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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
In Last Words, George Carlin takes a crack at writing his autobiography. Not content with the self-serving, aggrandizing tone that just about every autobiography takes, Carlin coins the term "sortabiography" to reflect upon his storied career, his childhood, his upbringing, and other seminal events in his life. Having completed his "sortabiography" just before his death in July 2008 (and edited by his longtime friend Tony Hendra, whom you'll remember as the well-meaning but clueless manager of that legendary band Spinal Tap), Last Words is a wonderful read for the fact that, if anything, Carlin's love affair with words and language is also evident in his writing style. As you're reading the words on paper, you can hear Carlin's cadence come through, tentative and young early on, muscular and playfully belligerent towards the end.
Carlin doesn't spend much time going over some of his now-legendary routines. He name-checks Al Sleet, the hippy-dippy weatherman, and when he does finally talk about Seven Words You Can't Say on Television, it's to discuss the now-infamous lawsuit versus the FCC that the Supreme Court ruled in their favor. For Carlin to have been part of a case heard by the Supreme Court, and for that case to be later dissected and studied in law schools across America, it's a huge source of pride for him. Carlin probably figured you've heard his Seven Words riff, and other riffs before, so there's probably not much more he can add to what you already know, because, as a comedian, he's fully aware that how he tells the joke (rather than the joke itself) is what you take away from that experience.
Nor does Carlin skimp on the less-savory aspects of his life, especially that period in the late '70s when cocaine threatened to derail his career, and his foolish (his words) rebellion against the government in the form of tax evasion. Simply put, Carlin suffered from the very same big-headedness that many of his peers (especially Richard Pryor, whom George speaks of very fondly, and knowingly, considering Carlin was very aware Pryor was his only true contemporary), and his hubris nearly cost him everything. But he eventually grinned and beared it, kicking his habit and working tirelessly, without complaint, to repay all the taxes he hadn't paid. Yet he never lost that anti-authoritarian streak that was part and parcel of his act, and his comeback in the early '80s showcased a leaner, meaner machine ready to make you laugh and think at the same time.
The one thing you'll take from this "sortabiography" again is George Carlin's love of words. But that's exactly why you loved George Carlin in the first place; any stand-up can tell a dick joke, but no one told a dick joke the way George Carlin told a dick joke.
Carlin doesn't spend much time going over some of his now-legendary routines. He name-checks Al Sleet, the hippy-dippy weatherman, and when he does finally talk about Seven Words You Can't Say on Television, it's to discuss the now-infamous lawsuit versus the FCC that the Supreme Court ruled in their favor. For Carlin to have been part of a case heard by the Supreme Court, and for that case to be later dissected and studied in law schools across America, it's a huge source of pride for him. Carlin probably figured you've heard his Seven Words riff, and other riffs before, so there's probably not much more he can add to what you already know, because, as a comedian, he's fully aware that how he tells the joke (rather than the joke itself) is what you take away from that experience.
Nor does Carlin skimp on the less-savory aspects of his life, especially that period in the late '70s when cocaine threatened to derail his career, and his foolish (his words) rebellion against the government in the form of tax evasion. Simply put, Carlin suffered from the very same big-headedness that many of his peers (especially Richard Pryor, whom George speaks of very fondly, and knowingly, considering Carlin was very aware Pryor was his only true contemporary), and his hubris nearly cost him everything. But he eventually grinned and beared it, kicking his habit and working tirelessly, without complaint, to repay all the taxes he hadn't paid. Yet he never lost that anti-authoritarian streak that was part and parcel of his act, and his comeback in the early '80s showcased a leaner, meaner machine ready to make you laugh and think at the same time.
The one thing you'll take from this "sortabiography" again is George Carlin's love of words. But that's exactly why you loved George Carlin in the first place; any stand-up can tell a dick joke, but no one told a dick joke the way George Carlin told a dick joke.
Also read this at a yoga retreat! Not sure why I picked the most drug-filled, crazy books to read at the yoga retreat, but I did! I loved reading about George's history and how he evolved artistically.
Optimistically cynical review of his life with humor interwoven throughout…just like the man himself.
I have always felt an affinity for George Carlin -- very funny, very thoughtful -- and this book reinforces that idea. You learn about the real George Carlin, not just the comedian. I could relate to many of his ideas and some of his experiences. The last chapter in particular is a good description of the person he was, and one I could understand.
