I'm Not a Terrorist, But I've Played One On TV

Memoirs of a Middle Eastern Funny Man

By: Maz Jobrani

Narrated by: Maz Jobrani

“A funny, insightful memoir” (Kirkus Reviews) about growing up Iranian in America, and the quest to make it as an actor in Hollywood without having to wear a turban, tote a bomb, or get kicked in the face by Chuck Norris.

After he emigrated with his family to the US during the Iranian Revolution, Maz Jobrani spent most of his youth trying to fit in with his adopted culture—learning to play baseball and religiously watching Dallas. But none of his attempts at assimilation made a difference to casting directors, who only auditioned him for the role of kebab-eating, bomb-toting, extremist psychopath.

When he first started out in show business, Maz endured suggestions that he spice up his stand-up act by wearing “the outfit,” fielded questions about rising gas prices, and was jeered for his supposed involvement in the Iran hostage crisis. In fact, these things happened so often that he began to wonder: Could I be a terrorist without even knowing it? And when all he seemed to be offered were roles that required looking menacingly Arabic, he wondered if he would ever make it in America.

This laugh-out-loud memoir chronicles a lifetime of both killing it and bombing on stage, with “plenty to say about matters of race, assimilation, embarrassing family members, life in America for brown-skinned people before and after 9/11, the vagaries of international pop culture, and making it in big, dumb, fizzy, sometimes beautiful America” (The New York Times).

I love Maz!

Mr. Jobrani's works should be required reading in every high school. The world would be a better place!

listen instead of read

What did you love best about I'm Not a Terrorist, But I've Played One on TV?

Maz is great in reading his memoir --he's very funny

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

the most interesting is when he talks about his american upbringing with a immigrant flavor--there was nothing not interesting

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

this is the only time I've heard him read although I've seen his stand up routine (funny)

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

no, I wanted to listen to it in increments but it was very hard to stop and I ended up practically listening all in one shot

Any additional comments?

although I loved the book I felt Moz didn't really let us into his personal life--he just scratched the surface

amazing and funny

The book made me laugh and it changed my perspective the best thing is that I am in a stand up comedy show while I am hearing the book

Not as funny as I had hoped.

What did you like best about I'm Not a Terrorist, But I've Played One on TV? What did you like least?

Hearing his family story

What was most disappointing about Maz Jobrani’s story?

That it was not funny like he is in his stand up comedy.

Was I'm Not a Terrorist, But I've Played One on TV worth the listening time?

Not really.

Hilarious & Thought-Provoking All At Once!

I've been a fan of Maz's ever since I saw him on "Friday After Next" as the owner of the "Holey Moley Donut Shop" and was pleased as punch to see that he had not only written but also recorded a book. For the most part, it was funny as hell, but it was quite thought-provoking in others - especially when the topics of ethnicity and religion came up. All in all, it's a great listen and is worth every penny! Definitely got my money's worth!