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In this “essential” (Entertainment Weekly), “hilarious” (AV Club) memoir, the star of Mr. Show, Breaking Bad, and Better Call Saul opens up about the highs and lows of showbiz, his cult status as a comedy writer, and what it’s like to reinvent himself as an action film ass-kicker at 50.
“I’ve known Bob Odenkirk for more than 30 years, and yet I had to read this book to believe his stunning career arc.” (Conan O’Brien)
One of the Most Anticipated Books of 2022 – Entertainment Weekly, USA Today, Parade, The AV Club
Bob Odenkirk’s career is inexplicable. And yet he will try like hell to explicate it for you. Charting a “Homeric” decades-long “odyssey” from his origins in the seedy comedy clubs of Chicago to a dramatic career full of award nominations – with a side trip into the action-man world that is baffling to all who know him – it’s almost like there are many Bob Odenkirks! But there is just one and one is plenty.
Bob embraced a life in comedy after a chance meeting with Second City’s legendary Del Close. He somehow made his way to a job as a writer at Saturday Night Live. While surviving that legendary gauntlet by the skin of his gnashing teeth, he stashed away the secrets of comedy writing – eventually employing them in the immortal “Motivational Speaker” sketch for Chris Farley, honing them on The Ben Stiller Show, and perfecting them on Mr. Show with Bob and David.
In Hollywood, Bob demonstrated a bullheadedness that would shame Sisyphus himself, and when all hope was lost for the umpteenth time, the phone rang with an offer to appear on Breaking Bad – a show about how boring it is to be a high school chemistry teacher. His embrace of this strange new world of dramatic acting led him to working with Steven Spielberg, Alexander Payne, and Greta Gerwig, and then, in a twist that will confound you, he re-re-invented himself as a bona fide action star. Why? Listen to this and do your own psychoanalysis – it’s fun!
Featuring humorous tangents, wild characters, and Bob’s trademark unflinching drive, Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama is a classic showbiz tale told by a determined idiot.
4.5
Reviewer: Katherine Y
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Funny memoir about breaking into comedy before turning into a serious actor
Review: I was eager to read Bob Odenkirkâs book because I wanted to know how a hilarious sketch comedian turned into a dramatic actor. Iâm thinking of his work as a Saturday Night Live writer and then as Saul Goodman in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. Knowing that the man created my favorite comedic sketch, Chris Farleyâs motivational speaker on Saturday Night Live, and being a devotee of BB and BCS, I was intrigued. This memoir answers this question and answers other questions, such as, what was his background? How did he get his first big breaks? How did he deal with inevitable career disappointments?The first few chapters detail his lifelong interest in comedy. After reading for a short time, I began to think I wouldnât like Odenkirk if I were to meet him. When he described his first meeting with Lorne Michaels of SNL, he had me shaking my head in disbelief. According to his own description, he was cocky, cavalier, and rude. Probably Lorne Michaels felt the same way. I kept reading, and Iâm glad I did.His rapid-fire writing style (you can hear him saying the words) and jokey manner aside, he lays out what the comedy world is really like and the lessons he learned. He transformed from a callow comedian early in his youth into a dramatic actor who now wants to give others a hand up in show business. He describes his partnerships and associations with David Cross, Ben Stiller, and Gary Shandling. He covers how he got involved in one of his first major successes, Mr. Show and how he navigated the disappointments, such as losing the leading role that went to Steve Carell in The Office. He shows determination, focus, and his trademark sense of humor along the way. He admits he was never a fame chaser per se but is always on the hunt to entertain himself.In his latest incarnation as a dramatic actor, he had the great good luck of being asked by Peter Gould and Vince Gilligan to portray Saul Goodman in BB. To his surprise, Gould and Gilligan wanted him for his own show about Saul Goodman after BB ended. His description about asking Bryan Cranston how he learned to act is priceless, as well as the story about how Gould and Gilligan could make Saul Goodman a likable character.This book is for anyone who wants to understand what itâs like to work in comedy. Itâs a funny and entertaining book by a man who likes to entertain himself. I highly recommend it.
Reviewer: Michael D.
