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Party of One: A Fuzzy Memoir
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“Party of One is more than just another reflective rambling from another comedian. It's a brutal, coming-of-rage memoir that takes you through Landau's youth around the Motor City. His difficult family dynamic; his struggles with addiction; his desire to be accepted, forgiven, and not forgotten. He's done a hell of a lot of living for a guy this young and Landau knows how lucky he was to come out the other side. And that journey purged not only a brilliant stand-up but a prolific author granting us a window into his past that will connect all the dots from teen addict to sober warrior to successful comedian.”
— Brad Garrett, Emmy Award-winning actor, comedian, and author
“Party of One is more than just another reflective rambling from another comedian. It's a brutal, coming-of-rage memoir that takes you through Landau's youth around the Motor City. His difficult family dynamic; his struggles with addiction; his desire to be accepted, forgiven, and not forgotten. He's done a hell of a lot of living for a guy this young and Landau knows how lucky he was to come out the other side. And that journey purged not only a brilliant stand-up but a prolific author granting us a window into his past that will connect all the dots from teen addict to sober warrior to successful comedian.”
— Brad Garrett, Emmy Award-winning actor, comedian, and author
181 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 3, 2025
12 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 4, 2025
An honest telling of youthful indiscretions escalating to more serious offenses stemming from internal struggles, Party of One is a vulnerable look into Dave Landau’s formative years and how it affected the man he has become.
It’s no secret I’m a Dave stan but guys. I devoured this in one sitting. I tend to favor my romance and fantasy because reality has not always been kind—every so often I pick up an autobiography feeling some kind of connection with their story.
At times a suspense. At times a comedy. And at times a tragedy. This book gives us insight on a very dynamic person who got himself into innumerable outlandish situations and still came out the other side. From crazy parties, naive drug deals and personal loss, I was invested in every page and every memory.
Dave punches you right in face in the first chapter with a dramatic event and continues to hit you with moments that are a combination of sad yet darkly comical.
While I cannot relate to the substance abuse, the partying or the run ins with the law, I can very much relate to many of his mental stressors and struggles. The way he described his thoughts and feelings at certain points hit extremely close to home if not exactly how I’ve felt or feel.
The heart of this story is the boy who had to deal with difficult issues far beyond the capacity of most people let alone a child; and his subsequent battle with self medicating to cope resulting in self hate. 😢
It’s been a long time since a book made me feel enough to cry. Going from an addicted teenage delinquent to a successful comedian and more importantly, a healthier person and family man, is an admirable achievement. Through his openness and candor, he shows not only the change that we can be for ourselves, but the change that we can be for others.
I HIGHLY recommend this book. Buy it! Read it! Love it!
PS The most devastating part to read was that he hates to dance. 😢
It’s no secret I’m a Dave stan but guys. I devoured this in one sitting. I tend to favor my romance and fantasy because reality has not always been kind—every so often I pick up an autobiography feeling some kind of connection with their story.
At times a suspense. At times a comedy. And at times a tragedy. This book gives us insight on a very dynamic person who got himself into innumerable outlandish situations and still came out the other side. From crazy parties, naive drug deals and personal loss, I was invested in every page and every memory.
Dave punches you right in face in the first chapter with a dramatic event and continues to hit you with moments that are a combination of sad yet darkly comical.
While I cannot relate to the substance abuse, the partying or the run ins with the law, I can very much relate to many of his mental stressors and struggles. The way he described his thoughts and feelings at certain points hit extremely close to home if not exactly how I’ve felt or feel.
The heart of this story is the boy who had to deal with difficult issues far beyond the capacity of most people let alone a child; and his subsequent battle with self medicating to cope resulting in self hate. 😢
It’s been a long time since a book made me feel enough to cry. Going from an addicted teenage delinquent to a successful comedian and more importantly, a healthier person and family man, is an admirable achievement. Through his openness and candor, he shows not only the change that we can be for ourselves, but the change that we can be for others.
I HIGHLY recommend this book. Buy it! Read it! Love it!
PS The most devastating part to read was that he hates to dance. 😢
April 1, 2025
Such a great read in my opinion! Very glad I decided to get this from Dave Landau last week after I saw him perform.
May 19, 2025
As a longtime fan of Dave—and someone who also walks the path of sobriety—I found this book deeply relatable and powerful. It’s a collection of short stories that dive into the darker, often painful chapters of Dave’s past. The honesty in his storytelling is both raw and revealing, offering a window into the experiences that shaped him into the comedian and man he is today. It’s heartfelt, at times heartbreaking, and absolutely worth the read.
April 13, 2025
Oh, Dave. As the proud owner of a shirt with your face on it, someone who treasures the photo I have with you (with me wearing said shirt), and someone who has followed you for a while now, I knew bits and pieces of your story, but this was a hilarious yet heartbreaking experience to sit and read it all at once. I can’t believe what you went through at such a young age. I’m so proud of you for continuing to battle your demons and come out on top despite the shit hand you were dealt and the decisions you made as a teen and a young man.
——
Growing up in metro Detroit myself, with a lot of family in the Grosse Pointes and cousins who went to North, I liked all the local references and nods to local pop culture (I read “twenty-nine or two for fiddy” exactly as intended).
There were so many great lines in here. He’s big on similes and metaphors, and sometimes they were so outlandish I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. There were such hard topics sandwiched between lines like “No wonder my breath smelled like Mama June’s vibrator.” Nobody can tackle dark subject matter quite like Dave.
From a technical aspect, unlike a lot of indie memoirs, this had very few typos or grammatical errors (pretty much just a few instances of using apostrophes instead of pluralizing words, some punctuation issues, and inconsistent spelling of “Alexsander”). I got nervous when I saw the cover said “Foreward” and the inside of the book said “Forward” and both are incorrect and should be “Foreword,” but it looks like those errors may have already been corrected and this was surprisingly well written (sorry for being surprised, Dave) and edited.
