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Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Book
What are the secrets behind the creation of Larry David's hit show?
Fans can finally find out with this long-awaited
companion guide to the Golden Globe- and Emmy®
Award- winning series.
Curb Your The Book is complete with stories about Larry David's childhood, his roots as a stand-up comic, and his various writing jobs before the breakthrough of Seinfeld. Readers will enjoy dating stories from his bachelor years, discover how he met his future wife, Laurie David, and learn why Cheryl Hines was picked to play his TV wife. A highlighted map of Santa Monica shows locations where favorite Curb scenes were filmed, such as the Toyota of Hollywood where Larry works as a car salesman. Ever wonder if there's a story behind the creation of Krazee-Eyez Killa's infamous rap? There is, and it's in this book, along with the tale of the ordinary afternoon lunch where the idea for Curb Your Enthusiasm was first formed. Perhaps best of all, fans can finally see Larry David's original scene outlines-just a few sentences from which the actors improvise-which eventually evolve into the carefully edited comedy that we see on air. After five hilarious seasons, Curb Your The Book offers fans an intimate view of the people, experiences, and stories behind one of television's funniest shows. Curb Your The Book is filled with hilarious images, insights, and behind-the-scenes moments,
* Original interviews with and commentary from more than 100 cast and crew members, guest actors, comics, and friends and family, including Cheryl Hines, Jeff Garlin, Susie Essman, and Richard Lewis
* An in depth, four-section interview with Larry David, covering everything from his childhood in Brooklyn to his emergence into the world of comedy and television.
* Never-before-seen outlines from the show that are the basis for episode storylines.
* Detailed episode guides for the show's first five seasons.
* More than 100 full-color photographs.
Fans can finally find out with this long-awaited
companion guide to the Golden Globe- and Emmy®
Award- winning series.
Curb Your The Book is complete with stories about Larry David's childhood, his roots as a stand-up comic, and his various writing jobs before the breakthrough of Seinfeld. Readers will enjoy dating stories from his bachelor years, discover how he met his future wife, Laurie David, and learn why Cheryl Hines was picked to play his TV wife. A highlighted map of Santa Monica shows locations where favorite Curb scenes were filmed, such as the Toyota of Hollywood where Larry works as a car salesman. Ever wonder if there's a story behind the creation of Krazee-Eyez Killa's infamous rap? There is, and it's in this book, along with the tale of the ordinary afternoon lunch where the idea for Curb Your Enthusiasm was first formed. Perhaps best of all, fans can finally see Larry David's original scene outlines-just a few sentences from which the actors improvise-which eventually evolve into the carefully edited comedy that we see on air. After five hilarious seasons, Curb Your The Book offers fans an intimate view of the people, experiences, and stories behind one of television's funniest shows. Curb Your The Book is filled with hilarious images, insights, and behind-the-scenes moments,
* Original interviews with and commentary from more than 100 cast and crew members, guest actors, comics, and friends and family, including Cheryl Hines, Jeff Garlin, Susie Essman, and Richard Lewis
* An in depth, four-section interview with Larry David, covering everything from his childhood in Brooklyn to his emergence into the world of comedy and television.
* Never-before-seen outlines from the show that are the basis for episode storylines.
* Detailed episode guides for the show's first five seasons.
* More than 100 full-color photographs.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
9 people are currently reading
241 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
October 6, 2015
While complete in aspects related to basic documentation of episode information, this guide to Curb Your Enthusiasm is lacking features that are exclusive to itself.
Larry David’s popular HBO original series Curb Your Enthusiasm had amassed a devoted following as of the publication of Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Book (Gotham, ISBN: 1592402305, 2006). While the cutting edge nature of the show allows improvisation to take the lead in forming humorous situations, the guide to the show would have greatly benefitted from a more obsessive level of planning and control.
The Book Could Go Much Further in Depth
Despite the book only covering the first five seasons of the show, it could go much further in depth. The Seinfeld retrospective magazine that TV Guide put out about ten years ago was similar, but felt much more complete.
Perhaps it’s just the fact that Curb Your Enthusiasm is such a unique show: just as plotted, but not nearly as esoteric with its links. There seems to be fewer “stand alone” style episodes that Seinfeld and other network shows do. Another explanation could be the mere ten episodes per season leaves only fifty episodes for the book to cover. Regardless, the book only gives a bare minimum of information: episode names, plots, characters, and near-pointless trivia.
