Anyone else familiar with "Celebrity Autobiography" - it's where comedy stars read portions of celebrity autonbiographies. They are usually very well done.
Here's Kristen Wiig reading Suzanne Somers' "Keeping Secrets": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unD2bzhDkLk
“I'm for truth, no matter who tells it. I'm for justice, no matter who it is for or against. I'm a human being, first and foremost, and as such I'm for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” - Malcolm X
To The Stars. George Takei. I’d love to see it revised with more of his life with Brad, but it was both a good read and particularly memorable for his recollections of life in California before and after the war.
Oh, The Disaster Artist by Greg Sestero is pretty good too. Maybe I like that one better? I still cringe when I think of those hacks who bought the rights to the book and made that horrible, uninspired movie.
I disliked The Girl Next Door because I thought it was too much of an apple-polishing fangirl attempt at a biography. I know it was recommended by Karina Longworth, but I also have a problem with her podcast at times because I feel she injects her personal preferences and opinions, Joan vs Bette being one of those topics.
1. Michael Jackson: The Magic, the Madness, the Whole Story, 1958-2009 by J. Randy Taraborrelli
2. Behind the Candelabra: My Life With Liberace by Scott Thorson with Alex Thorleifson
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
1. Ice Breaker: The Autobiography of Rudy Galindo
2. Breaking the Surface (Greg Louganis)
3. Take it Like a Man: The Autobiography of Boy George (very funny!)
4. My Sergie: A Love Story (Ekaterina Gordeeva)
5. I Was Wrong (Jim Bakker - If you read it, get the unabridged version)
6. Tammy: Telling It My Way (Tammy Faye Messner - Before you judge, that book had me in stitches! I wrote her a letter before she died and she did reply.)
I like when celebs write (or at least have a very heavy hand in) their own memoirs and as you read them, it's totally in their voice. Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne's books are just that way and all of them are very entertaining reads. So are Joan Rivers' books.
TW, I became a huge Tammy Faye fan after watching her on the Surreal Life and how she bonded with Ron Jeremy. They had a very sweet relationship. She did seem very lovable.
Very Much A Lady - the biography of Jean Harris written by Shana Alexander. I wrote a letter to Jean Harris while she was in prison...and she did reply.
@Do Tell - Tammy Faye really did write back and she was very sweet!
If you haven't read Tammy Faye's book, please do so! The phrase "happy wife, happy life" applies here. Even Jim Bakker acknowledged he should have listened to Tammy Faye when he wrote his book. I do recommend Jim Bakker's book. I know people despise him but the book is really good and an eye opener.
I recall Tammy Faye saying revivals are money making schemes for unscrupulous churches. I don't remember if she said that in an interview or if that is in the book.
Both their books give more reasons not to like the late Jerry Falwell. I can't stand the guy's son. If you know anyone wanting to go to Liberty University please do all you can to convince them otherwise. They will not be educated, they will be indoctrinated and be penniless. I am telling you this based on a relative who attended and switched schools.
Unfortunately certain religious faiths love those who receive MDiv.'s from Liberty. I hope they know their MDiv. program is no longer accredited.
I want to add First They Killed My Father to the list of best (auto)biographies
/////////////
@Han Niam - To The Stars was good.
@Brayson87 and @Jon
Both Mein Kampf and The Autobiography of Malcolm X should be required reading for high schoolers. Maybe history will stop repeating itself.
There is an autobiography by a former female slave, I cannot remember the name of it for the life of me, I don't thing it is the Autobiography of Jane Pittman. Well, the point is, slave narratives should be required reading as well.
T.W. - I'd like to like Tammy, and I think she might have reformed in her later years, but she was just as much a blood sucking leech as Jim was in the early years of PTL.
If you want a great read of how shady all these folks were, "Forgiven" is fantastic. It's by the Charlotte Observer reporter who won the Pulitzer for exposing the house of cards that was PTL.
@Moose - I know they are shady, Jim and Tammy admit to it.
If Tammy really did change in her latter years, why are you holding her previous wrong doings against her? She is dead any way. We have no say as to where she is spending the afterlife. We have a say where we spend ours.
As for Jim, he is still alive. I know he has a show, I have not seen it in years. The man is a good preacher provided he does not get side tracked.
However, I will say that he sells fear on his show and keeps promoting those food buckets and such. The problem I have with him is that you have to spend too much time separating the wheat from the chaff. If I have to spend a lot of time doing that when I listen to someone than I need to stop listening.
