Ladies and Gentlemen, Lenny Bruce!!
Ladies and Gentlemen, Lenny Bruce!!
Albert Goldman
Joe Rogan
Required reading for aspiring stand ups. [...] I’ve had this book for 25 years. A genuine classic. - Joe Rogan
+
1
All books

Ladies and Gentlemen, Lenny Bruce!!

Ladies and Gentlemen, Lenny Bruce!!

Albert Goldman
By
Albert Goldman
3.9
346
ratings on Goodreads

"Ladies and Gentlemen, Lenny Bruce!!" by Albert Goldman is a riveting exploration into the tumultuous life and groundbreaking career of one of comedy's most influential and controversial figures. With an unflinching eye, Goldman delves deep into Bruce's complex world, tracing his rise from a vaudeville performer to a nightclub sensation, and ultimately, to a martyr of free speech. Through meticulous research and interviews, the narrative captures the essence of Bruce's comedic genius, as well as the personal demons and societal forces that conspired against him. This biography is not just the story of a man ahead of his time but a poignant reflection on the price of artistry and the power of words to both liberate and destroy. Crafted with a keen understanding of the cultural and legal battles of the 1950s and 60s, Goldman's work presents a layered portrait of Lenny Bruce: the performer, the provocateur, the poet of the obscene. The book does more than chronicle Bruce's battles with censorship and his tragic descent into addiction; it immortalizes the spirit of a man who transformed comedy into a vehicle for critique and change, challenging America's perceptions of politics, religion, and freedom of expression. "Ladies and Gentlemen, Lenny Bruce!!" stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of a man who laughed in the face of adversity, and in doing so, changed the landscape of humor forever.

Read more
Released
1974
1 Jan
Length
700
Pages

1

recommendations

recommendation

Required reading for aspiring stand ups. [...] I’ve had this book for 25 years. A genuine classic. - Joe Rogan
Sahl was never a great comic. His nervous, jabbing, keep-them-off-balance delivery was the strategy of a man who was not comfortable in front of an audience. His creative method -- a rapid scanning of the day's output of newspapers, magazines, and radio broadcasts -- was a recipe for superficiality or, at best, the kind of quick, shallow laugh triggered by a topical allusion. Sahl was always devoid of the two basic ingredients of great humor: imagination and soul. He could make fun of the latest Hollywood movies. He could stab at the pieties of his own class. He could take an abrupt insight into politics or wold events and phrase it neatly into a gag. What he could never do was suggest a world of living, breathing people behaving in ridiculous yet recognizably human patterns.
— Albert Goldman, Ladies and Gentlemen, Lenny Bruce!!

Similar recommendations

View all
Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!
11
people
person
Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Walter Isaacson
9
people
person
Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs
Walter Isaacson
9
people
person
Becoming Steve Jobs
Becoming Steve Jobs
Brent Schlender
8
people
person
Educated
Educated
Tara Westover
8
people
person
Einstein
Einstein
Walter Isaacson
8
people
person
When Breath Becomes Air
8
people
person
12 Rules for Life
12 Rules for Life
Jordan Peterson
7
people
person
Mountains Beyond Mountains
7
people
person
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
7
people
person

This site is part of Amazon’s Associates Program. Purchasing books recommended by successful individuals through my links earns us a small commission, helping keep the site running, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our site!