Book Reviews of Pure Drivel

Steve Martin is much funnier when seen in a movie or a comedy skit on TV. While this is an amusing read it does not reflect Martin's humor completely.

Look, I hate Steve Martin and I bought this book because it was a dollar and I'll buy just about anything if it costs a dollar. But if you are a fan it will appeal to you so please take if off my hands so I can get something by someone who doesn't anoy the crap out of me.

Short stories/random thoughts by comedian Steve Martin

This is a hilariously funny book that only someone with Steve Martin's wit could write.

This book is a great respite after a day of turmoil. Or maybe will add some turmoil after a great day?

This was a lot funnier than i expected.

Steve Martin's talent has always deifed defintion: an actor who's kept us riveted for over 25 years, a razor-sharp screenwriter, an acclained playwright. In this ingeniously funny collection of humorus riffs, those who thought Martin's gifts were confined to the screen will discover what readings of The New Yorker magazine already know: that Martin is a master of the written world.

Actor and comedian Steve Martin authors this hilarious collection of essays.

Very amusing.

I didn't find this book to be as unbelievably good as his other two, but it's okay if you are really into Steve Martin.

Summary:
Steve Martin has always been one of the most intelligent of comedians (you won't find Adam Sandler writing a play about Einstein and Picasso anytime soon), but this intelligence is manifested in gymnastically absurdist flights of fancy, rather than the politically informed riffs typical of performers like Lenny Bruce. Pure Drivel is a collection of pieces, most of them written for the New Yorker, that demonstrate Martin's playful way with words and his unerring ability to create a feeling of serendipitous improvisation even on the printed page. Here's a passage from a piece that announces a shortage of periods in the Times Roman font:

"Most vulnerable are writers who work in short, choppy sentences," said a spokesperson for Times Roman, who continued, "We are trying to remedy the situation and have suggested alternatives, like umlauts, since we have plenty of umlauts--and, in fact, have more umlauts than we could possibly use in a lifetime! Don't forget, umlauts can really spice up a page with their delicate symmetry--resting often midway in a word, letters spilling on either side--and not only indicate the pronunciation of a word but also contribute to a writer's greater glory because they're fancy, not to mention that they even look like periods, indeed, are indistinguishable from periods, and will lead casual readers to believe that the article actually contains periods!"

Although some of these pieces flirted with topicality when they first appeared, Martin is most successful when he leaves the real world behind and gives his wit free rein. This collection preserves the best (so far) of his glorious improvisations. --Simon Leake

I love anything by Steve Martin

This book does not have the jacket cover, otherwise in good condition

Very Fuuny

I love Steve Martin - but this book was not as funny as the actual man.

Funny!

OMG... So f'ing clever... I was DYING. So good!

I love steve martin. Very funny book

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