I'm Not a Terrorist, But I've Played One On TV: Memoirs of a Middle Eastern Funny Man

by Maz Jobrani

“A funny, insightful memoir” (Kirkus Reviews) about growing up Iranian in America, and the quest to make it as an actor in Hollywood without having to wear a turban, tote a bomb, or get kicked in the face by Chuck Norris.After he emigrated with his family to the US during the Iranian Revolution, Maz Jobrani spent most of his youth trying to fit in with his adopted culture—learning to play baseball and religiously watching Dallas. But none of his attempts at assimilation made a difference to casting directors, who only auditioned him for the role of kebab-eating, bomb-toting, extremist psychopath. When he first started out in show business, Maz endured suggestions that he spice up his stand-up act by wearing “the outfit,” fielded questions about rising gas prices, and was jeered for his supposed involvement in the Iran hostage crisis. In fact, these things happened so often that he began to Could I be a terrorist without even knowing it? And when all he seemed to be offered were roles that required looking menacingly Arabic, he wondered if he would ever make it in America. This laugh-out-loud memoir chronicles a lifetime of both killing it and bombing on stage, with “plenty to say about matters of race, assimilation, embarrassing family members, life in America for brown-skinned people before and after 9/11, the vagaries of international pop culture, and making it in big, dumb, fizzy, sometimes beautiful America” (The New York Times).

Genres: Humor, Memoir, Nonfiction, Biography, Comedy, Iran, Audiobook

242 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 17, 2015

Reviews

[Heidi Wiechert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Humor is an interesting concept. It varies from person to person and even day to day. Something that you find funny today might not even make you crack a smile tomorrow.

But what I've discovered through watching a variety of stand-up comics is that the most successful ones tend to bring their own lives into the act in a powerful way. They distill what makes them unique and apply a humorous lens to it, making you feel like laughing or crying. It's almost like storytelling through jokes. I feel like you have to be a brave person to even attempt it. Because what if you fail?

Have you ever watched Maz Jobrani's stand up? He does some storytelling and it's rather funny. But he also has a back-and-forth with his audience, highlighting the differences between everyone but, beneath that, our essential humanness.

It is that unique voice that comes through in his memoir. He describes growing up Iranian in America and it wasn't an easy ride. But even through his difficulties, Maz makes it amusing.

He helped me to understand what it is like to be an Iranian in America and also a successful, stand up comic.

In addition to his life story, Maz's detailed descriptions of other countries makes the reader want to travel to all sorts of exotic locales. This book made me want to visit Petra. :) Some day, perhaps.

If you enjoyed I'm Not a Terrorist, But I've Played One on TV, you may want to read Sleepwalk With Me and Other Painfully True Stories by Mike Birbiglia, Shrinkage: Manhood, Marriage, and the Tumor That Tried to Kill Me by Bryan Bishop or I'm Just a Person by Tig Notaro.

In similar ways to this book, Birbiglia, Bishop and Notaro take their lives and share them with us, the readers. They make you laugh, and like Maz, you can't help but appreciate the brilliance and bravery of comedians. Life isn't always funny, but it can be. It just depends on what you focus on.

[Masoud Irannejad · Rating 3 out of 5]

نمیشه به این کتاب به دید طنز نگاه کرد، چون در این زمینه زیاد موفق نیست
کتاب در حقیقت زندگی نامه مازیار جبرانی از کودکی تا شهرت تقریبی ایشون درخاورمیانه است

پ.ن: گویا نسخه ترجمه شده سانسور کم نداره پس بهتون پیشنهاد میکنم در صورت امکان نسخه اصلی رو (نه صرفا به خاطر سانسور ، بلکه برای بیشتر لذت بردن) مطالعه کنید

پ.ن2:خودم ترجمه شده خوندم و لذتی ازش نبردم، 3 امتیاز رو بیشتر به خاطر استند آپ های مازیار دادم تا کتاب

[Monique · Rating 3 out of 5]

