Best Biographies of Comedians
Put them together and you have the funniest, most heartfelt, and most inspirational memoir on survival, success, and the importance of believing in yourself since Old Yeller . Kevin Hart’s life uniquely qualifies him to write this book by also having a beginning. But Kevin Hart, like Ernest Hemingway, JK Rowling, and Chocolate Droppa before him, was able to defy the odds and turn it around. And that man happens to be the biggest comedian in the world, with tours that sell out football stadiums and films that have collectively grossed over $3.5 billion. His films, including Kevin Hart: What Now?
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"With a father who was a criminal with substance abuse problems and a mother who was basically raising him on her own in a tough Philadelphia neighborhood, Kevin could have been a bitter, resentful victim of the system. Don't get me wrong, this book is laugh out loud funny, but what kept me reading through the night were the amazing insights and the overwhelming sense of gratitude exuded by Mr. Hart."
"For starters, the writing in 'I Can't Make This Up' is impeccable, feels like conversation with Kevin Hart, himself. There were several instances throughout the early reading that I felt myself wishing that I could reach through a time portal and give that kid a hug. Likewise, I find it courageous and at times, unsettling that he chose to disclose his entire truth, including the ugly parts."
"a phenomenal job by Kevin Hart!"
"But I also care about the technicalities of writing because a good story can go terribly wrong if it is disorganized, under-thought, poorly written, rushed, you name it. I Can't Make This Up: Life Lessons delivered on every level for me. And finally, the story: thorough, interesting, free of indulgent self-flattery, brutally honest, raw (by "raw" I mean without frivolous embellishment--what you see is what you get), inspiring, and it may or may not go without saying: hysterically funny despite consistently challenging--even devastatiing--life circumstances. The example he sets in accepting his downfalls, righting his wrongs, transforming his approach to relationships and life, and moving forward with his "grind" with life lessons in tow is commendable."
"I would recommend this book if you want to know more about Kevin Hart or if you're looking for a well written book that is raw and real with a bit of self help lessons included."
The dishiest read of the year.” – Janet Maslin, “Ten Favorite Books of the Year,” New York Times. “Here’s Johnny!” Probably everyone in America knows the phrase, whether they watched every episode of The Tonight Show or none because they had to go to bed early on school nights. Bushkin explains why Carson, a voracious (and very talented) womanizer, felt he always had to be married; why he couldn’t visit his son in the hospital and wouldn’t attend his mother’s funeral; and much more. Featured Photos of Johnny Carson Frank Sinatra and Johnny Carson during rehearsals for the 1981 Reagan Inaugural Gala. Carson, Bushkin says, “was endlessly witty and enormously fun to be around,” but he also could be “the nastiest son of a bitch on earth.” The text provides multiple examples of both sides of Carson’s Mr. Hyde personality, but, of course, it is the petulant, boozing, womanizing Johnny that will draw the most attention: throwing tantrums over perceived slights at Ronald Reagan’s inauguration, at having to wait for a suite at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, at Joan Rivers’ decision to launch a competing late-night show without first informing Carson, and, above all, at his mother’s refusal to acknowledge both Carson’s success and his lavish gifts to her (his mother’s coldness, Bushkin and many others believe, was at the root of Carson’s own iciness in personal relationships).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Perhaps the saddest Hollywood bio in recent memory, Henry Bushkin's "Johnny Carson" paints a vivid picture of a kind of genius savant. It is difficult to square our memories of the genial, gracious late-night star who chatted up tourists playing "Stump the Band" with Bushkin's portrait of the compulsive, drunken womanizer who nearly got himself rubbed out for trying to take a Mob figure's girl to bed. There's a searing view of Carson suffering at the hands of his cruel, critical Midwestern mother -- her refusal to express love or approval explains a lot of his pain and relationship failures. Not a word about Carson's comedic technique, the mannerisms he stole from Jack Benny and Fred Allen, or the day-to-day workings of the little universe he controlled, "The Tonight Show." He mimicked too many of Carson's self-destructive tendencies, divorcing his wife to gad about the south of France with Johnny with stars like Joyce DeWitt or Mary Hart on his arm, billing everything back to NBC. Fascinating and highly readable, "Johnny Carson" is not just a show business memoir but a Shakespearean tragedy: a Boswellian view of a tragic hero of our culture, a genius beloved by millions who made himself unlovable."
