Review

Okay, I didn’t technically “READ” this book, but I did experience it — by way of Steve Martin himself reading it to me. This was my first foray into the Audio Book, and I must say (at least in this case) that it was a fantastic ride. I know the book has all of Steve’s personal pictures and whatnot, but I’d gladly trade them all for the spot-on deliveries and poignant reflection that only the author of an autobiography could deliver.

The story itself is a good one, and while I think I particularly enjoyed it because of my professional aspirations and accomplishments, I can’t imagine anyone not getting some sort of both entertainment and inspiration from this memoir of one our generation’s most prolific comedians. Steve Martin is a fairly brilliant man who once hid beneath the guise of a “wild and crazy guy.” He’s grown fairly well into a grandfatherly patron of funny, and while his comedic sensibilities may not be quite as cutting edge or in-tune as they used to be, his honesty and literacy are as rare in the circles of standup as ever.

“Born Standing Up” is an intelligent, funny, and poignant look at the life of a guy who’s seen a LOT, and reaped the fruits both good and bad. I heartily recommend it, and would encourage checking it out in an audio version.