مدت ها بعد از خوندن "عطر سنبل عطر کاج" ،دوباره کتابی به دستم رسید
که خوندنش باعث میشد بی توجه به جاییکه هستم بزنم زیر خنده
البته خنده ای شدید تر از کتاب فیروزه جزایری،این مرد واقعا بلده چجور آدمو بخندونه حتی از روی صفحات کتاب
شاید این کتاب ارزش ادبیاتی به اون صورت نداشته باشه
ولی من ستاره هایی که بهش میدم رو بابت این میدونم
که تونست وقتی خیلی ناراحت بودم حالمو خوب کنه
با توجه به کلیپ هایی که از اقای جبرانی دیده بودم کاملا برام قابل تصور بود چجور اینا رو روی صحنه تعریف میکنه
(اخه قسمت هایی از متن همون چیزای بامزه ای هست که روی صحنه میگه)
و باعث میشد بارها با یاداوریش بخندم یا برای بقیه تعریف کنم و اونام بخندن با من
یه نکته ارزشمند در این کتاب وجود داره،اونم تلاش مردیه که سعی میکنه به خوانندده ها بفهمونه مردم خاورمیانه شاخ و دم ندارن!
درجایی از کتاب میگفت به یه کشور عربی سفر کرده بود در خاورمیانه
و سربازهای گارد شاه ههم خیلی راحت باهاش انگلیسی حرف میزدن
و این مایه ی تعجب نویسنده بودکه یک سرباز میتونه راحت به زبان اونها صحبت کنه
اما مردم آمریکا چقد نسبت به سایر نقاط دنیا بسته هستن و اطلاعات کمی دارن
حتی به شوخی میگفت اگر یه آمریکایی بگه باید منطقه (خاورمیانه) رو بمبارون کنیم ،حتی نمیتونه نام ببره تو این "منطقه" چه کشورهایی هست!!
+آقای جبرانی ،متشکرم!

[Zsa Zsa · Rating 4 out of 5]

If anyone followed the list of my read books, they would clearly know that I’m an inspiring standup comedian. I think it’s something you’re born with, not something you’re raised into. It’s the way you see life in comic relief even when it’s hitting you hardest, or especially when it’s hitting you hardest.
So I’m genuinely interested in the journey of all those successful standups out there, who have turned their passion into a career they love, and Maz’ story is more than just another standup story because he’s a legal alien in America and he’s from Iran, so there’s a lot to relate to.
The beginning and the end were hilarious, he made me laugh for a whole day.

[Mohadese · Rating 3 out of 5]

عرضم به حضورتون که کتاب دو بخش داره زمان کودکی (و بعضا جوانی و بزرگسالی!) مازیار جبرانی کمدین ایرانی مقیم آمریکا و بخش معروف شدن‌ش،
بخش اول که تقابل فرهنگ‌های ایران و آمریکا رو میگه مشابه است با "عطر سنبل‌ عطر کاج"، اما به نظرم اون کتاب صمیمی‌تره با این که بعضا شوخی‌های این کتاب بیشتره اما به صورت ضربتیه نه با یه ریتم خاص (حالا من بلد نیستم اصطلاحات علم کمدی رو :دی)
یه جاهایی از کتاب احساس میکردم خیلی افراطی داره از نظام موجود در ایران حرف میزنه اما در کل تلاش‌ش برای شناسوندن ایران به عنوان یه کشور غیر_تروریست قابل ستایشه!
در کل به نظرم خود مازیار جبرانی و استندآپ کمدی‌هاش خیلی خیلی بهتر از این کتابه!
این کتاب رو انتشارات کوله پشتی چاپ کرده ولی احتمالا یه عالمه سانسوری داره و کُلی از شوخی‌هاش حذف شده، لذا توصیه میکنم یا نخونیدش یا به زبان اصلی بخونید چون علاوه بر بحث سانسور از نظر من یک سری از شوخی‌های کتاب کاملا وابسته به قلم نویسنده است که قابل ترجمه نیست!

[Ola · Rating 4 out of 5]

i can get depressed thinking about the lack of positive, relatable representation of muslims/middle easterners in western media and literature, so coming across a successful, spunky iranian-american stand-up comedian like maz jobrani has been an important moment for me. maz discusses his frustrations with stereotypes of muslims and middle easterners, the constant conflations of arabs and iranians as a monolithic group in the face of our cultural and historical differences, even the challenges he must face with gulf arab governments as an iranian touring the gulf arab countries. i've realized that maz jobrani may be the one middle eastern figure i can easily identify with and appreciate in all of western media as he echoes my own struggles and irritations, making me feel less alone and not like i'm just overthinking things. he has genuinely made me proud as a fellow muslim and middle easterner and so grateful for his sincere intentions and efforts for change. as a comedian, yes, maz is too repetitive with his already limited material, and yes, he still needs a lot of practice, but oh man there have been occasions in his stand ups where he had me laughing till my stomach hurt, especially with his free-spirited, party-loving iranians vs. gruff, stoic-faced arabs jokes. i know that in my arab country and other arab communities, iranians can be perceived as hipsterish, artistic, and rather romantic and poetic, as opposed to us arabs who are boorish in comparison, as well as guttural and brusque in our mannerisms and language.

