Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life

Good fun Read

Steve is a very complex individual, with his past relationship with his Father, his ability to create humor, his writing, his musical ability and art appreciation. This book lets you feel like you are a friend. When in public I'm sure Mr. Martin has to always "be on". The public expects this image. I felt like I got to know the real person away from that image just trying to entertain. I would recommend this book to anyone that wanted to get to know Steve Martin a very fun book to read.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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Wasnt crazy about it

meh.. it was just okay...

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Great book

What a wonderful look into Steve Martin's life. He's always made me laugh and now I feel like I know him so much better.

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rare insights

For those that want a serious laugh(and I mean not a gut buster but a hard gut checking laugh) then read this book!!!! You will find a candid (free from resaervation ,disguise,or reservation) then this is the book for you! Remember that the greater part of comedy is truly "Tragedy"! This book will deliver nakedness of soul mostly unsought.( If you think I mean it in the litral sense put your clothes back on he"s not gonna have sex with you!)A fine and candid read. ( No sugar intended!)

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Outstanding

This is one of the best books I have ever read. Steve Martin is the man!!!

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Great Book!

This is the best book I have read in a long time. I love reading about celebrities that had it rough in the beginning and worked so hard to get where they are now. It is awesome to know that he went from living in a van to being famous. I have always loved him and now I love him alot more. He thought so many times about giving up and having a normal life but he didnt, he went for what he wanted and succeeded. I would recommend this book to everyone!

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Genius on his feet

Pure delight, every word. I'm just a year older than Steve, and have traveled in the periphery of his high school buddies' circles (John McEuen and others). The stories are touching, it's not a name-dropping book, it's just the recollections of a very funny mind in a very nice man who has lived a very extraordinary career. Try to catch him on tour with his banjo - it's even better than his standups, 'cause now you get standup and great bluegrass. Go Grammy, Steve.

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Very Insightful Autobiography of one of the most original stand-up comedians

The story of Steve Martin's humble beginnings and early career were both insightful and enjoyable. I always loved Steve Martin as a stand-up comedian. His act and his early television specials were so original and cutting edge that they stood out from what everyone else was doing.

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Liked It

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and was especially impressed by the effort required to develop his routines. My only disappointment (-1 star) was that the book seemed to end rather abruptly; I had to re-read the ending before acknowledging that it had, in fact, left me hanging. Perhaps a sequel is out there somewhere. I listened to Steve's "Let's Get Small" album shortly after reading the book and enjoyed the album much more than before.<BR/><BR/>I should also confess to enjoying his book, "Shop Girl" and his play, "Picasso at the Lapin Agile." Both are 5 stars on my list.

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WOW!

One of the best books i've read in a long time. I enjoyed every facet of this book. I felt like I was witnessing everything alongside Steve Martin. I laughed. I cried. I will be reading it again.

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A regular's guy's quest to be a wild, crazy, *funny* guy

Few stars as big as Steve Martin come off as a regular guy. So if Martin's carefully crafted "regular guyness" has no bearing on his true persona -- well, you won't learn otherwise from this disarming memoir of his growth from dorky teenage magician to arena-filling stand up superstar. Plain-spoken and unsentimental about his arduous path to the top (it's shocking to learn how many times he had to appear on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show before it made a difference in his comedy bookings), he writes frankly about his rocky search for comic originality and, finally, about his willingness to set aside his sky-high stand-up career when he begins to feel it getting stale. Martin also doesn't shy from addressing his father's mean-spirited disinclination to acknowledge his son's success -- but overall his book is a shamelessly entertaining look at one man's single-minded struggle for comic fame before comedy clubs were common ... or comedy on cable (not to mention cable itself) even existed.

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Couldn't Put it Down

it was one of the best books that i have read in years. it keeps you so interested that you dont want to put it down. Steve Martin is truly a genius. This is a most read for any steve martin fan or fan of comedy.

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Why Stand Up was my life's work

I am always pleased when I find an author that reads his own work. In BORN STANDING UP, that is the case. Who better to tell the story than the person who wrote it! When Mr. Martin was doing stand up, I was not a big fan of his. His humor and mind didn¿t match. Yet, in reading his story, I understand where his humor came from and why. He tells us how he got started in stand up and how it developed. He tells us the story of his life right from his childhood up to today. He takes us through the learning years where his act was just beginning to the act that everyone wanted to see. He tells the listener how he became estranged from his own family and how he managed to get back together with them again. In other words, he takes us full circle through his life. He even tells us about his writing talent of which I was not aware. All in all, BORN STANDING UP is a great listen. Even if you are not a fan of Steve Martin, you can¿t help but become enthralled with his life and why and how he got where he is today.

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A reviewer

This is a must read for any fan of comedy, Steve Martin, or someone who wants an insiders perspective on what it takes to 'nake it' in show business.

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My Thermos

This book really changed the way I look at comedy. I appreciate Mr. Martin's personal stories and lessons learned. A great read!!

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Fantastic

Loved it. Finished it the day I got it, in just a few hours. Thought it was great.

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Great history lesson about standup

Anyone who enjoys comedy should read this book, short easy read and gives you an insight how difficult stand up really is. Very entertaining

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An inside glimpse...

To tell the truth, I bought this book because 1) I like Steve Martin's sense of humor, and 2) it was on the sale table after the holiday. I couldn't put the book down, finished it in one day. It's not a book about how to be a stand up comedian, although you'll understand how Steve got into the businesses. It's a very well written book about life, about families that love but can't express love, about finding oneself by examining your own life. You can actually sense Steve's self-discovery as the book unfolds. Take a break from reading self-help books and read this book. You won't be disappointed.

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Is your kid in the arts??

....a book every parent of a child in the arts should read.

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A classic just like the writer

I must say that I enjoy reading books from people who actually wrote the books, not ghostwriters. I find that these type of books are the most true to life books you will find, and this book is just that. As you read through this book, Martin relives his early childhood life with his family and his early roots that would eventually lead to him being arguably one of the greatest comedic talents of all-time. I especially love this book because the tone of the book has a feel that Martin himself is actually talking to you and wrote this book with his famous humor in mind. I would definetely reccomend any one who is a fan of his to read this book, it is an easy read and once you turn the first page you will not be able to stop.

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