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
About this listen
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...
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Critic reviews
"Absolutely magnificent. One of the best books about comedy and being a comedian ever written." (Jerry Seinfeld)
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Stories I Only Tell My Friends
- An Autobiography
- By: Rob Lowe
- Narrated by: Rob Lowe
- Length: 9 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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A teen idol at 15, an international icon and founder of the Brat Pack at 20, and one of Hollywood's top stars to this day, Rob Lowe chronicles his experiences. Never mean-spirited or salacious, Lowe delivers unexpected glimpses into his successes, disappointments, relationships, and one-of-a-kind encounters with people who shaped our world over the last 25 years. These stories are as entertaining as they are unforgettable.
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Great Book and Great Story
- By Natalie J. Belle MD on 04-30-11
By: Rob Lowe
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John Lennon
- The Life
- By: Philip Norman
- Narrated by: Graeme Malcolm
- Length: 12 hrs and 52 mins
- Abridged
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Philip Norman turns his formidable talent to the Beatle for whom belonging to the world's most beloved pop group was never enough. Drawing on previously untapped sources, and with unprecedented access to all the major characters, here is the definitive portrait of John Lennon. This biography takes a fresh and penetrating look at Lennon's much-chronicled life, including the songs that have turned him, posthumously, into almost a secular saint.
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Really Bad Abridgement Job (slash job)
- By Let's Be Reasonable on 12-04-08
By: Philip Norman
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The Cake and the Rain
- A Memoir
- By: Jimmy Webb
- Narrated by: Jimmy Webb
- Length: 12 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
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Jimmy Webb's words have been sung to his music by a rich and deep roster of pop artists, including Glen Campbell, Art Garfunkel, Frank Sinatra, Donna Summer, and Linda Ronstadt. He's the only artist ever to win Grammy Awards for music, lyrics, and orchestration, and his chart-topping career has, so far, lasted 50 years, most recently with a Kanye West rap hit and a new classical nocturne. Now Webb delivers a snapshot of his life from 1955 to 1970, from the proverbial humble beginnings into a moneyed and manic international world of beautiful women, drugs, cars, and planes.
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This Book is Hard to Listen to
- By Robert Alexander on 01-14-21
By: Jimmy Webb
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I Blame Dennis Hopper
- And Other Stories from a Life Lived in and out of the Movies
- By: Illeana Douglas
- Narrated by: Illeana Douglas
- Length: 9 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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In 1969, Illeana Douglas' parents saw the film Easy Rider and were transformed. Taking Dennis Hopper's words - "That's what it's all about, man" - to heart, they abandoned their comfortable upper-middle-class life and gave Illeana a childhood filled with hippies, goats, free spirits, and free love. Illeana writes, "Since it was all out of my control, I began to think of my life as a movie, with a Dennis Hopper-like father at the center of it." I Blame Dennis Hopper is a rollicking, funny, at times tender exploration of the way movies can change our lives.
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Loved Every Moment of this Book!
- By Susan Van Allen on 01-20-16
By: Illeana Douglas
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I Only Know Who I Am When I Am Somebody Else
- My Life on the Street, on the Stage, and in the Movies
- By: Danny Aiello, Gil Reavill
- Narrated by: Danny Aiello
- Length: 8 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
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Beloved stage and screen actor Danny Aiello’s big-hearted memoir reveals a man of passion, integrity, and guts - and lays bare one of the most unlikely success stories ever told. Danny Aiello admits that he backed into his acting career by mistake. That’s easy to see when you begin at the beginning: Raised by his loving and fiercely resilient mother in the tenements of Manhattan and the South Bronx, and forever haunted by the death of his infant brother, Danny struggled early on to define who he was and who he could be.
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I want to give Danny Aiello a big hug.
- By Mari K. on 01-22-15
By: Danny Aiello, and others
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You Gotta Get Bigger Dreams
- My Life in Stories and Pictures
- By: Alan Cumming
- Narrated by: Alan Cumming
- Length: 3 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
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Described by the New York Times as “a bawdy countercultural sprite” and named one of the most fun people in show business by Time magazine, Alan Cumming is a genuine quadruple threat - an internationally acclaimed, award-winning star of stage, television, and film, as well as a New York Times best-selling author whose real-life vivacity, wit, and charm shine through every minute of his third book, You Gotta Get Bigger Dreams.
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We would be friends
- By Peg on 11-28-16
By: Alan Cumming
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All About Me!
- My Remarkable Life in Show Business
- By: Mel Brooks
- Narrated by: Mel Brooks
- Length: 15 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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At 95, the legendary Mel Brooks continues to set the standard for comedy across television, film, and the stage. Now, for the first time, this EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) winner shares his story in his own words.
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Wonderful and nostalgic
- By GAT on 12-07-21
By: Mel Brooks
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What's So Funny?
- My Hilarious Life
- By: Tim Conway, Jane Scovell, Carol Burnett - foreword
- Narrated by: Tim Conway, Carol Burnett, Dick Hill, and others
- Length: 8 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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Six-time Emmy Award-winning funnyman Tim Conway, best known for his characters on The Carol Burnett Show, offers a straight-shooting and hilarious memoir about his life on stage and off as an actor and comedian. In television history, few entertainers have captured as many hearts and made as many people laugh as Tim Conway. There's nothing in the world that Tim Conway would rather do than entertain - and in his first-ever memoir, What's So Funny?, that's exactly what he does.