i doubt that maz's spirit can be effectively translated onto paper, as they don't have the near impact as his stand ups. then again, that usually goes for a lot of comedians writing books, so don't let the less enthusiastic reviews and ratings completely discourage you from giving maz a chance. i'd seriously recommend that you search his stand ups on youtube instead, like his "i come in peace" gig in sweden or his "a saudi, an indian and iranian walk into a bar" performance in qatar.

like too many comedians, he has sometimes been guilty of gender stereotyping and other crass jokes and i REALLY wish he'd drop that and stick to using his platform for good.

[Parisa Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

قصد داشتم ریویو را انگلیسی بنویسم اما گفتم فارسی بنویسم که شاید افراد بیشتری مشتاق بشن برای خوندن.کتاب طنزآنیز فوق العاده جالبی بود از یک کمدین ایرانی که در آمریکا بزرگ شده. مثال هایی از بخش های بامزه کتاب را قبلا زدم اما بازم چندتاشو را در ادامه میزنم.بخش اول کتاب که بیشتر درباره خانواده خود ماز جبرانی و ایران بود جالب تر بود تا بخش دومش که درباره کمدین شدنش و سفرهاش به کشورهای مختلف بود. توصیه میشه که حتما نسخه انگلیسی خونده بشه چون به احتمالا 99 درصد سانسور زیادی داره چون از رژیم حاضر زیاد بد گفته

[Ashkan Ansari · Rating 2 out of 5]

من نسخه انگلیسی این کتاب را خوانده ام. از دید من کار قابل ملاحظه ای نیست چه از دید زبانی و چه از دید موضوعی. باری، امیدوارم اشتباه کرده باشم اما تصور می کنم این نسخه، بدون اجازه نویسنده به چاپ رسیده است. اگر چنین باشد، این نهایت بی شرافتی مترجم و ناشر است و این کار هیچ تفاوتی با از دیوار مردم بالا رفتن ندارد. ‏

[roxi Net · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once it's published, I plan to buy several hardcopies to give to friends!

This was such a great memoir to read - a perfect combination of hilarity and sincerity. I wasn't too aware of who Maz Jobrani actually was (apart from a few vague memories) and I'm so glad I was able to read his memoir and his struggles both in the comedy world and as a "Middle Eastern Funny Man' (growing up Iranian-American).

I laughed out loud reading this book (which is rare to happen) and it made me think of how others were/are perceived in post-911 America (also, the seemingly effortless humor of comedians isn't effortless at all).

It was a very easy read, a page turner for sure and I'd like to think it would be for everyone, any where to read but that wouldn't be reality; I know for sure I will be recommending it to many of my friends and my family - I haven't loved

[Paria · Rating 3 out of 5]

کتاب خاطرات کمدین معروفی به نام مازیار جبرانی هستش که متولد ایران و بزرگ شده ی آمریکاست. توی کتاب از خاطرات خودش ه��گام ورود به آمریکا، وارد شدنش به این شغل، تجربیات کاری و زندگی خودش البته با لحن طنز صحبت کرده. و البته تمام طول کتاب تلاش کرده تصور تروریست بودن خاورمیانه ای ها رو از ذهن خواننده پاک کنه. ضمنا حین سفرهای مختلفش به کشورهای مختلف هم همیشه در تلاش بوده تا این تصور غلط رو اصلاح کنه.
معمولا با کتابای طنز، اونم به این سبک خیلی خوب ارتباط برقرار نمیکنم. ولی بخش اولش رو بیشتر دوست داشتم. که خاطراتش از زمان کودکیش و بعد از ورود به آمریکا، و تقابل فرهنگ ایرانی خانوادش با فرهنگ جامعه هستش. این بخش مشابه کتاب "عطر سنبل، عطر کاج" بود.
95/11/10

