I Shouldn't Even Be Doing This!: And Other Things That Strike Me as Funny

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I Shouldn't Even Be Doing This!: And Other Things That Strike Me as Funny (eBook) Pub. Date: 9/19/2006 Publisher: Hyperion
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I Shouldn't Even Be Doing This!: And Other Things That Strike Me as Funny Pub. Date: 9/19/2006 Publisher: Hyperion

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Overview

A guy is having an affair with his boss's wife. They are making mad passionate love, and she says, "Kiss me! Kiss me!" He looks at her very seriously and replies, "I shouldnt even be doing this!"

This isnt a memoir like most memoirs. It's a book only Bob Newhart could have written, with his unique worldview and irrepressibly wry humor on every page. Oh, and there's a fair bit of plain silliness too. In this, his first book ever, Newhart gives his brilliant and bemused twist on a multitude of topics, including flying, the trials of a family holiday in a Winnebago, and more serious subjects, such as gold. And of course, there are side-splittingly funny stories from his life and career. Who else has a drinking game named after him ("Hi Bob!")

Editorial Reviews

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As an accountant, Bob Newhart was a great comedian. How, after all, could anyone whose motto was "That's close enough" expect to flourish among bean counters? On the other hand, his success as a professional comic also seemed to defy logic. Television executives could not comprehend how a slow-talking deadpan comedian with a slight stammer could enthrall audience with imaginary phone conversations. Against every expectation, though, Newhart became an authentic media icon and even a cult figure. This hilarious autobiography confirms Newhart's playful assertion that laughter is a tranquilizer without side effects.

JOnathan Yardley

[Newhart] was about a decade older than we were, but we considered him both our contemporary and our spokesman. He, meantime, smoothly moved into a long, successful and highly visible career: "I recorded several comedy albums. . . . I starred in several television series, all of which have my name in the title. . . . I acted in several movies that didn't have my name in the title. . . . All the while, I've been married to the same woman for forty-three years, had four children, played countless rounds of golf, and met some interesting people." Into the bargain, he gives every evidence of being a nice guy. He's certainly written a very nice, and richly amusing, book.
— The Washington Post

More Reviews (2) Fewer Reviews

Publishers Weekly

Newhart's deadpan delivery, slight stammer and expert comedic pauses make this audiobook memoir an indispensable purchase for fans. Newhart's persona was always the everyman ("Men usually think I was in the army with them. And the women think I was their first husband and usually say, `Hey, stupid, I haven't had a check...' and then catch themselves."). He modestly explains his comedy origins, which led to a recording career (his first two comedy albums won him three 1960 Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year). Nightclub appearances segued to movies (he hilariously explains how he tried to get fired from Hell Is for Heroes) and TV sitcom success (The Bob Newhart Show from 1972-1978 and Newhart from 1982-1990). Newhart peppers his breezy memoir with a sampling of some of his classic comedy routines (including "The Driving Instructor," "Grace L. Ferguson Airline and Storm Door Co." and "King Kong and the Night Watchman"), and his timing remains impeccable. Simultaneous release with the Hyperion hardcover (Reviews, July 10). (Sept.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

Now in his mid-70s, comedian Newhart riffs lightly on his life and career, publishing along the way portions of his most popular routines. His book is a memoir only in the most superficial sense. There are no revelations, dark or otherwise, only an amusing and repetitive PowerPoint presentation by a writer determined to keep himself concealed. Oddly, Newhart's observations about the art of comedy often veer close to banality-e.g., "Comedy can help us make it past something very painful like death." He opens with some comments on comedy and comedians, then segues into chapters about his youth in Chicago. His father drank a lot; we don't learn much about Mom. Newhart attended Catholic schools, got a bachelor's degree in management and left Loyola's law school sans degree. He was drafted, spent two years as an army clerk, then worked as an accountant. On the side, he wrote comedy routines, selling a few to radio stations. He lived at home until he was 29. His first comedy album (The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart) skyrocketed, as did the follow-up. The ensuing years were filled with stand-up dates in Vegas, TV shows, movies and lunches with glitterati. A treacly sequence about meeting his wife and some Erma Bombeckian pages about a disastrous family trip in a Winnebago are among the weaker sections. More interesting behind-the-scenes segments discuss his TV shows and films, especially Hell Is for Heroes and Catch-22. Playing one scene in the latter with a wicked hangover, Newhart was taken aback when director Mike Nichols declared that was exactly the quality he was looking for in the character. It's one of the book's many drinking stories; the author writes with less good cheer aboutsmoking, which nearly killed him. His best friend is Don Rickles; he met Stan Laurel; he wishes he'd met W.C. Fields. He still loves doing stand-up. More of a routine than a memoir, but full of the wry, understated self-deprecation that Newhart has perfected.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781401302467
Publisher: Hyperion
Publication date: 9/19/2006
Pages: 256
Sales rank: 429,407

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Anonymous

Posted July 20, 2007

A reviewer

I didn't find this book funny or even interesting. I was expecting something different, I guess. I never finished reading it because it was boring.
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Anonymous

Posted November 7, 2006

A good introduction to a comedy master

The graphic novelist Seth once described in one of his novels that a certain fictional comic book could be considered '...a perfect Saturday afternoon read.' Well, this is just the appropriate way to describe Bob Newhart's memoir-cum-comedy skit here. I grew up absolutely loving 'The Bob Newhart Show' (I had a major crush on Suzanne Pleshette as Emily!) and I just got so many laughs out of Jerry, Howard, Mr. Carlin, Mr. Peterson, etc. -- there was no way I was going to be disappointed in this book. I knew a lot of Bob's comedy skits, but I never realized either how successful his recording career was or the facets of his private life that had such influence on his comedy. Yes, it makes perfect sense that he started out in law school and was also an accountant! I was a little surprised at how much Bob glossed over 'Newhart,' but then he more than made up for it with his anecdotes about his movies and his friendship with both Don Rickles and John (not Johnny!) Carson. Well, while my favorite stammerer easily could've made one or two better editorial choices in his debut book, Bob Newhart overall hits a home run with this work, and I for one am happy to note that law and accounting's loss was the world's gain. Thanks, Bob!
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Anonymous

Posted November 2, 2006

Great read

Great mix of autobiography, anecdotes, and classic Newhart sketches. A lot of interesting revelations about his comedy, his television shows and his relationships with family and celebrities. I'd love to hear more about his friendships with Johnny Carson and Don Rickles. You even learn who came up with the ingenius idea for the final episode of Newhart. Hopefully we'll see another book or two from Mr. Newhart in the future.
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