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A Bushel of Beans and a Peck of Tomatoes: The Life and Times of "The Funniest Man in America"
The life story of the “Funniest Man in America” as only he could tell it.
James Gregory is beloved by millions…but the story of his astonishing rise to success has never been told—until now.
One of the most successful nightclub and theater comedians in America started out a long way from the stage, in the tiny farming community of Lithonia, Georgia. James was born into a family with lots of love but little money. His parents paid the doctor for his delivery with “a bushel of beans and a peck of tomatoes.”
Before he became “The Funniest Man in America,” James was a successful salesman of everything from encyclopedias to log homes. His take care of yourself so nobody has to take care of you. When he started over as a comedian, this commitment to hard work and honest dealing would be the key to his “business” of comedy. James loves working people—because that’s what he is, too.
James was quickly discovered—not just in the South, but across America—by folks who love down-home, wholesome humor. He became the court jester of country music royalty, too, from Randy Travis to “Whispering” Bill Anderson to the Possum himself, George Jones.
Whether it’s entertaining our troops in the Persian Gulf after 9/11, working the road with greats like Steven Wright and Jay Leno, or facing a heart-stopping emergency that sent him into a coma, James has squeezed a dozen lifetimes into a half-century of comedy. This book is the best James Gregory story yet—as only he can tell it.
James Gregory is beloved by millions…but the story of his astonishing rise to success has never been told—until now.
One of the most successful nightclub and theater comedians in America started out a long way from the stage, in the tiny farming community of Lithonia, Georgia. James was born into a family with lots of love but little money. His parents paid the doctor for his delivery with “a bushel of beans and a peck of tomatoes.”
Before he became “The Funniest Man in America,” James was a successful salesman of everything from encyclopedias to log homes. His take care of yourself so nobody has to take care of you. When he started over as a comedian, this commitment to hard work and honest dealing would be the key to his “business” of comedy. James loves working people—because that’s what he is, too.
James was quickly discovered—not just in the South, but across America—by folks who love down-home, wholesome humor. He became the court jester of country music royalty, too, from Randy Travis to “Whispering” Bill Anderson to the Possum himself, George Jones.
Whether it’s entertaining our troops in the Persian Gulf after 9/11, working the road with greats like Steven Wright and Jay Leno, or facing a heart-stopping emergency that sent him into a coma, James has squeezed a dozen lifetimes into a half-century of comedy. This book is the best James Gregory story yet—as only he can tell it.
- GenresAutobiography
220 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 12, 2024
22 people are currently reading
6 people want to read
About the author
James Gregory
170 books2 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 2, 2024
I was lucky enough to see James Gregory perform live four times and he was terrific every time. I enjoyed reading his story in his own words. The QR codes in the book linking to some of his best YouTube videos was also a nice touch.
November 4, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this autobiography of James Gregory's personal life and 40+ year career doing stand-up comedy. While Mr. Gregory's home life and work are interesting, I also enjoyed the many details he shared of what it is like living on the road as a hungry stand-up comedian trying to make a name for yourself (e.g., living with other comedians in the "comedy condo," selling merch after performances, appearing on early morning radio and TV shows to promote your local appearances, etc.) and practical advice on what it takes to improve your act and get promoted from opening act to feature act to headliner. He also offered common-sense views about today's cancel culture and other political viewpoints.
A few points about Mr. Gregory that stand out in my mind is that he had a successful career in sales until the age of 36 before he jumped into the stand-up world and he was eventually known as a "Southern Comedian" because of his country accent and the fact that he often told humorous stories related to his roots growing up dirt poor in a small town Georgia. He shares many stories about his early days breaking into the comedy scene, including interactions he had with other popular comedians before they made it big, including Jay Leno and Steven Wright. He also discussed what it's like doing Corporate Gigs and traveling overseas to perform for American troops.
All in all, this was an interesting read for anyone and also a MUST READ for anyone thinking about a career in stand-up comedy. On a sad note, the book begins with a short announcement that Mr. Gregory passed away at the age of 78 in May of 2024. I'm so grateful that he completed this book before his passing so that his knowledge and life can be shared with his fans and anyone else who is interested.
A few points about Mr. Gregory that stand out in my mind is that he had a successful career in sales until the age of 36 before he jumped into the stand-up world and he was eventually known as a "Southern Comedian" because of his country accent and the fact that he often told humorous stories related to his roots growing up dirt poor in a small town Georgia. He shares many stories about his early days breaking into the comedy scene, including interactions he had with other popular comedians before they made it big, including Jay Leno and Steven Wright. He also discussed what it's like doing Corporate Gigs and traveling overseas to perform for American troops.
All in all, this was an interesting read for anyone and also a MUST READ for anyone thinking about a career in stand-up comedy. On a sad note, the book begins with a short announcement that Mr. Gregory passed away at the age of 78 in May of 2024. I'm so grateful that he completed this book before his passing so that his knowledge and life can be shared with his fans and anyone else who is interested.
April 23, 2025
I went into this one as a fan of James' work.
Aside from the obligatory self-high fives and what seemed like a couple of hang-ups, it was overall an enjoyable read.
It wasn't as funny as his stand-up, but it still had some amusing bits throughout.
It seemed more on the serious side, with a lot of biographical information and some interesting stories as well. It also featured his advice for aspiring comedians, along with his philosophy on the medium and examples of his work ethic.
As you read the words, you can definitely hear them being spoken in his trademark voice.
While it's true that he really isn't credited enough for his career in comedy, he certainly makes up for that in this book.
He also really makes his feelings known on specific subjects, most of which I happen to agree on.
One thing I appreciated most was that his entire life story was devoid of 'you-know-what', be it tame or not. That was refreshing and a welcome relief.
Bottom line: A very good book. Funny, interesting, honest, and insightful. Not to mention, rather sad towards the end as you remember that this was his final professional assignment, finishing it up just days before his death. Judging by the final section of this book, he surely did a lot of good with what he did in the comedy world.
Aside from the obligatory self-high fives and what seemed like a couple of hang-ups, it was overall an enjoyable read.
It wasn't as funny as his stand-up, but it still had some amusing bits throughout.
It seemed more on the serious side, with a lot of biographical information and some interesting stories as well. It also featured his advice for aspiring comedians, along with his philosophy on the medium and examples of his work ethic.
As you read the words, you can definitely hear them being spoken in his trademark voice.
While it's true that he really isn't credited enough for his career in comedy, he certainly makes up for that in this book.
He also really makes his feelings known on specific subjects, most of which I happen to agree on.
One thing I appreciated most was that his entire life story was devoid of 'you-know-what', be it tame or not. That was refreshing and a welcome relief.
Bottom line: A very good book. Funny, interesting, honest, and insightful. Not to mention, rather sad towards the end as you remember that this was his final professional assignment, finishing it up just days before his death. Judging by the final section of this book, he surely did a lot of good with what he did in the comedy world.
December 27, 2024
I remember when Gregory came to Chattanooga a lot. I never saw him live, but saw a TV special he did and some short clips. He really is very funny.
February 18, 2025
I was lucky to see James live and met him through a mutual friend. He was a great person!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews