I am a long time fan of Bob Newhart. The man's "style" of comedy has always "cracked me up". I don't know when I first heard him, it had to be in the 1950s on TV... But I simply can't recall.

In this short (audio) memorie he goes over the background of his comedy. I mean let's face it. Who would have thought that a guy talking into an imaginary (or sometimes prop) telephone could be that funny. He's played everything from a submarine captain to Abraham Lincoln's publicist.

And you not only get the stories of how some of it came about, how his career developed but also some of the comedy itself.

While not so much a wall to wall "laugh-fest" as What's So Funny?: My Hilarious Life it is interesting and has some good laughs.

Another I can recommend.

While this reviewer was reading, "I Shouldn't Even Be Doing This! And Other Things that Strike Me as Funny" by Bob Newhart, it was almost automatic to put in the hesitant delivery for which he is famous. It really was odd to read his words with fluidity. But it was fun.

From the start it is witty, charmingly self-deprecating and sincere. The anecdotes Mr. Newhart (referring to him as Bob seems too presumptuous and by his last name only as disrespectful) shares takes us on a journey through his career (from accountant to tv legend), his friendships, his thoughts on changing landscape of entertainment and his devotion to his wife and family are all both enlightening and entertaining.

Was this reviewer unaware of the impact of “The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart?” Yes. Everyone probably has to listen to that.

Was he a name-dropper? Yes. But who couldn’t enjoy stories about Richard Pryor, Dean Martin, Don Adams, Don Rickles, Fred McMurray….

Was it written too soon? Yes. Published in 2006 before his star turns on “The Big Bang Theory,” we lost out on his views on that show.

Was he obsessed with golf? Yes. And we got to enjoy several funny events that happened on golf courses.

Was the ending of “Newhart” the best ever? Yes. ‘Nuf said.

Was this reviewer laughing out loud with his dry humor and clever observations? Yes. The book was a great testament to the enduring power of Mr. Newhart’s humor and a tribute to a career that has brought joy to millions.

Thank you Bob Newhart.
I listened to your book on CD, and the dead pan delivery of the jokes had me laughing as I drove to work in -24 degree weather in MN. At t time where the weather was dangerous and people in general were down, you gave me a lift on the way to work.
Thank you Bob Newhart.
I shared you jokes with others and made them laugh at a time when times were financially tight and stress was at a personal high.
Thank you Bob Newhart.
When I came back from my desk after having a meeting about ethics at work that no one saw coming, your jokes made me smile at a time when I didn't know if I could again sitting in that chair.
Thank you Bob Newhart.
You let the reader in on how you got to where you are, who helped you along the way and the great friend you have in Don Rickles. I found I had a very similar background as you, and you followed your dream. This nudges me closer to fulfilling mine.
Thank you Bob Newhart for always making me laugh. I hope to have many more laughs with you in the years to come.

For this review I'm going to use my transcriber, and then edit it later.

Okay, my review BRRRRRRRRING BRRRRRRRRING Rats! BRRRRRRRRING Hello? ... Yes, dear, I'm at home ... Well, I just got done reading Bob Newhart's book, and was going to post a review at GoodReads ... Yes, that guy, but he's not really THAT bald -- he still has hair ... We shouldn't even be doing this ... No, no, no, don't hang up! That's the name of his book! ... Really ... Yes, I still love you, dear ... And your mother, too ... Well, there is a subtitle: And other things that-- ... Yes, I agree, biographies are hit and miss, but I thought that this would be a good one ... Why? Well, it's not a straightforward resume of his career. It hardly even mentions Newhart ... Yes, the one in Vermont ... Yes, with the Darryls. One of his anecdotes is actually about them ... Well, they were only supposed to be a one-time appearance, but the audience loved them ... No, I guess there IS no accounting for taste ... Yes, it IS a funny book, in places ... And it went fast ... Yes, that IS why I didn't come to bed last night ... Yes, I still love you, dear ... Yes, and your mother, too ... So we're cool again? ... Okay, bye.

Now where was I -- Was that recording the whole time? Well, you know what, I'll keep it and submit it as is.

My favorite comedian! Rest in peace.

2024 - The 52 Book Club Challenge

Week 39: Non-fiction recommended by a friend

“Comedians are innately programmed to pick up oddities like mispronounced words, upside-down books on a shelf, and generally undetectable mistakes in everyday life.
”

Guess I should have been a comedian.