If he sticks to the written word found in the Bible he wouldn't still be a laughingstock. Obviously I do not agree with him 100 percent. I will say I would rather listen to him than Joel Osteen. At least Jim Bakker admits he was wrong about the Prosperity Gospel.
Shelley: Also Known as Shirley - Shelley Winters The Andy Warhol Diaries - Andy Warhol Swanson on Swanson - Gloria Swanson Little Gloria . . . Happy at Last - Barbara Goldsmith All amazing for old timey H'wood gossip, and the all time best for gossipy gossip:
You'll Never Eat Lunch in This Town Again - Julia Phillips
The Dirt by Motley Crüe. Felt like I needed rehab just READING the book. Haven’t read it in 10 years and found it again recently. It’s currently sitting on my nightstand ready for another look.
She’s an ornery cuss off-camera, but I truly admire her business acumen and resilience. B!tch voluntarily did prison time instead waiting til the outcome of the Apoeal just so she could get bsck to work sooner!
However, I’m surprised nobody has yet taken up the option to do a scathing comedy based on the series of her wild off-camera outbursts and various episodes that have been well documented over the years. There is some truly hilarious material from which to work!
When my daughter was little & started sounding out words, I gave my copy of Motley Crue’s “The Dirt” to The Goodwill. I just knew if that book was anywhere in the house, that kid would find it. Fun, disgusting, brain-candy book....not my fave rock bio tho....that would be “Just Kids” by Patti Smith. Or “Life” by Keef. Both super interesting & well written.
I went to Hooters to apply for a job opening. They handed me a bra and said “fill this out”.
ReplyDeleteMalcolm X
ReplyDeleteMein Kampf. Pretty brilliant.
ReplyDeleteI'm horrible, but I really enjoyed Stori Telling by "Tori Spelling." I thought it was entertaining and well written.
ReplyDeleteI also liked the biography of Chris Farley written by his family. I can't remember the name, but it was very moving.
The Sorcerer's Apprentice by Amy Wallace.
ReplyDelete"Vanna Speaks". It's a p_ge tu_ne_
ReplyDeleteNatalie by Lana Wood
ReplyDelete"Clara Bow: Runnin' Wild" by David Stenn. Outstanding.
ReplyDeleteJohn, Mein Kampf is an autobiography. Are you thinking of the Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, maybe?
ReplyDeleteAnyone else familiar with "Celebrity Autobiography" - it's where comedy stars read portions of celebrity autonbiographies. They are usually very well done.
ReplyDeleteHere's Kristen Wiig reading Suzanne Somers' "Keeping Secrets": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unD2bzhDkLk
Dean and Me - by Jerry Lewis.
ReplyDeleteJerry was a whiny, jealous bitch, but it was still a fun read.
“I'm for truth, no matter who tells it. I'm for justice, no matter who it is for or against. I'm a human being, first and foremost, and as such I'm for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.”
ReplyDelete- Malcolm X
@Joseph P Blow, Kokomo PD
ReplyDeleteAutobiographies are a subset of biographies so it still works.
Bruce Campbell
ReplyDeleteIf Chins Could Kill
To The Stars. George Takei. I’d love to see it revised with more of his life with Brad, but it was both a good read and particularly memorable for his recollections of life in California before and after the war.
ReplyDeleteWIRED by Bob Woodward re John Belushi
ReplyDeleteor NO ONE HERE GETS OUT ALIVE by Jerry Hopkins re Jim Morrison
Joan Rivers - she was an amazing lady.
ReplyDeleteCoal Miner's Daughter - Loretta Lynn
ReplyDeleteOh, The Disaster Artist by Greg Sestero is pretty good too. Maybe I like that one better? I still cringe when I think of those hacks who bought the rights to the book and made that horrible, uninspired movie.
ReplyDeleteUnknown Kimi Räikkönen by Kari Hotakainen. Damn the chapter about his two week booze-binge-adventure is worth a movie alone.
ReplyDeleteMe - Katharine Hepburn
ReplyDeleteTeddy Roosevelt. Just mind blowing everything he did, talk about balls to the wall!.
ReplyDeleteLife by Keith Richards
ReplyDeleteNot the Girl Next Door - Joan Crawford
It's So Easy by Duff McKagan (Guns N Roses bassist)
I second both Keith Richards and Duff. I really enjoyed both of them.
