I Ain't Scared of You: Bernie Mac on How Life Is

by Bernie Mac

A popular comedian shares his acerbic, opinionated, not-always-P.C. observations on his family, marriage, sports, music, comedy and film careers, Hollywood, and other aspects of modern life. 75,000 first printing.

Genres: Comedy, Biography, Nonfiction, Humor, Audiobook, African American

192 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2001

About the author

Bernard Jeffrey McCullough, better known by his stage name Bernie Mac, was an American comedian and actor. Born and raised on Chicago's South Side, Mac gained popularity as a stand-up comedian. He joined fellow comedians Steve Harvey, Cedric The Entertainer, and D.L. Hughley in the film The Original Kings of Comedy.
After briefly hosting the HBO show Midnight Mac, Mac appeared in several films in smaller roles. His most noted film roles were as Frank Catton in the 2001 remake of Ocean's 11 and as the title character of Mr. 3000. He was the star of his eponymous show, which ran from 2001 through 2006, earning him two Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.
Mac's other films included starring roles in The Players Club, Head of State, Bad Santa, Guess Who, Pride, and Soul Men.

Reviews

[That70sheidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed feelings on this one, mainly because the book needs an editor so so so damn badly. It's basically several shows worth of comedy, but in little bites that don't string together - they jump from subject to subject, then suddenly you're back at a premise from six pages ago. Such a shame.

One good example is that he mentions a followup to a routine that we haven't seen in the book yet (Milk and Cookies) and what happened to his nieces and nephews. If you're not familiar with what he's talking about, it's completely out of left field and means nothing. It's only a few chapters later that the little skit of Milk and Cookies and the backstory to it is explained. This might be OK in a regular book with a plot, but this is all just muddled up bits of comedy and it just doesn't work in this format.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

God Bless him and rest in piece. Thank you for your contributions to comedy and making us laugh til we can't breathe. This is hands down the funniest book that I have ever read. Bernie Mac tells it to you straight in this no holds barred collection of Bernie's life experiences on his way to the top. The book had me laughing out loud several times. I was embarrassed to read it while out in public. You will look like you are crazy laughing to yourself . It should be labeled "Warning: Read Indoors". Truly funny book and a breezy read. Its written in the way that Bernie Mac would speak so you get the rhythm quickly.

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any fan or anyone else who has had a hard life growing up w/an ethnic family will embrace this book! Bernie Mac lays it down, and that ain't no bull! He tells about how soft kids are nowadays due to lack of discipline, the truth of how a family reacts to a celebrity, life on the streets in the city of Chicago along with how he's had to cope with the death of various family members, including his mother. This book if funny, silly, sad, touching and overall an amazing and easy read.

[Javonny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really funny. I enjoyed this book from the beginning all the way to the end. Bernie Mac talks about his childhood and his career as a comedian and an entertainer. This book is not just funny but there are parts where you can relate to in reality. If you like to laugh and like a story with a moral then you will love this book.

[Ricki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I agree with some of the other posters - book is a little erratic and it's basically just a bunch of stand-up routines stuck together. However, I laughed so hard at most of it that I didn't care. If you can, get the audiobook. Listening to the stories in Bernie's own voice was the best part of it.

[James G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved Bernie Mac. I can't imagine actually reading this book, though, as the out-loud performance by the comedian himself totally outdoes the kind of simple and repetitive nature of the content. He talks about death off and on, and it's sad he was taken so young. I could listen to him talk forever.

[Michelle "Champ" · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to Bernie himself read this to me. I loved it. I have always liked his voice and think he is pretty funny.


He had a rough childhood but knew from when he was young that he would make people laugh.

Enjoyable!

[Chris Hunt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have rated this a four but for the bad language. Otherwise this was very good and very funny. I laughed out loud more than a couple times.

[Shà · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a very good read. I always enjoyed Bernie mac he was always so funny to me. I miss him very much though. damn he turned out to be alright though.

[Hjortronhyllan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jag visste inte ens att man kunde snubbla över en bok skriven på vad som närmast kan beskrivas som en skön förortsdialekt. Men ibland är slumpen nästan för generös. Mitt första besök för 25 på en småstads loppis resulterade i ett otummat exemplar av I Ain’t Scared of You, Bernie Mac, från 2002. En komiker jag inte ägnat en tanke på sedan mina tidiga tjugo år.

Boken är allt annat än stram. Den är stökig, pratig, ibland direkt slarvig och hade verkligen mått bra av en sträng redaktör. Men samtidigt ligger det energi och en nerv över sidorna som gör att de 176 sidorna rinner förbi innan midnatt och termometern visar årets första nollgradiga natt.

Bernie Mac (1957-2008) blev känd som en av “The Original Kings of Comedy” och senare genom “The Bernie Mac Show”. Han hade en stil som blandade familjehumor med råa sanningar och en kompromisslös blick på både vardag och samhälle. I boken bjuder han på just det, minnen från den fattiga barndomen i Chicagos South Side, där snacks kunde vara kokta ägg doppade i stark sås. Reflektioner över komikerlivet och ett osminkat porträtt av hur kändisskapet förändrar relationerna till familj, vänner och sina rötter.

Språket är dominerat av tugg och förorts nära att det känns mer muntligt än tryckt. Slang, svordomar, råa skämt, en stil som i dag lätt skulle uppfattas som stötande. Men som tidsdokument är det fascinerande. Bernie förstärker amerikanska stereotyper med ett kryddat persongalleri och ibland märker man hur han själv driver med just de bilderna. Han är lika benägen att skämta om sina egna brister som att avväpna andra.

Jag skulle sammanfatta boken som ojämn, ibland blixtrar den till med skarp humor och oväntade iakttagelser, ibland stapplar den fram som en utdragen stand-up. Och visst, det är underhållande att kastas mellan minnen, moralpredikningar och utsvävningar om en getto amerikan som ska spela golf eller gå på jakt första gången. Men när en anekdot introduceras på sidan XX och först får sin upplösning långt senare har man snarare tappat eller glömt bort tråden. Det är som om Bernie vill ha applåder redan innan han berättat skämtet. En röst som varken kan, eller vill, hålla ordning på sig själv.

[Mandie Pottery · Rating 1 out of 5]

Never was a huge fan of Bernie Mac, and now I'm even less so. I'm not overtly sensitive, or offended usually, especially with comedians, but though this was written 20 years ago, it reads more like 50. I'm not even compelled to review what is bad about it, because I feel like it would take all day, and I've wasted enough of my time reading it already.

[Deborah Gregson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bernie Mac…one of comedy’s greatest legends. I miss this man. From his hilarious anecdotes about family life to his no-holds-barred commentary on society, Warning: reading this book may cause embarrassing, involuntary and prolific use of foul language, which may, or may not impact your future life prospects. Proceed with caution, but definitely proceed!

[Kevin Berrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It offers insight into Bernie's philosophy and comedy point of view. It was loose at times, breaking down into skits and with friends dropping in as if the entire book was assembled from transcribed interviews. But that also made it feel alive.

[BrendaRai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listening to audio book on YouTube. I really enjoyed hearing his voice and listening and laughing out loud at the stories. This was published in 2001. He passed the day after my birthday in 2008. Happy that I happened upon this recording. Lol. Enjoy!!!

[Andrea Horton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious! READ IT!