diff --git a/R/append_values.r b/R/append_values.r
index 383d0a0..aa6ae38 100644
--- a/R/append_values.r
+++ b/R/append_values.r
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ append_values_factory <- function(type, as.value) {
   
   function(x, column.name = type, force=TRUE) {
     
-    assert_that(is.tbl_json(x))
+    if (!is.tbl_json(x)) x <- as.tbl_json(x)
   
     # Extract json 
     json <- attr(x, "JSON")
diff --git a/R/data-commits.r b/R/data-commits.r
index a9bde7c..0456d6a 100644
--- a/R/data-commits.r
+++ b/R/data-commits.r
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@
 #' 
 #' # Extract metadata for every commit
 #' commits %>%   # single json document of github commits from dplyr 
-#'   as.tbl_json %>%  # turn into a 'tbl_json'
 #'   gather_array %>%  # stack as an array
 #'   spread_values(
 #'     sha         = jstring("sha"),
diff --git a/R/data-companies.r b/R/data-companies.r
index 158f280..4da5533 100644
--- a/R/data-companies.r
+++ b/R/data-companies.r
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
 #' 
 #' # Get the key employees data
 #' key_employees <- companies %>%
-#'   as.tbl_json %>% 
 #'   spread_values(
 #'     name = jstring("name")
 #'   ) %>% 
diff --git a/R/data-issues.r b/R/data-issues.r
index f1db9a0..31c3cc4 100644
--- a/R/data-issues.r
+++ b/R/data-issues.r
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@
 #' 
 #' # Extract metadata for every issue
 #' issues %>%          # single json document of github issues from dplyr 
-#'   as.tbl_json %>%        # turn into a 'tbl_json'
 #'   gather_array %>%  # stack as an array
 #'   spread_values(
 #'     id          = jnumber("id"),
@@ -27,7 +26,6 @@
 #' 
 #' # Extract label content for issues with labels
 #' issues %>%          # single json document of github issues from dplyr 
-#'   as.tbl_json %>%        # turn into a 'tbl_json'
 #'   gather_array %>%  # stack as an array
 #'   spread_values(id = jnumber("id")) %>% # capture issue id for relational purposes
 #'   enter_object("labels") %>%            # filter just those with labels
@@ -39,7 +37,8 @@
 #'   )
 #' 
 #' # Get all URLs at the top level of the JSON
-#' issues %>% as.tbl_json %>% gather_array %>%
+#' issues %>% 
+#'   gather_array %>%
 #'   gather_keys %>%
 #'   append_values_string() %>%
 #'   filter(grepl("url", key))
diff --git a/R/data-worldbank.r b/R/data-worldbank.r
index 6264b33..3f57622 100644
--- a/R/data-worldbank.r
+++ b/R/data-worldbank.r
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
 #' 
 #' # Get the top 10 sectors by funded project in Africa
 #' wb_sectors <- worldbank %>%   # 500 Projects funded by the world bank
-#'   as.tbl_json %>%    # turn into a tbl_json object
 #'   spread_values(
 #'     name = jstring("project_name"), # Spread name 
 #'     region = jstring("regionname")  # Spread region
diff --git a/R/enter_object.r b/R/enter_object.r
index 23e871f..8afb351 100644
--- a/R/enter_object.r
+++ b/R/enter_object.r
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 #' @export
 enter_object <- function(x, ...) {
   
-  assert_that(is.tbl_json(x))
+  if (!is.tbl_json(x)) x <- as.tbl_json(x)
   
   # Prepare path
   path <- prep_path(...)
diff --git a/R/gather_array.r b/R/gather_array.r
index c5b16f9..28362e9 100644
--- a/R/gather_array.r
+++ b/R/gather_array.r
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 #' @export
 gather_array <- function(x, column.name = "array.index") {
   
-  assert_that(is.tbl_json(x))
+  if (!is.tbl_json(x)) x <- as.tbl_json(x)
   
   # Get JSON
   json <- attr(x, "JSON")
diff --git a/R/gather_keys.r b/R/gather_keys.r
index 77422ab..d41b123 100644
--- a/R/gather_keys.r
+++ b/R/gather_keys.r
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 #' @export
 gather_keys <- function(x, column.name = "key") {
 
-  assert_that(is.tbl_json(x))
+  if (!is.tbl_json(x)) x <- as.tbl_json(x)
   
   # Get JSON
   json <- attr(x, "JSON")
diff --git a/R/json_lengths.r b/R/json_lengths.r
index d86be02..f2fe042 100644
--- a/R/json_lengths.r
+++ b/R/json_lengths.r
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 #' @export
 json_lengths <- function(x, column.name = "length") {
   
-  assert_that(is.tbl_json(x))
+  if (!is.tbl_json(x)) x <- as.tbl_json(x)
   
   # Extract json 
   json <- attr(x, "JSON")
diff --git a/R/json_types.r b/R/json_types.r
index 31dab07..9040441 100644
--- a/R/json_types.r
+++ b/R/json_types.r
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 #' @export
 json_types <- function(x, column.name = "type") {
   
-  assert_that(is.tbl_json(x))
+  if (!is.tbl_json(x)) x <- as.tbl_json(x)
   
   # Extract json 
   json <- attr(x, "JSON")
diff --git a/R/spread_values.r b/R/spread_values.r
index 2f6f94d..22720fd 100644
--- a/R/spread_values.r
+++ b/R/spread_values.r
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 #' @export
 spread_values <- function(x, ...) {
   
-  assert_that(is.tbl_json(x))
+  if (!is.tbl_json(x)) x <- as.tbl_json(x)
   
   # Get JSON
   json <- attr(x, "JSON")
diff --git a/man/commits.Rd b/man/commits.Rd
index 35bd6c7..fb30bac 100644
--- a/man/commits.Rd
+++ b/man/commits.Rd
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ commits \%>\% substr(1, 2000) \%>\% writeLines
 
 # Extract metadata for every commit
 commits \%>\%   # single json document of github commits from dplyr
-  as.tbl_json \%>\%  # turn into a 'tbl_json'
   gather_array \%>\%  # stack as an array
   spread_values(
     sha         = jstring("sha"),
diff --git a/man/companies.Rd b/man/companies.Rd
index 93f5354..0559db7 100644
--- a/man/companies.Rd
+++ b/man/companies.Rd
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ companies[[1]] \%>\% writeLines
 
 # Get the key employees data
 key_employees <- companies \%>\%
-  as.tbl_json \%>\%
   spread_values(
     name = jstring("name")
   ) \%>\%
diff --git a/man/issues.Rd b/man/issues.Rd
index 9cb9c00..456e8d1 100644
--- a/man/issues.Rd
+++ b/man/issues.Rd
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ issues \%>\% substr(1, 2000) \%>\% writeLines
 
 # Extract metadata for every issue
 issues \%>\%          # single json document of github issues from dplyr
-  as.tbl_json \%>\%        # turn into a 'tbl_json'
   gather_array \%>\%  # stack as an array
   spread_values(
     id          = jnumber("id"),
@@ -33,7 +32,6 @@ issues \%>\%          # single json document of github issues from dplyr
 
 # Extract label content for issues with labels
 issues \%>\%          # single json document of github issues from dplyr
-  as.tbl_json \%>\%        # turn into a 'tbl_json'
   gather_array \%>\%  # stack as an array
   spread_values(id = jnumber("id")) \%>\% # capture issue id for relational purposes
   enter_object("labels") \%>\%            # filter just those with labels
@@ -45,7 +43,8 @@ issues \%>\%          # single json document of github issues from dplyr
   )
 
 # Get all URLs at the top level of the JSON
-issues \%>\% as.tbl_json \%>\% gather_array \%>\%
+issues \%>\%
+  gather_array \%>\%
   gather_keys \%>\%
   append_values_string() \%>\%
   filter(grepl("url", key))
diff --git a/man/worldbank.Rd b/man/worldbank.Rd
index e150969..9ad5e6d 100644
--- a/man/worldbank.Rd
+++ b/man/worldbank.Rd
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ worldbank[[1]] \%>\% writeLines
 
 # Get the top 10 sectors by funded project in Africa
 wb_sectors <- worldbank \%>\%   # 500 Projects funded by the world bank
-  as.tbl_json \%>\%    # turn into a tbl_json object
   spread_values(
     name = jstring("project_name"), # Spread name
     region = jstring("regionname")  # Spread region
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-append_values.r b/tests/testthat/test-append_values.r
index 346b037..7a6b8c0 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-append_values.r
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-append_values.r
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ test_that("has correct complete structure with simple input", {
     json <- '[{"name": "anne"}, {"name": "bob"}, {"name": "george"}]'
 
     expect_identical(
-      json %>% as.tbl_json %>% gather_array %>% gather_keys %>% 
+      json %>% gather_array %>% gather_keys %>% 
         append_values_string,
       tbl_json(
         data.frame(
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ test_that("string works with value array", {
     json <- '["a", "b"]'
 
     expect_identical(
-      json %>% as.tbl_json %>% gather_array %>% append_values_string,
+      json %>% gather_array %>% append_values_string,
       tbl_json(
         data.frame(
           document.id = c(1L, 1L),
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ test_that("string works with simple input", {
     json <- '["a", "b", null]'
 
     expect_identical(
-      (json %>% as.tbl_json %>% gather_array %>% append_values_string)$string,
+      (json %>% gather_array %>% append_values_string)$string,
       c("a", "b", NA_character_)
     )
     
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ test_that("number works with simple input", {
     json <- '[1, 2, null]'
 
     expect_identical(
-      (json %>% as.tbl_json %>% gather_array %>% append_values_number)$number,
+      (json %>% gather_array %>% append_values_number)$number,
       c(1, 2, NA_real_)
     )
     
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ test_that("logical works with simple input", {
     json <- '[true, false, null]'
 
     expect_identical(
-      (json %>% as.tbl_json %>% gather_array %>% append_values_logical)$logical,
+      (json %>% gather_array %>% append_values_logical)$logical,
       c(TRUE, FALSE, NA)
     )
     
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ test_that("logical works with simple input", {
 
 test_that("handles mixed input as appropriate NA", {
     
-    data <- '["a", 1, true, null]' %>% as.tbl_json %>% gather_array 
+    data <- '["a", 1, true, null]' %>% gather_array 
     expect_identical(
       (data %>% append_values_string)$string,
       c("a", "1", "TRUE", NA_character_)
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ test_that("correctly handles character(0)", {
     list())
 
     expect_identical(
-      character(0) %>% as.tbl_json %>% append_values_string,
+      character(0) %>% append_values_string,
       empty)
 
   }
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ test_that("correctly handles {}", {
       list(nl))
 
     expect_identical(
-      '{}' %>% as.tbl_json %>% append_values_string,
+      '{}' %>% append_values_string,
       empty)
     
   }
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ test_that("correctly handles []", {
       list(list()))
 
     expect_identical(
-      '[]' %>% as.tbl_json %>% append_values_string,
+      '[]' %>% append_values_string,
       empty)
     
   }
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ test_that("correctly handles []", {
 
 test_that("correctly handles mixed types when force=FALSE", {
 
-    data <- '["a", 1, true, null]' %>% as.tbl_json %>% gather_array 
+    data <- '["a", 1, true, null]' %>% gather_array 
 
     expect_identical(
       (data %>% append_values_string(force=FALSE))$string,
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ test_that("correctly handles mixed types when force=FALSE", {
 
 test_that("correctly handles append when trying to append an array", {
 
-   data <- '[["a", "b", "c"], "d", "e", "f"]' %>% as.tbl_json %>% gather_array
+   data <- '[["a", "b", "c"], "d", "e", "f"]' %>% gather_array
    
    expect_identical(
      (data %>% append_values_string())$string,
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-enter_object.r b/tests/testthat/test-enter_object.r
index 8fcbc29..1a9e95d 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-enter_object.r
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-enter_object.r
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ test_that("filter works with one path", {
     json <- '{"name": "bob", "attributes": {"age": 32, "gender": "male"}}'
 
     expect_identical(
-      json %>% as.tbl_json %>% enter_object("attributes"),
+      json %>% enter_object("attributes"),
       tbl_json(
         data.frame(document.id = 1L),
         list(list(age = 32L, gender = "male"))
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ test_that("filter works with multiple depth paths", {
     json <- '{"name": "bob", "attributes": { "demographics": {"age": 32, "gender": "male"}}}'
 
     expect_identical(
-      json %>% as.tbl_json %>% enter_object("attributes", "demographics"),
+      json %>% enter_object("attributes", "demographics"),
       tbl_json(
         data.frame(document.id = 1L),
         list(list(age = 32L, gender = "male"))
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ test_that("filter removes records with missing path", {
     )
     
     expect_identical(
-      json %>% as.tbl_json %>% spread_values(name = jstring("name")) %>%
+      json %>% spread_values(name = jstring("name")) %>%
         enter_object("attributes"),
       tbl_json(
         data.frame(
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ test_that("works if no paths exist", {
     json <- '{"name": "bob"}'
     
     expect_identical(
-      json %>% as.tbl_json %>% spread_values(name = jstring("name")) %>%
+      json %>% spread_values(name = jstring("name")) %>%
         enter_object("attributes"),
       tbl_json(
         data.frame(
@@ -80,15 +80,15 @@ test_that("correctly handles character(0), {}, []", {
       list())
     
     expect_identical(
-      character(0) %>% as.tbl_json %>% enter_object("key"),
+      character(0) %>% enter_object("key"),
       empty)
     
     expect_identical(
-      '{}' %>% as.tbl_json %>% enter_object("key"),
+      '{}' %>% enter_object("key"),
       empty)
     
     expect_identical(
-      '[]' %>% as.tbl_json %>% enter_object("key"),
+      '[]' %>% enter_object("key"),
       empty)
 
