BORN STANDING UP by Steve Martin ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

(Original review written September 1, 2019)

Steve Martin. Comedian for humans, dogs, and clearly a man meant to write things.

I shouldn’t be surprised that after decades of stand-up, screenplays, and play-plays that Steve Martin is such an eloquent writer. Not that I’ve read a lot of autobiographies, but this has to be one of the best.

I’ve always enjoyed Steve Martin’s material and movies (most of it well in the past once I came around), but doing a further deep dive into his early material and Saturday Night Live appearances while reading along with his mindset at the time has brought a new appreciation for what he achieved. I honestly had no idea he was such a shock to the system, or more of a radical approach to comedy. Now I totally get why he blew up the way he did at a time when comedians hadn’t yet reached those kind of heights. It would probably be an understatement to say he had an affect on the landscape of stand-up comedy.

The exciting parts are the constant anecdotes about his slow rise and perfection of his comedy act, but some of the real shine comes from the introspection he has about his relationship with family, as well as celebrity. Sprinkling in chance encounters with classic American performers over the decades, and snapshots of the political/musical/generational makeup of the times, Steve ties together everything about what made him and his act the way they were so neatly. And then manages to jab in his signature humor throughout to remind you this is a comic’s autobiography.

This is a must-read -- a phrase I think sounds kind of cliché after finishing a book about an innovative comedian (maybe everything I say will feel like that now) -- for fans of Steve’s, fans of classic comedy specials and SNL, and fans of honest life-story-telling. And for fans of just general laughter, we can all rejoice that since this book came out, Steve has come out of stand-up retirement. I think the 35-year break was well-deserved.