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I Am The New Black (Abridged) Audiobook
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(2.99) - 638 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
The outrageously funny, heartbreaking, and surprising story of Tracy Morgan's rise from ghetto wiseass to superstar comedian. Who is Tracy Morgan? The wildly unpredictable funnyman who rocketed to fame on Saturday Night Live? The Emmy-nominated actor behind the sly and ingenious character Tracy Jordan on the award-winning hit sitcom 30 Rock, whose turbulent personal life often mirrors that of his fictional alter ego? Is he Chico Divine, the life of the party–any party, anytime, anywhere–getting ladies pregnant everywhere he goes? Or is he a soulful, tender family man who emerged from a hardscrabble ghetto upbringing and, against all odds, achieved superstardom, raised a solid family, prevailed over a collection of lethal bad habits, and is still ascending new heights and coming into his own? The answer is: Tracy Morgan is all that. And a bag of potato chips with a 50¢ soda. When he was just a boy living in the Tompkins Projects in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, being funny was about survival. With the right snap, Tracy could shut down the playground bullies who picked on him and his physically disabled older brother. And with a wild enough prank, he could exact revenge on whoever stole his Pumas at the community pool. Later, being funny was about escape–from the untouchable sadness of his father's death, from the desperation of the drug dealer's trade, from the life-and-death battles waged on the streets of the South Bronx in the age of crack. But these days being funny is about living his dream–a dream born in the comedy clubs of Harlem and realized on shows like Martin and Saturday Night Live, where he was a cast member for seven years, and in movies like The Longest Yard and Half-Baked. With brutal honesty and his trademark take-no-prisoners humor, Tracy tells the story of his rise to fame, with all its highs and its many lows–from the very public battles with alcohol and diabetes that threatened both his career and his life to the private and poignant end of his twenty-year marriage. In his singularly warped and brilliant way he muses on family, love, sex, race, politics, ambition, and what it takes to bring the funny. Hilarious, inspiring, searing, and touching, I Am the New Black is a fascinating peek inside the minds of one of the most compelling and defining comedians of our time.
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"I have a feeling this would be three or even two stars, had I read this instead of listing to it as an audio CD. Tracy Morgan is a rambler, and he jumps all over the place in time. He repeats himself and goes on and on sometimes when he should be getting back to some kind of narrative structure. But listening to it, I could always be doing something else too, so I would just tune it out when he was rambling and then pay attention again when he was back to a good story or being funny. And he is pretty damn funny in this book. Although again, would it have been so funny if he wasn't reading it to me? Doubtful. When he is talking about everyone making fun of the caterpillar, until it turns into a butterfly, and they call the caterpillar slimy, but it's the most driest creature in the forest...I was really enjoying listening to him. I also didn't remember that he was on 'Martin' and I hadn't really seen his standup, and while I was listening I would go on youtube and find clips. He's always been funny. But his persona is a really big part of his comedy, and without it, I don't think the book would be as good."
— John (4 out of 5 stars)
I Am The New Black Listener Reviews
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" The audiobook is "read" by him. It's very apparent that he isn't reading the book verbatim (I do believe he reads the introduction), but I think his personality shines when he's just speaking from the heart. I laughed out loud in a lot of this. But in length, it just wasn't enough. I'm contemplating actually reading the book, but I'm not sold on doing that, because what I love most about Tracy Morgan is the way he expresses himself. That's the reason why I waited for the audiobook rather than just reading the book itself. I'd recommend this to his fans because he delivers the comedy, even when he isn't trying. I also recommend the audiobook because it has original music from his father. I learned a lot about his life and what has shaped him as a man. If you're curious, pick up a copy. It's worth it. "
— Chezon, 2/20/2014 -
" Alot has gone on in Tracy's life since this book was written in 2009, but still this book provided insight into this comedian's style and I was glad to check it out. "
— Susan, 2/9/2014 -
" I am reading right now, having a hard time getting into the book. I am accustomed to hearing a comical Tracy Morgan. His book is kinda heavy. Keeping an open mind though. "
— Jessica, 2/9/2014 -
" Really brief, under 200 pages so you really get no dirt. Basically read the Wikipedia page. "
— Roger, 2/3/2014 -
" ehhhh....... wouldn't recommend primarily due to lots of peacock-ing on mr. morgan's part and also gratuitous language that i didn't feel was always within the context of the writing. he compares himself with some of the best comedians and i am not sure he is Ready For Prime Time. i would pass. "
— Kevin, 1/27/2014 -
" Tracy Morgan is a work in progress. "
— Joe, 1/24/2014 -
" not funny, though also not supposed to be funny. I have to believe Tracy Morgan wasn't even reading the actual book but rather just telling the story of his life with platitudes. "
— Tessa, 1/22/2014 -
" What a waste of $12.99, a few hours, and several brain cells... Sadly, I can never get any of the forementioned back. If you care to read about how much "p*$$y" Tracy Morgan has acquired in his lifetime, then this is the book for you!!! If, however, you are like the other 98.9% of the population then skip the book! I know I wish I had... "