   }
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-gather_array.r b/tests/testthat/test-gather_array.r
index 71de9a6..332d8ea 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-gather_array.r
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-gather_array.r
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ test_that("works with array of length 1", {
     json <- '[{"name": "bob"}]'
     
     expect_identical(
-      json %>% as.tbl_json %>% gather_array,
+      json %>% gather_array,
       tbl_json(
         data.frame(
           document.id = 1L,
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ test_that("works with single array", {
     json <- '[{"name": "bob"}, {"name": "susan"}]'
     
     expect_identical(
-      json %>% as.tbl_json %>% gather_array,
+      json %>% gather_array,
       tbl_json(
         data.frame(
           document.id = c(1L, 1L),
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ test_that("works with multiple json", {
     )
     
     expect_identical(
-      json %>% as.tbl_json %>% gather_array,
+      json %>% gather_array,
       tbl_json(
         data.frame(
           document.id = c(1L, 1L, 2L),
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ test_that("works with value array", {
     json <- c('["a", "b"]')
     
     expect_identical(
-      json %>% as.tbl_json %>% gather_array,
+      json %>% gather_array,
       tbl_json(
         data.frame(
           document.id = c(1L, 1L),
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ test_that("empty json are dropped", {
     json <- c('[{"name": "bob"}]', '[]')
     
     expect_identical(
-      json %>% as.tbl_json %>% gather_array,
+      json %>% gather_array,
       tbl_json(
         data.frame(
           document.id = 1L,
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ test_that("null values are kept", {
     json <- '["string", null]'
     
     expect_identical(
-      json %>% as.tbl_json %>% gather_array,
+      json %>% gather_array,
       tbl_json(
         data.frame(
           document.id = c(1L, 1L),
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ test_that("objects throws error", {
     
     json <- c('[{"name": "bob"}]', '{"name": "susan"}')
     
-    expect_error(json %>% as.tbl_json %>% gather_array)
+    expect_error(json %>% gather_array)
     
   }
 )
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ test_that("values throws error", {
     
     json <- c('[{"name": "bob"}]', '"bob"')
     
-    expect_error(json %>% as.tbl_json %>% gather_array)
+    expect_error(json %>% gather_array)
     
   }
 )
@@ -147,13 +147,13 @@ test_that("correctly handles character(0), {}, []", {
       list())
     
     expect_identical(
-      character(0) %>% as.tbl_json %>% gather_array,
+      character(0) %>% gather_array,
       empty)
     
-    expect_error('{}' %>% as.tbl_json %>% gather_array)
+    expect_error('{}' %>% gather_array)
     
     expect_identical(
-      '[]' %>% as.tbl_json %>% gather_array,
+      '[]' %>% gather_array,
       empty)
 
   }
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-gather_keys.r b/tests/testthat/test-gather_keys.r
index 36e67f2..eedc501 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-gather_keys.r
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-gather_keys.r
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ test_that("works in a simple case", {
     json <- '{"key1": 1, "key2": 2}'
 
     expect_identical(
-      json %>% as.tbl_json %>% gather_keys,
+      json %>% gather_keys,
       tbl_json(
         data.frame(
           document.id = c(1L, 1L),
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ test_that("works with compound values", {
 		}'
 
     expect_identical(
-      json %>% as.tbl_json %>% gather_keys,
+      json %>% gather_keys,
       tbl_json(
         data.frame(
           document.id = c(1L, 1L, 1L, 1L),
@@ -45,9 +45,9 @@ test_that("works with compound values", {
 
 test_that("throws errors with incorrect types", {
     
-    expect_error('1' %>% as.tbl_json %>% gather_keys())
-    expect_error('["a"]' %>% as.tbl_json %>% gather_keys())
-    expect_error('null' %>% as.tbl_json %>% gather_keys())
+    expect_error('1' %>% gather_keys())
+    expect_error('["a"]' %>% gather_keys())
+    expect_error('null' %>% gather_keys())
     
   }
 )
@@ -62,15 +62,15 @@ test_that("correctly handles character(0), {}, []", {
       list())
     
     expect_identical(
-      character(0) %>% as.tbl_json %>% gather_keys,
+      character(0) %>% gather_keys,
       empty)
     
     expect_identical(
-      '{}' %>% as.tbl_json %>% gather_keys,
+      '{}' %>% gather_keys,
       empty
     )
     
-    expect_error('[]' %>% as.tbl_json %>% gather_keys)
+    expect_error('[]' %>% gather_keys)
 
