George Carlin's Final Memoir: "Last Words"

Thomas P Brady Jr.: Some great stuff and then some not do great stuff. He was a genius, do it may be over my head

United States on Oct 21, 2023

Scott: Fun book

United States on Jun 14, 2023

Basel Al Hraki: Excellent book and in great shape. Got it a day later. Thanks.

Canada on Jul 31, 2022

F.M.: I remember watching George Carlin on tv when I was younger. Reading some of his stand up in this book don't seem the same. Maybe the world has changed so much or I have changed so much that I don't find it that funny anymore, or maybe it's just more funny when you see him in person. That being said, the book was amazing. He had a rewarding, sometimes sad life, but was living the life he wanted and not giving into expectaions. The most interesting parts of this book are the things behind the scenes. The family life andvthe things he learned along the way. I think this book can be enjoyed by anyone, but if you remember George Carlin's "seven words you can't say oon television" or the "hippy dippy wearher man" you will appreciate this book.

United States on Apr 25, 2022

Amazon_Kunde: Bei dieser „ein-Art-von-Autobiographie“ des amerikanischen Comedians Georg Carlin (1939 – 2008) weiß man etwas überspitzt formuliert zeitweise leider nicht ob man lachen oder weinen soll.

Vorweg: Das Buch wurde nicht von Carlin selbst verfasst, obwohl es in der Ich-form geschrieben ist. Der eigentliche Autor, Tony Hendra, hat von den frühen 90er weg über Jahre mit Carlin Gespräche geführt mit dem Ziel eine Biographie zu schreiben. Carlin hatte ihn darum gebeten, weil er selbst viel zu viele Seite bei einem ersten eigenen Versuch geschrieben hatte (50 über seine ersten sechs Lebensjahre) und daher Hilfe wollte. Die beiden kannten sich von einem Buchprojekt über Comédie aus den 80er Jahren und hatten laut Hendra „einen Draht“ zueinander. Das Projekt zog sich über viele Jahre und die Fertigstellung wurde immer wieder vertragt, Hendra führt das recht anschaulich und verständlich im Vorwort aus. Und dann starb George Carlin 2008 überraschend… Das Buch wurde nach seinem Tod fertiggestellt und 2009 veröffentlicht.

Diese – für sich durchaus selbst interessante – Entstehungsgeschichte sollte man kennen, denn sie hat einen ziemlichen Einfluss auf...

Germany on Mar 17, 2022

Tim Knight: When I was in my teens and early 20s, I read a lot of business books, biographies, and magazines (such as Forbes). I believed - - quite incorrectly - - that by reading the wisdom, lessons, and teachings of various luminaries and success stories, I would learn the rules of business and increase my chances of success.

In retrospect, I am pretty sure that 99% of that effort was a waste. Indeed, I got a business degree in college, and that was a waste as well. It would be far better, for those who elect to go to college, to either (a) learn how to think creatively; or (b) learn the mechanics of something concrete that one cannot simply intuit their way through. If you're going to design a bridge or perform heart surgery, yeah, you'd better go to school.

So I stopped reading all that stuff a long, long time ago. I did buy and read the Steve Jobs biography (which I pre-ordered long before the man died) just because he's Steve Jobs. But the idea that some people seem to have that they can emulate someone's success by reading about their success is horribly misplaced and unsupported by facts.

I was reminded of this because I just finished reading, for the second time,...

United States on May 25, 2013

dmcnabb: I purchased this for my dad and I to read. We have always been big george carlin fans and have read other books of his, which have made us laugh out loud. This book wasn't the typical george carlin ranting. Some of the bits were good, but if you are looking for a good george carlin book that will actually make you laugh try "When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops", "Brain Droppings" or "Napalm & Sillyputty" (I rank them best to least favorite in this order followed by this book)

United Kingdom on May 14, 2013

gamblor: This autobiography of Carlin starts at the beginning, the very beginning. Carlin starts on the moment where he was conceived. Next to being funny in his own Carlin-way it's very interesting to read about his life growing up in New York.

Of course his carreer is put under the microscope and explained by him in great detail. Talking about his first job, his first attempts at comedy, his appearances on television and how his comedy shapes over time. We see how his first show came to be about (and many after that).

Mr. Carlin is very open about how he lived his life (including the addictions and violent outbursts) and the life with his family.

A very inspirational and entertaining read!

United Kingdom on May 16, 2011

Wojtek.Cieslicki: This book is full of GC-humour style stories and inside views on some of actions and decisions that this man has made during his life. Even though it hasn't been written by George himself it really fits his spoken-style, making you feel like it's him telling those stories. I would recommend it to anyone, who's interested in his ways of thinking, perceiving and development through the years. You will get to know how and why he transformed from suit-dressed, role playing, "user friendly" comedian, through hippie style rebel, up to becoming one of the most influential writer/comedian that've ever lived. He'll also guide You through thoughts, reasons and opinions that he had in the past, and he'll comment on them with more recent point of view. In "Last Words" you'll find his ups and downs, successes and drug problems, friendships, influences and even parts of the scripts from some of his shows.

As George Carlin used to describe himself: at the beginning he was a performer, who was writing his own material, through development he became writer, who performed his own material. I think he became more than that - an audience shaping performer, able if not to change people's minds,...

United Kingdom on Apr 25, 2010

Chef Sean: I discovered AM/FM and Class Clown in my parents record collection when I was in the eighth grade. My life was forever altered! It may seem strange to some but George Carlin's work meant as much to me as things like the Beatles meant to my parents generation. He was more than a comedian (although he can lay claim to being one of the funniest men to ever live.) he was a social critic and philosopher. He used comedy as a way to get you to put your guard down and really drive his ideas deep into your brain. Only a comic like George could honestly ponder man's place in the universe (without pretension) and then shift gears and bust into some great fart jokes!
This book is his memoir plain and simple. Anyone who has been touched by George's work should love the chance to get to know all the little things in his life that made him who he was. Growing up in "White Harlem" (ahem... Morningside Heights!)his family, his relationships, all the things that shaped the man who suggested we "call one of those How-Am-I-Driving 800 numbers and, just for fun, complain about a particular driver. Tell them he was driving on the sidewalk, vomiting, giving the finger to an old woman, and dangling a...

United States on Jan 15, 2010