Description

*THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES & NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER*

‘A real gem of a book for comedy fans… honest, irreverent and fascinating’ Matt Lucas

‘Bob Odenkirk is not only a brilliant comedy writer and performer, he is also a comedy fan. This book is a love letter to all his comedy heroes, full of warmth, heart and wit’ Georgia Pritchett

‘Bob is one of the sharpest comedy writers and actors working today. This is a wonderful memoir … I devoured it in one sitting’ David Walliams

‘I loved this book. I was in a lift with Bob once, back in the 90s – little did I know how high he was going’ Harry Hill

————————————————————-

In this hilarious, heartfelt memoir, the star of Mr. Show and Breaking Bad spin off 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 at age fifty as an action-film ass-kicker.

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, then 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? Read this and do your own psychoanalysis-it’s fun!

Featuring humorous tangents, never-before-seen photos, wild characters, and Bob’s trademark unflinching drive and humour, Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama is a classic showbiz tale told by a determined idiot.

‘I can’t think of another entertainer who has improbably morphed so many times and all through real genius and determination’ Conan O’Brien

‘An exceptionally and uniquely talented man who has had a huge influence on comedy for over thirty years. And now he’s given us his P.O.V. of that journey. This book is filled not only with lessons on “making” “it” in “showbiz” but also regular old life lessons as well (including his killer recipe for “Granny’s Sunday Loaf”). It’s funny, informative, and like the author himself, disarmingly honest. I look forward to meeting him one day’ David Cross

Publisher Review

As a writer, performer, director, and producer, Odenkirk gives a fascinating perspective on many aspects of the industry, and his explorations of his later career shift into dramatic roles-e.g., The Post in 2017, Little Women in 2019, and Nobody in 2021-are illuminating about both his own acting process and the creative work of other actors and entertainers [...] [T]his fun, thoughtful book will appeal to aspirants in any field. * Kirkus, STARRED REVIEW * Comedian and actor Odenkirk spills on the good, the bad, and oftentimes hilarious moments of his life in this gleeful and irreverent memoir. [...] Above all, he frankly demonstrates how hard work, pure dumb luck, and "learning to grab your junk and jump" can pay off in the most gratifying ways. Comedy fans will find plenty of laughs and some heartening lessons, too. * Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW * Odenkirk's account of triumph, struggle, and his firm belief that comedy is a unifying source of connection will inspirehis fans and motivate aspiring entertainers. * Library Journal * Writing from an insider's view on the industry, Odenkirk tells us what it is really like to work in and learn your way through the comedy business and beyond. [...] All readers who enjoy truth telling and satire will find Odenkirk's memoir engaging, as will all his fans who want to know why and how this famous comedian transformed himself into a serious actor. * Booklist * I've known Bob for over 30 years and yet I had to read this book to believe his stunning career arc. I can't think of another entertainer who has improbably morphed so many times and all through real genius and determination. * Conan O'Brien * Bob Odenkirk (sp?) is an exceptionally and uniquely talented man who has had a huge influence on comedy for over thirty years. And now he's given us his P.O.V. of that journey. This book is filled not only with lessons on "making" "it" in "showbiz" but also regular old life lessons as well (including his killer recipe for "Granny's Sunday Loaf"). It's funny, informative, and like the author himself, disarmingly honest. I look forward to meeting him one day. * David Cross * Bob is one the sharpest comedy writers and actors working today. This is a wonderful memoir of his illustrious career. Raw. Honest. Truthful. I devoured it in one sitting. * David Walliams * This is a real gem of a book for comedy fans; it's honest, irreverent and fascinating. * Matt Lucas *