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Pure Drivel Audiobook
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(3.01) - 3,353 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Grammy Award Nominee for Best Spoken Word Album!
Steve Martin's talent has always defied definition: an actor who's kept us riveted for over 25 years, a razor-sharp screenwriter, an acclaimed playwright. In this ingeniously funny collection of humorous riffs, those who thought Martin's gifts were confined to the screen will discover what readers of The New Yorker magazine already know: that Martin is a master of the written word.
Hilariously funny and intelligent in their skewering of the topic at hand, the audiobook's pieces, some of which first appeared in The New Yorker, feature Martin at his finest.
With a playwright's ear for dialogue, a sense of irony only Steve Martin could muster, and a first-class comic ability to perfectly time the punch line, Pure Drivel will have listeners crying with laughter, and marveling at the fact that in addition to all of his many talents, Steve Martin is also a superb writer.
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"Steve Martin has been making me laugh as long as I can remember and he hasn't lost it. The humor in this book is a bit more intellectual than some of his earlier stuff, but he hasn't lost the wild-and-crazy-guy wackiness that still runs under even his bits about grammar, fonts, and Mensa. I also recently listened to (I listened to this one on tape with Steve Martin reading) George Carlin's latest, which made me appreciate even more how hard it is to stay fresh for so long, but Steve Martin has been able to do it (George Carlin hasn't)."
— Scott (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Martin’s brilliant, juxtaposed wordplay, sly commentary, and hilarious observations are delivered with such a droll wit that only a dead person will avoid unabashed laughter.”
— Amazon.com, editorial review -
“Anyone who has seen Martin perform will find the comic’s delivery entertainingly familiar.”
— AudioFile -
“Often ingenious.”
— Kirkus Reviews -
“Martin expresses his intelligent, innovative, and self-conscious humor in many forms, including the written word.”
— Booklist
Awards
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A New York Times bestseller
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A USA Today bestseller
Pure Drivel Listener Reviews
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Amanda Nagurney, 12/25/2021
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" Don't waste your time. The title is supposed to be funny and let the reader know that there isn't supposed to be anything serious or anything even tied to reality in the book. But still, it was really just drivel. It's a lot like Woody Allen's book The Insanity Defense. Again, don't waste your time. "
— Jon, 2/10/2014 -
" Aptly titled. "
— Ken, 2/7/2014 -
" Brilliant. Very much in the vein of early Woody Allen. "
— Mikematera, 2/5/2014 -
" I own this audiobook. "
— Jennifer, 2/3/2014 -
" Exquisitely smart. I laughed out loud. "
— Aimeelou, 1/30/2014 -
" The title pretty much nails it. "
— Frederick, 1/27/2014 -
" I love the way Steve Martin's mind works. This collection of his essays reassured me that my mind is just fine in its own skewed functioning. "
— Michelle, 1/27/2014 -
" Funny as hell!! "
— JR, 1/22/2014 -
" I borrowed this from my brother in law about six months ago and am feeling horribly guilty I have kept it for so long. I finally sat down and read this today. Classic Steve Martin and truly drivel. "
— Janice, 1/16/2014 -
" Pure drivel. Debauched genius. "
— Ann, 1/13/2014 -
" exactly what is advertised. enjoy. "
— Wes, 1/12/2014 -
" I like Steve Martin's comedy and I've enjoyed his novels, but this book didn't do it for me. I just didn't find it very funny or even interesting. I didn't even read the last couple of essays, and I rarely quit a book before the end. "
— Devon, 12/23/2013 -
" Eh...at times funny. At times not at all funny (but trying to be). "
— Corinne, 12/13/2013 -
" This is a funny read. Steve Martin is one of my favorite authors. He is a Renaissance man with his comedy, acting, and writing. My favorite blurbs were Writing Is Easy and Dear Amanda. "
— Audra, 12/11/2013 -
" This book is the funniest half hour or so you could possibly spend. The book is only 100 pages long. I read it on an airplane to pass the time and had to stop because I laughed so loud it was exceedingly conspicuous. "
— A.K., 11/10/2013 -
" Some people told me that they found it to be annoying. I, on the contrary, rather enjoyed it. "
— Matt, 9/30/2013 -
" It sort of funny but only because you know it's from Steve Martin !?! "
— Andre, 9/27/2013 -
" Very funny, as Steve Martin always is! Each goofy story is just a few pages so this is a great book for those who like a ite-size read. "
— Alison, 9/1/2013 -
" Steve Martin ranges from the insane to the bizarre to completely touching, in still an odd sort of way. "
— Cameron, 8/14/2013 -
" So, so, so good. "
— Quoc, 8/4/2013 -
" Not one of his better works. I giggled a couple of times, but not much more than that. "
— Lisa, 7/29/2013 -
" Crafty, modern humor for literate readers, laced with knowing, coastal cultural references and empathetic character sketches. Four-and-a-half stars, actually. "
— Bob, 10/24/2012 -
" With a few small exceptions, this was pure doody. "
— L, 9/1/2012 -
" Quite clever, and I have always appreciated Martin's dry wit. "
— Felicia, 4/6/2012 -
" I was so disappointed in this book. There's only one or two funny passages in the entire text. Other than that it's not worth the time. "
— Dave, 4/1/2012 -
" I lurve this book! It is so perfectly silly and smart. I make everybody I know (and like) read it. Each time I read it, I cry and convulse with laughter. I bought the audio book but found that I like the way it sounds in my head better. Read it, I say unto you! "
— Kellie, 2/23/2012 -
" This book is funny! But, then again, I love Steve Martin. My favorite bit is "Sledgehammer." "
— Jessica, 2/5/2012 -
" what an incredibly talented writer. "
— Myra, 9/30/2011 -
" I started out laughing out loud, but I think this book is better enjoyed in chunks, not read through all at once! "
— Susan, 8/21/2011 -
" Its poignancy can easily surprise you when it peeks out between laughs. "
— Jonathan, 5/21/2011 -
" Pure drivel... What else is there to say? "
— Warren, 4/13/2011 -
" Steve Martin truly is a master of comedy in any medium. "
— Robert, 3/27/2011 -
" I pick this up any time I need a laugh or don't have anything to read. this book is great for sharing aloud or laughing in bursts of hysteria to oneself.The times new roman is running out of periods is not only hilarious but an amazing grammatical and punctuational piece. "
— Kjersten, 3/19/2011 -
" Pure Drivel is true to it's title. But it's funny, insightful, wacky, and clever drivel. "
— Peggy, 3/19/2011 -
" Super quick read of tiny little nonsensical short stories. "
— Jacqulyn, 3/15/2011 -
" Great fun! Several of the essays had me laughing out loud. "
— Yvensong, 3/13/2011 -
" These essays are the kind of thing I expect from Steve Martin. Too good! They pair wit with slapstick in a way that can only be read fervor through the night by candle light. "
— Harley, 3/13/2011 -
" Some of the stories prompted much laughter, others were, well, dilluted drivel. 2.5 since I enjoyed some of them. "
— Stephanie, 3/7/2011 -
" Most of these were really funny but a bit much if read all together. "
— Sabrina, 1/26/2011
About Steve Martin
Steve Martin is a legendary writer, actor, and performer. His film credits include Father of the Bride, Parenthood, The Spanish Prisoner, and Bringing Down the House, as well as Roxanne, L.A. Story, and Bowfinger, for which he also wrote the screenplays. He’s won Emmys for his television writing and two Grammys for comedy albums. In addition to a play, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, he has written a bestselling collection of comic pieces, Pure Drivel, and a bestselling novella, Shopgirl, which was made into a movie.