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

A superlative memoir of a brilliant and adventurous career.

I can’t think of a show business memoir I have ever read that is as fascinating and honest and eye-opening as this one. And harrowing — Larry Charles has not only done amazing work in his career, he has repeatedly pushed himself to the limit of pain and endurance and risk. His stories are harrowing and fascinating and often hilarious. He should get an award for sheer guts for the situations he has put himself in. And this memoir spares no one, not even himself. He praises and criticizes with equal clear-eyed honesty. I can’t recommend this book highly enough. And he reads it well - definitely listen rather than read.

LC brings the funny

Larry gives great insight on comedy and his career journey. Even moments of sadness paint a life of happiness and risk taking.

Larry’s Revenge …Ewe

I was looking forward to learning what Larry Charles’ long history of work was like.

The first half was “okay”. But it turned into a revenge book when he got into his work with SBC. I felt like he’s been waiting for years to slam him publicly to try to make himself look better. It seemed “extra” and made Larry look like an “a$$”

Also he took stabs at actors like Robert Redford, saying he had “work done” when there’s no credible evidence like it’s some juicy celebrity gossip. First who cares, and it’s not your story to tell Larry.

Considering his indefinitely and indulgence of his own bad behavior, he has no freeness of speech about what others did.

I actually gave up on this when I had 2 hours to go. He’s just not a nice guy who thinks he’s special.

Essential Insight from one of the few people left that cares about making Art

Incredible stories behind making his classic comedic contributions, and horrifying anecdotes about how the machinations of budgets and fame make decent entertainment nearly impossible in the US.

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!

Larry Charles’s Comedic Brilliance Goes Haywire!

When I began listening to Larry Charles autobiographical story, I was entranced by his youthful passion and the journey that led him to become an integral part of the early Seinfeld episodes. As one of tve millions of Seinfeld fans, Larry Charles offers some facinating nuggets that are quite enlightening and entertaining. However, as the book progresses there’s a theme that becomes jarring as Charles begins to have grievances with virtually everyone he works with and the book becomes his tool to slam and complain about these people. Many gifted and successful actors, writers and celebrities have difficulty accepting editors suggestions and I thinknthis woukd have been a wonderful book and deserving of Five Stars had it been cleaned up with the animosity removed.

Not for me sadly

I wanted to like this more, but I should have considered the fact that I’ve not ever been a fan of most of the type of comedy being chronicled.

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.

A passive aggressive look at a writers opinion of himself.

It was an interesting long long look at 40 years of a passive aggressive insecure comedy writer.

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.