Just By Looking at Him
- 320 pages
- 12 hours of reading
The hilarious and incisive debut novel from Ryan O'Connell, the award-winning writer and star of Netflix's Special
Ryan O’Connell is a writer and professional feeler of emotions. His writing delves into the intricacies of human connection, personal growth, and the complexities of modern existence. Through a distinctive voice and keen observation, he offers readers profound insights into the human condition. His work is celebrated for its authenticity and its ability to resonate deeply with audiences.


The hilarious and incisive debut novel from Ryan O'Connell, the award-winning writer and star of Netflix's Special
This hilarious part-memoir, part-manifesto reveals what distinguishes the latest generation of young people coming of age in a wired, overeducated, and underemployed world. Ryan O'Connell has captivated audiences with his blogs on Thought Catalog and Vice, his YouTube videos, and his candid #dark tweets. He is the snarky friend you consult when you fear falling into virtual k-holes or when you've made the mistake of befriending a psycho at a party and need to extricate yourself the next day. However, Ryan didn't always have the answers. Growing up gay and disabled with cerebral palsy, he often felt behind his peers. His twenties brought even more confusion, as he became a Millennial cliché: enduring dead-end internships, unemployment, working in pajamas as a blogger, communicating mainly via text, searching for love online, overspending on "necessary" items, and even dabbling in aimless pill-popping. Through trial and error, Ryan learned to transform his life from bleak to chic and began his journey toward adulthood. Sharp and entertaining, this work offers valuable lessons for twentysomethings (or anyone young at heart) on what NOT to do if they aspire to become happy, fully functioning adults with a 401k and a dog.