About the book
Steve Martin's memoir covers his years in stand-up comedy and why he did it and why he walked away. He started at age ten selling guidebooks at Disneyland, then worked in its magic shop and at Knott's Berry Farm's Bird Cage Theatre, performing his first magic and comedy act a dozen times a week. He recalls tiny early audiences, the trademark white three-piece suit and shows before tens of thousands of fans. He was stand-up's biggest concert draw by 1978, and he quit in 1981. He also writes about his strained family ties, especially with his father. It became a New York Times bestseller, and Time and Entertainment Weekly named it among the year's ten best nonfiction titles.
James Clear said it gives insight into the details of Martin's act as well as his early life and how his career developed. The $100 MBA co-founder Omar Zenhom argued that Martin's path to success was not so different from that of any successful entrepreneur.
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This book has 3 recommendations
James Altucher (Entrepreneur, investor)
And while you are at it, throw in “Bounce” by Mathew Syed, who was the UK Ping Pong champion when he was younger.
I love any book where someone took their passion, documented it, and shared it with us. That’s when you can see the subleties, the hard work, the luck, the talent, the skill, all come together to form a champion.
Heck, throw in, “An Astronaut’s Guide to Earth” by Commander Chris Hadfield.
Omar Zenhom (Co-Founder/The $100 MBA)
Not a typical business book but make no mistake, Steve Martin’s journey to success was not too different from any successful entrepreneur’s journey. How to stand out? How to outlast the competition? How to evolve? It’s all in there.
James Clear (Author)
This fantastic book provided beautiful insights not only into the details of his comedy act, but also into his early life and career development.
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Often recommended alongside
- The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield (2 shared recommenders)
- Fooled by Randomness: The Hidden Role of Chance in Life and in the Markets by Nassim Nicholas Taleb (2 shared recommenders)