First published 2007
Steve Martin chronicles his journey from selling guidebooks at Disneyland as a ten-year-old to becoming one of America's top comedians. He worked throughout Disney's various departments during his teens, developing magic and comedy skills while performing over a dozen shows weekly at Knott's Berry Farm by age twenty. Martin describes his philosophy that obsession can replace talent, detailing how he stripped everything unoriginal from his performances and landed writing work on The Smothers Brothers Show. He explores his relationships with comedy legends like Dan Aykroyd, Lorne Michaels, Carl Reiner, and Johnny Carson, while examining his complicated family dynamics and romantic relationships. Martin addresses the fear and isolation that accompanied his rise, explaining how he discovered what connected with audiences. Though he guards his privacy, Martin writes with remarkable skill, creating genuine intimacy with readers. The memoir doubles as practical instruction in stand-up comedy, illustrated with his personal photograph collection.
Genres: 20th-century, autobiography, biography-memoir, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, rags-to-riches
Setting: Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm
Period: 1960s, 1970s
271 pages · ebook · Scribner