——
I remember you talking years ago on LwC that you wrote a book and might someday release it. I’m glad you did. I hope this was cathartic to write and helped in your recovery. Proud of you, man.
——
Growing up in metro Detroit myself, with a lot of family in the Grosse Pointes and cousins who went to North, I liked all the local references and nods to local pop culture (I read “twenty-nine or two for fiddy” exactly as intended).
There were so many great lines in here. He’s big on similes and metaphors, and sometimes they were so outlandish I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. There were such hard topics sandwiched between lines like “No wonder my breath smelled like Mama June’s vibrator.” Nobody can tackle dark subject matter quite like Dave.
From a technical aspect, unlike a lot of indie memoirs, this had very few typos or grammatical errors (pretty much just a few instances of using apostrophes instead of pluralizing words, some punctuation issues, and inconsistent spelling of “Alexsander”). I got nervous when I saw the cover said “Foreward” and the inside of the book said “Forward” and both are incorrect and should be “Foreword,” but it looks like those errors may have already been corrected and this was surprisingly well written (sorry for being surprised, Dave) and edited.
——
I remember you talking years ago on LwC that you wrote a book and might someday release it. I’m glad you did. I hope this was cathartic to write and helped in your recovery. Proud of you, man.
April 24, 2025
Thank you Dave for having the courage to to put the pain of life upon the page and to open up to the reader a world where everyone makes mistakes, but you keep moving forward.
This is raw, it's brutal, it's hilariously vicious. The message on the last page is so vital.
This is raw, it's brutal, it's hilariously vicious. The message on the last page is so vital.
May 5, 2025
Very quick read. Dave Landau is a hilarious comic. I appreciate his deadpan one liners delivered most often bouncing off others. I knew Dave had a tumultuous childhood riddled with drugs and alcohol. This book was a matter of fact retelling of some of those unbelievable moments he had growing up in Grosse Point, Michigan spending his “free” time in nearby unsavory environs in the 90’s. The stories are peppered with survival humor and I appreciate his use of just the right amount of sap. His personal reflections are sparing;when he digs in, it rings true and impactful. Less is more - I relate.
Points for voice, length, style, setting and humor. Ironically, docking because I wish it was longer true score is 4.5. There could be a part 2 digging deeper into his recovery. I respect that it may take time to get there.
Points for voice, length, style, setting and humor. Ironically, docking because I wish it was longer true score is 4.5. There could be a part 2 digging deeper into his recovery. I respect that it may take time to get there.
December 28, 2025
Shocking, hilarious, and completely authentic.
I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Dave casually since he started on The Anthony Cumia Show, and I've been lucky enough to watch his career grow from Detroit to NYC and Las Vegas.
Party of One is written directly from the soul. It captures the unique voice I’ve seen on stage for years—that shocking "left-turn" approach to comedy where you never know where he's going next. But more than that, it shows the side of him that people might not expect: a genuinely nice person, even when he’s dealing with hecklers.
Originally hailing from the Flint area myself, I deeply identified with his Detroit roots and the specific Michigan upbringing he paints. The most powerful parts for me were the honest reflections on his tight-knit family, his group of friends, and the tragedy of losing his parents young. He has this incredible ability to turn his own life's tragic moments into gut-splitting comedy. It resonates because, in reality, he's like many of us facing similar challenges, and he permits us to laugh through the pain.
If you enjoy his stand-up or his work on Normal World, you need to read this. It’s a wild, funny ride, but grounded in real heart.
I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Dave casually since he started on The Anthony Cumia Show, and I've been lucky enough to watch his career grow from Detroit to NYC and Las Vegas.
Party of One is written directly from the soul. It captures the unique voice I’ve seen on stage for years—that shocking "left-turn" approach to comedy where you never know where he's going next. But more than that, it shows the side of him that people might not expect: a genuinely nice person, even when he’s dealing with hecklers.
Originally hailing from the Flint area myself, I deeply identified with his Detroit roots and the specific Michigan upbringing he paints. The most powerful parts for me were the honest reflections on his tight-knit family, his group of friends, and the tragedy of losing his parents young. He has this incredible ability to turn his own life's tragic moments into gut-splitting comedy. It resonates because, in reality, he's like many of us facing similar challenges, and he permits us to laugh through the pain.
If you enjoy his stand-up or his work on Normal World, you need to read this. It’s a wild, funny ride, but grounded in real heart.
May 2, 2025
What a great book from a great comedian. Dave tells the true stories of his life that shaped his dry witty comedy. Such a fun and quick read. Some of the stories are part of his stand up but provided in more detailed form. Hilarious and heartbreaking and relatable to any Gen Xer who grew up in the 90s, especially in the Midwest. Can't wait for the more books from him!
September 16, 2025
I’ve seen Dave perform several times and had great conversations with him after a few shows. He is a great comic and one of the most hilarious comedians of our time. This is a great insight to his personal life growing up. If you enjoy his comedy, you will enjoy his memoir. Buy it to support him and enjoy!
November 26, 2025
I sat down to start reading this today and couldn’t stop. This book is far more profound, heartfelt, authentic, and well written than it has any right to be. I highly recommend picking up a copy. If you have every hit bottom or struggled with addiction this book will give you hope and make you feel less isolated.
May 24, 2025
Damn, that was good! I always thought I tried my best to destroy my life but Dave had me beat altogether. At times funny and at times pretty somber, it was a rollercoaster of emotions depicting a life. I'd like to shake his hand.
June 3, 2025
Funny, reflective and raw. It felt authentic to me which is refreshing. Easy to read and compelling. I love Dave, what a dude!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews