How I Slept My Way to the Middle

Secrets and Stories from Stage, Screen, and Interwebs

By: Kevin Pollak, Alan Goldsher

Narrated by: Kevin Pollak

Length: 8 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

Audie Award Finalist, Humor, 2014

Kevin Pollak rose through the comedy club ranks at the feet of Don Rickles and Bill Cosby, Johnny Carson, and George Carlin. Named one of Comedy Central’s Top 100 Stand-Up Comedians of All Time, he’s a killer impressionist - Falk, Shatner, Walken, Nicholson - a versatile actor with one of the most respected filmographies around, and an Internet pioneer. He’s done it all, and now he’s ready to spill the beans.

Ballsy, hilarious, and revealing, How I Slept My Way to the Middle winningly combines never-before-heard stories featuring A-list entertainers with fan favorites and Kevin’s own thoughts about how he made it. He turned down his first invitation to do stand-up on The Tonight Show because he knew that he’d make a bigger splash if he sat on the couch next to Johnny. That huge risk - which paid off in spades - was just the beginning. Find out how he brought John Belushi to his knees, tortured Paul Reiser (twice), bamboozled Larry King, stole Alan Arkin’s soul, almost killed Warren Beatty, and sucked face with Robert De Niro’s girlfriend. Now a new media entrepreneur, Kevin is laughing proof that if you follow your gut and believe in yourself, you can do anything you want - except have a rational conversation with Rip Torn, who’s an evil, paranoid $#!%.

©2012 Kevin Pollak (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Great read

I loved that he narrated. I've always been a fan but I'm a bigger fan now. So smart and talented.

Loved it!

I love that you had the balls to call people out. It's a difficult business. My son is in it. Barely a working actor. Anyway, love your humor love your storytelling. Really had fun with the book. You are awesome.

An Amazing Career with Amazing Stories

Since the late 80s or early 90s, I have been a fan of Kevin Pollak the comedian after I first saw his comedy special wherein the entire crew of the USS Enterpe was replaced with the likes of Christopher Lloyd and Dudley Moore. In 92, I was witness to his considerable acting chops in "A Few Good Men." I have yet to see " Avalon", and Pollak rightfully scolds me for not having watched it yet in this memoir.
Throughout the years, KP has built a career being a reliable character actor who improves any and all projects he's involved in. His stories in this book are amazing and amusing. They are brought to life, as only be can, with his astonishing impressions and talent as a natural story teller given his background as a stand-up.
There are a few times here and there when he pays himself on the back, but the guy has earned it. He has worked hard and taken risks that have gotten where he is today. I definitely recommend this book.

Pollak reading this is the ONLY way to read this

Hilarious and interesting! Basically Kevin Pollak. it will make you want to brush off some older comedy shows and movies. Highly recommend!!!

One of the best!

I have listened to many audiobooks, and I mean a lot! I listen to them at home, in my car, and at work. I especially love the autobiographies of comedians the best. I have, however, listened to some that were, shall we say, less than was expected. Steve Martins is an example. But Kevin Pollak kept me listening for the entire three days I listened to it. I could not stop. I love that he is funny and engaging, doesn't get sentimental, and goes into detail about his works in movies. I listen to Mathew Perry's book, coming away feeling sorry for the guy, but Kevin is just fun, especially with the voices of my favorite stars. It felt as though they were there doing their parts. You have to hear this book; it's fantastic; I guess I better stop now; I am writing a book about a book.

I loved this book!

Kevin does a great job on telling some of his stories from his career. and it is really quite amazing how he has accomplished all that he has; from lip syncing to Bill Cosby to his Columbo impression, and off he goes. His stories are funny and sweet, and he only tells stories about those he really respects (mostly) and it shows. It was a wonderful book and I did not want to put it down -- and was sad to reach the end. If you enjoy celebrity name dropping books and stories about stars, you will enjoy this book.

Excellent Book!!!

Kevin Pollak is so funny, and this book is everything I wanted it to be! The path he took to get where he is today is such a delightful and amazing story, and I loved every second of it!

Fan-frickin-tastic!

I loved this book. The audio version is wonderful. He is an American treasure! I have listened to it multiple times and I highly recommend it!

Sometimes Funny - Sometimes NOT ...

Where does How I Slept My Way to the Middle rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

i would have to say that this book ranks in the middle of what i've listened to on Audible so far. Not quite as bad as Neil Patrick Harris' Choose Your Own Autobiography or Chelsea Handler's Horizontal Life but definitely not as good as Jon Cryer's So That Happened.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The most interesting aspects of the book are the stories about some of the movies that Kevin has been in - how he got them and some of the shenanigans that he got into with his co-stars. The least interesting would be just how often he would drop the F-Bombs. At times they were well placed but most times they were just inappropriate. There were also times when some of the things he was saying was somewhat mean.

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

Kevin Pollack is famous for his impressions. The audiobook provides him the avenue to give us a sample of some of his impressions. Most times he is bang on - Peter Falk, Alan Arkin, Johnny Carson and Christopher Walken. However, there were voices where visual aids might have helped in the impression - DeNiro and Shatner to name a few.

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

The stories around how he landed and filmed A Few Good Men stand out in the book. Hoe in awe he was of Nicholson's effortless acting and how driven Tom Cruise was. Then there were also the stories about the antics that they got into while filming The Whole 9 Yards - Club Willis. Classic.

Any additional comments?

Kevin Pollack is not necessarily one of my favorite actors or comedians although i respect his talent and his performances in several of the films he has been in. Listening to his book - neither added nor diminished my respect for him but i do appreciate the stories that he shared.
My "take-away" from this book - Kevin worked his a** off to get to where he is and he deserves all the success he has had to date.

Absolutely hilarious.

This book will give you a whole new appreciation of Kevin Pollack....even if you already thought he was awesome.