Play Audiobook Sample
Dean and Me (Abridged): A Love Story Audiobook
Play Audiobook Sample
(3.02) - 1,017 listener ratings
Quick Stats About this Audiobook
Total Audiobook Chapters:
Longest Chapter Length:
Shortest Chapter Length:
Average Chapter Length:
Audiobooks by this Author:
Publisher Description
They were the unlikeliest of pairs—a handsome crooner and a skinny monkey, an Italian from Steubenville, Ohio, and a Jew from Newark, N.J.. Before they teamed up, Dean Martin seemed destined for a mediocre career as a nightclub singer, and Jerry Lewis was dressing up as Carmen Miranda and miming records on stage. But the moment they got together, something clicked—something miraculous—and audiences saw it at once.
Before long, they were as big as Elvis or the Beatles would be after them, creating hysteria wherever they went and grabbing an unprecedented hold over every entertainment outlet of the era: radio, television, movies, stage shows, and nightclubs. Martin and Lewis were a national craze, an American institution. The millions (and the women) flowed in, seemingly without end—and then, on July 24, 1956, ten years from the day when the two men joined forces, it all ended.
After that traumatic day, the two wouldn’t speak again for twenty years. And while both went on to forge triumphant individual careers—Martin as a movie and television star, recording artist, and nightclub luminary (and charter member of the Rat Pack); Lewis as the groundbreaking writer, producer, director, and star of a series of hugely successful movie comedies—their parting left a hole in the national psyche, as well as in each man’s heart.
In a memoir by turns moving, tragic, and hilarious, Jerry Lewis recounts with crystal clarity every step of a fifty-year friendship, from the springtime, 1945 afternoon when the two vibrant young performers destined to conquer the world together met on Broadway and Fifty-fourth Street, to their tragic final encounter in the 1990s, when Lewis and his wife ran into Dean Martin, a broken and haunted old man.
In Dean & Me, Jerry Lewis makes a convincing case for Dean Martin as one of the great—and most underrated—comic talents of our era. But what comes across most powerfully in this definitive memoir is the depth of love Lewis felt, and still feels, for his partner, and which his partner felt for him: truly a love to last for all time.
Download and start listening now!
"I finished this book last night & really enjoyed it. It's not the kind of book I usually read, but I like to mix it up occasionally, I'm glad I did. The basic premise of this book, co-written by Jerry Lewis, is sharing his thoughts about the 10 year partnership he had with Dean Martin. It covers how they originally met for the 1st time, how they "accidentally" became partners, & their rise to fame. There's a ton of inside info on the Entertainment Business which is also pretty interesting. They were a team for 10 years & this book gives you a great idea of what it was like. Eventually they broke-up & the story turns kind of sad. Overall the book is very well-written & has a lot of heart. Plus, this is NOT a "Bash Dean Martin" book in any way. Lewis shares this story with a lot of honesty & it's a great read. My only complaint would be that more photos would have been nice."
— Tommy (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
-
This is a wild, joyous book, but also a heartbreaking one. In some ways, friendships between men can be more fragile than those between women, something Lewis grasps intuitively. What kind of guy laughs when you upstage his crooning with a piece of raw meat on a fork? Whoever he is, you’d better hang onto him: he’s probably the best friend you’ll ever have.
— Stephanie Zacharek, The New York Times -
A perceptive and entertaining showbiz memoir that should become a classic of its kind...
