Now that someone has broken the ice about book reviews ...
I recently read Bob Newhart's Autobiography.
The title is "I shouldn't even be doing this!" and comes from a joke (of course).
A man is having an affair with his bosses wife. They're making mad, passionate love and she says "Kiss me! Kiss me!"
He looks at her very seriously and says "I shouldn't even be doing this!"
Your response to that joke will tell you how well you will like the book. Bob spends just enough time giving you some details of his life without overdoing it. The thrust of the book is his experiences in comedy. It's worth the read, but don't expect pithy philosophizing on humour. He spends one chapter on it and even then he just brushes against it. To paraphrase his attitude, if you have to explain it ... forget it.
The antidotes in the book regarding his stand up routine will be lost on those who have never seen or heard him perform. (He's still performing.) The nuances of his speaking pattern cannot be conveyed in writing. I found myself hearing the timbre, inflection and stammer in his voice as I read the bits. Without that, they fall a bit flat. But that's why people pay to see comics.
If you are a fan of his work, this one is worth the time spent.
Enjoy.
I recently read Bob Newhart's Autobiography.
The title is "I shouldn't even be doing this!" and comes from a joke (of course).
A man is having an affair with his bosses wife. They're making mad, passionate love and she says "Kiss me! Kiss me!"
He looks at her very seriously and says "I shouldn't even be doing this!"
Your response to that joke will tell you how well you will like the book. Bob spends just enough time giving you some details of his life without overdoing it. The thrust of the book is his experiences in comedy. It's worth the read, but don't expect pithy philosophizing on humour. He spends one chapter on it and even then he just brushes against it. To paraphrase his attitude, if you have to explain it ... forget it.
The antidotes in the book regarding his stand up routine will be lost on those who have never seen or heard him perform. (He's still performing.) The nuances of his speaking pattern cannot be conveyed in writing. I found myself hearing the timbre, inflection and stammer in his voice as I read the bits. Without that, they fall a bit flat. But that's why people pay to see comics.
If you are a fan of his work, this one is worth the time spent.
Enjoy.
