Preview
  • I'm Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom

  • A Novel
  • By: Jason Pargin
  • Narrated by: Ari Fliakos
  • Length: 12 hrs and 44 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (89 ratings)

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I'm Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom

By: Jason Pargin
Narrated by: Ari Fliakos
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Publisher's summary

A standalone darkly humorous thriller set in modern America's age of anxiety, by New York Times bestselling author Jason Pargin.

Outside Los Angeles, a driver pulls up to find a young woman sitting on a large black box. She offers him $200,000 cash to transport her and that box across the country, to Washington, DC.

But there are rules:

He cannot look inside the box.

He cannot ask questions.

He cannot tell anyone.

They must leave immediately.

He must leave all trackable devices behind.

As these eccentric misfits hit the road, rumors spread on social media that the box is part of a carefully orchestrated terror attack intended to plunge the USA into civil war.

The truth promises to be even stranger, and may change how you see the world.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.

©2024 Jason Pargin (P)2024 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"Strident and timely, the dark humor of this wild standalone adventure from Pargin evokes satirists like Kurt Vonnegut and Douglas Adams for a new age... It’s a raucous roller-coaster ride."—Publisher's Weekly

"A road trip through America that is equal parts hilarious and terrifying. Jason understands humanity better than most, and it’s inspiring that his diagnosis is ultimately optimistic."—Daniel O'Brien, Senior Writer, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

"I was hooked from the first page. If I'm honest, from the first sentence or two. Jason has a rare gift for delivering High Weirdness coated in a sticky layer of real life, deeply relatable shit that forces you to see yourself in whatever weirdo or maniac he introduces. It's a rare gift, but he's got a lot of those. You should read this book."—Robert Evans, Host of Behind the Bastards

What listeners say about I'm Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom

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Most controversial book of 2024

I’m surprised Audible allowed this audiobook on their platform given the controversy surrounding this books content and its author. I was curious about it because of the “discourse” on X the everything app. I was very surprised how much I enjoyed the book given Jason Pargin’s views on current events.
The narrator did a fantastic job. Audiobooks are normally just a different way to consume a book but sometimes, like with this book, the narration elevates the book beyond the words as written.

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    3 out of 5 stars

Good writing, interesting take, disappointed with ending for me at least

I'm a huge fan of The John Dies series and I've expected a certain bit of cosmic horror from this offer along with dark humor or strange viewpoint. The writing is good but it's a bit mundane for my taste, if you're looking for a psychological thriller with mundane problems and the effect of overall socal panic then this is a good book.

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2 people found this helpful

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Can't believe someone would write this

I had to pick this book up given the controversy and despite that I was hooked. Fantastic book. I was outraged by headlines but fell in love with the paragraphs.

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1 person found this helpful

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Another excellent Jason Pargin novel

Just like the John and Dave series and the fancy suits series, the whole book is excellent. The plot moves along quickly and is easy to follow, with great comedy and likable characters. Excellent audiobook for a lazy weekend working on projects or playing games.

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The most Controversial book I have ever read.

The controversy surrounding this book has got the author under a lot of fire. It takes a BRAVE person to write something so true. I personally do not think he deserves it because this book is really just saying what we are all thinking. If you stick with it you'll understand the controversy and see the truth no one before now would say out loud.

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so controversial

really, very very provocative and...oh yeah, controversial. like, I wouldn't be surprised if this book is banned, so read it while you can!

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reddit will love this!

excellent story, holding up a magnifying glass to the way people interact online. some of it hits a little close to home...

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controversial

I enjoyed listening to this story, the controversy it brings is in reality social media addiction, and said results. my understanding is this is a stand alone novel unlike the John and Zooey books. I like the different narrative but that it has the same humor which made me a fan.
no spoilers being vague on purpose GET THE NOVEL AUDIO BOOK ACTUAL KINDER you'll enjoy it or not but try be open minded, ok that's it.

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A hopeful dystopian masterpiece!!!

Full disclaimer, I have loved all of Jason Pargin's other books as well. This one holds his mirror of delightful ridicule up to our own society rather than mystical dumbasses or high-tech gangsters. and it is no less hilarious or beautiful for it. An absolute Home run!

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    3 out of 5 stars

A New Favorite, Pargin’s Best Work Yet

If “The Mexican” (the Movie) had the rising stakes of a Guy Ritchie film like Snatch, the social media reaction of Don’t Look Up and Arlington Road, the protagonist cluelessness of The Big Lebowski or Shaun of the Dead, the fun and expert dialogue of Clerks, the Bureaucratic Wall of Burn After Reading, the pursuing menace of Raising Arizona, and a fresh plot with satisfying twists written by a screenwriter named Jason K Pargin, this would be the novelization of that Perfect Movie.

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