DeleteEdie, American Girl, by Jean Stein. Great book about Edie Sedgwick and the entire Warhol group.
ReplyDeleteAlso loved Faithful, by Marianne Faithful (autobiography)
Slash’s book is excellent too.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite celeb bio: Garbo: Her Story by Anton Gronowicz. She claimed it was fiction.
Life by Keith Richards (good call Gail Banks)
ReplyDeleteIs That It? Bob Geldof. He had a rough early life.
ReplyDeleteI disliked The Girl Next Door because I thought it was too much of an apple-polishing fangirl attempt at a biography. I know it was recommended by Karina Longworth, but I also have a problem with her podcast at times because I feel she injects her personal preferences and opinions, Joan vs Bette being one of those topics.
ReplyDelete*Not The Girl Next Door
ReplyDeleteEnty, I can't choose just one!
ReplyDeleteBIOGRAPHY
1. Michael Jackson: The Magic, the Madness, the Whole Story, 1958-2009 by J. Randy Taraborrelli
2. Behind the Candelabra: My Life With Liberace by Scott Thorson with Alex Thorleifson
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
1. Ice Breaker: The Autobiography of Rudy Galindo
2. Breaking the Surface (Greg Louganis)
3. Take it Like a Man: The Autobiography of Boy George (very funny!)
4. My Sergie: A Love Story (Ekaterina Gordeeva)
5. I Was Wrong (Jim Bakker - If you read it, get the unabridged version)
6. Tammy: Telling It My Way (Tammy Faye Messner - Before you judge, that book had me in stitches! I wrote her a letter before she died and she did reply.)
I like when celebs write (or at least have a very heavy hand in) their own memoirs and as you read them, it's totally in their voice. Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne's books are just that way and all of them are very entertaining reads. So are Joan Rivers' books.
ReplyDeleteTW, I became a huge Tammy Faye fan after watching her on the Surreal Life and how she bonded with Ron Jeremy. They had a very sweet relationship. She did seem very lovable.
ReplyDeleteDo Tell, I agree with you about Karina Longworth. I find her politics suffocating sometimes.
ReplyDeleteVery Much A Lady - the biography of Jean Harris written by Shana Alexander. I wrote a letter to Jean Harris while she was in prison...and she did reply.
ReplyDelete@Do Tell - Tammy Faye really did write back and she was very sweet!
ReplyDeleteIf you haven't read Tammy Faye's book, please do so! The phrase "happy wife, happy life" applies here. Even Jim Bakker acknowledged he should have listened to Tammy Faye when he wrote his book. I do recommend Jim Bakker's book. I know people despise him but the book is really good and an eye opener.
I recall Tammy Faye saying revivals are money making schemes for unscrupulous churches. I don't remember if she said that in an interview or if that is in the book.
Both their books give more reasons not to like the late Jerry Falwell. I can't stand the guy's son. If you know anyone wanting to go to Liberty University please do all you can to convince them otherwise. They will not be educated, they will be indoctrinated and be penniless. I am telling you this based on a relative who attended and switched schools.
Unfortunately certain religious faiths love those who receive MDiv.'s from Liberty. I hope they know their MDiv. program is no longer accredited.
I want to add First They Killed My Father to the list of best (auto)biographies
ReplyDelete/////////////
@Han Niam - To The Stars was good.
@Brayson87 and @Jon
Both Mein Kampf and The Autobiography of Malcolm X should be required reading for high schoolers. Maybe history will stop repeating itself.
There is an autobiography by a former female slave, I cannot remember the name of it for the life of me, I don't thing it is the Autobiography of Jane Pittman. Well, the point is, slave narratives should be required reading as well.
R Kelly
ReplyDelete小野田 寛郎
ReplyDeleteTurns out R. Kelly really did write a book:
ReplyDeleteSoulacoaster: The Diary of Me
T.W. - I'd like to like Tammy, and I think she might have reformed in her later years, but she was just as much a blood sucking leech as Jim was in the early years of PTL.
ReplyDeleteIf you want a great read of how shady all these folks were, "Forgiven" is fantastic. It's by the Charlotte Observer reporter who won the Pulitzer for exposing the house of cards that was PTL.
@Mostly Harmless - Are you talking about this book:
ReplyDeleteNo Surrender: My Thirty-Year War by Hiroo Onoda
@Moose - I know they are shady, Jim and Tammy admit to it.
