
Born Standing Up
A Comic's Life
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Narrated by:
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Steve Martin
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By:
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Steve Martin
At age 10 Martin started his career at Disneyland, selling guidebooks in the newly opened theme park. In the decade that followed, he worked in the Disney magic shop and the Bird Cage Theatre at Knott's Berry Farm, performing his first magic/comedy act a dozen times a week. The story of these years, during which he practiced and honed his craft, is moving and revelatory.
Martin illuminates the sacrifice, discipline, and originality that made him an icon and informs his work to this day. To be this good, to perform so frequently, was isolating and lonely. It took Martin decades to reconnect with his parents and sister, and he tells that story with great tenderness. Martin also paints a portrait of his times: the era of free love and protests against the war in Vietnam, the heady irreverence of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in the late 60s, and the transformative new voice of Saturday Night Live in the 70s.
©2007 Steve Martin (P)2007 Simon and Schuster Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...




















Critic reviews
"Absolutely magnificent. One of the best books about comedy and being a comedian ever written." (Jerry Seinfeld)
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Highly recommended.
A master
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Steve Martin is brilliant
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The Little Engine That Could
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Steve Martin should narrate everything
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A winner
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Great listen
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Where does Born Standing Up rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
I have listened to several audio books here on audible and Born Standing Up: was terrific.Who was your favorite character and why?
Steve Martin does a fantastic job telling the story of his struggle to success while sharing the humility of being a comic.What does Steve Martin bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
Steve's voice makes the story come to life.Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
No extreme reaction here, but if you are looking for understanding of why or how Steve was able to reach meteoric success in ten years, I think you will find plenty of ah ha moments.Any additional comments?
I highly recommend, Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life.Easy listening, entertaining and insightful
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Short but meaningful.
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It was cool to hear that his story intertwined with my own, intersecting, years apart, in Coconut Grove, Florida.
Comedic Genius
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What did you love best about Born Standing Up?
I bought this audiobook expecting some comedy, but what it delivered was an insight into the making of a career and a life--exactly what a good autobiography should be, even though at one time, Mr. Martin says he feels like he's writing about someone else's life. Steve Martin is a good storyteller. He gives us his triumphal moments as well as his anguish, without being overwrought. The story was always engaging and often surprising.His voice, as we know, is very pleasant, and more pleasant still is that he reads with emphasis and diction, and just the right amount of emotion. You might think that's to be expected from a person in show business, but it's true that there are several audiobooks out there that have been slaughtered by actors who are bad readers.
On both counts, story and delivery, this one is a good pick.
Gave me Happy Feet
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