Even This I Get to Experience

By: Norman Lear

Narrated by: Norman Lear

Length: 18 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

The dynamic and always controversial television producer shares 50 years of show business and politics, with all the candor and wisdom expected from the creator of All in the Family

The legendary creator of iconic television programs All in the Family, Sanford and Son, Maude, Good Times, The Jeffersons, and Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, Norman Lear remade our television culture - while leading a life of unparalleled political, civic, and social involvement. Sharing the wealth of Lear's 90 years, Even This I Get to Experience is a memoir as touching and remarkable as the life he has led.

In the 1970s, Lear's comedies were viewed by 120 million people per week - yes, 120 million - with stories that reflected the most serious issues of their lives and still left them howling. But before this, Lear led a charmed life throughout postwar Hollywood's golden years, befriending the likes of Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks; writing and directing Frank Sinatra, Robert Redford, Dick Van Dyke, and Martha Raye; becoming the highest paid comic writer in the country while working for Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin. Not to mention, Lear flew some 50 bombing missions over Germany with the 15th Air Force.

Shamelessly in love with the country the Founding Fathers laid out for him while his own father was serving time, Lear won the first American Legion Oratorical Contest speaking about the Constitution. He later founded People For the American Way, a national organization to protect the civil rights and liberties of us all, and bought an original copy of the Declaration of Independence, printed the night of July 4, 1776, not to hang on a wall in his home, but to travel across the country to schools, and libraries, and public institutions to be shared with citizens everywhere.

©2014 Even This, LLC (P)2014 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"[Lear's] pacing and timing are excellent as he keeps the material fresh, his tone reflecting his memories as he recounts them." ( AudioFile)

Great journey with a great writer

Loved the stories about all the shows I grew up with written by a great storyteller.

ICONIC NORM LEAR

Would you listen to Even This I Get to Experience again? Why?

Yes.
So many of the changes of the human condition during the 60's,70's, and 80" are played out on TV sitcoms, made iconic because they were developed and written by Norman Lear.

What did you like best about this story?

Norman Lear narrating the book and how he came up with the concepts of the shows

What does Norman Lear bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Norman Lear brings himself, wide open and vulnerable.

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

It made me do both, laugh and cry

Any additional comments?

LOVED IT! LOVED IT! Will read it again

Great peek behind the scenes

This was a good book, no surprise as Lear is a fantastic storyteller. Getting the perk behind the scenes is a real treat.

Facinating

An interesting life recounted with wit and wisdom which serve to add, not override, the story. Delightfully entertaining and enriching.
My thanks to Mr Lear for his perseverance.

Thank you Norman!

Truly enjoyed this presentation. What a life he has lived and how fortunate are we that he fought for his shows. We are better for his work.

What a beautiful memoir

Thank you, Norman Lear, for an honest, poignant depiction of your life. I am thankful for your longevity. I have loved your productions and I have to say after hearing this book, I love you.

Meaningful Read

Excellent! Lear writes his own fascinating long life as good as he's written on all of his projects. Loved it!

An absolute gem!

What a life, and what a human being. We are blessed that Norman Lear shares so much with us. Experience it if you have any small interest in humanity and in particular the storytelling arts.

I could listen to it again!

Norman is a true story teller and I was sad when it ended. What a life.

Don't miss this book! Living history!

I appreciate the time that Normal Lear took to chronicle his oh-so-busy life! This tells American history through our 70's sitcoms that he wrote. For me, it is MY history as remembered through watching tv when I was a kid. Also, it is American history since he weaves his professional and personal history into the stories of creating sitcoms that defined America.

I learned more from Normal Lear than I ever did from my own dad or grandfathers about those times that I lived in.
This book is nostalgic and heart-warming to me; he opens his heart to tell of his trials and accomplishments. What a creative and vibrant man he still is at almost 100 :) Thank you, Mr. Lear, for your detailed accounts of our shared history that entertained me and filled in blanks for me by how you synthesized so many memories of yours with the history of our country's pop culture. You are truly an American icon whose creative endeavors define an era.