This was a petty interesting recounting of the life and times of one George Carlin. I learned an awful lot about him that i was either too young to know, or never bothered to find out. (although, now i want to dig into his catalogue even deeper than i have before). While it definitely has its funny moments, it's not the laugh out loud book you would expect from someone of his stature. It's more of a personal history lesson on the man, his life, his family, and his career. The only part of the book that lost a little bit of magic was where he would recount skits on the page. That one dimensional interpretation of those bits leaves a lot to be desired. I'm sure they were a lot better with his voice and mannerisms behind them than they seem to be just left to the page and to your own interpretation of it. Also, it seems George had long desired to put his talents to Broadway, and even up to his final moments he never gave up on that dream, and seemed to be working towards it. It's a shame he never got to do it. But the man lived quite a life, and this book serves as a fitting farewell for any Carlin fan.
Enjoyed the first 3/4 of the book learning of his rise and falls with this artistic output. However, that last 1/4 he just comes off as angry and antisocial.
I've been an admirer of Carlin for so long that it was impossible not to relish the autobiographical details and craft observations throughout this book. Since I listened to the audiobook I was also treated the eerie experience of hearing Carlin's brother, Patrick, read this book--Patrick's voice is similar to George's and, at times, he seemed to be channeling his younger brother.
Near the end of Last Words, Carlin reveals that he had always wanted to do a live one-man Broadway show about is life (a la Lily Tomlin, etc) so that he could put the characters that inspired his many voices and personas onto the stage more fully. This autobiography was intended as the first-step toward making that happen. It's a shame George Carlin died before he could bring that project to life, for as fun as this book is to read (or listen to) the fact is that Carlin was, first and foremost, a performer. So much of what made Carlin's words funny and profound was his way of bringing them to life for his audiences through voices, expressions, gestures, and sheer charisma.
Still, this book is a worthwhile consolation prize. It is worth the price of admission to read Carlin's account of how he pulled himself together in the late 1980s and produced some of his finest work in what many had assumed was the twilight of his career.
Near the end of Last Words, Carlin reveals that he had always wanted to do a live one-man Broadway show about is life (a la Lily Tomlin, etc) so that he could put the characters that inspired his many voices and personas onto the stage more fully. This autobiography was intended as the first-step toward making that happen. It's a shame George Carlin died before he could bring that project to life, for as fun as this book is to read (or listen to) the fact is that Carlin was, first and foremost, a performer. So much of what made Carlin's words funny and profound was his way of bringing them to life for his audiences through voices, expressions, gestures, and sheer charisma.
Still, this book is a worthwhile consolation prize. It is worth the price of admission to read Carlin's account of how he pulled himself together in the late 1980s and produced some of his finest work in what many had assumed was the twilight of his career.
George Carlin has always been a favourite actor/comedian. He's brutally honest & hysterically funny. Reading this book made my ribs hurt, I was laughing so damn hard. He lead an interesting life & was so blunt you could practically smoke him. I will miss his wit & wisdom as long as I live. Love you, George!
I was given this as an Xmas gift from a friend and read it all the way through in part for that reason-- the feeling that when given a book as a gift, one should see it through. I hadn't listened to Carlin in years-- since I was teenager at least, if not earlier, but I had a fond recollection of him, a sense that he was a pretty sharp social commentator and a funny guy. Maybe that was true, but it doesn't come through in the book, for the most part. The writing is poor-- in part because it's transcribed from discussions (by Tony Hendra, who I expected could do much better), but in part because it's not terribly inventive, creative, or evocative. Most shocking is the terrible unfunniness of the bits he includes, so unfunny that it's almost embarrassing to read them. The Carlin I remember from when I was younger seemed funny on every topic, but what he quotes here is just flat on the page. Toward the end, as he gets into his more political works in the 90s, it picks up a little, but that's really only in the last 50 pages. Even then-- his politics are a little weird, and there's a lot of stuff about his complaints about having to pay huge amounts of tax and being chased for being a celebrity that he doesn't seem to notice clash against his righteous anger about the divide between rich and poor in America.
But also unsettling is the undercurrent of misogyny that runs through the book, starting when he describes his "first group sex," which is a bunch of teenaged guys holding down a girl and fondling her breasts. He says she "didn't struggle" but was clearly upset by it but still plays it for a laugh-- that really left me disgusted. Similar stuff about him fighting with his wife made me really uneasy. Altogether a real disappointment in many ways and on many levels.
But also unsettling is the undercurrent of misogyny that runs through the book, starting when he describes his "first group sex," which is a bunch of teenaged guys holding down a girl and fondling her breasts. He says she "didn't struggle" but was clearly upset by it but still plays it for a laugh-- that really left me disgusted. Similar stuff about him fighting with his wife made me really uneasy. Altogether a real disappointment in many ways and on many levels.