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Not narrated by Tim
- By Bob Murdock on 05-05-14
By: Tim Conway, and others
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Mozart in the Jungle
- Sex, Drugs, and Classical Music
- By: Blair Tindall
- Narrated by: Amanda Ronconi
- Length: 12 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
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In a book that inspired the Amazon original series starring Gael Garcia Bernal and Malcolm McDowell, oboist Blair Tindall recounts her decades-long professional career as a classical musician, from the recitals and Broadway orchestra performances to the secret life of musicians who survive hand to mouth in the backbiting New York classical music scene, trading sexual favors for plum jobs and assignments in orchestras across the city.
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Entertaining, but with long pedantic sections
- By M. S. Cohen on 01-17-16
By: Blair Tindall
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Paul McCartney
- A Life
- By: Peter Ames Carlin
- Narrated by: John Lee
- Length: 13 hrs
- Unabridged
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The best-selling author of the definitive biography of former Beach Boy Brian Wilson offers new insight into the life and music of Paul McCartney, one of the world's most popular and influential musicians. Informed by new, exclusive interviews with friends, bandmates, and collaborators, the book describes McCartney's many triumphs as well as his failures, from the Beatles era through his decade with Wings and his subsequent solo career.
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Great...But
- By Diego on 05-02-10
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Little Me
- My Life from A-Z
- By: Matt Lucas
- Narrated by: Matt Lucas
- Length: 9 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
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Hello there. Welcome to my autobiography. Throughout this audiobook I talk about my life and work, including Little Britain, Come Fly with Me, Bridesmaids, Les Miserables, Alice in Wonderland and, of course, Shooting Stars. The thing is, this is a bit different to most memoirs you may have listened to, because it comes in the form of an A-Z. Anyway, I hope you buy it at least twice. Thank you.
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Food
- By Gavin Brown on 09-26-20
By: Matt Lucas
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Gifted writer, characters and context feel true
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Amy Poehler is hosting a dinner party and you're invited! Welcome to the audiobook edition of Amy Poehler's Yes Please. The guest list is star-studded with vocal appearances from Carol Burnett, Seth Meyers, Michael Schur, Patrick Stewart, Kathleen Turner, and even Amy’s parents - Yes Please is the ultimate audiobook extravaganza.
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In the summer of 1974, a 14-year-old girl in Dolton, Illinois, had a dream - a dream to become an actress. But it was a long way from the South Side of Chicago to Hollywood, and it didn’t help that she’d recently dropped out of the school play, The Ugly Duckling, or that the Hollywood casting directors she wrote to replied that "professional training was a requirement". But the funny thing is, it all came true....
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Low quality phone recordings spliced together
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The New Comedy Bible
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The New Comedy Bible is a step-by-step, no excuses manual for writing, performing, and launching your career as a stand-up comic. Written by Judy Carter, the author of The Comedy Bible (2001), which was called by The Washington Post and Forbes as a “Comedy Essential”. This new book, penned in classic Carter’s style - part career coach and part comedy dominatrix - has 100 percent new content.
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PDF workbook
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What listeners say about Born Standing Up
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall
- ChuckDPhoto
- 12-04-07
Steve Martin is brilliant
I had never realized how innovative Steve Martin's humor was. I had only enjoyed it immensely since first experiencing it on SNL and his standup albums. He reads in a rather flat voice but it is Steve himself and that makes it so special. I have trouble imagining reading the book when I can hear it in his own voice. Insightful and revealing. Even touching.
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4 people found this helpful
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- Sean
- 04-28-12
A master
I loved hearing Martin's point of view of his rise from amusement park worker to SNL and Hollywood. Some great stories, told by the man himself. You come out understanding why he rose so far, and how he burned out on standup. It's amazing how much though went into what seemed like a freeform act. And you get why he decided it was time to move on.
Highly recommended.
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4 people found this helpful
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- Scotty
- 01-10-17
The Little Engine That Could
I was hooked right from the start. At the beginning of the book, Steve Martin writes about his unhappy childhood. He said, of his father: "evidently he saved his vibrant personality for use away from the family." The book is charming and funny, and reveals what an original thinker Steve Martin is, and the doggedness it took to succeed. It was inspiring.
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- Titus Smith
- 03-21-19
Steve Martin should narrate everything
I'm a fan of stand-up and a fan of Steve Martin, but I've never really been a fan of Steve Martin's stand-up. this memoir helped me understand exactly why: he broke the mold. The insight he shares by reading this book is a perfect partnership (he sings several parts, making me appreciate the audiobook over the written version). He is a brilliant storyteller and I've thoroughly enjoyed the peek inside his mind.
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- Anonymous User
- 10-25-20
A winner
I wasnt sure when i downloaded this audible as i am not that familiar with steve martin although i recall dirty rotten scoundrels was a favourite movie growing up. I found his story fascinating and relatable and having the book read by steve martin was a plus. Very inspiring story.
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- Nancy
- 12-11-15
Great listen
This book greatly exceeded my expectations. Steve's story is one we can all relate to, famous or not. I learned a lot about comedy, but the real hear and soul of this book is Steve's own personal journey. It is definitely a worthwhile listen.
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- BKH
- 01-23-12
Easy listening, entertaining and insightful
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.
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- salingergurl
- 10-03-16
Comedic Genius
As an improviser and lover of comedy, I found this story fascinating. Martin narrating his own story was what really made me want to listen, and he does a masterful job.
It was cool to hear that his story intertwined with my own, intersecting, years apart, in Coconut Grove, Florida.
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- Momdeplume
- 01-30-12
Gave me Happy Feet
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.
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- 402266
- 07-01-15
Short but meaningful.
This compact book brings to mind the virtues of brevity as E. B. White taught them in the Elements of Style. It is compact, but meaningful.
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