— Jennifer, 1/20/2014 -
" he actually gets a little serious/deep for my taste..I just want you to make me laugh clown, not all this depressing "mommy left me"... "
— William, 1/16/2014 -
" Tracy Morgan had a really hard life. And apparently Chris Kattan is an asshole. This book isn't funny (mostly), but it's not supposed to be (mostly). Just a heads up. "
— Mike, 12/31/2013 -
" You have to be a Tracy Morgan fan to like this. It's hilarious, it's like he's talking to you, and you can't help but read it in his voice. It's fantastic if you are a fan. If you aren't, and you don't enjoy a bit of ghetto humor, then don't read, you won't like it. "
— Jen, 12/14/2013 -
" I loved his message of perseverance and not making excuses. Wow, he came from a tough background. It helps me to read about this and to keep it in my heart when I go to school and am dealing with so many angry and lost children. "
— Christine, 11/15/2013 -
" This book is too funny. It's like I have Tracy in my head reading the book to me. I can hear him speaking and I can't stop laughing out loud. I can't recommend this book enough "
— Khryste, 11/10/2013 -
" He talks smack about Cheri Oteri, Chris Kattan and Jimmy Fallon! "
— Eric, 11/8/2013 -
" Not a literary masterpiece, but whatever. "
— Hansel, 10/16/2013 -
" Entertaining to read. Sometimes repetitive but great insight into his life. "
— Julian, 6/27/2013 -
" horrible drivel from a very funny man "
— Matthew, 5/12/2013 -
" Surprisingly, this would probably be better in book form than on audio. Morgan "reads" it himself. I can't imagine it being as disorganized in print. But his story is amazing. "
— Melissa, 5/5/2013 -
" the fact that I listened to the audiobook is really the only thing that redeemed this. between the rampant sexism and tedious aphorisms Morgan's at turns emotional and hilarious reading managed to engender some forgiveness in me. "
— Davina, 1/5/2013 -
" I can't even write m*f*er let alone say it dozen ways but I still claim funny. This one I heard on tape and would recommend this mode. "
— Bgamble, 7/16/2012 -
" Well what do you expect from a book like this? That's about what you get. Mildly entertaining, mildly interesting, nothing too great. If you really like Tracy Morgan it is worth a quick read, if not I'd avoid. "
— Djm, 7/9/2012 -
" Just like Tina Fey's Bossypants, I wish I got the audiobook version! I hear Tracy in my head when I'm reading. (Aside: why am I obsessed with 30 Rock memoirs? I guess Alec Baldwin's is next. But somehow I'm thinking that one is less funny. Jack McBrayer, where is yours?!) "
— Jocelyn, 4/3/2012 -
" I was hoping for more insight from his years on SNL and his stand up career. Instead this autobiography is sprinkled with Morgan's uninformed views on communsim and his cliched views on racism. It's funny that he fails to see that the real racism he encounters emanates from Hollywood. "
— Don, 3/8/2012 -
" Somewhat silly, somewhat crazy, a very light read. With ample help from Anthony Bozza, ghost-writer to the stars. If true, scary that there was a point at which Tracy Morgan was acting on 30 Rock during the day, then going back to the hospital at night. "
— Al, 7/12/2011 -
" A lot more insightful than expected--more so than humorous. Still, an enjoyable read. "
— Letty, 4/4/2011 -
" This is a magazine feature stretched to book length, which seems to be Anthony Bozza's forte ( his Eminem book was like this too.) I liked hearing Tracy read the audiobook, but really, forgettable and in dire need of being fleshed out in some way. Maybe Tina Fey should have been his ghostwriter. "
— Jamie, 2/21/2011 -
" I loved his message of perseverance and not making excuses. Wow, he came from a tough background. It helps me to read about this and to keep it in my heart when I go to school and am dealing with so many angry and lost children. "
— Christine, 1/30/2011 -
" Tracy Morgan is hilarious. And, so is this book. Very entertaining and funny! Read at your risk. Lots of profanity and other. "
— Tim, 1/29/2011 -
" Tracy Morgan is a super funny guy, but I felt like he didn't go into much detail and left me wanting more. "
— Angela, 1/28/2011 -
" Tracy Morgan had a really hard life. And apparently Chris Kattan is an asshole. This book isn't funny (mostly), but it's not supposed to be (mostly). Just a heads up. "
— Mike, 12/31/2010 -
" hilarious. he is a comic genius in my opinion but i ended up kind of resenting him as person and a man by the end of the book. but whatever, he makes me laugh. "
— Hanna, 12/29/2010 -
" Somewhat silly, somewhat crazy, a very light read. With ample help from Anthony Bozza, ghost-writer to the stars. If true, scary that there was a point at which Tracy Morgan was acting on 30 Rock during the day, then going back to the hospital at night. "
— Al, 11/14/2010 -
" Wow. He really did write his own book! Worth reading if you want to understand the mind of a narcissistic idiot savant. What does Tracy have to tell? He was a poop smearer when he was little. I always wondered why some people got into this and Tracy gives his best attempt at explaining why. "
— Bill, 8/8/2010 -
" he actually gets a little serious/deep for my taste..I just want you to make me laugh clown, not all this depressing "mommy left me"... "
— William, 7/31/2010 -
" You have to be a Tracy Morgan fan to like this. It's hilarious, it's like he's talking to you, and you can't help but read it in his voice. It's fantastic if you are a fan. If you aren't, and you don't enjoy a bit of ghetto humor, then don't read, you won't like it. "
— Jen, 7/27/2010 -
" Tracy Morgan is a work in progress. "
— Joe, 6/25/2010
About the Authors
Anthony Bozza is a former Rolling Stone staff writer and author of the New York Times bestsellers Whatever You Say I Am: The Life and Times of Eminem; Tommyland with Tommy Lee; and Slash with Slash. He lives in New York City.