• My Mother Was Nuts

  • A Memoir
  • By: Penny Marshall
  • Narrated by: Penny Marshall
  • Length: 8 hrs and 30 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (3,469 ratings)

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My Mother Was Nuts  By  cover art

My Mother Was Nuts

By: Penny Marshall
Narrated by: Penny Marshall
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Publisher's summary

Most people know Penny Marshall as the director of Big and A League of Their Own. What they don’t know is her trailblazing career was a happy accident. In this funny and intimate memoir, Penny takes us from the stage of The Jackie Gleason Show in 1955 to Hollywood’s star-studded sets, offering up some hilarious detours along the way.

My Mother Was Nuts is an intimate backstage pass to Penny’s personal life, her breakout role on The Odd Couple, her exploits with Cindy Williams and John Belushi, and her travels across Europe with Art Garfunkel on the back of a motorcycle. We see Penny get married. And divorced. And married again (the second time to Rob Reiner). We meet a young Carrie Fisher, whose close friendship with Penny has spanned decades. And we see Penny at work with Tom Hanks, Mark Wahlberg, Whoopi Goldberg, Robert De Niro, and Whitney Houston.

Throughout it all, from her childhood spent tap dancing in the Bronx, to her rise as the star of Laverne & Shirley, Penny lived by simple rules: “try hard, help your friends, don’t get too crazy, and have fun.” With humor and heart, My Mother Was Nuts reveals there’s no one else quite like Penny Marshall.

©2012 Penny Marshall (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“There's as much practical, hard-won advice here as there is Hollywood gossip, and Marshall's boundless energy and no-nonsense attitude make for a fun read.” (Publishers Weekly)

“Hollywood aficionados will get a kick out of Marshall’s anecdotes about her circle of friends, including Albert Brooks, John Belushi, and Carrie Fisher, all told in a funny, down-to-earth manner.” (Booklist)

“Penny Marshall is a fascinating woman who has lived a life few of us could survive. Did you know she gave me two of the best jobs I’ve ever had? Of course not, because when she talks she is barely comprehensible. Read her memoir and you’ll come to love her as much as I do.” (Tom Hanks)

What listeners say about My Mother Was Nuts

Average customer ratings
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always a Penny Marshall fan

always a penny Marshall fan from her early's days as Laverne and Shirley to all the great movies she directed, produced and starred in! A shame she was taken way to soon!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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L

I thoroughly enjoyed this memoir. I learned so much about Penny Marshall, she knew everyone and was a friend to so many people. I thought the narration was a little different but authentic. I got used to the accent and the pace immediately. I recommend it to anyone who grew up in the 70's and 80's.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

The book didn’t fully load and I can not finish it

Enjoyed what played but the entire book didn’t load I’ve tried and tried but not successful

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Great Book

The book makes you feel like you were living with Penny through her life stories.
She was so connected and funny.

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Great listen!

I loved this. I always liked Penny and I knew how accomplished she was. It has been so enjoyable listening to her stories. It makes me sad to think I listened to this after her death. I would have enjoyed following her career much more had I read this before her passing. Finishing this, makes me feel like I lost a friend.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Good complement to her brother Garry's book.

I listened to this right after listening to her brother Garry's book. There is not much repetition so feel free to check out his if you haven't. Like Garry's book, it flows chronologically. The title is a little misleading because there isn't really a theme throughout the book involving her mother. Penny had her issues with her and works out a fair amount of problems she had with her father also. Throughout the book, however is a constant refrain of namedroppong throughout the book. Penny admits to it and explains that she was lucky enough to have met and maintained a lot of friendships and working relationships because of her brother's connections as a tv producer and from her own career. Her audio performance in the book is a little lacking. It is obvious she is just reading out loud without a lot of expression. Not nearly as many funny stories as I hoped but it was still a pleasant experience.

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Incredible Read

If you love Penny Marshall you’ll love her even more after listening to this book. She brings so many alive and closer to the heart hearing her stories experiences for so many we know via TV and movies. Man oh man there’s a lot of love loyalty and FUNNY

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Maybe it’s my age…

It was entertaining hearing Penny recount her journey from childhood to stardom and philanthropist. She gave a number of people career stepping stones and rooted for them for the rest of their careers. Not to mention the friends she lost in a challenging world.

The book started a bit slow but it pulled me in. My guess if the book would have been half the size had she not shared everyone’s name, but let’s face it that is part of the reason we listen to celebrities and their books.

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everyone's friend

interesting story of life in a time when Hollywood was fun but they still worked hard. she must have been the glue that bonded so many together. those that pick up the phone and call anyone they want, for anything, at any time are some of the most connected people I've known and she is as well for that reason

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So much fun!

I loved every word,reminded me that celebritiesare human. ! I will recommend and share.

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