"Bushkin lived within Carson's life as friend, protector, brother, fixer, financial advisor, business partner, legal consultant, and most of all personal attorney. Bushkin does well in making his case that Carsons personality defects were the result of uneven parenting (he had a cold, dominant mother who withheld any approval). During Buskin's years he saw Carson live the high life of the middle aged superstar: smoking ( four packs a day), drinking to excess, affairs, cars, money, homes, parties, hobnobbing among the stars, the divorces, the bad and the brilliant business deals."
"If you remember Johnny Carson in his heyday, you will like this book."
"I loved reading about his rise to stardom from a small town in Nebraska, his dysfunctional relationship with his parents-especially his cold mother, his many wives and his personal vices. I was a huge fan of Johnny Carson; and though the book painted a picture of Johnny entirely different from his public persona, I finished the book continuing to be a huge fan."
"This book reads like a cross between an extended People magazine profile and the tawdry luridness of a TMZ expose."
From her youthful days as a vicious nerd to her tour of duty on Saturday Night Live ; from her passionately halfhearted pursuit of physical beauty to her life as a mother eating things off the floor; from her one-sided college romance to her nearly fatal honeymoon -- from the beginning of this paragraph to this final sentence. Amazon Best Books of the Month, April 2011 : Tina Fey’s new book Bossypants is short, messy, and impossibly funny (an apt description of the comedian herself).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Fun book by Tina Fey digs into her upbringing and somewhat unlikely rise to comedic fame, given that she doesn't tick the natural "comedian" boxes."
"Her first book involving such things as car creepery, white denim suits, fires on her honeymoon cruise and "manually releasing her butt cheeks" after an encounter with Sylvester Stallone on SNL are just a few examples of the random, yet hilarious stories you'll find in Fey's Bossypants. As a bonus, Tina shows you how to balance Oprah, playing Palin and making sure your daughter's birthday party is perfect, in case you ever find yourself in that situation. One of my favorite chapters was her response to crazy hate mail (people are insane and mean)."
"Overall while the book is filled with funny bits and pieces, in its whole I found the book disappointing."
"I gave tina's book a solid 4 of 5 because I laughed a few times reading this book."
"Since Tina narrates, the book is fun to listen to."
"It's refreshing to read a book from a woman's perspective, especially from someone who worked hard from a middle class upbringing and fought her way to success. Her perspective on life demands a lot of respect and should be emulated."
"She goes over serious topics (working women, competing moms, female criticism) in a lighthearted way, reminiscent to the writing I've seen in Unbreakable Kimmy."
"But, this audio book is a huge treat for Tina Fey fans, especially if you loved "30 Rock" or SNL during the awesome Tina Fey Weekend Update eras (both with Jimmy Fallon & Amy Poehler)."
Best Biographies of Actors & Actresses
By renovating homes in Waco, Texas, and changing lives in such a winsome and engaging way, Chip and Joanna have become more than just the stars of Fixer Upper , they have become America’s new best friends. Even back then Chip was a serial entrepreneur who, among other things, ran a lawn care company, sold fireworks, and flipped houses. The time Chip ran to the grocery store and forgot to take their new, sleeping baby Joanna’s agonizing decision to close her dream business to focus on raising their children When Chip buys a houseboat, sight-unseen, and it turns out to be a leaky wreck Joanna’s breakthrough moment of discovering the secret to creating a beautiful home Harrowing stories of the financial ups and downs as an entrepreneurial couple Memories and photos from Chip and Jo’s wedding The significance of the word magnolia and why it permeates everything they do The way the couple pays the popularity of Fixer Upper forward, sharing the success with others, and bolstering the city of Waco along the way. CHIP AND JOANNA GAINES are the founders of Magnolia Homes, Magnolia Market, and Magnolia Realty in Waco, Texas.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"They have overcome adversity and have built a life full of love, family, talent, professionalism keeping their faith first and foremost."
"Great reading couldn't put it down made me smile,laugh and see some things in life we all go through similar."
"I have been a huge fan of Joanna and Chip right from the very first show."
"This is a must read for all Fixer Upper fans."