ReplyDeleteIf Tammy really did change in her latter years, why are you holding her previous wrong doings against her? She is dead any way. We have no say as to where she is spending the afterlife. We have a say where we spend ours.
As for Jim, he is still alive. I know he has a show, I have not seen it in years. The man is a good preacher provided he does not get side tracked.
However, I will say that he sells fear on his show and keeps promoting those food buckets and such. The problem I have with him is that you have to spend too much time separating the wheat from the chaff. If I have to spend a lot of time doing that when I listen to someone than I need to stop listening.
If he sticks to the written word found in the Bible he wouldn't still be a laughingstock. Obviously I do not agree with him 100 percent. I will say I would rather listen to him than Joel Osteen. At least Jim Bakker admits he was wrong about the Prosperity Gospel.
Shelley: Also Known as Shirley - Shelley Winters
ReplyDeleteThe Andy Warhol Diaries - Andy Warhol
Swanson on Swanson - Gloria Swanson
Little Gloria . . . Happy at Last - Barbara Goldsmith
All amazing for old timey H'wood gossip, and the all time best for gossipy gossip:
You'll Never Eat Lunch in This Town Again - Julia Phillips
@Moose
ReplyDeleteI forgot to say your feelings are yours and you have a right to feel them.
Have a Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks
ReplyDeleteMy Autobiography by Charlie Chaplin is quite interesting.
ReplyDeleteNo One Here Gets Out Alive
ReplyDeleteAgree w/Fifi: Shelley Winters bio is amazing!
ReplyDeleteI also liked Bob Evans' The Kid Stays in the Picture, and the Brando bio by Peter Manso
Paul McCartney- The Life, by Philip Norman
ReplyDeleteLife is Just What You Make It --Donny Osmond
Whitney Houston Good Girl, Bad Girl
ReplyDeleteRobert F. "Bobby" Kennedy.
ReplyDeleteMichelle Obama's Becoming was pretty good
ReplyDeleteOr "The Other Einstein"
ReplyDeleteThe Dirt by Motley Crüe. Felt like I needed rehab just READING the book. Haven’t read it in 10 years and found it again recently. It’s currently sitting on my nightstand ready for another look.
ReplyDeleteJackie O and Edie Segwick
ReplyDeleteZelda by Nancy Mitford about Zelda Fitzgerald
ReplyDelete+1 Motley Crue's "The Dirt"....I had to take a shower every fifty pages....
ReplyDeleteHis Way - The Unauthorised Biography of Frank Sinatra by Kitty Kelley...a real muck raker - so good
ReplyDeleteCourtney Love's bio by the former Poppy Z Brite.
ReplyDeleteStill could read it over and over.
Isabella Blow
ReplyDeleteAndy Warhol Diaries is one of the best books ever!!!
ReplyDeleteEdie an American Biography from Jean Stein
ReplyDeleteLife by Keith Richards
ReplyDeleteMartha Inc.
ReplyDeleteShe’s an ornery cuss off-camera, but I truly admire her business acumen and resilience. B!tch voluntarily did prison time instead waiting til the outcome of the Apoeal just so she could get bsck to work sooner!
However, I’m surprised nobody has yet taken up the option to do a scathing comedy based on the series of her wild off-camera outbursts and various episodes that have been well documented over the years. There is some truly hilarious material from which to work!
ReplyDeleteThe Only Way I Know- Cal Ripken Jr.
Roman Polanski believe it or not
ReplyDeleteSon of Hamas by Mosab Hassan Yousef
ReplyDeleteLife by Keith Richards
Confessions of a Prairie Bitch by Alison Armgrim, who played Nellie on Little House.
ReplyDeleteWhen my daughter was little & started sounding out words, I gave my copy of Motley Crue’s “The Dirt” to The Goodwill. I just knew if that book was anywhere in the house, that kid would find it. Fun, disgusting, brain-candy book....not my fave rock bio tho....that would be “Just Kids” by Patti Smith. Or “Life” by Keef. Both super interesting & well written.
ReplyDeleteIt's an autobiography/memoir but Portia De Rossi's 'Unbearable Lightness'. I think back to it often.
ReplyDeleteTab Hunter Confidential.
ReplyDeleteAntonio Carlos Jobim. (the main whow wrote The Girl from Ipanema).Disclaimer: I'm not Brazilian but I wish I was.
ReplyDelete