— Bruce Handy, Vanity Fair
Dean and Me Listener Reviews
-
" It's subtitled: "A love story" and that it definitely is. But Lewis's ego gets in the way about 2/3 of the way through ... as the strain in their original partnership has to be explained. Still it's a very good book. "
— Book, 2/15/2014 -
" I've ALWAYS loved Jerry...he admits to being as asshole in this book and I love him even more. What a great book! "
— Danielle, 2/6/2014 -
" A little self serving maybe, liked the book it gave me a little insight of how it was back then "
— John, 2/3/2014 -
" A great story of one of my favorite funny team. Now I understand why they broke up as team, but still to the end Of Dean Martin's life they still love and talk to each other. "
— Robert, 2/3/2014 -
" if a dean martin fan then its a must read....it really was a love story..... "
— Marianne, 2/2/2014 -
" For all those who grew up on Martin & Lewis movies, this autobiography will bring back fond memories and shed light on the behind the scenes incidents. I thoroughly enjoyed the anecdotal episodes of their partnership. "
— Dennis, 2/2/2014 -
" Like all good love stories this one goes to shit. But they had a great time getting their and that's what matters most. "
— B., 1/12/2014 -
" It was interesting to read this book from Jerry lewis's point of view. If you like Jerry or Dean you might enjoy this easy read. "
— Brad, 1/9/2014 -
" This was really an interesting story, but my god was it sad. "
— Mycala, 1/4/2014 -
" Amazing book on the life of Jerry Lewis and his relationship with Dean Martin "
— Mark, 11/24/2013 -
" This is a fantastic book!!! MY FAVOURITE!!! <3 i love jerry lewis, and this is just a cherry on top of my knowledge!! ahaha its written beautifully.... the onlt bad thing is the back cover gets dirty verrrry easily. otherwise its just an absolute perfect book... "
— Applebear, 11/12/2013 -
" Laaaaddddeeeeeeeee! A great story by Jerry Lewis, very open and funny. It really was a love story about two great friends who make one another better. "
— Damian, 4/30/2013 -
" Brought back the joys of the duo's days as a team and the sorrows of their days apart with the bittersweet underlying fact that theirs was throughout a love story -- true friends who gave the public great entertainment together and apart. Two of my favorites so I enjoyed the book. "
— Dottie, 12/17/2012 -
" This is supposed to be about Dean Martin but Mr. Lewis tends to share more information about himself than his former partner. "
— Missy, 7/3/2012 -
" I wasn't yet born when these two split but thanks to late night movies I knew who they were and I really loved them both. Jerry celebrates their joy and takes responsibility for his part in their break-up. "
— Catherine, 1/13/2012 -
" A charming, intimate peek into the hilarious duo's relationship. If you loved Dean and Jerry, you'll love this book. "
— Rachael, 6/4/2011 -
" Fascinating insight into the formation of comedy's most beloved duo. Jerry Lewis is older now - but somehow his youthful playfulness still shines through in the text. Great read. "
— Peter, 9/8/2010 -
" An interesting look into the relationship between Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. "
— Kristal, 1/25/2008 -
" Great story of their years together ('45-'55) and some of their later years. "
— Jerry, 6/14/2007 -
" so delightful and fresh account of days gone bye. Elegantly written easy flowing narrative and load of jokes on every page. "
— George, 2/18/2007 -
" This was a light easy read with insight to a couple of people that no one really knows "
— Kim, 12/6/2005 -
" Interesting "tell-all" book by Jerry Lewis about the start of Martin & Lewis. Includes lots of insight into the enigma that was our loveable laughable buddy Dean (Deano) Martin, who would later go on to join the Rat Pack after dumping Jerry. "
— carl, 11/13/2005
About the Authors
Jerry Lewis is an American comedian, award-winning actor, film producer, writer and director, known for his slapstick humor and his charity fund-raising telethons for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. He has won several awards for lifetime achievements from the American Comedy Awards, the Golden Camera, Los Angeles Film Critics Association, the Venice Film Festival and he has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2005, he received the Governors Award of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Board of Governors, the highest Emmy Award presented.
James Kaplan is the author of several biographies, books of nonfiction, and novels, including Two Guys from Verona, a New York Times Notable Book of the year. His essays, stories, reviews, and profiles have appeared in numerous magazines, including the New Yorker, the New York Times Magazine, Vanity Fair, Esquire, and New York. He is a 2012 Guggenheim Fellow