Born Standing Up

A long time fan of Steve Martin (I declared he would be my new stepdad in the first grade after watching Parenthood), I was psyched to start reading his (kind of) new autobiography Born Standing Up. After reading multiple interviews with him, I knew he seemed like a pretty private guy, so I was curious as to what would be discussed in the book.

It was actually much more than what I expected. Unlike other autobiographies I've read, Martin seems truly grounded to what made him the way he is as well as to what got him to the place he is today. He recalls the days he was struggling, not pointing a finger and why he wasn't successful yet, but with a certain relish for those days. Sure it was shitty but it was fun!

I'm especially glad that I read this at this time in my life, when I'm just starting out and finding my own footing in life, similar to Martin experimenting with his comedy. A friend and I joked that everything we're experiencing now, could end up in our own autobiographies. So I guess we shall see.

Anyway, if you're a fan of Martin, I'd definitely recommend the book. Even if you're not, it's still an interesting read. If anything, it will make you appreciate comedians. It's amazing to think of what went into a single act.