Born Standing Up

In Born Standing Up, Steve Martin offers an intimate and deeply personal look at his journey from a young aspiring magician to one of the most influential and prominent comedians in history. Martin weaves together a rich tapestry of anecdotes, personal reflections, and the behind-the-scenes look at his rise in the comedy world. This memoir dives into the highs and lows of his career, giving readers a glimpse of the drive, passion, and sacrifice it took to reach the pinnacle of his profession, only to step away at the height of his fame.

In the mid-seventies, Steve Martin exploded onto the comedy scene. By 1978, he was the biggest concert draw in the history of stand-up. In 1981, he quit stand-up comedy forever. This book is, in his own words, the story of "why I did stand-up and why I walked away."

Emmy and Grammy Award-winner, author of the acclaimed New York Times bestsellers Shopgirl and The Pleasure of My Company, and a regular contributor to The New Yorker, Martin has always been a writer. His memoir of his years in stand-up is candid, spectacularly amusing, and beautifully written.

At the tender age of ten, Martin embarked on his career at Disneyland, selling guidebooks in the newly opened theme park. Over the next decade, he worked in the Disney magic shop and the Bird Cage Theatre at Knott's Berry Farm, performing his first magic/comedy act multiple times a week. The story of these formative years is both moving and revealing, showcasing the unwavering dedication to excellence and innovation that has defined Martin's career from the start. The relentless pursuit of his craft and the constant honing of his skills are evident and inspiring.

Martin illuminates the sacrifice, discipline, and originality that made him an icon and continue to inform his work to this day. To be this successful, to perform so frequently, required a high level of isolation and loneliness. Martin candidly shares how it took him decades to reconnect with his parents and sister, telling that story with great tenderness. He also paints a vivid picture of the era he lived through—the era of free love and anti-Vietnam War protests, the irreverence of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in the late sixties, and the groundbreaking voice of Saturday Night Live in the seventies.

Throughout the narrative, Martin has included photographs, many of which have never been seen before, adding a visual layer to his compelling story. Born Standing Up is a superb testament to the sheer tenacity, focus, and boldness of one of the greatest and most iconoclastic comedians of all time.