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Born Standing Up

A Comic's Life

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About this listen

 Steve Martin's riveting, mega-bestselling, beloved, and highly acclaimed memoir of a life, a vocation, and an era—named one of the ten best nonfiction titles of the year by Time and Entertainment Weekly.

In the mid-seventies, Steve Martin exploded onto the comedy scene. By 1978 he was the biggest concert draw in the history of stand-up. In 1981 he quit forever. This book is, in his own words, the story of “why I did stand-up and why I walked away.”

Emmy and Grammy Award–winner, author of the acclaimed New York Times bestsellers Shopgirl and The Pleasure of My Company, and a regular contributor to The New Yorker, Martin has always been a writer. His memoir of his years in stand-up is candid, spectacularly amusing, and beautifully written.

At age ten Martin started his career at Disneyland, selling guidebooks in the newly opened theme park. In the decade that followed, he worked in the Disney magic shop and the Bird Cage Theatre at Knott’s Berry Farm, performing his first magic/comedy act a dozen times a week. The story of these years, during which he practiced and honed his craft, is moving and revelatory. The dedication to excellence and innovation is formed at an astonishingly early age and never wavers or wanes.

Martin illuminates the sacrifice, discipline, and originality that made him an icon and informs his work to this day. To be this good, to perform so frequently, was isolating and lonely. It took Martin decades to reconnect with his parents and sister, and he tells that story with great tenderness. Martin also paints a portrait of his times—the era of free love and protests against the war in Vietnam, the heady irreverence of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in the late sixties, and the transformative new voice of Saturday Night Live in the seventies.

Throughout the text, Martin has placed photographs, many never seen before. Born Standing Up is a superb testament to the sheer tenacity, focus, and daring of one of the greatest and most iconoclastic comedians of all time.©2007 Steve Martin; (P)2007 Simon and Schuster Inc. Entertainment & Celebrities Performing Arts Comedy Funny Heartfelt Inspiring Thought-Provoking Witty Memoir Magic New York

Critic reviews

"Absolutely magnificent. One of the best books about comedy and being a comedian ever written." - Jerry Seinfeld, GQ
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Steve Martin's narration is wonderfully clear and insightful, unlike many of his contemporaries he is able to recall the early days of Saturday Night Live and the 70's stand-up seen brilliantly. It is a useful look into the formation of his career and how he struggled early on. I would have preferred it to be a little longer as it’s much more interesting than many celebrity auto-biographies.

Interesting insight into a great comedian

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well read and very insightful. I wasn't a massive Steve Martin fan but listened to the book on a recommendation. great delivery and a great story. feel like a second book about his film career is coming, if so I'll be all over it

best audio book I've listened to

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At times very touching too. He is a person! Which at times it would appear even he doubts

Lots of reason to smile

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one of my idols growing up.. and I never knew the story of his stand-up years. a great listen

great memoir from a great comedian

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Steve Martin's honest, thoughtful reminiscence of his early stand up career is lovingly told by the man himself.

It details his early childhood, his struggled with his family and his initial steps in the performing world. Next we see his growth into a performance artist, his relationships, his friends and his ups and downs.

To anyone interested in the career of a professional stand up comedian, this is a must hear. For those fascinated with stardom, this is also essential. It is sad, funny, humbling and thoroughly enjoyable.

Very humbling, funny yet sad insight

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