“Recently, for instance, I’ve noticed on the cable news channels that the guy who writes the news crawl along the bottom of the screen can’t type. Clearly, there is no one watching him and saying, “Gary, what’s wrong with you?”

These aren’t glaring errors, but they certainly stand out to me. One day last summer, a typically misspelled news bulletin announced: “In the Mideast, peace talks are underway between the Palestinians and the Israelis and there is the possibility that Egypt may play a roll”—as opposed to a “role.”

This is actually my favourite nit to pick. Headlines and news scrolls. I recently did this with the BBC’s scroll spelling Secret Service with all lower case letters. Like Bob, not glaring errors and most likely not noticeable by most, but they stand out to me like a flashing neon sign.

Bob Newhart's trademark dry humor and hesitant mannerisms are all over this book and I'M LOVING IT!

The comedian-turned-actor has been a favorite of mine ever since I was a kid. Granted, his older fans will give me a Newhart-esque curmudgeonly stare with a telling clearing of the throat when I say it was the 80s show, not the 70s one that got me hooked. Egads, I can't even imagine what fans of his earlier comedy albums must think of me!

I gave I Shouldn't Even Be Doing This! only 3 stars because it's a sketchy, piecemeal book of reminiscences, some of which are better than others. Overall it's an enjoyable read - hearing about his life, friendship with comedian friend Don Rickles, and whatnot - but as a memoir it's nothing special.

Great for fans, not so much for the rest of you. And when I say "the rest of you," yes, I am saying it with distain...What is wrong with you people?!

Neither candid nor compelling

There is no dirt. It’s a story of his life; mostly a re-hash of his comedy routines. If you are a fan, you will love it; however, he doesn’t really talk about his kids and grandkids. He discusses his wife briefly. He spends some time on “The Bob Newhart Show”. He only discusses the famous ending of “Newhart”. He does not delve into what it was to work on those shows, though.

How Nostalgic... I loved watching Bob Newhart as a kid and really enjoyed his references to Newhart, with Darrel and his brothers, as well as his more recent movie Elf, which is a big hit with my kids. This book was a great overview of his life with stories from childhood, his military days, relationships with friends and his family and how he got to where he is now. And sprinkled throughout are his bits,The Driving Instructor and The USS Codfish to name a couple, and I caught myself laughing out loud. If you enjoy Bob Newhart you will really enjoy this book.

The memoir is an all-to-brief look at Newhart's life and career. There are some great laugh-out-loud moments, especially when he does actual bits within the book - King Kong, The Driving Instructor, Abe Lincoln vs. Madison Avenue and very abridged versions of Grace L. Ferguson Airline and Storm Door Company and Introducing Tobacco.

As with all the memoirs I've been experiencing of late, I did this one as an audio book and I think it made for a much more pleasant experience. You simply can't beat experiencing someone's memoir in that person's actual voice.

A nice, safe fun read when comics did not have to use foul language or conjure up indelicate scenarios to get the laughs. Bob Newhart is a breath of fresh air. I recall his early days, I was a little girl at the time. And it was obvious how hilarious the man was and is. He speaks of everyday happenings in such a way as to illustrate absurd possiblities. Looking back, it is nostalgic to realize comics did not need bells and whistles to be funny, and an elementary age child could listen to a family man tell stories and the parents were not to be horrified by anything untoward.

My parents had Bob’s first comedy album, The Button Down Mind of Bob Newhart. As a kid, I listened to it countless times. We always watched The Bob Newhart Show and Newhart when they were on. Every artless segue in our house begins with, “speaking of airplanes...” His dry, deadpan, midwestern type of humor appealed to us, another midwestern family. So it’s no surprise that coming across his book in my middle age at a library book sale, it was a no brainer to pick up.
There are no big Hollywood tell all moments, nothing super insightful in the workings of a comedy master, no psychoanalysis of a misspent youth. Instead, Bob reminisces about how he got into comedy with anecdotes from his childhood, early adulthood, marriage and fatherhood sprinkled in along the way. Some of the best bits are stories told about fellow comics and comic legends that Bob clearly adored. Most of Bob’s best jokes from his early days are also included throughout the book. They were so evocative to read, I spent an additional 2 hours after I finished the book watching old clips and bits on YouTube!
Fans of Bob won’t be disappointed with this quick and easy read.