Comedy at the Edge

How Stand-up in the 1970s Changed America

By: Richard Zoglin

Narrated by: Bob Benson

Length: 10 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

What Peter Biskind did for filmmaking, Richard Zoglin does for comedy in this meticulously researched and eminently readable account of stand-up comedy in the 1970s, when a small group of brilliant, iconoclastic comedians ruled the world and quite possibly changed it, too.

©2009 Richard Zoglin (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Although some subjects (Steve Martin, Mel Brooks, David Letterman) were initially reluctant to be interviewed, Zoglin's conversations with numerous top talents enabled him to add fresh quotations to his extensive research through books, magazines and liner notes. Always highlighting how these comics transformed the culture, Zoglin on standup is standout." (Publishers Weekly)

"Zoglin does a good job telling the story of the rise of the comedy club, from its humble beginnings in a seedy New York dive called the Improv, to its growing influence in supplying talent for TV and film and the boom that filled American towns and cities with Seinfeld wannabes." (Weekly Standard)

"The stand-ups are the warriors of show business, and Richard Zoglin has brilliantly captured their funny and often desperate world." (Charles Grodin)

great look at the history of trend setters.

great look at the history of trend setters. georgee Carlin is my hero to yo.

Doesn't cover all of the 70's but still good

It is a daunting task to write a book about all of the comedians in the 70's. The author is biased on a couple and spends most of his time on them while ignoring others, but that doesn't mean its not a good read/listen. As for some that were mentioned it is debatable whether they could be considered "in the 70s". But it was still a very good book detailing the beginnings of some of the great comedians. It laid out a part of their career I was not aware of (because it was before my time) which made for very good material. I thought the narrator was very good. He also had a daunting task of narrating a book and actually performing some of the comedian's lines as they would have delivered them. In some cases I smiled more at the narrator's ability to deliver one-liners of black comedians than the actual one-liners themselves.

Great Listen

What made the experience of listening to Comedy at the Edge the most enjoyable?

hearing old routines of famous comics.

What did you like best about this story?

The great variety of standup comics in their respective eras.

Have you listened to any of Bob Benson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This was my first experience.

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

Many good laughs

Any additional comments?

No. Just glad I bought it.

100 percent truth!

If you always wondered "What is Scientology" than this is the audible for you. very precise detailed exciting account of Scientology. I was a Los Angeles member in 1997 to 2007. My uncle is John Travolta and I joined on my own out of curiosity. I was not given any special treatment because I was a OT's relative. I quit and bought an anti-scientology book but not did not get to finish it. I was a victim of Operation Freak Out where you are framed for something you did not do, then you run to a county psyche ward and they label you schizophrenic so nobody believes you. After I got out of the hospital I was given the FAIR GAME treatment. Which is to destroy and isolate you until you kill yourself. If you want a good scare and a good comedy all in one this is the one for you. It's long but it's worth it. Everything in this audible I have seen first hand. I wish this audio was around before i joined.

Stentorian Narrator sucks the life out of this one

The book's content is fine; it's a little academic and dry given the personalities involved. The narrator really killed this for me - his voice and style are very "Older Corporate White Guy," which makes the book feel like your'e stuck in a never-ending meeting. It's stentorian, authoritative, yet somehow still dry, humorless, and almost marmish. The final straw is the copious use of n-words and the author doing "black voices," especially in the Richard Pryor chapter. YIKES.