Nothing's Sacred

By: Lewis Black

Narrated by: Lewis Black

Length: 5 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

You've seen him on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart offering up his trademark angry observational humor on everything from politics to pop culture. You've seen his energetic stand-up performances on HBO, Comedy Central, and in venues across the globe. Now Lewis Black's volcanic eruptions can be found in Nothing's Sacred, a collection of rants against stupidity and authority, which oftentimes go hand in hand.

With subversive wit and intellectual honesty, Lewis examines the events of his life that shaped his anti-authoritarian point of view and developed his comedic perspective. Growing up in 1950s suburbia when father knew best and there was a sitcom to prove it, he began to regard authority with a jaundiced eye at an early age. And as that sentiment grew stronger with each passing year, so did his ability to hone in on the absurd.

True to form, he puts common sense above ideology and distills hilarious, biting commentary on all things politically and culturally relevant.

©2005 Lewis Black (P)2005 Simon & Schuster Inc. AUDIOWORKS is an imprint of Simon & Schuster Audio Division, Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Critic reviews

• 2005 Audie Award Nominee, Humor

"No one is safe from Lewis Black's comic missiles." (New York Times)

Nothing's creative in this clunker

Here's my Lewis Black history: originally though he was a loud-mouthed hack of a comic who would deliver punch lines with all the subtly of a Mack truck. The louder the scream, the funnier it must be when the philosophy. But as time went on, I grew to enjoy his scathing sarcasm and increasingly looked forward to his stints on the Daily Show. I bought this audiobook with some anticipation.

The book, however, contains very little of Black's humor and even less of his style and delivery. If you're interested in hearing how yet another comic/entertainer/person of note got to where they are today, by all means pick this one up. You'll get your fill of "growing up" stories and descriptions of a "summer in Europe". But don't expect to laugh.

To answer your question Mr. Black, "Yes, you are funny but no, you cannot write funny."

Not much of a comedy

it's more of a rant but without the comedy. 5+ hours gets a bit old.

Interesting, funny and moving

Unlike the other reviewers I was pleasantly surprised by this book...I had expected another stand up routine (which would have been fine), instead I learned of his background through entertaining stories. I would not hesitate to recommend this book.

It's a Biography

Don't expect his Daily Show musings. It's just a biography. And if a biography of great people are sometimes boring, you need only imagine the drudgery to befall you after listening to this.

For Lewis Black Fans

If you don't like his humor, you won't like the book. I love his humor and I enjoyed the book. It is not a series of his bits, although I remember hearing a couple on the Daily Show. Most of the book is about his life and how he came to think the way he does. I found it fun and entertaining. I even laughed out loud several times.

Unusual Black?

The autobiographical style of this book might disappoint those expecting the short barbs of Blacks usually cutting standup humor but it will delight book readers. Lewis Black takes the reader on a nostalgic journey through the times of his life with particular focus on the sixties and that decade?s influence on contemporary culture. There are many funny moments but mostly it contains a contemplative humor and anecdotes. This is a good book not a standup comedy album.

Great Book

A must listen for anyone who is a fan of Lewis Black standup. Very interesting, A+

6 hours of Lewis Black

I really enjoy LB's stand up routines-- they are polished, tight, authentic and the timing is good. This book, on the other hand, reads like transcripts from LB's years in the therapist's couch. He is by turns angry, nostalgic, preachy, rambling, disjointed, self absorbed...I could go on. For my part, I would rather look at the Van Gogh painting then listen to what drove the artist cut his off his ear.

He prepares the reader in advance for the truly profane moments, and the level of profanity does not disappoint. He does not prepare us for the hours of 'so what?' narrative that makes up the vast majority this 6 hour book. 'You had to be there,' a resolution that appears several times throughout the book, sometimes spoken, other times woefully obvious, is not a punch line. In fact it is the anti punch line. LB would have to agree that if that is the best closure you can give to a story, then shut the ___ up.

Can't recommend this one. This book has the feel of a comedian who is out of material and spent, trying desperately to trade on waning popularity and revenue generating ability. I hope that is not the case.

So disappointing and unnecessarily vulgar.

I am usually a HUGE fan of lewis black, I find his dry sarcastic humor hilarious! So when i saw his book on audible it was a no brainier for me to buy it. However just 2 chapters in I find myself not listening to what I hoped would be his kinda biography/rant on the world instead I found myself knee deep in one of the most disgusting books I've ever heard/read/smelled. I know there will be some hard-core lewis black fans that will curse me up and down for dissing this book, but I found it very unnecessarily vulgar and not even that funny for the most part. I recommend staying away from this one folks, not worth it.

I'd rather hear a ho hum

Lewis Black starts his memoir off with a few observations on the absurdity of nuclear saftey drills in elementary school.
Amazing. I've heard at least 20 different comedians try to make that funny and so far,it just isn't.
Somebody had to know how incredibly unoriginal this, and the vast majority of the other material, was, but greed and vanity (that's just a guess) led them all to publish this insipid collection of the adamantly delivered obvious anyway.

I admire Black's over-wrought persona on the Daily Show, but without the audience and the topicality - it's lame.
Really, really lame.
I'd like to hear him say how lame it is himself. That might be funny.

Lewis for President of the World?...

Lewis Black would be President if it was ever decided on Merit and not on votes. An idealist, a dreamer and an enema for everyone's soul. Listen to him. Always.