• Kasher in the Rye

  • The True Tale of a White Boy from Oakland Who Became a Drug Addict, Criminal, Mental Patient, and Then Turned 16
  • By: Moshe Kasher
  • Narrated by: Moshe Kasher
  • Length: 8 hrs and 43 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (1,004 ratings)

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Kasher in the Rye  By  cover art

Kasher in the Rye

By: Moshe Kasher
Narrated by: Moshe Kasher
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Publisher's summary

“The finest, most moving and powerful memoir I have ever read.”—MAYIM BIALIK

Rising young comedian Moshe Kasher is lucky to be alive. He started using drugs when he was just 12. At that point, he had already been in psychoanlysis for 8 years. By the time he was 15, he had been in and out of several mental institutions, drifting from therapy to rehab to arrest to...you get the picture. But Kasher in the Rye is not an "eye opener" to the horrors of addiction. It's a hilarious memoir about the absurdity of it all.

When he was a young boy, Kasher's mother took him on a vacation to the West Coast. Well it was more like an abduction. Only not officially. She stole them away from their father and they moved to Oakland , California. That's where the real fun begins, in the war zone of Oakland Public Schools. He was more than just out of control-his mother walked him around on a leash, which he chewed through and ran away.

Brutally honest and laugh-out-loud funny, Kasher's first literary endeavor finds humor in even the most horrifying situations.

©2012 Moshe Kasher (P)2012 Hachette

Critic reviews

“Kasher narrates his unlikely odyssey in surprisingly arresting, and successful, literary terms. . . riotously funny . . .searingly truthful.”—San Francisco Chronicle

“Kasher’s stream-of-consciousness writing, coupled with vivid dialogue, make for an emotional story. . . . It is not easy for addicts to dig deep into their emotional truth about their experiences, but Kasher does a remarkable job and should be applauded.”—Washington Post

“A compelling memoir . . . .written in Kasher’s distinctly witty and often frantic narrative voice.”—L.A. Weekly

What listeners say about Kasher in the Rye

Average customer ratings
Overall
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Possibly the best book I've ever listened to

This is the first review I've ever left,
I felt I had to.
I am going through some heavy stuff with an addict in my life. I have read and listened to almost every book there is on drug addiction. I wanted something lighter but that still dealt with the crap going on in my real life. I am so glad I picked this book! It is hilarious! There were so many times I would just burst out laughing. It showed both the "fun" side of the beginning of addiction, then made the serious stuff funny as hell too.

Thank you for writing this book! As I said I am in a really dark place with "my" addict and your book helped me get through so many hard days. I found myself not wanting to listen because I didn't want it to be over... I still don't! I know it sounds cheesy but I wish I could express how much this book helped me. I cry a lot & your book took me out of that for a little bit each day. Thank you for sharing your story, thank you for making me smile, thank you for giving me hope.

A good guy, that's what you became.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

An entirely difference

Would you listen to Kasher in the Rye again? Why?

Hearing Kasher read his own story was very emotional for me. I am a big fan of his comedy and now have an entirely different respect for him.

What did you like best about this story?

It was a classic story of a troubled child and his struggles to change. However, I did not find this repetitive or cheesy. The story was raw. With the luxury of having Moshe Kasher tell it with his own voice, you could feel how real his experiences were.

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

Both. Kasher has a real talent to take a serious subject and finding humor in it (without making you feel bad for laughing).

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wow

As a former drug user, it's so awesome to hear stories of people who have recovered and made something amazing out of their life. To learn about the upbringing by two deaf parents and struggling through the education system. It's just awesome to see him where he is now. Moshe is a hilarious and well-written author, and I love the emotion and wit in the way he reads. Will definitely be listening to this one again.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Funny

What made the experience of listening to Kasher in the Rye the most enjoyable?

I had checked this comedian's podcast and knew a little bit about him. He's been through a lot but told his story in a funny way

What was one of the most memorable moments of Kasher in the Rye?

There were so many, I can't pinpoint.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Yes

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Loved this audiobook!

This is one of those books that I think is better as an audiobook. I really enjoyed hearing the author read his story. He has (not surprisingly) a great sense of humor and delivery.

I love well-written memoirs, and this is definitely among the best I've read. I am amazed that this guy made it out of childhood alive. A wonderful book—I loved every second of it.

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Unbridled Hubris

I really tried to see the value in this book, given all of the good reviews. I just could not. I kept thinking of the innocent lives that were placed at risk by a group of drugged-up adolescents as they sped down highways and streets - more than once. Hearing the author tell his story supported the careless disregard for any other human other than himself. No remorse, or acknowledgement of the risks to everyone is his path were detected in his voice as he recounted years of heartache and distress he caused for his family. Just lots of “haha. We were assholes. And *f* yous. I’m very sorry I purchased this book and very sorry he continues to reap rewards because of the horrible things that he did for years before finally taking a “right turn” to get sober. Arrogant, unapologetic, and not seeing the danger to so many innocent people his behavior could have impacted just don’t cut it for me. Strongly dislike this book and all it stands for.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I am so glad I experienced this book!! Amazing.

Read by the author and highly entertaining. I will listen again in the future, for sure!!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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fantastic!

I have long known Moshe as a brilliant and razor sharp live comic, but he blew me away with his storytelling.

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Very enlightening

Love his comedy, this is pretty revealing of where it snows from. Lots of scary could have beens.


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    5 out of 5 stars
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loved every minute

Moshe is an amazing story teller. I was there with him every step of the way. my heart broke for the young boy who was broken. I'm so happy Moshe found his way out of his darkness.

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