Attempting Normal

By: Marc Maron

Narrated by: Marc Maron

Length: 5 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

NATIONAL BESTSELLER

People make a mess.

Marc Maron was a parent-scarred, angst-filled, drug-dabbling, love-starved comedian who dreamed of a simple life: a wife, a home, a sitcom to call his own. But instead he woke up one day to find himself fired from his radio job, surrounded by feral cats, and emotionally and financially annihilated by a divorce from a woman he thought he loved. He tried to heal his broken heart through whatever means he could find—minor-league hoarding, Viagra addiction, accidental racial profiling, cat fancying, flying airplanes with his mind—but nothing seemed to work. It was only when he was stripped down to nothing that he found his way back.

Attempting Normal is Marc Maron’s journey through the wilderness of his own mind, a collection of explosively, painfully, addictively funny stories that add up to a moving tale of hope and hopelessness, of failing, flailing, and finding a way. From standup to television to his outrageously popular podcast, WTF with Marc Maron, Marc has always been a genuine original, a disarmingly honest, intensely smart, brutally open comic who finds wisdom in the strangest places. This is his story of the winding, potholed road from madness and obsession and failure to something like normal, the thrillingly comic journey of a sympathetic f***up who’s trying really hard to do better without making a bigger mess. Most of us will relate.

Praise for Attempting Normal

“I laughed so hard reading this book.”—David Sedaris

“Funny . . . surprisingly deep . . . laced with revelatory insights.”—Los Angeles Times

“Superb . . . A reason that [it] is a superior example of an overcrowded genre—the comedian memoir—is Mr. Maron’s hardheaded approach to his history, the wisdom of experience.”—The New York Times

“Marc Maron is a legend because he is both a great comic and a brilliant mind. Attempting Normal is a deep, hilarious megashot of feeling and truth as only this man can administer.”—Sam Lipsyte

Praise for Marc Maron and WTF

“The stuff of comedy legend.”—Rolling Stone

“Marc Maron is a startlingly honest, compelling, and hilarious comedian-poet. Truly one of the greatest of all time.”—Louis C.K.

“I’ve known Marc for years and I can tell you first hand that he’s passionate, fearless, honest, self-absorbed, neurotic, and screamingly funny.”—David Cross

“Revered among his peers . . . raw and unflinchingly honest.”—Entertainment Weekly

“Devastatingly funny.”—Los Angeles Times

“For a comedy nerd, this show is nirvana.”—Judd Apatow

©2013 Random House Audio (P)2013 Marc Maron

Critic reviews

“Funny . . . surprisingly deep . . . laced with revelatory insights.” (Los Angeles Times)

“Superb . . . A reason that [it] is a superior example of an overcrowded genre—the comedian memoir—is Mr. Maron’s hardheaded approach to his history, the wisdom of experience.” (The New York Times)

meant to be heard

this book was meant to be heard, not read. Maron's performance on the audiobook makes you feel as though you are sitting across the table hearing his deeply personal life story.

Thanks, Marc!

Really! From the bottom, middle and top of my heart, I say, "thank you!" You nailed it!

Wow

Marc Maron has a way with words that feels unmatched. I've always gravitated towards him as a comic and after finishing this book it's no wonder why.

Like Mark, not so much the book

I like Mark and his podcast but I hoped that he would talk more about his inner conflict or childhood upbringing. I couldn't relate to the book

Funny and insightful stories

This book was much better than I expected! I am a fan of the WTF podcast and have seen Maron live, but I wasn't sure if his shtick would come across as well in a book. Having just finished Attempting Normal, I now think that books probably showcase his humor even better than the podcast. I'm not sure if this would be as entertaining to those who weren't already on the Maron train, but I'd like to think that anyone who enjoys relatable comedians will appreciate this book.

A sad, funny man

I'm sure this book will polarise listeners / readers. If you have your life all together, then you will most likely thoroughly dislike this needy, self centred and often pathetic man, and hate the book. If however, you have you own special basket of issues you wrestle with on a daily basis, chances are you will warm to and be charmed by this needy, self centred and often pathetic man, and love the book.
I loved the book - its one of the best I've heard on audible. Laugh out loud funny in places.

Authentic, Thought-provoking and Funny

Attempting Normal was a great listen. It got me thinking about my place in the world. Maron's description of his struggles and triumphs is really inspiring.

I love Marc

So much he says sounds like stuff going on in my head. I bet we would be good friends. I've already been into his stand ups and podcasts so this was just more of what I knew and I throughly enjoyed it. not for everyone I'm sure but thats just his style.

Everything I did and didn't wanna know

I've become kind of obsessed with comedian's life tales. I love Marc Maron. I always thought of him as my spirit animal... but now not so much. I still love him though and this story of his life is humbling, humanizing, and wonderfully told with great energy.

yes

amazing... Marc to a C... perfect
do it now be selfish and share
wonderful
awesome
as promised
1 2 3
do it now, is this 15 words?