, and triumphs as a father. I read this book right when my son was turning 18 and graduating, and good lord, how it made me feel happy, sad, and connected all at once. A Paper Orchestra isn’t always funny, but if one defines comedy as making sense of life and getting a visceral reaction out of its reader, it’s a triumph.
"A masterpiece. There were several moments I laughed too hard (in public) and points that shattered me to tears. "Christine.x000
"A great read for fans of David Sedaris... I'm laughing a lot but also pausing between essays to absorb his poignant messaging."gilapfeffer
"Every story is gold, and I find myself more and more invested with each chapter I read."stepharoni7
"I usually enjoy books more than audiobooks, but A Paper Orchestra is the exception. I read the book first and loved it, but then I listened to it. The authenticity will move you."alicecurleypoet
"I laugh and then find myself crying and then laughing again. I may never be able to write as well as you, but you make me want to try."heathermannfoster
"My favorite book of the year! This one will be hard to dethrone. Gems of the American experience. This really is a must read!"Gus
"This fairly well-read author has never enjoyed full bodied writing like this before. Brilliant and immensely entertaining... it exceeded al expectations!"susanhunterauthor
"The biggest mistake I ever made was thinking I could calmly read A Paper Orchestra in bed. No, I am laughing so hard that I risk waking up the family."zoey_the_phi_chi
"This is a book like no other! I laughed, I cried, I smiled and I sobbed... A gifted TV writer pens an amazing book... Highly recommended!"Rusty Williams
"Already underlining. So much treasure to be found in these."karenrand
"I can't believe these stories have never been told in quite this way. I look forward to rereading this and diving deeper into the stories in the book."Amazon Reader
"I wouldn't necessarily consider myself something that cries easily, but almost every story had me toggling between laughing and crying."Audible Listener