“Nerdection Must Read”
All the Bad Things I Did is a comedic collection of essays in which author Greg Dorchak pulls back the curtain on various moments in his life. His opinions on a plethora of topics are brought to centre stage within their own chapters.
Valuable advice is served up, sandwiched between obscure and relatable anecdotes, analyses are presented on just about the most eclectic mix of random, mundane and unexpected topics challenging readers to examine their own sentiments whilst laying bare the inner workings of a man willing to share with his audience both the better parts of himself and the parts most prefer to keep hidden away for fear of judgement with a sincerity that most anyone will appreciate.
Spoiler-Free Plot
The narrative bounces back and forth between early childhood recollections and the present, where the book reaches its completion. Each chapter presents a thought (or two) that is thoroughly explored, uncovering a deeper meaning tied to a memory—or simply offering a playful tale meant to entertain, as Greg Dorchak is wont to do.
Some chapters narrate the climb—more often than not leading to a disappointing view to the majority who tread down this path—to comedic and film writing success, relatively defined according to the author’s self-imposed parameters.
Detailed dissections on the choice of grocery shopping locations, squirrel psychology, the act of smoking, what it means to party, caring for plants and animals are imparted from start to finish, functioning as mosaic pieces that make up the greater image of the author’s individuality. Each shard carved into shape by the external experiences he maneuvered his way through as they arose—with grace, humor, stubbornness rumination, and an all-round fallibility that comes from being completely and utterly human.
My Take on All the Bad Things I Did
This book had me from the title. Half the battle was already won; I had already picked a side, and I was firmly in Greg’s corner, eager to read about all the bad things that were promised, hoping that none were indefensible enough for me to cede what I hoped would be a source of comedic relief I could indulge in over the course of a few days. My expectations were high, and they only rose even higher after reading all the praise and the laugh inducing dedication. So it would be up to the rest of its contents to meet the first impression it had established—no pressure!
“A Word on Squirrels” was a decent starting point. It had the qualities of an ‘aging man shakes fist at the world around him’ diatribe, but the humorous slant loosed a generous number of short puffs of sharp air that count as cautiously optimistic yet restrained laughter.
What I hadn’t expected was the revelation of introspection tied to this very judgement formed at the very start of the book, as if the author had anticipated eliciting such a reaction from readers, and rose to provide context, not to exonerate or plead his case but to foster deeper understanding of himself, for himself. It provided proof that the purpose of this book was not solely for the entertainment of others, but also a journey within oneself. Bathed in this new light, I ended up with a fond retrospective opinion on the essay.
This isn’t something that happens often. It takes a special feat of writing to completely alter an opinion so far down the line; Greg Dorchak seems to have cracked the code by wielding authenticity as his tool of choice.
There were several moments besides “A Word on Squirrels” that I could point to, where the “payout”, so to speak, arrived later on or an extra serving of it was handed out way after I considered that particular line of discussion closed with finality. I can only describe it as receiving gratification without previously anticipating ever wanting that sense of fulfillment to begin with. Comparable to noticing an easter egg in a sequel that harkens back to the initial film, or realising the reason behind a book’s title when you’re beyond halfway through.
Another example of this is the benign picture of a young Greg on the book cover—something that wouldn’t be out of place in a compilation of personal stories. Chapters on, we come to learn of the significance of that specific photo. My favourite example, uncovered at the very end, is first introduced halfway through. When read in a vacuum, there doesn’t seem to be anything remarkable or extraordinary in the author’s bio, but having read the chapter “Driven”, this book and I parted ways with one last laugh.
The author writes with all of himself. His writing speaks to us readers. It is very conversational, including the quirks we’ve all experienced from real life exchanges. I personally enjoyed the long winded tangents diverting attention from the main idea, veering off track and into the distance before sharply screeching back onto the intended path.
And speaking of said tangents, I will conclude with my own contribution to the unanswered questions posed, toss my own little remarks into the hat along with the rest: if I’m not mistaken, I’m sure construction glass is recyclable (to some extent), and a cigarette after staves off the natural drowsiness that follows both kinds of satiation.
Book release date: November 2025
Age Rating
16 years and above
Content Warnings
Death, Guns, Nudity, profanity.
About The Author Of All the Bad Things I Did
Greg Dorchak, an actor, writer, artist, and filmmaker, is not necessarily bad, but he does have a bit of an attitude. He grew up in The Adirondacks of New York State, graduated high school in Virginia, and performed stand-up and improv while attending UNLV, where he worked at the student newspaper and radio station.
Dorchak wrote and directed the feature-length workplace comedy KOPY KINGS, a workplace comedy about misfits at a 24-hour copy center.
He lives in Austin with his wife and 3 Rotties, painting whimsical art for the average person, puttering, and gardening.
He is also a licensed driver and has an updated passport.
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