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I’ve always been a Steve Martin fan. Like, big time. My first “bit” as a kid was reciting his “I’m a wild and crrrazy guy!” routine at age four. My parents must’ve been thrilled. Fast forward a few decades, and Martin is still cracking me up. These days as my favorite character in my new favorite show, Only Murders in the Building.
Steve Martin is basically my spirit animal. Which meant it was finally time to pick up his autobiography, Born Standing Up. I went in expecting Martin’s trademark absurd humor. What I got was something deeper: an insightful trip through his childhood and his rise to stand-up fame.
Here is my Born Standing Up book review:
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Table of Contents
Steve Martin’s Born Standing Up Book Summary
Full Title: Born Standing Up: A Comic’s Life
Steve Martin’s Born Standing Up isn’t just a highlight reel of his best punchlines. In fact, humor takes a bit of a backseat altogether. This book focuses on behind-the-scenes stories of how Martin built his comedy career from scratch. He starts with his childhood in California, working at Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm (seriously, how cool is that!?) There, he picked up magic tricks, banjo skills, and his first taste of performing. From there, he traces the grind of playing small clubs (bombing often) and slowly shaping the oddball stage persona that would make him a household name.
The book follows Martin through his peak of the 1970s and early 1980s, when his stand-up shows filled arenas and his comedy albums sold millions. But it’s not all triumph. He also dives into the loneliness of life on the road, the pressure of constant touring, and the realization that his act had grown too big. Eventually, he walked away from stand-up at the height of his fame to focus on writing and movies. (And we were the fortunate beneficiaries!) Funny and reflective, Born Standing Up shows not just how Martin became a star, but why he stepped off the stage.
Check out more funny memoirs here!
Who is Steve Martin?
What, you don’t know who Steve Martin is? Shame on you, but I’ll fill you in anyway. He’s a comedy legend who first broke big in the 1970s as a stand-up comic with his absurd, off-the-wall routines (“Excuuuse me!”). From there, he became a movie star in classics like The Jerk, Father of the Bride, and Planes, Trains & Automobiles.
Martin isn’t just a funny guy in a white suit. He’s also a bestselling author, a Grammy-winning banjo player, a playwright, and most recently, one-third of the hilarious trio in Only Murders in the Building. Basically, if it involves words, music, or making people laugh, Steve Martin has done it. And done it better than most for many decades.
Find Mr. Martin here: SteveMartin.com
Check out more hilarious reads by some of my favorite stand-up comedians.
Now onto the rating! Born Standing Up Book Review:
My innovative system for rating humor books is explained here
Wholesomeness Score: 4/5
Born Standing Up doesn’t lean on profanity, raunch, or shock value. Instead, it’s thoughtful, reflective, and focused on Steve Martin’s journey. His childhood, the grind of stand-up, the loneliness of fame, and eventually moving into writing and acting. Not much in here will make you feel like you accidentally wandered into a raunchy comedy club.
Hilarity Score: 2/5
I went in expecting full-on ridiculous Steve Martin hilarity. Instead, the book is mostly serious and introspective. And you know what? I wasn’t disappointed. It shows Martin as a deep, complex character. This isn’t a book riddled with jokes because it’s not meant to be. You’ll find more reflection than belly laughs.
Overall Book Awesomeness Score: 4/5
Even though I just said I wasn’t mad about it not being hilarious, I’ve got to dock a point for lack of hilarity. This is a book about one of the funniest guys alive, after all! Still, I loved it. Getting to know one of my comedy heroes on a deeper, more personal level makes this memoir well worth the read.
Things I liked:
- He rode his bike to Disneyland to work as a kid. Worked until noon selling guidebooks and then spent the rest of the day in the park for free! Blows my mind that was an option for someone! I would do that today if I lived within biking distance to Disneyland.
Things I didn’t like:
- Sorry to continue belaboring this point. But the book wasn’t particularly funny. I know, it wasn’t written with that intention. Still, I’ll nitpick an otherwise great read.
- The book only covers Martin’s stand-up and early acting career. If you want to learn about his role in Father of the Bride (and beyond), you’ll have to look elsewhere!
Conclusion: Born Standing Up by Steve Martin Book Review
Steve Martin is one of my comedy heroes. (See also, Jim Gaffigan, Nate Bargatze.) While this book wasn’t especially comedic, it did dive deep into Martin’s to, and through his time as a comedian. I loved learning more about his path and it brought me back to my childhood when I was admiring (or obsessing about) Steve Martin’s comedic peak.
Read any good comedic memoirs? Give me your suggestions in the comments!