The Nature of Curb Your Enthusiasm
Curb Your Enthusiasm’s seasonal arc is much sharper than that of a normal sit-com, and therefore almost necessitates links from episode to episode. This, along with the improvisation, leads to a lack of trivia. Along with the episode summaries in the book, there are bits of “script” and the aforementioned little pieces of trivia: a producer played a doorman in some episode, and some star turned down and offer to be in some other episode.
It’s all interesting enough, but there’s nothing, and certainly not enough of anything, to make this book worth paying full price for. There’s a surplus of pictures, something that Curb Your Enthusiasm lends itself well to, with Larry’s facial expressions and the amount of bizarre props that are used on the show. This is one of the few individual perks of the book, and the large, glossy pages deliver it nicely.
Pretty, Pretty, Pretty, Pretty All Right
If a reader were to open the book looking for candid interviews and exclusive this-or-that, they would be sorely disappointed when they didn’t find it. It’s almost as if the show is just too much fun to watch (and make, by the looks of things) for it to do anything seriously. As a coffee table book, it does what it should: look nice, have lots of pictures, and be light on text. As Larry might say, the book is "Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty all right."
Larry David’s popular HBO original series Curb Your Enthusiasm had amassed a devoted following as of the publication of Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Book (Gotham, ISBN: 1592402305, 2006). While the cutting edge nature of the show allows improvisation to take the lead in forming humorous situations, the guide to the show would have greatly benefitted from a more obsessive level of planning and control.
The Book Could Go Much Further in Depth
Despite the book only covering the first five seasons of the show, it could go much further in depth. The Seinfeld retrospective magazine that TV Guide put out about ten years ago was similar, but felt much more complete.
Perhaps it’s just the fact that Curb Your Enthusiasm is such a unique show: just as plotted, but not nearly as esoteric with its links. There seems to be fewer “stand alone” style episodes that Seinfeld and other network shows do. Another explanation could be the mere ten episodes per season leaves only fifty episodes for the book to cover. Regardless, the book only gives a bare minimum of information: episode names, plots, characters, and near-pointless trivia.
The Nature of Curb Your Enthusiasm
Curb Your Enthusiasm’s seasonal arc is much sharper than that of a normal sit-com, and therefore almost necessitates links from episode to episode. This, along with the improvisation, leads to a lack of trivia. Along with the episode summaries in the book, there are bits of “script” and the aforementioned little pieces of trivia: a producer played a doorman in some episode, and some star turned down and offer to be in some other episode.
It’s all interesting enough, but there’s nothing, and certainly not enough of anything, to make this book worth paying full price for. There’s a surplus of pictures, something that Curb Your Enthusiasm lends itself well to, with Larry’s facial expressions and the amount of bizarre props that are used on the show. This is one of the few individual perks of the book, and the large, glossy pages deliver it nicely.
Pretty, Pretty, Pretty, Pretty All Right
If a reader were to open the book looking for candid interviews and exclusive this-or-that, they would be sorely disappointed when they didn’t find it. It’s almost as if the show is just too much fun to watch (and make, by the looks of things) for it to do anything seriously. As a coffee table book, it does what it should: look nice, have lots of pictures, and be light on text. As Larry might say, the book is "Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty all right."
November 11, 2017
It was good. Prettay... prettay... prettay... prettay... pretty good. Don't expect it to be earth-shattering. Don't expect a biography or an in-depth story. For what it is and what it intends to be, it's great. I learned a few things I didn't know about the show.
October 11, 2008
Funnier than I would have expected from a book about TV. Larry David is my boyfriend.
January 21, 2010
A coffee table book...not about coffee tables!
October 4, 2018
Fun book, makes we want to watch the whole series again.
March 23, 2021
Excellent overview of the series with great insight into episode stories and behind the scenes action. Only goes up to Season 5 of course but still well worth a read for any Curb fans.
Read
March 16, 2009I'll take any scrap of insight into how Larry David's comedic mind works (I wish he'd do a book like Steve Martin's "Born Standing Up", but, at the same time, I think David is a lot more instinctual than Martin was), and this had enough good stories to sit me down and read it from cover to cover.
It's got a little bit of everything: some behind the scenes stuff, some background on David's life, some scene synopses which the cast worked from, information where things were filmed (I know for a fact I've went past the bar on La Cienaga in LA where Larry met up with Wanda and Cheryl after meeting with Crazee Eyez Killah several times!), interviews with cast members, etc.
