Born Standing Up

Born Standing Up Reviews


by Steve Martin



Overall 5 star rating4.83 of 5 (by 6 users)



add to my favorites subscribe to feed

Born Standing Up Review Summary

Born Standing Up:A Comic's Life is the memoir of the early life and times of one of our premiere comedians turned actor, Steve Martin. This autobiography doesn't just chronicle his life, but takes the reader inside the process that develops his comedy chops. While honing his skills, Martin comes into contact with many folks inside and outside of show business who had varying influences on him. Writing about his own life, Mr Martin fondly remembers his struggles and successes as "The stories and anecdotes were usually entertaining and sometimes sobering." and he helps us "understand where his humor came from and why." One reviewer complained "The only cons were that some of his jokes in the book were just not funny", but most found his reminiscing charming and insightful. No less an authority than Jerry Seinfeld observed Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life is "Absolutely magnificent. One of the best books about comedy and being a comedian ever written."
83% of people rated Born Standing Up as 5 stars
83% of people rated Born Standing Up as 5 stars%
83%
17% of people rated Born Standing Up as 4 stars
17% of people rated Born Standing Up as 4 stars%
17%
No one rated Born Standing Up as 3 stars
No one rated Born Standing Up as 3 stars%
0%
No one rated Born Standing Up as 2 stars
No one rated Born Standing Up as 2 stars%
0%
No one rated Born Standing Up as 1 star
No one rated Born Standing Up as 1 star%
0%
100% Everyone recommends Born Standing Up Everyone recommends Born Standing Up 0%
 



Born Standing Up Ratings and Reviews

items/page: 15 | 30 | 50 displaying 1 to 6 of 6 sort by: most helpful | date | rating


8
helpful
votes
From Disneyland to Hollywood, The Jerk's engaging journey.
an avid reader, enjoys biographies, Can actually read big words!, a reader when I wanna be, comedy fan

SEP
28
2008
In the late 60's and early  70's while the other kids were listening to rock and roll, well, I was too, but, unlike the other kids, I bought a lot of comedy albums.  My heroes were Bill Cosby, George Carlin, Don Rickles, Jack Benny  Flip Wilson and Groucho Marx.  In the mid 70's I found a new comedy hero.  Steve Martin.  If you are under 40 you might only know the Steve Martin of film and the recurring host of Saturday Night Live.  That guy is a different Steve Martin than the one who burst on the scene around 1974 wearing a fake arrow through his head, singing about King Tut and condemning... review »
Did you find this review helpful?
 
 
read 9 comments
5 star rating
2009 Advisor
MikeMaroon
Chattanooga, TN



2
helpful
votes
How does one become a stand-up comic? One man's struggle.
non-fiction reader, chronic book buyer

DEC
20
2007
Born Standing Up is Steve Martin's memoirs of his development and life as a stand-up comic.  I found the book to be very insightful, not only for the stories and anecdotes he tells, but also for his thoughts and strategies for developing a stand-up act.  He is very reflective on what worked and what didn't.  In many ways, this will serve as a guidebook for anyone interested in pursuing a path in stand-up.  Of course, the caution is that he is writing of a completely different time, the late 1960s and 1970s.  This was before the great explosion in stand-up in the 1980s and 1990s.  In fact,... review »
Did you find this review helpful?
 
 
read 1 comment
5 star rating
2008 Reviewer
Magician
Columbia, MO



Reviews continue below ad
1
helpful
vote
Born Standing Up is funny and poignant as Steve Martin himself.
read for fun, Love comedy writing

FEB
18
2009
I have been a fan of Steve Martin forever, but after reading Born Standing UP, I understand him a lot more!  I loved the photographs as much as the writing!  The history that Steve Martin is a part of is well journaled in this entertaining book.  He has been the part of most of the comedy I have loved for the last 35 years!  I have followed him from the beginning of his career, and this book does his history justice.  To hear of his childhood problems and the distance between him and his parents at leaving home to pursue his dream, is a poignant tale that makes me love him even more.  This... review »
Did you find this review helpful?
 
 
read 1 comment
5 star rating
reviewer 2009 Contributor
GrandmaGreen
Wentzville, MO



D
Why Stand Up was my life's work
Homemaker

MAY
29
2008

I am always pleased when I find an author that reads his own work.  In BORN STANDING UP, that is the case.  Who better to tell the story than the person who wrote it!

When Mr. Martin was doing stand up, I was not a big fan of his.  His humor and mind didn't match.  Yet, in reading his story, I understand where his humor came from and why.  He tells us how he got started in stand up and how it developed.  He tells us the story of his life right from his childhood up to today.

He takes us through the learning years where his act was just beginning to the act that everyone wanted to see.  He...

 review »
Did you find this review helpful?
 
 
write a comment
5 star rating
2009 Writer
BarbaraLyn
O Fallon, MO



D
I listened to audiobook. It was a great insight into his life.

JUN
13
2008
This is a great book. It gave me insight into Steve Martin's life. I did not know that he had such severe panic attacks. I was sympathetic to his plight because I understand panic attacks. They aren't fun.  The only cons were that some of his jokes in the book were just not funny.  I don't know if it was the delivery on the audiobook or what.  They just fell flat. 
Did you find this review helpful?
 
 
write a comment
4 star rating
reviewer
PotBellyBig
Arlington, VA



D
Great book for Steve Martin fans.
a fiction reader, an avid reader

FEB
25
2008
Love it.

Did you find this review helpful?
 
 
write a comment
5 star rating
reviewer
Fusuckachickenhead
Memphis, TN



Reviews of Born Standing Up


Start a New Discussion about Born Standing Up



view more in Books view more in Books & Magazines