Modern Life as Interpreted By Someone Who is Reasonably Bad at Living It. There are a few things you need to know about Joel Golby. Both his parents are dead. His dad was an alcoholic. He himself has a complicated relationship with alcohol. He once went to karoke three times in five days. He will always beat you at Monopoly, and he will always cheat. Golby's sharp, evocative prose thrives on reality and honesty that is gut-wrenchingly close to the bone, and laced aith a copious dose of dark humour.