Professional Idiot

A Memoir

By: Stephen "Steve-O" Glover, David Peisner

Narrated by: Stephen "Steve-O" Glover, Stu Sone

Length: 10 hrs

Publisher's summary

Fame can be addictive. From his early days videotaping crazy skateboard stunts to starring in the blockbuster Jackass franchise, there was little that Stephen “Steve-O” Glover wouldn’t do for attention. Whether it was stapling his nutsack to his leg, diving into a pool full of elephant crap, or routinely risking death invading the private lives of sharks, lions, tigers, and bears, almost nothing was out of bounds.

As the stunts got crazier, his life kept pace. He developed a crippling addiction to drugs and alcohol, and an obsession with his own celebrity that proved nearly as dangerous.

Steve-O has been a man in search of a spotlight practically since birth. Growing up all over the world, thanks to his father’s career as a corporate executive, he was the kid who’d drink handfuls of salt in order to make friends. After he stole a video camera from his dad as a teenager, his future path was more or less sealed. Footage of himself skateboarding soon gave way to footage of himself setting his hair on fire or doing back flips off apartment buildings into shallow pools. After detours to several hospitals, a couple of jails, and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College, he landed, quite naturally, on MTV’s Jackass, in 2000.

He took to fame like it was the very thing missing from his life, but it was never enough. He filled the void with booze and drugs, and soon began treating his entire life like it was one big—and supremely risky—stunt.

In 2008, Steve-O holed up in his West Hollywood apartment, where he drank, snorted, smoked, huffed, and swallowed drugs around the clock—and began broadcasting his downward spiral on the Internet. Finally, his Jackass comrade, Johnny Knoxville, and seven other friends staged an intervention and forced him into a psychiatric ward against his will, ultimately saving his life. Today he has been clean and sober for more than three years.

Professional Idiot recounts the lunacy, the debauchery, the stunts, the drug addiction and the path to recovery and redemption with the same bravado and humor that have endeared Steve-O to so many. Hilarious, harrowing, and inspiring all at once, Professional Idiot will entertain those who’ve been with him on his many wild rides, as well as surprise and intrigue those who know him only as the guy willing to do anything—no matter how painful—for a laugh.

©2011 Ballbag, Inc. f/s/o Stephen Glover. (P)2011 Hyperion

Tough but good story

It’s not an easy listen but Steve-O’s honesty is refreshing and engaging. My only tiny complaint is that I wanted Steve-O to do the recording. Nothing against Stu Stone, I just would have liked to hear it in the author’s voice. Overall I enjoyed learning more about this complicated person. The world is rooting for you, Steve!

Rad

It is totally rad, dude! Only complaint is that Steve-O did not read the entire thing.

Loved it but didn't realize SteveO barely narrated

Really enjoyed the story. Jarring to hear a new narrator after 1 or 2 chapters.

Loved it.

At some points hard to read, but an incredible story of intense addiction and recovery.

Gripping and interesting!

As a fan of Steve-O, its great to get the details of his journey and see where he's come from. His journey is very inspirational, and he doesn't hold back! He's very open and descriptive about his mistakes and what he's done to fix them (tw because it includes substance addiction). only disappointing thing was that Steve-O doesn't read all of it, someone else takes over but it's understandable because he was going on tour. The readers were still great.

Surprisingly Inspirational

If you could sum up Professional Idiot in three words, what would they be?

Inspiring. Resiliant. Surprising.

Who was your favorite character and why?

(other than Steve Glover) Johnny Knoxville. He just came across as someone Steve really looks up to and an all around class act.

Which character – as performed by Stephen "Steve-O" Glover and Stu Sone – was your favorite?

He only voiced his own.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me want to bungee jump off bridges (If you listen you'll know why).

Any additional comments?

I've seen maybe one episode of Jackass, and I didn't watch or read any of the press about Steve-o, so I was probably more surprised by most of the book than others would have been. I don't want to say it's basically a recovery book, because its not basically any one thing, but being a recovering addict is a huge part of the book.

Steveo is basically a hyperactive entertainer, who was a performer and professional clown before being drafted into Jackass. He viewed drugs as another way to up the ante, and because of his really amazing immune system, he was able to do a lot more than most people could handle. That's the ride "up" so to speak.

The ride "down" (or up, depending on how you view it), begins with the end of jackass, the alienation of his family, and the spiraling of his drug use. His friends intervene on him, and after many months in rehab, he really does decide to change his path. The book is written once he is clean, and when talking about the past you can feel the regret and shame in his voice (Steve avoided his mother to some degree when she was dying a slow death).

One thing is, a few hours in Steveo says that he is going to stop narrating at that point and someone else is going to take over. I was like- wth, if he isn't even interested in his own story, why should I be. It is later explained that he didn't want to "relive" the drug years because he is new to recovery and it is too painful for him to talk about. Which is understandable. But wierdly enough, it seems like after like 20 mins, he resumes reading for the rest of the book. I was confused, but glad to have his voice back.

Very interesting, no idea who Steve-O even was

before reading. Now I can confirm he is pretttyyyy cool. I even gained a technique to get over fear injury while preforming physical stuff.

Where did Steve-O go?

As a fan of Sir double back I knew a lot of his drug fueled experiences. However was pleasantly shocked to hear shit even Steve held back being the attention whore he so proudly proclaims to be.Did he bone Paris Hilton? Iron Mike and Phsyc ward etiquette? A neighbor who is probably post traumatic? Peruvian dogs and killer whales?Dude Steve-O proves if you're gonna be dumb you gotta be tough!

Good Stuff

Good stuff. Crazy kid has had one hell of a wild ride. Stay sober and keep rockin Steve-O!

honesty and detail

Great book and listen. pretty neat to get the insight of a bunch of jackasses( hahahha). much respect to all involved and thanks for sharing your story...