{"product_id":"born-standing-up","title":"Born Standing Up","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eThe riveting, mega-bestselling, beloved and highly acclaimed memoir of a man, a vocation, and an era named one of the ten best nonfiction titles of the year by \u003ci\u003eTime\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eEntertainment Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e \n\n\u003cp\u003e\nIn \u003cem\u003eBorn Standing Up\u003c\/em\u003e, 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.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\nIn 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.\"\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\nEmmy and Grammy Award-winner, author of the acclaimed \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestsellers \u003cem\u003eShopgirl\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eThe Pleasure of My Company\u003c\/em\u003e, and a regular contributor to \u003ci\u003eThe New Yorker\u003c\/i\u003e, Martin has always been a writer. His memoir of his years in stand-up is candid, spectacularly amusing, and beautifully written.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\nAt 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.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\nMartin 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 \u003cem\u003eThe Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour\u003c\/em\u003e in the late sixties, and the groundbreaking voice of \u003cem\u003eSaturday Night Live\u003c\/em\u003e in the seventies. \n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\nThroughout the narrative, Martin has included photographs, many of which have never been seen before, adding a visual layer to his compelling story. \u003cem\u003eBorn Standing Up\u003c\/em\u003e is a superb testament to the sheer tenacity, focus, and boldness of one of the greatest and most iconoclastic comedians of all time.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"HarperCollins New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45744974364908,"sku":"9781416553656","price":50.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781416553656.jpg?v=1726664952","url":"https:\/\/bookhero.pro\/products\/born-standing-up","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}