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Memoir sprinkled with laughs and wisdom
Review: Sprinkled throughout this memoir you will find out about Bob Odenkirkâs experience as a comedy sketch writer. Some good things you will find, are his sense of humor, timing, and his way of trying to squeeze rotten lemons to make lemonade with his career. Some of it is laugh out loud funny, a lot of it is boring and about being a comedy writer, minutia. He hangs in there, he keeps trying and after a million people say no, or wantonly destroy his comedic visions and work, he just writes more and has new ideas. Occasionally, he has triumphs and glory like doing Mr. Show, writing for SNL, and performing at Second City, etc. not to mention over ten years playing Saul Goodman, a juicy and awesome role for any actor.If you are an uber fan of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, you might want to read this book. Otherwise, if you make a screwy face and say, âwho the F of F is Bob Odenkirk?â Maybe read something else, whatever floats your banana barge⦠Bob has an innate toughness that allows him to brush off rejection or failure and move on to the next thing. Heâs constantly inspired. He also has the wisdom to stick around for ten years playing the role of a lifetime with Saul Goodman. Another thing, Bob has a creative mind that constantly scours out each moment for kernels of humor and truth, whereas most people view these things like a âbrain fartâ or passing whimsical idea, Bob works on them into something loosely called entertainment or comedy⦠or drama. You could say all actors do that. Do they? Bob will explain emphatically that they do NOT.This book flows with Bobâs speaking patterns and is presented pretty much like a performance piece. Good news, if you are a huge Mr. Show fan, then about a quarter of the narrative details cool info about the more well-known sketches. So, if youâre not hip to Mr. Show, you can see a lot of that content online for free these days. Another bonus, season 6 will bring 13 new episodes soon — of Better Call Saul.
Reviewer: J. Roy
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Revealing
Review: I like Bob Odenkirk’s screenwork (and went to the same school — SIUC!). Hence, my initial interest in this book. Everything I likeabout him came through in his candid telling of his professional journey. It was never boring! I learned a lot, too, about “the industry.” THANKS, Bob, for sharing!
Reviewer: Raquel Gomez
Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars
Title: This is the kind of book thatâs not for me, but for a target audience would be a marvelous read.
Review: Bob Odenkirk is famously known for his roles in Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad. He spends less than 25% of the book discussing both – which can be a good bad thing depending on what you came for.As a huge fan of both series, I did hope for more discussion on both of these. As a reader, though, this book was incredibly informative. Again, depending on what youâre reading the book for, that could be potentially a bad thing. Bob highlights many comics in the world of stand up leading into general knowledge on Saturday Night Live, and other famous 80s and 90s actors. I found myself often lost and Googling the names of these people, and eventually skipping through some parts as well.This is very much a professional-angled memoir, highlighting his journey as a writer, comedian, and eventually actor. I didnât hate the book, but I definitely didnât love it either, and I think thatâs 100% because I came to read about Breaking Bad and his personal life more than a passage through his professional life.
Reviewer: P. Howard
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Great insights
Review: I had never heard of Bob Odenkirk before Breaking Bad. I have never been much of a sketch comedy fan, except for SNL. But his performance on BB and Better Call Saul has been so incredibly funny, heartbreaking, enchanting, that I am a huge fan. I could almost hear him talking as Saul when I read his words. He is a beautiful writer (no surprise, heâs been doing it his entire life). I didnât find this to be a quick read, because there are so many names, and so much philosophy about comedy and comedy writing, that I didnât want to miss a word. I can appreciate sketch comedy so much more now, after reading about the process and how difficult it is.
Reviewer: Cindy T.
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Definitely read if youâre a fan of Bob!
Reviewer: Adam
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Really enjoyed it. Worth a read.
Reviewer: Robin Lundenius
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
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Review: I feel in love with Bobs work through BB and BCS and worked my way backwards in time. The fact that he is now an “action movie star” is incredible and truly inspiring!! It was super interesting to get to know his story. I highly recommend this book! Thank you for your dedication Bob! ðð
Reviewer: Cliente Amazon
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
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Review: Ho acquistato la versione copertina flessibile per comodità di lettura e prezzo inferiore. à arrivato con delle pieghe e graffi. Pazienza. L’importante è il contenuto! Ben scritto. Ottima lettura!
Reviewer: Teresa C.
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Super well written and full of insights.
