Thrilling Tales of Modern Men by Danny McBride is a short story collection about growing up. Now, this is Danny McBride from Eastbound & Down, Vice Principals, and The Righteous Gemstones, so most of the characters are grown men trapped in the man-child stage who still have some growing up to do.
Thrilling Tales of Modern Men comprises ten short stories and novellas. The lengths vary, but the stories are all very readable and never drag.
The stories all have an underlying sense of humor that reminded me of the Coen Brothers and Elmore Leonard. The humor is what worked in every story. Even the ones that weren’t my favorites still managed to make me laugh.
I’m not a big audiobook fan, but when I found out Danny McBride had assembled an entire cast from The Righteous Gemstones for the audiobook, I had to give it a listen. The cast includes McBride himself, John Goodman, Adam Devine, Walton Goggins, Eric André, Edi Patterson, and others. In “The Book Burner,” the whole cast plays different characters, while in the other stories I listened to, a single actor performed all the roles.
The stories are all set in the real world, with most involving some type of crime. One story dips into science fiction, another is a coming-of-age tale, and another is an action story full of explosions.
My favorite story, hands down, was “The Illusionist,” where a man in the middle of a divorce suddenly decides to become an illusionist without putting in any of the work. The story goes in completely unexpected directions and was a lot of fun. “The Institute of Man” and “Last Night of the Runaway Adventure” were my other two favorites.
If you’re a fan of Danny McBride’s work, including The Foot Fist Way, Vice Principals, Eastbound & Down, and The Righteous Gemstones, you won’t be let down by this collection. Several stories feel like lost episodes from those shows.
Thrilling Tales of Modern Men was first published on June 23, 2026, by Random House.
Why did I read Thrilling Tales of Modern Men by Danny McBride?
I’m a huge fan of Danny McBride. I love his style of humor and have watched all of his television shows.
I was offered this ARC after reviewing Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama by Bob Odenkirk and Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live by Susan Morrison, both from Random House, so accepting was an easy decision.
My Ranking and Thoughts on Every Story (Least Favorite to Favorite)
Fun Run is about an unhinged man with a terrible sense of humor who desperately wants a friend. This was my least favorite story. It felt like a complete wildcard. I thought it was going to reveal that he was the instructor behind the self-help class the characters skipped, but instead he’s simply a crazy person. I did laugh at the dark joke about the self-help seminar comparing itself to slavery.
Dad’s Way: A Hilarious ’90s Sitcom is about the creator of a sitcom who dies after a ten-year run and leaves behind a script for a reunion special. The cast members all peaked with the show and haven’t accomplished much since. Mike, the lead actor, slowly loses his mind as he becomes obsessed with getting revenge on a coyote that killed his dog. I loved Jason’s storyline. The child actor who became a movie star is now a stepfather trying to convince himself he’s happy with an ordinary life, though he clearly misses the spotlight. This story felt like pieces of a larger idea. I liked the final image, but the story was all over the place.
Gideon’s Wife follows Tracy, a woman who enjoys putting other people down while believing she’s above everyone else. She’s surprised when people genuinely like her husband, who is a lovable doofus. The story ends before she receives her inevitable comeuppance, but you know it’s coming. This was the shortest story in the collection and was just okay.
The Book Burner has one of the strongest opening scenes in the collection, beginning with a book burning inside a bookstore. We learn about both the author and the man burning the books. It explores interesting ideas about literary ownership and theft. The quirky characters reminded me of Elmore Leonard. While the ending presents an enjoyable surprise, I wanted a stronger resolution because too many questions were left unanswered.
The Vicious Kind is about a father who feels powerless after going from being the family’s breadwinner to working a low-paying job. He becomes irrationally angry over a boat parked on public land that ruins his morning view. The story reminded me of the television series Beef, where tiny grievances spiral completely out of control. It takes a while to get going, but I loved how wildly everything escalated. The final monologue was fantastic, although I wish it hadn’t been interrupted by cutting to the son’s reaction.
Mr. Liptapp’s Sword follows a history teacher who discovers an ancient sword that slowly consumes him. The story alternates between the past, showing his descent into obsession, and the present, where mysterious men pursue him for the sword. It’s quick, entertaining, and requires a healthy suspension of disbelief.
Robocare is about a stubborn elderly man whose children buy him an experimental robot caregiver. He never wanted the help and simply wants to be left alone. I expected something similar to Robot & Frank, but it goes in a different direction. Instead, it explores the difficult balance between respecting someone’s independence and recognizing when they truly need assistance. The old man’s inner monologue is hilarious. The audiobook performance by John Goodman was excellent.
Last Night of the Runaway Adventure is a coming-of-age story about two teenage runaways. One eventually returns home while the other doesn’t. It’s the most serious story in the collection. Older brother Wayne is awful. It took me a little while to keep Burt and Ben straight, but once I did, I found this to be one of the most personal stories in the book.
The Institute of Man is an outrageous science fiction story about a man who visits a clinic to cure his baldness. The treatment works a little too well, and his hair never stops growing. This story best captures the Coen Brothers’ offbeat tone. I loved how ridiculous it became, and the ending perfectly fit the story’s themes.
The Illusionist is about a man whose life falls apart after his divorce, leading him to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming an illusionist. Rather than actually learning magic, he decides his first stunt will be living inside a glass box at a shopping mall for thirty days. Unlike real endurance performers, though, he receives food, water, and even has someone empty his waste bucket each day. The story is built around the idea of disillusionment. It’s funny in that classic Danny McBride style because he refuses to admit how ridiculous his idea is even as his life continues falling apart. I especially loved the subplot involving a mall vandal and the clever way it tied into the main story. Everything came together perfectly in the ending, and the pacing never slowed down.
Recommendation
Thrilling Tales of Modern Men is thrilling for the most part and is a very fast, enjoyable read. I compared McBride’s writing style to Elmore Leonard and the Coen Brothers because of the way they capture flawed people and their obsessions through dialogue and humor.
If you’re already a fan of Danny McBride’s television shows and movies, this collection is an easy recommendation. If you’re unfamiliar with his work, I still think it’s worth giving a chance. The stories are funny, readable, and showcase his unique voice beyond television.
Rating
Thrilling Tales of Modern Men by Danny McBride
3.5 out of 5 stars
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