[How it Works](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/how-it-works/) [Bookshop](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/books/bindery/) [Publishing](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/publishing/) [Team](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/team/) [Contact](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/contact/) Log in or Sign up You Can't Be Serious Kal Penn Save to Your Books [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/10458/9781982171391) [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/1982171391?tag=thisstoryai04-20) 100% of affiliate revenue supports Boundless Press The star of the _Harold and Kumar_ franchise, _House_, and _Designated Survivor_ recounts why he rejected the advice of his aunties and guidance counselors and, instead of becoming a doctor or “something practical,” embarked on a surprising journey that has included confronting racism in Hollywood, meeting his future husband, and working in the Obama administration, in this “incredibly joyful and insightful” (Kiefer Sutherland) memoir. _You Can’t Be Serious_ is a series of funny, consequential, awkward, and ridiculous stories from Kal Penn’s idiosyncratic life. It’s about being the grandson of Gandhian freedom fighters, and the son of immigrant parents: people who came to this country with very little and went very far—and whose vision of the American dream probably never included their son sliding off an oiled-up naked woman in the raunchy Ryan Reynolds movie _Van Wilder_…or getting a phone call from Air Force One as Kal flew with the country’s first Black president. “By turns hilarious, poignant, and inspiring” (David Axelrod, New York Times bestselling author), Kal reflects on the most exasperating and rewarding moments from his journey so far. He pulls back the curtain on the nuances of opportunity and racism in the entertainment industry and recounts how he built allies, found encouragement, and dealt with early reminders that he might never fit in. He describes his initially unpromising first date with his now-fiancé Josh, involving an 18-pack of Coors Light and an afternoon of watching NASCAR. And of course, he reveals how, after a decade and a half of fighting for and enjoying successes in Hollywood, he made the terrifying but rewarding decision to take a sabbatical from a fulfilling acting career for an opportunity to serve his country as an Obama White House aide. Above all, _You Can’t Be Serious_ shows that everyone can have more than one life story. The book “is insightful, funny, and instructive for anyone who’s ever grappled with how they fit into the American dream” (Ronan Farrow, New York Times bestselling author), and demonstrates that no matter who you are and where you come from, you have many more choices than those presented to you. And okay, yes, it’s also about how Kal accidentally (and very stupidly) accepted an invitation to take the entire White House Office of Public Engagement to a strip club—because, let’s be honest, that’s the kind of stuff you really want to hear about. Show more Get the Bindery app * * * Posts about this title from Boundless Press [Boundless Press\\ \\ Jananie\\ \\ • Nov 13 2023](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/) [tier ranking every book i've rated five stars ⭐️ in the past three years](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/item/qaXcL5zcabdswsAHAEr9/) we love a good tier-ranking video! let me know your faves! * * * 39 books [Boundless Press\\ \\ Jananie\\ \\ • Oct 26 2022](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/) [💖 my 25 favourite standalone books of all time 💖 fantasy books, sci-fi, literary fiction, memoirs](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/item/d62X7kjMcfntTGj4hrqj/) Aardvark Book Club official website: https://aardvarkbookclub.com/ Download the iOS app: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/aardvark-book-club/id6443419435 Download the Android app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aardvark.app I've got everything from fantasy books, to sci-fi, to literary fiction, to memoirs so I hope you enjoy! 🤍 timestamps ↳ 0:00 Opening Thoughts ↳ 2:08 I’m Glad My Mom Died ↳ 3:22 In Order to Live ↳ 4:10 Know My Name ↳ 5:22 You Can’t Be Serious ↳ 6:35 Aardvark Book Club ↳ 9:10 Days of Distraction ↳ 10:10 An American Marriage ↳ 11:13 Marriage of a Thousand Lies ↳ 12:14 Pride and Prejudice ↳ 12:52 Jane Eyre ↳ 13:42 An Absolutely Remarkable Thing ↳ 14:59 Perks of Being a Wallflower ↳ 15:58 Turtles All the Way Down ↳ 16:52 Yolk ↳ 17:53 The Beautiful Ones ↳ 18:50 A Song of Achilles ↳ 19:51 The Vanishing Half ↳ 20:34 Blue Skinned Gods ↳ 21:55 The Stationery Shop ↳ 22:54 Disorientation ↳ 24:27 A Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires ↳ 25:45 Mexican Gothic ↳ 27:08 All My Rage ↳ 28:26 Pachinko ↳ 29:32 Babel ↳ 31:38 Kaikeyi ↳ 33:25 Final Thoughts 📚 join my book club 📚 read books by BIPOC each month and join me during monthly liveshows to discuss! 🤍 announcement Video: https://youtu.be/u-aI8tD1RcQ 🤍 discuss on Fable: https://l.fable.co/readincolour 🤍 discuss on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/readincolourbookclub/ 🤍 discuss on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ReadinColorClub socials 🤍 instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisstoryaintover/ 🤍 twitter: https://twitter.com/jananiekvelu 🤍 tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisstoryaintover?lang=en 🤍 goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/thisstoryaintover other places to find me 🤍 my website: https://www.jananiekvelu.com/ 🤍 my series # EpicBookRecs on the Epic Reads Channel: https://bit.ly/2XziOfz discount codes 🤍 get one month FREE on Skillshare using my link: https://skl.sh/MKR96 🤍 use my code STORY to get your first Book of the Month box for only $9.99 https://www.bookofthemonth.com/?utm\_source=youtube&utm\_medium=video&utm\_campaign=This\_Story\_Ain%27t\_Over 💌 for business/sponsorship inquiries please contact eric@smallscreenmarketing.com 💌 for all other inquiries please contact me at thisstoryaintover@gmail.com faqs 🤍 how do you pronounce your name? \- my name is Jananie—pronounced JEN-nah-nee (like a knee!) 🤍 what's your background/ethnicity/etc? \- both my parents are Sri Lankan Tamil, and I was born and raised in Canada! 🤍 what is your job? \- aside from youtube I also work in product marketing! * * * 28 books Posts about this book from across Bindery [Boundless Press\\ \\ Jananie\\ \\ • Nov 13 2023](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/) [tier ranking every book i've rated five stars ⭐️ in the past three years](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/item/qaXcL5zcabdswsAHAEr9/) we love a good tier-ranking video! let me know your faves! * * * 39 books [Boundless Press\\ \\ Jananie\\ \\ • May 27 2023](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/) [10 Memoirs You NEED to Read! \| the non-fiction books you need in your life 💗](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/item/2n7apr3Xy3T7GCCVoZCg/) Go to our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/thisstoryaintover for 10% off your first month of therapy with BetterHelp and get matched with a therapist who will listen and help 💗 socials 🤍 instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisstoryaintover/ 🤍 twitter: https://twitter.com/jananiekvelu 🤍 tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisstoryaintover?lang=en 🤍 storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/thisstoryaintover 🤍 goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/thisstoryaintover 💌 for business/sponsorship inquiries please contact eric@smallscreenmarketing.com 💌 for all other inquiries please contact me at thisstoryaintover@gmail.com faqs 🤍 how do you pronounce your name? \- my name is Jananie—pronounced JEN-nah-nee (like a knee!) 🤍 what's your background/ethnicity/etc? \- both my parents are Sri Lankan Tamil, and I was born and raised in Canada! 🤍 what is your job? \- aside from youtube I also work in product marketing! * * * 9 books [Boundless Press\\ \\ Jananie\\ \\ • Oct 26 2022](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/) I've got everything from fantasy books, to sci-fi, to literary fiction, to memoirs so I hope you enjoy! other places to find me 🤍 my website: https://www.jananiekvelu.com/ 🤍 my series # EpicBookRecs on the Epic Reads Channel: https://bit.ly/2XziOfz 💌 for business/sponsorship inquiries please contact eric@smallscreenmarketing.com 💌 for all other inquiries please contact me at thisstoryaintover@gmail.com faqs 🤍 how do you pronounce your name? \- my name is Jananie—pronounced JEN-nah-nee (like a knee!) 🤍 what's your background/ethnicity/etc? \- both my parents are Sri Lankan Tamil, and I was born and raised in Canada! 🤍 what is your job? \- aside from youtube I also work in product marketing! * * * 28 books