Steve Martin: The Performer and the Man

I watched Steve Martin on Jon Stewart’s The Daily Show recently and was once again intrigued by the difference between the performer and the man. Martin was promoting the paperback edition of Born Standing Up which reminded me of the review I posted on Amazon some months ago about this book. I thought I’d re-run it here.
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On the back cover, Jerry Seinfeld writes "Absolutely magnificent. One of the best books about comedy and being a comedian ever written." I thought this was standard hyperbole until I read the book. Seinfeld is spot on.

The irony is that I don't think I laughed once while reading the book - a few smiles, yes, but no side splitting laughter. Steve Martin off stage is a quiet almost shy person and this personality comes through in the book. He tells us very little about his private life although he does write with some angst about his lack of relationship with his father.

So why rate it so highly especially as the early part of the book is not very inspiring?

Martin shows just how difficult it is to make it in performance art. It took him well over a decade to become an overnight success. For the budding performer -comedian, actor, professional speaker, the book shows just what it takes to `make it.' Martin uses the word "precision" quite often in the book, originally in reference to an e.e. cummings quote "Like the burlesque comedian, I am abnormally fond of that precision which creates movement." The artist in Martin ultimately appreciated that every movement, every gesture counts on stage. When he writes "I tried to make every voice and gesture as crucial as jokes and gags," it reminded me of the thought and planning that the first great American humorist Mark Twain put into his performances.
If you want to learn about Steve Martin, this is not the book for you. Quite amazingly, he mentions his divorce twice in passing without ever telling you who he divorced. He was apparently married for fourteen years!

However, if you want a book on what it takes to `make it,' buy this book and learn that that "every second mattered. Every gesture mattered."
Great read for the wannabe artist or performer.