Alexandra Daddario

This humorous essay collection explores the bizarre and mortifying events of daily life, from accidentally dropping a lozenge on a plane passenger to fighting off neurotic songbirds. With wit and insight, the author reflects on relatable situations while tackling deeper human truths, ultimately culminating in a hilarious account of his trip to Tokyo to quit smoking. This book is a new masterpiece of comic writing that will have readers in stitches.

This memoir tells the story of Steve Martin's rise to fame as a stand-up comedian in the mid-seventies, ultimately becoming the biggest concert draw in history by 1978. It's a candid and spectacularly amusing account of the sacrifices, discipline, and originality that made Martin an icon, informed by his experiences at Disneyland, the Bird Cage Theatre and Knott's Berry Farm. He also provides a portrait of the era of free love and protests against the Vietnam War, and the transformative new voice of Saturday Night Live in the seventies. Completing the memoir are photographs never seen before. Born Standing Up is a superb testament to one of the greatest and most iconoclastic comedians of all time.