Born Standing Up By Steve Martin

Goodreads Summary:
In the midseventies, 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.

My thoughts:
I learned for a fact what I always thought of Steve Martin, he isn't a Wild and Crazy GUY! He is a nerd and a bit aloof. I too am a nerd and a bit aloof. Years ago I saw the play Picasso at the Lapin Agile. I loved it. I wanted to see it again and again. Sure this has some credit to the actors but mostly I loved the writing. It was then that I formed my writer's crush on Steve Martin.
This crush is still with me after reading his memoir of comedy. He is more complicated that meets the eye but that is true with everyone. I enjoyed the history factoids throughout the book; from the opening of Disneyland to the first airing of Saturday Night Live.
I would not say that I left this book knowing Steve Martin. I think even after reading more than one book he has written I have a slightly more clear snap shot of him. Really, I hope I never feel like I know Steve Martin so I can A) continue to have my crush and B) be surprised by his writing in the future.

I would recommend this book to Steve Martin fans and anyone who likes autobiographies.

While writing this review I was listening to my dog crash around the house.