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.

Critic reviews

2008 Grammy Nominee, Best Spoken Word Album

"Absolutely magnificent. One of the best books about comedy and being a comedian ever written." (Jerry Seinfeld)

excellent narrative and story

Steve Martin is enormously talented. not only witty and funny but interesting and insightful. love his acting and movies as well as his humor. thoroughly enjoyed his book

This book will still be standing as time moves on.

Truly a legendary man. His hilarious behaviors and comedic style are unique. His story is an interesting one, his reading of the book is smooth as butter. A very good thing to binge. I highly recommend this!

Fascinating!

Fascinating & disturbing insight into the mind of a comedian. Read by the comedian himself. More please!

very very good

this is not an autobiography and this is the first thing he explains
this is about his
art and his life in it.

So good to hear Steve Martin himself!

Since so much of the story includes lines from his acts, and songs even, hearing Steve Martin deliver the lines himself was great. there's no way I could have had that delivery in my own head's voice. Totally recommend the Audible version of this book.

You Won't Be Disappointed

What did you love best about Born Standing Up?

I was pleasantly surprised to hear how intelligent and well read Steve Martin is. I've always known he was smart, but his public goofy persona doesn't do his real life personality justice!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Born Standing Up?

Just how long it took him to get famous, and how quickly it took his fame to overcome his life.

Which scene was your favorite?

Probably when he was in the classroom performing at a college and he couldn't end the performance because there was no backstage or way out, so all the students just kept watching him even though the performance was over.

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

Yep! And I did, one day as I did yard work.

Any additional comments?

Listening to how his brand of comedy came to be is something that was captivating. Very interesting!!

One of the greats tells his story

One of the great comedians of all time tells his own story. The fact that he narrates it himself is such a treat.

So entertaining

I thoroughly enjoyed Steve essentially reenacting old bits. Overall it was a better experience due to the added experience of essentially going through all of this with Steve.

Treat

What a delight. For someone that grew up w Steve Martin records, but having just missed his stand up years, this was completely absorbing. Thanks for sharing your memories and conjuring up my own.

A pensive, funny, insightful, yet melancholy memoir

I don’t remember purchasing this book, but it must’ve been many years ago because I found it in the depths of my audible library. I’m not sure what I hoped to get out of it, perhaps some laughter and anecdotes about Steve’s life. But I got much more than that.

The person who I perceived was a very driven creator, on a mission to heal childhood wounds that he didn’t resolve (at least partially) until his standup career was over. Although many of the stories he told occurred before I was born, I could relate to the humanity of his experience. In a way, he dismantled the mirage of Show Business and distilled it into the humdrum of every day life. And loneliness.

I was surprised that he didn’t talk more about his relationship with his wife or how they met. From the book, I’m not even sure if he had any children of his own. But it was an interesting peek behind the scenes at a God-like career and the combination of grit, persistence, time, and connections required to get your “big break.” But also a reminder that the journey is more significant than the destination. And emotions and stories are timeless.

I came away from the book feeling grounded and grateful for my own life. And inspired to maintain close relationships with my family members.