Based on a True Story Audiobook By Norm Macdonald cover art

Based on a True Story

A Memoir

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Based on a True Story

By: Norm Macdonald
Narrated by: Norm Macdonald, Tim O'Halloran
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About this listen

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “Driving, wild and hilarious” (The Washington Post), here is the incredible “memoir” of the legendary actor, gambler, raconteur, and Saturday Night Live veteran.

When Norm Macdonald, one of the greatest stand-up comics of all time, was approached to write a celebrity memoir, he flatly refused, calling the genre “one step below instruction manuals.” Norm then promptly took a two-year hiatus from stand-up comedy to live on a farm in northern Canada. When he emerged he had under his arm a manuscript, a genre-smashing book about comedy, tragedy, love, loss, war, and redemption. When asked if this was the celebrity memoir, Norm replied, “Call it anything you damn like.”

©2016 Norm Macdonald (P)2016 Random House Audio
Entertainment & Celebrities Celebrity Comedy Funny Witty
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Critic reviews

“A driving, wild and hilarious ramble of a book, what might have happened had Hunter S. Thompson embedded himself in a network studio.”The Washington Post

“Dostoyevsky by way of 30 Rockefeller Center . . . the best new book I’ve read this year or last.”The Wall Street Journal

“This book is absurd fiction. . . . Scathing and funny.”The New York Times

Editor's Pick

An incredible experience
"There's a reason why Norm MacDonald is revered by so many other comedians, and it's not just because he is a truly hilarious and original comedic voice. It’s because he is, above all else, an incredible storyteller whose love for language and knowledge thereof allows him to do comic cartwheels around his peers. This is a memoir that somehow manages to blur fact and fiction (although, I'm sure MacDonald would take issue with this point) and blends some of the best, most lyrical writing (no joke) with some of the funniest writing I've ever come across. To hear him tell it is an incredible experience."
Doug P., Audible Editor

Unique Comedic Voice • Creative Storytelling • Authentic Narration • Masterful Fiction-reality Blend • Perfect Delivery
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If you could sum up Based on a True Story in three words, what would they be?

Literature, subversive, brilliant.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Norm, obviously. But 'character' is a key word here. Seems to me that Norm has written a comic novel based on his life -- at first I thought it was directly inspired by Hunter S. Thompson, but as I listened further I realized this was great tragicomic fiction in the tradition of Mark Twain..

What about Norm Macdonald’s performance did you like?

He reads it brilliantly, affecting the 'I'm just an old chunk 'a coal" style and voice of an old rural storyteller, which is clearly how he intended the text to be read.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

See This Movie, Sure, But The Book Is Probably Unfilmable, At Least The Best Parts Are, So Read The Book Maybe Instead?give me a break, audible. I'm trying to review a book, not promote a movie.

Any additional comments?

This book will confuse people looking for a juicy celebrity memoir, if those sort of people actually exist. It will delight those who enjoy good writing, as well as Norm's fans. The book is like an ambitious first novel, and I hope he writes more.

norm nails it

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One of the funniest books ever. And the audible version is done so well. Loved it

Fantastic

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This was well worth the purchase as the content is a spectrum of life itself.

The Desert within the Forest

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This was the only thing of Norm MacDonald I hadn't seen over 50 times. it was a great listen, and it had me cracking up many times.
get this!

cracking up

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I've read the book 3 or 4 times since it initially came out but never got around to listening to the audiobook. I always thought I was familiar enough with Norm to nail exactly how this book should've sounded in my head, yet listening to him read it himself was like enjoying it for the first time all over again. His timing and delivery are unparalleled.

The best way to enjoy this book in my opinion

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"A fancy name for a filthy thing." I wasn't sure what to expect but I should have. Great story/memoir and well told. I heard Norm tell Larry King that the book was truth but not a book of facts. After listening, I understand this statement. If you are a fan of Norm you will not be disappointed. I like to both read and listen to most books, but this is a must listen. I'm sure you'd enjoy reading, but having the author's voice with proper inflections and pauses makes listening that much better. It's a quick listen so get started.

This is Norm Macdonald and now the Fake Memoir

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Norm is the funniest human to ever breathe. The book is hilarious start to finish, and you can't go wrong with the old chunk of coal they got to read it.

AWESOME!!!

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If you could sum up Based on a True Story in three words, what would they be?

Pure Norm MacDonald

Any additional comments?

An inventive brilliant memoir. For a brief moment it filled that space inside me that wishes there were new Kurt Vonnegut books and new Hemingway books and new episodes of Norm Macdonald led Weekend Update - being all of those things and yet only somewhat some of those things. What a strange book. Great narration.

Fantastic "Memoir"

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if you love Norm, this book will not disappoint. hilarious way to describe his life story. moved along well. glad that Norm did the narration...or was it I'm not Norm?

classic Norm wit, listened to a few times already

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Once you adjust to the flow of this book, you'll be transfixed. Norm is...well...you figure it out.

Norm is a twisted mofo...

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