By: Richard Lewis Publisher: Public Affairs Press Average Rating: Binding: Hardcover Format: Bargain Price Label: Public Affairs Press Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 288 Publication Date: November 30, 2000
Product Description: At the age of 44-at the height of his success- Richard Lewis found himself on a gurney in an emergency room, suffering from a lethal mix of alcohol and drugs. The same dysfunctions that had been the basis for his successful stage persona and had generated so much wonderful material for comedy had turned on him. In this blistering memoir, Lewis tells how he got to that point, how he got on the road to recovery, and how he copes with being Richard Lewis, sober, on a daily basis, in this very funny, profoundly honest, inspiring but unsentimental book. He shares candid and revealing anecdotes about love, sex, fame, family, drinking therapy, eating disorders, and the serious business of comedy.
Doesn't get much worse I love Richard Lewis on stage. But this is beyond bad. Was there an editor on this project??? It's the most repetitious book I've ever half-read (I couldn't finish it). It could easily have been condensed into something 1/3 the length. That aside, I feel this is not a book about addiction. Instead, it's a thinly-veiled attempt by Lewis to portray himself as a bigger celebrity than he actually is, and perhaps more so, to portray himself as a major ladykiller. Ahem. I could tolerate the charade if the book were even remotely funny....but it's not. C'mon Richard! Luckily the book was given to me, and it will be passed on to make sure the next reader doesn't buy it.
The Other Great Depression It's a dull book written by an ego starved comic wanna be. I was looking for humor but generally found it to be a tedious read.
The world needs more Richard Lewis's The sheer honesty, baring of one's soul - is the definition of courage. The step by step journey into and out of addiction is a gift to everyone battling the same relentless demons. His story, his heart, his soul offers hope to so many people who may feel that they have none. Are a step away from giving up. God bless, Richard, for being who he is, fully, clearly, honestly. Walking in the truth.
The real Richard We collect stories of Extraordinary Comebacks, and so when CBS Sunday Morning (April, 2008) mentioned Richard Lewis and his (resissued) book we were interested and immediately secured a copy. Fans of Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Lewis' past work, and fellow Ohio State grads (Lewis' golden days were in Columbus, he says) which we surely are, may be disappointed because this presentation is not hip, clever or carefree. It is a rather harrowing and repetitious tale of alcoholism, womanizing, childhood angst, self-hatred, faithlessness -- even an eating disorder thrown in for good measure. Gives another meaning to 'feel your pain.' It is a long, tough slog to get to the redemption part, and thankfully, we made it, and thankfully, Lewis attains sobriety, a measure of faith, and some peace of mind. Still, that edgy, irritable, angry guy you see with Larry on Curb? Richard playing himself, more or less. That torrent of art is coming from somewhere, after all. Despite what is on the printed page here, not convincing that Lewis ever really attains Nirvana-like peace-of-mind, or even the feeling of being at home in his own skin. That attainment might bust his comedy shtrick to smithereens, which as of this writing is going great guns. (Google RL and read the reviews.) Still we like Richard, a lot, and we can't help but hope he finds it.
4 out of 12 steps to a good book Towards the end of this book Lewis, remembering when he started the book project and how tough it was to build up the steam to write and keep writing observes:
"Oftentimes I sat motionless for hours, as if mummified, just doodling random thoughts or just aimlessly wandering around my house thinking that my story was meaningless."
Well, Richard, in this one respect your instincts for this project were right on the money.
The problem with this book is that it is very poorly organized, bordering on being incoherent. Furthermore, time and again he bumps up against an honest confession of some drunken mishap only to pull his punch at the end.
Will some earnest Lewisologist have the stomach to count the number of times he tells us that he embarassed himself at a [fill in the occasion or restaurant or party with other celebs] only to pull the veil of vagueness over the final humiliation. We want the goods, dammit!
Is there any other reason to read a self-indulgent celebrity whinefest?
One of his anecdotes that worked was the time on the plane when, thinking he was impressing his fellow celebrities every time he staggered to the bathroom, he finally discovered to his horror that part of his shirt was sticking out of his fly.
That one had a beginning, a middle and [no pun intended] an end.
If you are going to spend an entire book alternating between bragging about your showbiz pals and rich lifestyle and flagellating yourself (addiction is not friendly to rational thinking) at least have the wit to make the anecdotes interesting.
He is a very funny guy with a beautifully cracked sense of humor. I remember a great line of his to the effect that his grandmother used to sit around doing needlepoint, sewing her epitaph. Great image!
I hope Richard Lewis tries this again, this time leading with his strength, which is humor. Really funny stuff is a high art form. Anyone can do incoherence and boredom.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Trevor
