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)

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 very funny book!

I love Maron's writing. This book is very creative. He os down to earth and human. Highly recommemded.

Dysfunctional Masterpiece

Loved it! Thank you for narrating Marc, only you could pull off your own loathing tone. Now I have to pull out my, "emotional abacus" and tally my own internal scars.

Genius

Loved it! I think it was a better experiencie as an audiobook because you get the whole Marc Maron experience, jewishness and all. Awesome!

Pure Fun

Incredibly funny, fast paced and filled with heart. The performance of Marc adds a lot to the feeling and fun of the story. It was a really pleasure to listen to.

A fantastic piece of writing

Marc Maron totally hit it out of the park with this book. With the precise use of words worthy of an iconic beat poet, you'll enjoy every minute of it.

So good. Will make you like Marc even more.

I rarely do this, but it was so good I’ll prob listen to it a 2nd time.

Thank you Marc

Love this book just like this man comedy. He shares so much and makes you feel like you can accomplish what you want even if you are your worst enemy.

Boomer Lives!

Marc, you really are a genius. Maron is one of my all time favorite shows, so I'm not at all surprised that this book is great too.