Comedy Samurai

Forty Years of Blood, Guts, and Laughter

De: Larry Charles

Narrado por: Larry Charles

From Peabody, Golden Globe, and Emmy Award-winning writer and director Larry Charles, a rollicking journey through modern American comedy, as he shares behind-the-scenes stories from his life's work.

To tell Larry Charles's life story is to tell the story of modern American comedy. Over the last 40 years, few comedians have been a part of so many iconic, beloved projects. Larry was one of the original writers and producers on the first five seasons of Seinfeld, directed over 20 episodes each of Curb Your Enthusiasm and Entourage, and served as the showrunner for Mad About You. His film directing credits include Borat, Bruno, and The Dictator, Bill Maher’s Religulous, and Bob Dylan’s Masked and Anonymous.

In Comedy Samurai, Charles pulls back the curtain on the making of his successful projects, offering sharp, never-before-told anecdotes about Jerry Seinfeld, Sacha Baron Cohen, Bill Maher, Nic Cage, Mel Brooks, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, and Larry David, among many others.

Perfect for fans of Seinfeldia and lovers of comedy in general, Larry promises to offer new insights about many of the most beloved shows, films, and actors of all time.

©2025 Larry Charles (P)2025 Grand Central Publishing

Brutally honest

Larry Charles bares his soul and gives an excellent glimpse into the difficulties of writing and directing. Loved this book!

Pretty, Pretty, Pretty, Pretty, Pretty Good

Great stories and behind the scenes insights on some of the best comedy franchises of the last 40 years. Larry does a fine job narrating, as well. If you're into Seinfeld, Curb, Borat and/or Dylan give this a listen!

Great Comedy Journey

Larry Charles has been one of the great comic voices of the last 40 years. Writing, directing, producing. But it’s his brutal honesty that makes this so rewarding. I thoroughly enjoyed it and hope Larry will keep writing and directing great work from here on out.

Very Entertaining

Loved this memoir. The chapter about when he directed Borat was so cool. Highly recommend for any fan of Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Borat, etc.

A scary comic genius tell all worth a listen

If like me you only knew of Larry Charles as an original writer on Seinfeld prepare to learn a lot more about this oddball comic genius. As a writer, director, producer this wildly eccentric tv and movie genius is so much more than you might expect. He has a long list of credits well beyond Seinfeld including the works of Larry David, Borat, mad about you and more. He brings a most eccentric, outrageous, unexpected approach to all his work. On some shows the bearded unpredictable artist came through work every day in pajama’s. His story also covers the way he led an outrageous life. He married and had children but also had numerous affairs. He finally met the woman who became his second wife and over time his creative partner. This book takes you along on his roller coaster up and down successes and failures through the world of outrageous comedy and at times his even wilder life. His trip takes him from the hottest stages in Hollywood to comedy and artist around the globe. One series was to film the most dangerous comedy in the most dangerous places. Charles is a be of a kind and most Ella his story like few ever have. I loved this but ok and hope you will listen in amazement and with fascination as I did..

An interesting bummer.

Larry Charles is a great storyteller. I listened to this book because of his writing credits. He had some great stories about relationships with people I thought I admired, but as I suspected, Hollywood is all about money. This book is a great listen if you're a Seinfeld, Borat, Bob Dylan, or Larry David fan. Larry's narration of the book makes you feel like you're sitting at a coffee shop, conversing with him.

TMI

For a comedy guru,his autobiography is neither funny nor that interesting, given the big deal projects in which he’s been involved. His reading is sing-songy annoying and it comes across as a guy who’s full of himself with a “poor me” complex and he never fails to use the most complex words when a simple one would be more interesting. (“Verisimilitude appears repeatedly)
Put down the damn Roget Thesaurus for a minute,Larry!!

Not enjoyable listen

I only knew author for his involvement in Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm, so was looking forward to learning about him and hearing stories about his career. Found out I don't think I would like him even though he is obviously talented. Would be much more interested in reading a book by his former wife lol!

Stories yes, funny not much

It’s yet another man-child story of a guy who is next to the funniest people of the last 40 years. He is neither that funny nor at all interesting. He’s just next to the interesting people. Also, he keeps using zen Buddhist terms but, like everyone else in LA, has no idea what he is talking about and has literally no insight into his own behavior (although I’m sure he thinks he does). Kind of mediocre.