Andy Kaufman is truly one of my heroes.

I had an absolute adoration for him when he was alive, and I still hold dear his incredibly zany ways.

In an ideal world, I firmly believe that he is still out there somewhere, perhaps pulling off a death hoax on all of us.

This book has the remarkable ability to make me dream that dream even more strongly. It presents the life of Kaufman in a more even-handed and less biased manner compared to the Zmuda biography that is also available.

Undoubtedly, this is the superior of the two Kaufman biographies. It offers a more comprehensive and objective look into the life and times of this extraordinary and enigmatic figure.

Readers will find themselves immersed in the unique world of Andy Kaufman, gaining a deeper understanding and appreciation for his art and his impact on the entertainment industry.

Whether you are a long-time fan or just discovering Kaufman for the first time, this book is a must-read.

Far from the standard biography, this is written in such a way as to get you as close to Kaufman as possible... or one of his many variations.

It truly works. Kaufman had a profound impact on me since childhood. His unique manipulation of reality and the subsequent reaction of the public to it have always been a source of great interest for me. In fact, if truth be told, it has also influenced me. Bill Zehme's book serves as an excellent guide, helping to explain precisely how and why all of this occurred. It gets us as close as one can possibly get to understanding him.

If you happened to miss the excitement that was Kaufman, this book will无疑 fill in those gaps for you. It is an even-handed and thoughtful account. More importantly, it is incredibly interesting, and once you start reading, you simply won't want it to end.

It offers a fascinating glimpse into the complex and captivating world of Kaufman, allowing readers to experience his charm and genius vicariously.

Whether you are a long-time fan or new to the world of Kaufman, this book is sure to engage and delight you.

It is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of art, performance, and the public's perception.

So, pick up this book and prepare to be transported into the extraordinary world of Kaufman.

You won't be disappointed.

I turned the television on to the news.

I had this strange thought that Andy might get a sort of weird kick out of having the news reporting his death while his body was lying there, watching.

It was a macabre and rather disturbing idea that crossed my mind.

As I sat there, waiting for the news to come on, I couldn't help but wonder what Andy would have thought if he could have known.

Would he have found it amusing or would it have been too much for him to handle?

The anticipation was almost palpable as I stared at the screen, my heart beating a little faster.

Finally, the news came on and my eyes were glued to the screen, waiting to see if they would report on Andy's death.

Sure enough, there it was, a brief mention of his passing.

I felt a strange mix of emotions wash over me as I heard the words spoken on the television.

Sadness, of course, but also a hint of that weird curiosity that had led me to turn on the news in the first place.

It was a moment that I would never forget.

If you are an Andy Kaufman fan, or if you have ever wondered why Latka from the TV Sitcom "Taxi" ended up wrestling women and Jerry Lawler, or even if you are curious about why the guy from "Saturday Night Live" who sang with the Mighty Mouse record, or who imitated Elvis, looked shy and innocent but also did some insane things in his personal life (and up on stage), then you will love this book.

I remember vividly most of the incidents described in "Lost in the Funhouse." However, now, with Bill Zehme's page-turning biography, I have a greater appreciation for Andy Kaufman, the eccentric person, and avant-garde performance artist.

Zehme offers new context in which to consider Andy's work. The author explores Andy's family dynamic and his unusual behavior during his school years. We follow Andy's NYC career experiments and his Hollywood agent's behind-the-scenes efforts to propel his career. Moreover, we see Andy's own (often unreported) crazed romps through everyday life, including all too regular romps with hookers at the Mustang Ranch.

Was Andy a true creative genius that was offering true performance art way before its time? Was Andy a comedian, a lunatic, a self-absorbed manic depressive, or an actor? "Lost in the Funhouse" will offer a most comprehensive look at the entirety of Andy's legacy so that you can answer these questions for yourself.

My vote: he was a true creative genius that was exhibiting performance art way before its time.

For any die-hard fan of Andy Kaufman, this is an absolute must-read. His brand of humor was of the most extreme and unique kind. One of his most memorable personas was Tony Clifton. During a live performance, as Tony Clifton, he would approach an old lady sitting at her dinner table during his show. Standing next to her, he would warn her, "You sat in cottage cheese." But then, almost immediately, he would correct himself and say, "Oh no, it was your ass instead." Andy Kaufman truly was the King of insults. His ability to shock and amuse with his bold and unapologetic humor set him apart from all others. His antics on stage and in public were always a source of controversy and entertainment. Whether you loved him or hated him, you couldn't deny the impact he had on the world of comedy.

The bio seemed okay initially, but by the end, I didn't have any more respect or admiration for Kaufman than I did at the start.

As he advanced in his professional career, his originality seemed to wane. Despite all his talk of meditation and the supposed sweetness he projected, a significant portion of his act centered around being mean to people.

He was known to be a serial fornicator and a patron of prostitutes, and it appeared that the world revolved around him. I understand that he was trying to be transgressive, but there are plenty of other comics who have achieved that while still maintaining a sense of freshness and originality, and without being fundamentally unkind, at least on stage.

It's as if Kaufman sacrificed his artistic integrity and basic human decency in the name of being edgy and different. Maybe there was more to him than what was presented in the bio, but based on what I read, I can't say that I have a very positive impression of him.

To be honest, I wasn't really sure what to expect of this book. None of the Kaufman books seems to be the authoritative one, or so I think.

However, this is not only - very likely - the best book about Andy Kaufman, it's one of the best biographies I've ever read. It's really well-written, with a style that engages the reader from start to finish. The author, Zehme, has a great sense of humor that shines through in his writing, making the book both entertaining and enjoyable.

What's more, the book is also very insightful. Zehme manages to capture the essence of Andy Kaufman, exploring his life, his work, and his unique personality. He delves deep into Kaufman's psyche, revealing the man behind the public persona.

Perhaps most impressively, Zehme manages the balance between fandom and critical analysis really well. He clearly has a great deal of respect for Kaufman, but he's not afraid to ask tough questions or to offer a critical perspective. This makes the book all the more valuable, as it provides a well-rounded and objective view of Kaufman's life and career.

In conclusion, I would definitely read more of Zehme's work. This book is highly recommended for anyone who is interested in Andy Kaufman, or in biographies in general. It's a great read that will leave you entertained, informed, and inspired.

Generally, when I pick up a biography, I often sense a certain detachment from the subject of the book. There is perhaps a hint of coldness as I observe their life unfold before me, as if it is a distant story. However, this particular book was nothing like that. Right from the very first few pages, I was completely thrilled. I could almost hear Andy Kaufman vividly describing his own life. It's truly an extremely peculiar style choice to write in the mannerisms of the subject while constantly reminding the audience that you are not actually him. I'm not certain that too many authors or biographers would be able to execute this successfully. But Bill Zehme managed to do it with remarkable elegance. I have the distinct feeling that Mr. Zehme taught me an incredibly vast amount about Andy Kaufman by using this unique tone. It feels as if no one else could have achieved this in any other way, except perhaps Andy Kaufman himself.

This is a biography of a genius comedian that is both thoroughly enjoyable and very sad.

It takes the reader on a journey through the life and career of this remarkable individual, highlighting their comedic talent and the many achievements they accomplished along the way.

However, it also delves into the more difficult aspects of their life, including personal struggles and hardships that they had to endure.

Despite the sadness that is present throughout the story, there is also a sense of hope and inspiration, as the comedian's legacy lives on through their work and the impact they had on others.

Overall, this biography is a must-read for anyone who is interested in the life and work of this amazing comedian, and it offers a unique and fascinating perspective on their life and times.

This book was truly fascinating.

It had such a profound impact on me that I became completely obsessed with Kaufman for a certain period of time.

The way Kaufman presented his ideas and stories in the book was simply captivating.

Every page seemed to hold a new discovery or a thought-provoking concept that kept me engaged from start to finish.

