Born Standing Up

A Comic's Life

By: Steve Martin

Narrated by: Steve Martin

Length: 4 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

In the mid-70s, Steve Martin exploded onto the comedy scene. By 1978 he was the biggest concert draw in the history of stand-up. In 1981 he quit forever. Born Standing Up is, in his own words, the story of "why I did stand-up and why I walked away".

At age 10 Martin started his career at Disneyland, selling guidebooks in the newly opened theme park. In the decade that followed, he worked in the Disney magic shop and the Bird Cage Theatre at Knott's Berry Farm, performing his first magic/comedy act a dozen times a week. The story of these years, during which he practiced and honed his craft, is moving and revelatory.

Martin illuminates the sacrifice, discipline, and originality that made him an icon and informs his work to this day. To be this good, to perform so frequently, was isolating and lonely. It took Martin decades to reconnect with his parents and sister, and he tells that story with great tenderness. Martin also paints a portrait of his times: the era of free love and protests against the war in Vietnam, the heady irreverence of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in the late 60s, and the transformative new voice of Saturday Night Live in the 70s.

©2007 Steve Martin (P)2007 Simon and Schuster Inc.

Thank you Steve Martin

May you continue to enjoy just right.
May others enjoy your story as I did.
Your message of perseverance needs to be shared.

Best book ever

Steve Martin is a genious. I know because i am also genious. Geniouses always get each other. We should have a show together: I dream geniouses.

A Must-Buy Audiobook

If you could sum up Born Standing Up in three words, what would they be?

Honest, Sweet, Amusing.

What did you like best about this story?

The surprises and the honesty.

What about Steve Martin’s performance did you like?

He has a very pleasant and restful speaking voice. He came across as a really nice man (and was willing to talk about his own failings).

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

His references to his anxiety attacks and the difficult relationship with his father.

Any additional comments?

You won't regret buying it.

Beautifully performed

I'm a fan of Steve Martin's films but unfamiliar with him as a standup comedian so this was new territory for me. He carried me along and I enjoyed the ride tremendously till about the last half hour, where it seemed that he skipped lot, grew somewhat hardened and rushed to the end. I may have to give the last hour another listen to see if that impression remains. I respect his work enough to want this book to be good.

What a life, what a performance!

Where does Born Standing Up rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top listen in my Audible History

What other book might you compare Born Standing Up to and why?

Bossypants by Tina Fey. Both are autobiographical and contain some of their classic bits. Both have a drive for perfection in their comedy. Both have pursued comedy and performance their whole lives. They work hard on their comedy and it shows. Steve Martin seems much more original and hardcore. Tina is more of a collaborator, an improviser. Martin is a craftsman, honing and working on his comedy alone. He brings you into his mind, his cerebral process, taking your expectations and tweaking them. He talks about a comedian who had a visual cue that would let the audience know when to laugh. One of his jokes was so garbled it came across as gibberish. But he used his visual cue and he got a laugh. He takes this knowledge and structures one of his shows as all build up, but no release. He won't let the audience catch up on the joke because he doesn't do a visual or audible cue that lets you know when to laugh. So the audience is often laughing at something that happened minutes ago and he's moved on several jokes, so the laughter is coming in this weirdly structured stream. That's how cool he is, he can describe his process so accurately, that someone without any performance experience can get a thrill like he must have had. Him describing his fame how it snowballed, how it can make you incredibly lonely and isolated. How he was unfairly treated by the critics, how he worked his contracts, playing enormous crowds even though he was completely drained and unhappy.

Which character – as performed by Steve Martin – was your favorite?

Steve Martin. His standup, his inflections and his rhythm are perfect. He is a master comedian. To hear him describe a joke then tell it and it still remains funny... that's genius. I can't imagine anyone else doing his bits, that's how perfect his performance is. He also lets you in to his life in poignant touching ways. He's not maudlin or sappy, he has a matter of fact"ness" that comes across very genuine and honest.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, and I did. I may have dozed off in some parts, but I came back to them later in a second listen.

Any additional comments?

I wanted more. I know that's the adage of comedy and performance. Steve is a master, I wanted more of Steve's life and his recollections. I feel he has said all he wants to say on the subject, but I still want more. In one of his earlier shows, held in a classroom, there wasn't a backstage. So when he was finished, he packed up his stuff and told everyone to go home. They didn't. They followed him out of the hall, into the street and finally into an empty swimming pool, where he finally crowd surfed across them. I'm there, I'm in the swimming pool, waiting for just one more gag, one more story, one more of his famous lines, if he doesn't like it, well EXCUUUUUUSSEEE MEEEEE

Fabulous

This is a marvelous find for anyone who has ever been a Steve Martin fan; especially those that remember him from early on.

A must read for fans of Steve Martin

I really enjoyed hearing the human side of Steve Martin-his motivations/disdains/strengths/weaknesses. I actually like him even more now than I did before (& I have been a big fan since the 70's)...
This book kept me engrossed from beginning to end... highly recommended for anyone who considers themselves a Martin fan

Fabulous Book!

One of the best parts about an audio read book by the author is that you may have someone like Steve Martin do his ‘bits’ in the voice of the character. I love hearing him tell his story. I always considered him to be a sincerely lovely man and talented performer- that seem validated by this story told by him. I will re-listen over and over again.

Listened without stop. A fun yet insightful memoir

Excellent! Steve Martin displays more talents. Well written. Leaves you wanting more.
Funny but not silly. Surprisingly reflective.

Favorite Bio

This is a great story told by an exceptional human being. With his reading, this memoir is one of the best audiobooks I’ve listened to.