"I really didn't know much about Chip and Joanna, other than catching snippets of their nationally-broadcast show Fixer Upper, but now I feel that they're the type of next-door people that you would love to sit down and share a meal with and get to know. Toward the end of the book Joanna says teasingly how Chip is like the President of the United States - always running around shaking hands and kissing babies."
"Jo's sense of style and Chip's sense of humor make the show irresistible and makes me wish I lived in Waco, Texas so I can hire them fix up a house for me. I can honestly say, I had no idea what the hell shiplap was until I watched this show and apparently, Texas homes are loaded with it behind the walls."
"Chip and Joanna solved that problem magnificently - I always knew who was speaking which brought additional richness to the work. It is also a very encouraging book in a time when we all need that little boost to chase our dreams, but don't be deceived into believing all has been rose petals and blue skies."
"Loved, Loved, Loved this story."
Best Biographies of Actors & Entertainers
Put them together and you have the funniest, most heartfelt, and most inspirational memoir on survival, success, and the importance of believing in yourself since Old Yeller . Kevin Hart’s life uniquely qualifies him to write this book by also having a beginning. But Kevin Hart, like Ernest Hemingway, JK Rowling, and Chocolate Droppa before him, was able to defy the odds and turn it around. And that man happens to be the biggest comedian in the world, with tours that sell out football stadiums and films that have collectively grossed over $3.5 billion. His films, including Kevin Hart: What Now?
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"With a father who was a criminal with substance abuse problems and a mother who was basically raising him on her own in a tough Philadelphia neighborhood, Kevin could have been a bitter, resentful victim of the system. Don't get me wrong, this book is laugh out loud funny, but what kept me reading through the night were the amazing insights and the overwhelming sense of gratitude exuded by Mr. Hart."
"For starters, the writing in 'I Can't Make This Up' is impeccable, feels like conversation with Kevin Hart, himself. There were several instances throughout the early reading that I felt myself wishing that I could reach through a time portal and give that kid a hug. Likewise, I find it courageous and at times, unsettling that he chose to disclose his entire truth, including the ugly parts."
"a phenomenal job by Kevin Hart!"
"But I also care about the technicalities of writing because a good story can go terribly wrong if it is disorganized, under-thought, poorly written, rushed, you name it. I Can't Make This Up: Life Lessons delivered on every level for me. And finally, the story: thorough, interesting, free of indulgent self-flattery, brutally honest, raw (by "raw" I mean without frivolous embellishment--what you see is what you get), inspiring, and it may or may not go without saying: hysterically funny despite consistently challenging--even devastatiing--life circumstances. The example he sets in accepting his downfalls, righting his wrongs, transforming his approach to relationships and life, and moving forward with his "grind" with life lessons in tow is commendable."
"I would recommend this book if you want to know more about Kevin Hart or if you're looking for a well written book that is raw and real with a bit of self help lessons included."
Best Rich & Famous Biographies
By renovating homes in Waco, Texas, and changing lives in such a winsome and engaging way, Chip and Joanna have become more than just the stars of Fixer Upper , they have become America’s new best friends. Even back then Chip was a serial entrepreneur who, among other things, ran a lawn care company, sold fireworks, and flipped houses. Four children and countless renovations later, Joanna garners the attention of a television producer who notices her work on a blog one day. The time Chip ran to the grocery store and forgot to take their new, sleeping baby Joanna’s agonizing decision to close her dream business to focus on raising their children When Chip buys a houseboat, sight-unseen, and it turns out to be a leaky wreck Joanna’s breakthrough moment of discovering the secret to creating a beautiful home Harrowing stories of the financial ups and downs as an entrepreneurial couple Memories and photos from Chip and Jo’s wedding The significance of the word magnolia and why it permeates everything they do The way the couple pays the popularity of Fixer Upper forward, sharing the success with others, and bolstering the city of Waco along the way. Chip Gaines and his wife, Joanna Gaines, are co-founders and co-owners of Magnolia Homes, Magnolia Market, and Magnolia Realty in Waco, Texas.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"They have overcome adversity and have built a life full of love, family, talent, professionalism keeping their faith first and foremost."
"Great reading couldn't put it down made me smile,laugh and see some things in life we all go through similar."
"I have been a huge fan of Joanna and Chip right from the very first show."