I really, really hope the new season comes out this year...
It's got a little bit of everything: some behind the scenes stuff, some background on David's life, some scene synopses which the cast worked from, information where things were filmed (I know for a fact I've went past the bar on La Cienaga in LA where Larry met up with Wanda and Cheryl after meeting with Crazee Eyez Killah several times!), interviews with cast members, etc.
I really, really hope the new season comes out this year...
May 23, 2020
Much of the book is taken up with (very) brief recaps, trivia and anecdotes about each of the episodes. The best elements are the many interviews with cast and crew about the making of the show. This may have been published prematurely, because, unfortunately, the book only covers up through season 5. Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Book isn't something you'd sit down and read from cover to cover, but as something that you dip into for 15 or 20 minutes over the course a few weeks, it's pretty good. Pretty, pretty good.
February 3, 2010
Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty good. An excellent coffee table book, marred only by the fact that it doesn't actually turn into a coffee table. A very revealing look inside the delicate genius that is LD and his chosen cohorts. This book is far more interesting than all the Seinfeld lit that I possess, because it actually takes you through the creative process, from all perspectives. Very highly recommended to those who Cantstandya!
June 21, 2007
This book is really for people who are already obssessed with the television program. People like me.
A summary for each episode is given, along with lots of trivia and biographical information about the stars of the show, espeically Larry David.
If you like watching the show on HBO, check out this book!
A summary for each episode is given, along with lots of trivia and biographical information about the stars of the show, espeically Larry David.
If you like watching the show on HBO, check out this book!
April 7, 2008
I adore this show, and the book was a hoot, too. It was a bit IMDB-y, with every episode's whole cast and synapsis and trivia, but it also had insights into the incredible improv process involved. What it didn't have was the final season, since HBO surprisingly brought it back for a sixth (and re-ended it in the most brilliant way).
December 23, 2008
Usually books made to accompany TV shows are about as interesting as the action figures McDonalds makes to accompany movies. This one, however, is good. Pretty, pretty good (sorry, couldn't resist). If you like the show, it's worth checking this book out. If you don't like the show...well, then you have no sense of humor.
February 18, 2011
Much like the show, just the general outline of situations and a quote from Larry here and there was enough to make me laugh out loud. The behind the scenes trivia was very interesting, too. I think Stephanie was disturbed at the number of times I pointed out similarities between myself and Larry David.
August 17, 2010
I am a huge Curb your Enthusiasm (series on HBO) fan and i loved learning about the behind the scenese details of the show. The book also provides excellent interview with the cast members. A must-read for any Curb Your Enthusiam fan.
September 20, 2014
Great re-cap pf the first five seasons of Curb, offering a lot of insight into how the show (the funniest on TV, EVER) is produced. With luck, another edition will come out when (o sad Day of Days) Curb is ended.
May 19, 2015
An enjoyable diversion into the first five seasons of Curb... complete with episode guides, behind-the-scenes interviews with guest stars, photographs and Larry David's life. Not bad for £2.50 from the Oxfam bookshop. In fact you could say prettay, prettay... oh nevermind.
January 3, 2007
it doesn't get any better than this
February 13, 2008
A must-read for fans of the show.
November 20, 2007
Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty good
December 1, 2007
I love CYE and 5 seasons worth of anecdotes, fables, and descriptions make this a fun read whenever I'm in the mood to read but nothing else strikes my fancy.
Want to Read
February 9, 2008LD is a comedic genius.
July 8, 2008
Pretty much the most fun you can have with a book.
Currently Reading
March 17, 2008as i'm making my way through this series i'm supplementing it with this reading
September 9, 2008
I love Curb Your Enthusiasm and I love this book. Everything you wanted to know about each episode but were afraid to ask!
September 13, 2008
Love the show. Love the book.
Read
April 1, 2009Love it!
December 21, 2009
Hilarious! Larry David is a wacko!
August 30, 2009
For any fan of Curb your Enthusiasm and/or Larry David, this is a nice companion for the show. Relive all the fantastic/awkward moments from the show in great full color detail up to Season 5.
Read
July 29, 2011Nice book with some great information on the show and all of its characters. Some great pictures and behind the scenes stuff to look at . It is a must for fans of the tv series!
Read
August 6, 2011Loved it, very funny, lots of laugh out loud moments, show is the best!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews