Steve Martin: Born Standing Up

My take on autobiographies is somewhat twisted since I have always felt that someone that has achieved some level of success ordinarily writes a autobiography to 'unload' on someone or something that has occurred in their past. My cousin Rick loaned me what is probably the first autobiography since my college days. Which goes to prove that I haven't learned much since then and that maybe I should pick up more non-fiction in my life.

Born Standing Up is the defining guy book about Steve Martin . I call it a guy book since the revelations made in it will speak to any man that has had a split with his father. I will not call it a homage to Mr. Martin's father more so a reason for his inner chemistry what drove him to the world of entertainment. It traces Steve's beginnings from a Disneyland street urchin up to just before his most current films. This is one of those mid-life autobiographies that seem to say "Hey this is what made me tick for the most part and there is still more to come later so just hang out and you will find more" (okay you can breathe now) . Full of his memories uncluttered by malice or aggrandizement, Mr. Martin's prose makes for an entertaining read albeit at times really gives you an insight to one of the most groundbreaking comedians of the 1970's. His handling of his parents is one of endearment laced with irony for what makes Mr. Martin tick. We all are formed by our environments and it is obvious that Steve is "the child is the father to the man."
Back in the 70's I was not a huge fan of Steve Martin since I was raised watching Red Skelton and Jackie Gleason and a parade of other comedians. It took listening to an old Lenny Bruce album to see where his comedy was coming from. I would have been called square up until that point since I thought that Jerry Lewis was the fount of comedie del arte'. So it took The Jerk for me to start to really appreciate Steve Martin as a comedian this book fills in the reasons and somewhat explains the world in which he grew up in and the canvas that he used to paint his comedic art upon. Steve is one of the most accomplished artists out there when it comes to comedy although most of the newer comedians attempt to break new ground in what takes us away from the reality of todays headlines. I found the book enlightening and well written since it didn't take us down a road of reality showmanship it was a treatise on how one man stood up in the hardest job there is, to succeed where so many others have gone home or a different direction. Granted there were some movie choices that left me wanting, but on the whole Steve Martin is one genuine article in the world of cheapass knock offs. I rate this a 4.5 out of 5 periods
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