"This is a must read for all Fixer Upper fans."
"I really didn't know much about Chip and Joanna, other than catching snippets of their nationally-broadcast show Fixer Upper, but now I feel that they're the type of next-door people that you would love to sit down and share a meal with and get to know. Toward the end of the book Joanna says teasingly how Chip is like the President of the United States - always running around shaking hands and kissing babies."
"Jo's sense of style and Chip's sense of humor make the show irresistible and makes me wish I lived in Waco, Texas so I can hire them fix up a house for me. I can honestly say, I had no idea what the hell shiplap was until I watched this show and apparently, Texas homes are loaded with it behind the walls."
"Chip and Joanna solved that problem magnificently - I always knew who was speaking which brought additional richness to the work. It is also a very encouraging book in a time when we all need that little boost to chase our dreams, but don't be deceived into believing all has been rose petals and blue skies."
"Loved, Loved, Loved this story."
Best Television
The dishiest read of the year.” – Janet Maslin, “Ten Favorite Books of the Year,” New York Times. “Here’s Johnny!” Probably everyone in America knows the phrase, whether they watched every episode of The Tonight Show or none because they had to go to bed early on school nights. Bushkin explains why Carson, a voracious (and very talented) womanizer, felt he always had to be married; why he couldn’t visit his son in the hospital and wouldn’t attend his mother’s funeral; and much more. Featured Photos of Johnny Carson Frank Sinatra and Johnny Carson during rehearsals for the 1981 Reagan Inaugural Gala. Carson, Bushkin says, “was endlessly witty and enormously fun to be around,” but he also could be “the nastiest son of a bitch on earth.” The text provides multiple examples of both sides of Carson’s Mr. Hyde personality, but, of course, it is the petulant, boozing, womanizing Johnny that will draw the most attention: throwing tantrums over perceived slights at Ronald Reagan’s inauguration, at having to wait for a suite at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, at Joan Rivers’ decision to launch a competing late-night show without first informing Carson, and, above all, at his mother’s refusal to acknowledge both Carson’s success and his lavish gifts to her (his mother’s coldness, Bushkin and many others believe, was at the root of Carson’s own iciness in personal relationships).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Perhaps the saddest Hollywood bio in recent memory, Henry Bushkin's "Johnny Carson" paints a vivid picture of a kind of genius savant. It is difficult to square our memories of the genial, gracious late-night star who chatted up tourists playing "Stump the Band" with Bushkin's portrait of the compulsive, drunken womanizer who nearly got himself rubbed out for trying to take a Mob figure's girl to bed. There's a searing view of Carson suffering at the hands of his cruel, critical Midwestern mother -- her refusal to express love or approval explains a lot of his pain and relationship failures. Not a word about Carson's comedic technique, the mannerisms he stole from Jack Benny and Fred Allen, or the day-to-day workings of the little universe he controlled, "The Tonight Show." He mimicked too many of Carson's self-destructive tendencies, divorcing his wife to gad about the south of France with Johnny with stars like Joyce DeWitt or Mary Hart on his arm, billing everything back to NBC. Fascinating and highly readable, "Johnny Carson" is not just a show business memoir but a Shakespearean tragedy: a Boswellian view of a tragic hero of our culture, a genius beloved by millions who made himself unlovable."
"This book shows the seamier side of Johnny's life as well as talks about his successes."
"Apparently Carson knew he could manipulate people with precisely those two levers. And he had a pitiful sense of entitlement, in part because his mother had denied him love. Still a good read for anyone who wants to understand the best late night talk show host who ever lived."
"The writer was Carson's lawyer, and my natural distrust of lawyers has led me to think that he might have been a little harsh on some of the people (Carson's last wife, for instance), while leaving himself smelling like a rose (for the most part)."
"As soon as I saw the author's name, I wondered if the book about Carson was by the man that Carson called him by, Bombastic Bushkin of Bevery Hills."
"Wanting to know what kind of man would put up with Johnny for all of these years was my main reason for getting it AND I thought there would be more on Doc and Ed but thats ok. Ed is only going to say nice things (RIP) and Docs mind Im sure is on other things. Well its a good read if you like Johnny Carson and want to know what the true man was like and what went on behind closed doors."