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littletaiko's review against another edition
Really had a hard time trying to read this as the author seemed to be hellbent on being racist and misogynistic. Not sure if he was trying to channel a spirit of that time but it was hard to take. Maybe could have overlooked it if there had actually been any kind of information about Dean Martin but there was more information about the mob in Ohio than anything. Maybe it picked up later but I just didn't want to find out.
testpattern's review against another edition
5.0
Probably the best biography I have ever read, and I only mildly give a fuck about Dean Martin.
kmccubbin's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book, but, ultimately, a book about a person who abjectly refused to reveal anything about himself to anyone in his life was a little too ambitious. Tosches tries a kind of loose, slang driven, style to approximate Dean's thoughts and it all rings a little forced. (A charge the author, himself, makes against "On the Road" multiple times in the book, ironically. I'm not sure what his beef with Kerouac is.) That said, the last section IS devastating and there's a lot of fascinating stuff, but too often the book feels like a juggler only indicating that he's throwing balls.
2000ace's review against another edition
5.0
I grew up listening to Dean Martin on the stereo and watching him on TV, because my mother was crazy about him. Show business is just about the meanest, diritest business there is, and it certainly left its mark on Dino. Through it all, though, this is a book about negotiating through the perils of life and fame, love and family. This is the first Nick Tosches book I read, and got me hooked,
nikkigee81's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting biography, and I really don't care much for Dean Martin.
blondereader's review
informative
slow-paced
3.0
Dean Martin could make the lousiest song sound amazing. What a voice! Sadly, he apparently didn't even try to resist any of the women who threw themselves at him. Jerry Lewis comes off as awful, too. Made me sad to read.