   }
 )
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-json_lengths.r b/tests/testthat/test-json_lengths.r
index 8deafc1..a1d1f57 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-json_lengths.r
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-json_lengths.r
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ test_that("works for arrays", {
     
     json <- c('[]', '[1]', '[1, 2]')
     expect_identical(
-      json %>% as.tbl_json %>% json_lengths %>% `$`(length),
+      json %>% json_lengths %>% `$`(length),
       c(0L, 1L, 2L)
     )
     
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ test_that("works for objects", {
     
     json <- c('{}', '{"k":"v"}', '{"k1":"v1", "k2":"v2"}') 
     expect_identical(
-      json %>% as.tbl_json %>% json_lengths %>% `$`(length),
+      json %>% json_lengths %>% `$`(length),
       c(0L, 1L, 2L)
     )
     
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ test_that("works for scalars", {
     
     json <- c('[1, "a", true]') 
     expect_identical(
-      json %>% as.tbl_json %>% gather_array %>% json_lengths %>% `$`(length),
+      json %>% gather_array %>% json_lengths %>% `$`(length),
       rep(1L, 3)
     )
      
@@ -37,13 +37,13 @@ test_that("works for emtpy objects", {
     
     json <- character(0) 
     expect_identical(
-      json %>% as.tbl_json %>% json_lengths %>% `$`(length),
+      json %>% json_lengths %>% `$`(length),
       integer(0)
     )
     
     json <- c('[null, [], {}]') 
     expect_identical(
-      json %>% as.tbl_json %>% gather_array %>% json_lengths %>% `$`(length),
+      json %>% gather_array %>% json_lengths %>% `$`(length),
       rep(0L, 3)
     )
      
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-json_types.r b/tests/testthat/test-json_types.r
index 5de52ee..4ecdafc 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-json_types.r
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-json_types.r
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ test_that("works with simple input", {
     json <- '[{"key":"value"}, [1, 2], "string", 1, true, false, null]'
 
     expect_identical(
-      json %>% as.tbl_json %>% gather_array %>% json_types,
+      json %>% gather_array %>% json_types,
       tbl_json(
         data.frame(
           document.id = rep(1L, 7),
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ test_that("works with varying array types", {
     json <- '[[1, 2], [1, null], [{"key":"value"}], [null]]'
 
     expect_identical(
-      (json %>% as.tbl_json %>% gather_array %>% json_types)$type,
+      (json %>% gather_array %>% json_types)$type,
       factor(rep("array", 4), levels = allowed_json_types)
     )
     
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ test_that("works with varying empty data", {
     json <- '[[], {}, null]'
 
     expect_identical(
-      (json %>% as.tbl_json %>% gather_array %>% json_types)$type,
+      (json %>% gather_array %>% json_types)$type,
       factor(c("array", "object", "null"), levels = allowed_json_types)
     )
     
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ test_that("works with varying empty data", {
 test_that("works with character(0)", {
     
     expect_identical(
-      (character(0) %>% as.tbl_json %>% json_types)$type,
+      (character(0) %>% json_types)$type,
       factor(character(0), levels = allowed_json_types)
     )
     
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-spread_values.r b/tests/testthat/test-spread_values.r
index ea1d774..d6f6704 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-spread_values.r
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-spread_values.r
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ test_that("exctract various values", {
     json <- '{"name": "bob", "age": 32, "customer": true}'
     
     expect_identical(
-      json %>% as.tbl_json %>% 
+      json %>%
         spread_values(
           name = jstring("name"),
           age = jnumber("age"),
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ test_that("exctract down a path", {
     json <- '{"name": {"first": "bob", "last": "smith"}}'
     
     expect_identical(
-      json %>% as.tbl_json %>% 
+      json %>%
         spread_values(first.name = jstring("name", "first")),
       tbl_json(
         data.frame(
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ test_that("correctly handles character(0)", {
       list())
     
     expect_identical(
-      character(0) %>% as.tbl_json %>% spread_values(value = jstring("key")),
+      character(0) %>% spread_values(value = jstring("key")),
       empty)
     
   }
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ test_that("correctly handles {}", {
       list(nl))
     
     expect_identical(
-      '{}' %>% as.tbl_json %>% spread_values(value = jstring("key")),
+      '{}' %>% spread_values(value = jstring("key")),
       empty
     )
 
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ test_that("correctly handles []", {
       list(list()))
     
     expect_identical(
-      '[]' %>% as.tbl_json %>% spread_values(value = jstring("key")),
+      '[]' %>% spread_values(value = jstring("key")),
       empty
     )