I found myself constantly reflecting on the themes and messages within the book, and it even influenced my own perspective on various aspects of life.

The characters in the book were also well-developed and relatable, which added another layer of depth to the overall reading experience.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for an engaging and thought-provoking read.

It is definitely one that will stay with you long after you have finished turning the last page.

I can barely remember this book that I read last year.

It's quite strange how quickly memories can fade.

I recall picking up the book with great anticipation, excited to explore its contents.

But as time has passed, the details have become模糊.

Maybe it was an average read, not particularly memorable.

Or perhaps there were other books that came along and overshadowed it in my mind.

Nevertheless, I do have a vague sense of the story and the characters.

It's as if they are just on the tip of my tongue, but I can't quite grasp them.

I wonder if I should give it another read to see if it jogs my memory and reveals something new.

Maybe this time, it will leave a more lasting impression.

Here was a gauntlet thrown and a madness born - to sort and sift through a life of fantasy, but also a life on earth, and locate truths wherever truths had been sent to hide.

It's no coincidence that "Lost in the Funhouse" takes its name from John Barth's famously metafictional postmodern short story collection. Andy Kaufman was an enigma to almost everyone who knew him. He was more like a schizophrenic collection of characters, each representing some aspect of his emotional defense system, rather than something concrete. His entire existence was a performance art piece that prided itself on alienating the audience by any means necessary. This was to keep them in a constant state of bafflement about what was "really" going on and "what's the punchline," if there was one. One of his major techniques was to respond to the changing criticisms and interpretations of his own media image in ways that would only push the question of "who is Andy Kaufman" into more murky territory, even for him, while still maintaining his artistic integrity. Thus, chronicling the life of Andy Kaufman is like traversing a minefield that is almost more mine than field. The author clearly knew the implications of such a task beforehand, which led to a six-year commitment of living and breathing Kaufman. Lesser writers would have cracked up, poisoned themselves with gallon after gallon of chocolate ice cream, found solace in the arms of dozens of strange prostitutes, and given up on a project that mortal man wasn't meant to undertake. Awarding this book five stars is not only a profound appreciation of the author's herculean effort and patience but also a reflection of its wonderful, hilarious, and thought-provoking content.

Bill Zehme is the narrator, but he channels Andy Kaufman and focalizes Andy's life through Andy's whacked-out but still all-too-human perspective. By doing so, he creates a second plane in which the reader can better understand who exactly Andy was, not just through the events of his life but through the meaningful expressionist discourse of those events. This experimental edge results in a sometimes fractured structure and electric, stream-of-consciousness prose that probably wouldn't work in any other biography but works splendidly here. The focus on Andy's childhood, which is usually the least favorite part of biographies for many, strays away from a simple A-Z retelling of events and brilliantly highlights the formative scenes. These include believing there was a camera in the wall of his bedroom that he would constantly perform for, his early infatuation with Elvis and wrestling, his fixation on hijinks, his fascination with freaks, then with the Beats in his teen years and poetry and the novels of Kerouac and Selby Jr. and the films of Fellini, and his discovery of transcendental meditation. These scenes built the foundation of Andy's psyche and clearly prefigured much of his adult life. Zehme, while delving into and embodying the chaos of Kaufman's life, works incredibly hard to humanize Andy, to connect the dots and show how there was a logical but still bizarre chain of events that led to the creation of the Andy who freaked out a nation.

Over the course of my reading, I developed an enormous sympathy for this polarizing figure. His vulnerability, intentions, successes, failures, and tragic death are laid bare. I found myself trapped in Andy's head (the funhouse) and lived his experiences with him, feeling that I understood his every move. He spent his life on the fringes, his inability to communicate and fear of becoming something he felt he wasn't driving him further down the rabbit hole until he'd passed through fame with nothing on the other side but a few close friends and family, the people who held his hand while he died. I don't think I've ever laughed or cried as much from any other book, or had as much satisfaction in closing the final page and knowing I'd experienced something special. If I ever read a biography more alive and satisfying, it will be a miracle.