Some Freaks

by David Mamet

Collects the introspective, controversial, and carefully rendered musings of the Pulitzer Prize-winning author and screenwriter as he tackles American Judaism, the art world, Stanislavsky, and other topics

Genres: Essays, Plays

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

David Alan Mamet is an American author, essayist, playwright, screenwriter and film director. His works are known for their clever, terse, sometimes vulgar dialogue and arcane stylized phrasing, as well as for his exploration of masculinity.

As a playwright, he received Tony nominations for Glengarry Glen Ross (1984) and Speed-the-Plow (1988). As a screenwriter, he received Oscar nominations for The Verdict (1982) and Wag the Dog (1997).

Mamet's recent books include The Old Religion (1997), a novel about the lynching of Leo Frank; Five Cities of Refuge: Weekly Reflections on Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy (2004), a Torah commentary, with Rabbi Lawrence Kushner; The Wicked Son (2006), a study of Jewish self-hatred and antisemitism; and Bambi vs. Godzilla, an acerbic commentary on the movie business.

Reviews

[Chuck O'Connor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mr. Mamet needs to take a break from drama and study a bit more philosophy if he wants his essays to have the same power as his plays. This collection suffers from too much sophistry, redundancy, and strawman argument and too little reason. He does have some great nuggets when he comments within his realm of knowledge like his advice to actors which states, "be what you wish to seem" but when he attempts political commentary, gender identity or epistemology he comes off as a demagogic and insecure narcissist.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a bizarre tale of carnies and who can resist spying on the lives of these mysterious folk! This is a story of people who live life on the fringe yet have the same feelings and problems that the rest of us have. Yet these problems play out so differently because of the odd decisions they make (probably a result of their odd upbringing). Interesting and entertaining book:) Especially if you feel different and enjoy being different.

[Brendan Shea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't recall this book too much; I know Mamet is extremely talented if often dark. I read this in my youth in New York. It was probably fascinating to me then. I'd be interested to see a synopsis or more today.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great collection of essays from Mr. Mamet.