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Shoes Last Longer in LA Paperback – September 6, 2024
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"Schatz is a writer who makes devilish comic
hay with language; I imagine him in front
of his laptop with an imp on each shoulder
egging him on to further and further heights
of delirious linguistic brio."
-The Pittsburgh Tattler
"Schatz's lyrics are full of giddy wordplay."
-The Los Angeles Times
"Mr. Schatz's songs are so captivating."
-The New York Times
- Print length144 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherKung Fu Treachery Press
- Publication dateSeptember 6, 2024
- Dimensions5 x 0.34 x 8 inches
- ISBN-101958182885
- ISBN-13978-1958182888
Discover the latest buzz-worthy books, from mysteries and romance to humor and nonfiction. Explore more
Product details
- Publisher : Kung Fu Treachery Press (September 6, 2024)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 144 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1958182885
- ISBN-13 : 978-1958182888
- Item Weight : 5.7 ounces
- Dimensions : 5 x 0.34 x 8 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #576,487 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #526 in Puns & Wordplay
- #1,671 in American Poetry (Books)
- #3,526 in Poetry Themes & Styles (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Matt Schatz is an award-winning playwright, composer, and lyricist. He has been honored with the
Kleban Prize, Reva Shiner Comedy Award, and ASCAP Harold Arlen Award. His works have been
produced in theaters across the U.S., and he has written for television and film, including projects for
Netflix and AMC. Shoes Last Longer in LA is his debut poetry collection, offering a blend of humor,
cultural reflection, and sharp observations.
Customer reviews
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- 5 star4 star3 star2 star1 star1 star100%0%0%0%0%0%
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the poetry humorous and accessible. They describe it as thoughtful, poignant, and relatable. The poems are described as a great read with delightful rhymes and wordplay. Readers appreciate the author's mastery of language skills, including haiku and wordplay.
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Customers find the poetry humorous and accessible. They appreciate the clever wordplay and rhymes that make them laugh out loud. The poems are described as playful, thoughtful, and joyful.
"...poems add up to something more than the sum of their parts: a nuanced, funny, sharply observed and deeply felt attempt to make sense of the world..." Read more
"It's so cool to read a book of poetry that makes you laugh out loud -- Matt Schatz writes incredibly funny rhymes in the tradition of Ogden Nash,..." Read more
"...But he presents these thoughts or ideas in clever, insightful or funny ways (and his word play, as the other reviewers have said, is such a treat!)...." Read more
""Shoes Last Longer in LA" delivers humor, thought provocation, and pathos through the idiosyncratic lens of Los Angeles...." Read more
Customers find the poetry collection thoughtful and joyful. They find the poems poignant, nuanced, hilarious, and timeless. The poems are relatable, clever, and convey ideas in an accessible way. Readers describe the poetry as high art without pretension that delivers humor, thought-provoking content, and pathos.
"...The poems add up to something more than the sum of their parts: a nuanced, funny, sharply observed and deeply felt attempt to make sense of the..." Read more
"...and incisive...but they're always from the heart and stirring up deeply relatable feelings. I'm so glad I bought this book! It's a total treasure!" Read more
"...But he presents these thoughts or ideas in clever, insightful or funny ways (and his word play, as the other reviewers have said, is such a treat!)...." Read more
""Shoes Last Longer in LA" delivers humor, thought provocation, and pathos through the idiosyncratic lens of Los Angeles...." Read more
Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find it clever and humorous, with delightful rhymes. Readers can read all or skip around, finding the poetry deep without being heavy.
"Matt Schatz’s debut collection of poems is more than a worthwhile read: it’s the kind of collection that you will want to re-read, read aloud to..." Read more
"It's so cool to read a book of poetry that makes you laugh out loud -- Matt Schatz writes incredibly funny rhymes in the tradition of Ogden Nash,..." Read more
"Love picking up this volume and reading a verse whenever I need a smile during the workday! Perfect gift for LA friends." Read more
"Read all or skip around. Deep without being weighty." Read more
Customers appreciate the author's mastery of language. They find the poems smart and incisive, with a showcase of mastery in haiku and wordplay. The collection is described as smart and incisively written, reminiscent of Billy Collins and Sarah Manguso's observational skills.
"...Matt's poems are extremely smart and incisive...but they're always from the heart and stirring up deeply relatable feelings...." Read more
"...I'm especially impressed by Matt Schatz's economy of words and syntax, which deliver a punch of cleverness at every turn...." Read more
"...His economy of language reveals his mastery; he’s a true wordsmith...." Read more
"This is a remarkable collection of poetry—a true showcase of mastery in haiku and wordplay...." Read more
Reviews with images

Funny, relatable, clever poetry
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2024Matt Schatz’s debut collection of poems is more than a worthwhile read: it’s the kind of collection that you will want to re-read, read aloud to your spouse, and then re-read again. The poems are incredibly clever, with delightful, surprising rhymes and winking jokes that had us laughing out loud. It’s all great fun. But the poems also resonate on another level. Layered between the rhymes and jokes are poignant insights about parenthood, a life in the arts, geographical dislocation, Jewish identity, and so much more. The poems add up to something more than the sum of their parts: a nuanced, funny, sharply observed and deeply felt attempt to make sense of the world around us—all with the lightest touch and most charming rhymes imaginable.
- Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2024It's so cool to read a book of poetry that makes you laugh out loud -- Matt Schatz writes incredibly funny rhymes in the tradition of Ogden Nash, Dorothy Parker and Shel Silverstein...but his writing also brings to mind the work of brilliant lyricists like Stephin Merritt and David Berman. Matt's poems are extremely smart and incisive...but they're always from the heart and stirring up deeply relatable feelings. I'm so glad I bought this book! It's a total treasure!
- Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2024Love picking up this volume and reading a verse whenever I need a smile during the workday! Perfect gift for LA friends.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2024I absolutely adore this collection of poems! Matt Schatz has that awesome ability to make you feel like you're sharing an inside joke or reference with him. His poems are so relatable and run the gamut from introspective to parenting to food to famous figures to "Love Is Blind." But he presents these thoughts or ideas in clever, insightful or funny ways (and his word play, as the other reviewers have said, is such a treat!). If you get this book, try reading the poems out loud to someone. It's fun--and you can enjoy sharing the laugh or thoughtful sigh too!
What I also love is that my kids get to experience a different kind of poetry in this book. The poems are short, accessible and convey ideas and use stylistic choices that are interesting for them too--and lead to conversations. My son was reading a few out loud the other day and said, "Hey, this title says it's a Haiku. No, the TITLE is a Haiku." And he counted out the syllables as he read the title: "The Upper West Side/First Date, 1962/This is a Haiku." Then he read the Haiku poem to me and I laughed out loud. :)
5.0 out of 5 starsI absolutely adore this collection of poems! Matt Schatz has that awesome ability to make you feel like you're sharing an inside joke or reference with him. His poems are so relatable and run the gamut from introspective to parenting to food to famous figures to "Love Is Blind." But he presents these thoughts or ideas in clever, insightful or funny ways (and his word play, as the other reviewers have said, is such a treat!). If you get this book, try reading the poems out loud to someone. It's fun--and you can enjoy sharing the laugh or thoughtful sigh too!Funny, relatable, clever poetry
Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2024
What I also love is that my kids get to experience a different kind of poetry in this book. The poems are short, accessible and convey ideas and use stylistic choices that are interesting for them too--and lead to conversations. My son was reading a few out loud the other day and said, "Hey, this title says it's a Haiku. No, the TITLE is a Haiku." And he counted out the syllables as he read the title: "The Upper West Side/First Date, 1962/This is a Haiku." Then he read the Haiku poem to me and I laughed out loud. :)
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- Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2024Read all or skip around. Deep without being weighty.
- Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2024"Shoes Last Longer in LA" delivers humor, thought provocation, and pathos through the idiosyncratic lens of Los Angeles. I'm especially impressed by Matt Schatz's economy of words and syntax, which deliver a punch of cleverness at every turn. In a Postmodern world, Schatz is dropping poetic bars like 2Pac with the musicality of Mozart and the wit and irony of Morrissey.
You can breeze through the pages or you can dwell in the subtext of each line. Whatever the case, "Shoes Last Longer in LA" should be a permanent part of everyone's bookshelf.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2024Matt Schatz’s poetry is glorious. It’s nuanced, hilarious, topical, and yet timeless. I cackled when I read the one about the Real Housewives. His economy of language reveals his mastery; he’s a true wordsmith. What excites me about Matt’s poetry is that he tackles contemporary issues and pop culture, making poetry fun and accessible. It’s high art without pretension, the pinnacle of great art.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2024The author writes funny, witty and thoughtful poems for all. In this book I have found many of the poems that have spoken to me as an individual. Great read!