[Maryam Behzadi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75
راستش شاید اون هفتاد و پنج صدم آخرش رو برای پایانش که خیلی دراماتیک تموم شد دادم! ولی به هرحال…
من ماز جبرانی رو سال‌ها بود که می‌شناختم و تقریبا کل ویدیوهاشو از یوتوب دیده بودم! (هاها… من حتی اون یک دلار رو هم برای خریدن دی‌وی‌دی‌های قاچاقی مصرف نکردم). زبان اصلی کتاب انگلیسی بود و خب انگلیسی هم شوخی‌های خاص خودشو داره که توی ترجمه به خنده‌داری متن اصلی نمی‌شه! ولی به هر حال مترجم تا حد زیادی تلاشش رو کرده بود و من به عنوان کسی که با کارهای ماز جبرانی آشنایی داشتم می‌فهمیدم که توی متن اصلی کتاب چی نوشته واسه همین خندم می‌گرفت (چون بخش عظیمی از کتاب همون استندآپ کمدی‌هاشه که تو یوتوب می‌تونید سرچ کنید)! ولی بهتون توصیه می‌کنم که اگه می‌خواید تمام و کمال از این کتاب لذت ببرید متن انگلیسی رو بخونید! نثر کتاب فوق‌العاده روون بود و می‌تونستید کتاب رو یه نفس تا آخر بخونید بدون اینکه متوجه گذر زمان بشید!

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s not bad. It’s not great. It is entertaining. If you enjoy reading memoirs written by comedians, it’s worth checking out I'm Not a Terrorist ... after reading some of the funnier entries. I will say that it’s the best memoir I’ve read by an Iranian-American (insert comment here about my reading habits since I can actually say this with authority). Maz Jobrani is a funny guy. The book has some funny moments. It didn’t always connect, but it’s more enjoyable than not. Recommended.

[Baktash · Rating 2 out of 5]

شاید این نوشته ها موقع اجرا در صحنه خنده دار میبود، ولی مطمعنا نگارششون به شکل کتاب  لوس و خنک بود. شایدم اون نکات ظریفی که در زبان اصلی متن بوده به خوبی در ترجمه منتقل نشده. به هر حال جز‌ یکی دوجا لبخندی به لب من نیوورد و انگار مجسمه داشتم کتاب رو میخوندم.
----
کلا بین استندآپ کمدین های ایرانی  "مکس امینی" به نظرم ذاتن با مزه است و باقی چنگی به دل نمیزنن.

[Houmer Afsari · Rating 3 out of 5]

قطعا ارزش ادبی نمیشه براش در نظر گرفت، اما خواندنش خالی از لطف نیست. مثل یه استراحت بین کناب های دیگه می مونه

[Arash · Rating 3 out of 5]

خب نمی‌دونم اینکه یه کمدین کتاب (تقریبا)‌اتوبیوگرافی هم بنویسه ایرانی بازی حساب می‌شه یا نه. ولی مسلما از اجراهای کمدی ایشون بیش از کتابش لذت بردم.
آقای ماز جبرانی بازیگر-کمدین ایرانی-آمریکایی هستند و یکی از معروفترین کارهاشون هم اجراهای کمدیشون در تور «محور شرارت» هست که عنوانش به خاطر همون خطاب مشهور جورج بوش هست که کشورهایی رو محور شرارت خونده بود. موضوع اون تور شوخی با این تصویر تروریست آماده انفجاری که از خاورماینه‌ای ها در اذهان آمریکایی کاشته شده و نشون دادن این مطلب بوده که مردم خاورمیانه صلح جو هستند.
این کتاب بیشتر زندگی نامه ماز جبرانی هست. مطالب جالب و لذت بخشی در این زندگینامه هست، مثلا تصویری از زندگی خانواده‌های مهاجر ایرانی در آمریکا، نحوه ورود ماز جبرانی به دنیای هنر و استندآپ کمدی و ... لابه‌لای این مطالب هم خب بدیهتا پر هست از خوشمزگی‌های آقای کمدین، که هرچند بعضیاشون بسیار خنک بودند، بعضی هم الحق می‌تونستند خنده رو به لبهای من بیارند.
ترجمه نسبتا خوب بود، اما با اینحال با توجه به اینکه ارجاعات زیادی به فرهنگ عامه آمریکایی در کتاب هست، به نظر می‌رسید که مقداری از روح کتاب در ترجمه منعکس نشده (یا شاید بهتر بگم نمی‌تونسته بشه).

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I have never watched any of Mr. Jobrani's stand up, but I am making it a priority to do so after reading his story. There was a lot of humor as he told his story of being an Iranian American doing stand-up, but also a lot of heart. He tells stories about his trips to the Middle East which show a much different side than what Americans are normally told about it. All in all a funny, entertaining and fast read.

[Sara Naheedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an Iranian American, I could relate to this book on so many levels. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Maz's life and appreciated the culture shock that happens when an Iranian American moves to Southern California after having grown up around next to none. Very well written and hilarious too! Good job Maz!

[Emad Alamoudi · Rating 4 out of 5]

سيرة حياة الستاند اب كوميدي، الإيراني الأصل الأمريكي الجنسية، ماز جبراني. 240 صفحة من الضحك المتواصل تقريباً. ان كنت قد شاهدة مقاطع له على اليوتيوب ونالت إعجابك فأنصحك بشراء الكتاب في اقرب فرصة. يحكي قصة حياته بأسلوب ساخر حتى في أكثر اللحضات جدية. يتطرق أيضاً إلى رحلاته وتجاربة في الشرق الأوسط، حيث سافر إلى الأمارات، السعودية، الأردن و لبنان.

كتاب جيد جداً لمن أراد تغيير جو القراءة الجدية.

[ریحانه صارمی · Rating 1 out of 5]

یه نمونه ای که نشون میده استندآپ کمدی خیلی بیشتر از متن طنزه. شاید اجرای این متنها خنده دار باشند اما خوندن کتاب نهایتا در بعضی جاها یک لبخند خفیف بر لبتون بشونه

[Mohaddeseh (Ketab Varesh) · Rating 3 out of 5]

من یکی از طرفدارای ماز جبرانیم برای همین این کتابو خریدم.
هفتاد صفحه اولش خیلی به نظرم خوب جلو نرفت، حس می کردم ماز جبرانی خیلی داره میزنه تو سر ایران و ایرانی ها (شاید دارم نظر تعصبی میدم، واقعا نمیدونم) ولی به همون شدت از آمریکایی ها انتقاد نمی کرد یا روش هاشون رو به سخره نمی گرفت. خلاصه ایران دهه 70 خیلی فرق داشت و شاید در اصل حق با ماز باشه. بگذریم...

بعدش کتاب خیلی بهتر شد، ماز از معروف شدن خودش، بالا و پایین کارش، مشکلاتی که با خانواده داشت نوشته بود و من تازه فهمیدم ماز جبرانی چقدر بیشتر از حد تصورم معروفه. آقا خیلی معروفه ها :) ایکاش بعضی از شوخی های معروفی که توی استند آپاش خیلی تکرار میشه رو توی کتاب هم تکرار نمی کرد و انقدر پراکنده نمی نوشت. (هرچی که فکر کنید توی کتاب پیدا میشه دیگه)

از همه اینا بگذریم ماز از یه موضوع خیلی مهم حرف میزنه، اینکه در زمان تراژدی کمدی یکی از بهترین روش های کنار اومدن با یه موضوعه یا میتونه امیدبخش باشه و انرژی ادامه دادن رو بهمون بده. اینکه تو یه همچین زمانی کمدی و طنز نباید کنار گذاشته بشه و مردم نباید برای این موضوع سرزنش بشن. به شخصه من خودم دقیقا همین جوری حالم رو خوب میکنم و فوق العاده تاثیر مثبتی برام داشته.

در کل خوشحالم که این کتابو خوندم چون واقعا ماز جبرانی رو دوست دارم.

[Liz De Coster · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some amusing parts, but some sort of "meh" ones as well, and some material that seems recycled. Jobrani's stories of traveling and performing throughout the Middle East are quite interesting, but overall the book doesn't seem to be one thing or another - partially humor, partially memoir, but they don't quite fit together.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maz Jobrani feels like a long-lost brother to me, that’s how good he is at connecting to his audience. His book is an important read whether or not you like his comedy. Simply put, we need to hear more positive and uplifting stories from Middle Easterners. Also, the What would Sofia Vergara do-part was hilarious.

[Niloofar karimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

مثل همه طنزهای خوب دیگه صرفا یه سری جک نبود و تونسته بود از این بستر استفاده کنه و فرهنگ مردم آمریکا و خاورمیانه به خصوص ایرا�� رو به چالش بکشه و یک قسمت هایی شباهت زیادی به کتاب عطر سنبل عطر کاج داشت اون هم کتاب بسیار شیرینی بود.

[Steph N · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve always enjoyed the Axis of Evil comedy tour. Maz is hilarious and charming.

Representation matters and hearing middle eastern voices in comedy... has always been something special m.

[Sarina M · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have come to the conclusion that memoirs by comedians tend to just be mediocre. This was semi entertaining, but as I just gave a really amazing book (Of Human Bondage) four stars, I can't in good conscience give this the same rating. This is a 3.5 book.

[Mahshid · Rating 3 out of 5]

بعد از مدتی کتاب طنز خواندن برای تقویت روحیه واقعا لازمه. تقریبا نوشته های کتاب خاطراتی بود که ماز اون ها رو تو استند آپ هاش هم میگه و چون چند تا از اجراهاش رو دیده بودم یکم برام تکراری بود ولی در هر حال بامزه بود.

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Full Disclosure: On the day the book was published the author came to my school to promote it and I got to meet him as well. And while my copy is autographed I have tried to review this as objectively as possible.)

Like other countries, America has trouble with racial and ethnic stereotypes (to say the least). But one of the great ways we have to overcome those stereotypes is comedy. In this short memoir, Iranian-American Maz Jobrani tells about his life growing up in America as an immigrant at the same time the Iranian hostage crisis was occurring. It extends beyond that into his family life and well into his career as a comedian. This book is split into three parts: the first about his adolescence leading up to his decision to go into comedy; the second talks about his struggles as a comedian in American from his earliest days to the present; and the third section are tales about his comedy tours in different Middle Eastern cities. Having just finished reading Run to Overcome: The Inspiring Story of an American Champion's Long-Distance Quest to Achieve a Big Dream by Meb Keflezighi, another immigrant story, it was interesting to hear a similar story from a different perspective. The jokes that he writes in here didn't always hit home with me though. It's either because I am not as familiar with Mr. Jobrani's work as I would like to be or because humor doesn't always translate as well on the written page as it does on the comedy page, but I do think fans of Mr. Jobrani will enjoy this book more. Another problem I had was that Mr. Jobrani tries to write certain dialogue with a Persian accent. But, like other books I've read that have tried to write dialogue with accents, it just makes things more confusing. This is even more frustrating considering that many of Mr. Jobrani's jokes come about through his dialogue with other people. Thus, again, I must say that those who are already familiar with Mr. Jobrani's stand-up work will get more out of this than I did, but it was still interesting.

[Majel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book, highly recommend to others. I was reading it right as Mein Fuhrer Trump signed the muslim ban, so it was very timely. At first, Maz's book was about how he grew up, how he felt different, and I was a little bored, because it seemed to be the same old story about a kid growing up different. But Maz's goal in his comedy, and I think in this book, is to show the world that GUESS WHAT Middle Easterners are people JUST LIKE YOU. He broke stereotypes, is candid and funny about sharing when he has endorsed or used stereotypes and felt guilty later, talks about his travels throughout the US and the Middle East, humanizes Middle Eastern values that usually make me upset (patriarchy!!!!), and it pretty darn funny while doing it. His jokes overlap somewhat with his comedy specials I Come in Peace and I'm Not A Terrorst ... but I didn't mind. They are delivered more funny in the specials, though. Maz narrates the audiobook, and it's really not a Maz story without his accents. If you want to read it, borrow the audiobook.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Moz's stand up and appearances on TV shows like Better Off Ted (RIP!), but reading his biography gave me a deeper appreciation for his work. Though I have seen the Axis of Evil comedy tour, his story of its obstacles and success was a really interesting look "behind the scenes." This book is more than a documentary of his comedy tour, however, and I was really impressed with his backstory. For example- he worked on a PhD program in political science! He is well articulated and intelligent in the telling of this book, and his life experiences give more substance and appreciation for his comedy. A great book!

[Steve Peifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was this Russian comedian named Yakov Smirnoff who had a catchphrase 'What a country!' No one was as non funny as this guy was non funny. Many comedians have written into their contracts that if they say 'What a country!' they are to be shot in the throat.

So early on in this book when he says the dreaded phrase, I'm thinking this is another guy who interviewed well on NPR but he can't write. But comedy is a funny thing (intended). Comedy is all about the rhythm of a joke, and the longer I read, I actually chuckled a few times. Nothing great, but it wasn't the train wreck that the beginning of the book suggested it would be.