These shorts are truly remarkable.

They seem to be almost like the scripts for a hilarious Steve Martin comedy routine.

Their humor is undeniable and has the power to make you laugh out loud.

However, it's important to note that they need to be read gradually, over a significant period of time.

If you try to consume too much of them all at once, the impact of the humor may be lessened.

Taking the time to savor each short allows you to fully appreciate the comical elements and the cleverness behind them.

It's like a delicious meal that you don't want to rush through.

So, the next time you pick up these shorts, remember to take your time and enjoy the laughter they bring.

Steve Martin is an extremely funny, talented, and thought-provoking writer.

I truly would have preferred to take my time and savor these essays at a more leisurely pace. Maybe reading one essay every couple of days would have been ideal, so that each one could be fully absorbed and not blend together with the others.

However, due to my decision to select this book as my one-and-done for my summer reading challenge, I ended up reading the entire collection in just three sittings. (Although I didn't quite meet the one-day requirement.)

The essays that really stand out for me the most are "Changes in the Memory after Fifty," "Schrodinger's Cat," "Bad Dog," and "Lolita at Fifty."

In one particularly memorable moment, he wrote: "Sometimes it's fun to sit in your garden and try to remember your dog's name. Here's how: Simply watch the ears while calling out pet names at random. This is a great summer activity, especially in combination with Name That Wife and Who Am I?" I absolutely love that. I can easily picture Steve himself lounging in a chair, calling out names like "Spot," "Rover," "Cooper," and eagerly waiting for the dog's ears to twitch.

While I didn't laugh at everything in the book, I still thoroughly enjoyed it overall.

I have a great admiration for Steve Martin's work on the screen. His early movies, especially those made in collaboration with Carl Reiner up to (I believe) 'Housesitter', are truly remarkable. While I'm aware that he established his highly popular stand-up career with the 'Wild and Crazy Guy' persona, it's evident from his films that he's not only an absurdist but also has a deep intellectual understanding of comedy. One might even describe him as the 'White Bread Woody', a more refined Woody Allen who can be equally silly and sentimental in his comedies.

It comes as no surprise that 'Pure Drivel' follows a similar path. Martin's short pieces, which were originally published in the New Yorker and are now compiled here, bear a striking resemblance to Woody Allen's work (as can be seen in my review of Allen's 'Complete Prose' here). They are more absurdist and less reliant on punch lines, yet there's still a similarity between the two comedians' writing.
However, I found that most of the pieces in this volume were not entirely successful. They seemed to be too clever and abstruse. While there were moments when a line or a paragraph would make me laugh or at least smile, for the most part, I felt like I was reading a pastiche of almost any author from the last century who decided to write absurdist prose. That being said, there were some good pieces in the second half of the book, such as 'In Search of the Wily Filipino', 'Hissy Fit', 'Lolita at Fifty', and 'I Love Loosely'. The closing item, 'A Word from the Words', is perhaps the best and could serve as a great model for anyone aspiring to write like Martin, Allen, or another similar author like Spike Milligan. Overall, the impression I get from 'Pure Drivel' is that Steve Martin is not as enjoyable on the page as he is on stage or screen.
'Pure Drivel' will undoubtedly find an appreciative audience among his fans and those interested in short form comedic writing. However, it's not going to appeal to all of these potential readers, let alone those who don't have a particular interest in his work.

This was a truly hilarious collection of essays and short pieces penned by Steve Martin.

It encompassed a wide range of topics, from writing tips such as "just dumb yourself down by 50 IQ points, and type" when it came to dialog, to the most imaginative medication warnings like "may contain bungee cords".

The book was delightfully eclectic in its subject matter, yet always managed to be highly amusing.

From the comical observation about the shortage of periods that Times New Roman is currently facing, to a piece that humorously recommended sledgehammers to those who are intimidated by new technology, every single item in this short but intellectually stimulating work had me in stitches.

Steve Martin's unique brand of humor shines through in every page, making this collection a must-read for anyone in need of a good laugh.

I have a great affection for Steve Martin. There were indeed several moments within this book that managed to elicit laughter from me. However, I am well aware that he is capable of producing much better works than this one. His writing skills are constantly of a high caliber. Among all the essays in this book, my absolute favorite was “Lolita at Fifty.” It truly piqued my interest and made me eager to explore some of his fictional works. Here are a few quotes from the book that I found particularly delightful:

“The writer looks at the explosion of hair sitting opposite him and puts her in a conventional niche, missing the point that the foolish can’t write, but boy, can they act.” pg. 84

“Do not consume alcohol while taking this pill; likewise, avoid red meat, shellfish, and vegetables. Okay foods: flounder.” pg. 54

“Bowel movements may become frequent, in fact every ten minutes.” pg. 54

“I have two observations about publishers:

1. Nowadays they can be either male or female.

2. They love to be referred to by the appropriate pronoun. If your publisher is male, refer to him as ‘he.’ If your publisher is female, ‘she’ is considered more correct. Once you have established a rapport, ‘Babe’ is also acceptable for either sex.” pg. 11

“‘Lo-lee-tah,’ she tongued. A column of sweat drained down the boy, and he entered puberty.” pg. 95

These quotes not only showcase Martin's unique sense of humor but also his ability to craft engaging and thought-provoking lines. Despite my reservations about the overall book, these quotes give me hope that his other works will be even more enjoyable and fulfilling.

This is a review of the 1998 Hyperion hardback first edition.

This book is billed as a hilarious one, but in reality, it doesn't quite live up to that claim. However, just because it won't have you rolling on the floor with laughter doesn't mean you should overlook it.

For those of us who grew up listening to the classic comedy album Let's Get Small, it can be quite a challenge to recognize the Steve Martin who penned this book. This Steve Martin is not the one with a fake arrow through his head.

Instead, this Steve Martin seems to have taken a college library, put it into his metaphorical Cusinart, and hit the puree button. (Kudos to you if you can figure out where I borrowed that line from.) The resulting smoothie is a fine drink, but it probably won't elicit any belly laughs.

Nonetheless, it offers a great reading experience. It's so refreshingly different from all the trashy drivel that gets published these days. Moreover, for such a small book, it covers a wide range of topics. Although most of the essays were previously published, the last one was written specifically for this volume.

Special mention should be made to cat lovers, as there is an article about kittens on Mars. And for dog lovers, there is a beautiful exploration of the thoughts of a dog striving to be good for his beloved master.

It truly baffles me how this particular work managed to find its way into the non-fiction category. However, at its very core, "Pure Drivel" is actually a collection of absurd short stories. Some of these stories even verge on the realm of flash fiction.

I must admit that I particularly took great pleasure in the closing pieces. One of them was about the shortage of periods in Times New Roman, which is arguably the most loathed font ever. Another was titled "Bad Dog" and the third one was "Side Effects."

I chose to listen to this work rather than read it, and I firmly believe that it was the right choice. The audio version added an extra layer of charm and humor to the already absurd tales. It made the listening experience all the more engaging and enjoyable.

In conclusion, "Pure Drivel" may not be what one would expect from a non-fiction work, but it certainly offers a unique and entertaining collection of short stories that are well worth experiencing, whether through reading or listening.

Entertaining to read. I think my favorite was about the storage of periods. It's a rather unique and interesting topic.

Times Roman Font Announces Shortage of Periods. This statement might seem a bit strange at first glance, but it surely catches one's attention.

Perhaps there is some underlying story or reason behind this announcement. Maybe the demand for the use of periods in the Times Roman Font has suddenly increased, leading to a shortage.

Or could it be that there is a technical issue with the font's production or distribution that is causing this shortage?

Whatever the case may be, it makes for an entertaining and thought-provoking read. It makes us wonder about the importance of something as seemingly simple as a period in a font.

It also shows how even the most unexpected things can become the subject of an interesting article.

Overall, this topic about the storage of periods and the shortage in Times Roman Font is both engaging and entertaining.

I am a die-hard Steve Martin fan.

His work on Saturday Night Live was simply brilliant, and his movies have always been a source of great entertainment.

His stand-up comedy is hilarious, and his musicianship is truly remarkable.

I have enjoyed almost everything I have ever seen or heard by him.

However, when it comes to Pure Drivel, my experience was quite different.

Not once did I find myself laughing out loud. In fact, I could barely manage one or two chuckles throughout the entire audiobook.

There were a couple of sketches that were somewhat decent, such as the one about the shortage of periods in the Times Roman font.

But for the most part, it was exactly what the title implies - pure drivel.

It was a huge disappointment for me as a fan.

I had high expectations for this work, but unfortunately, it did not meet them.

I hope that Steve Martin will return to his former glory and produce something that is truly worthy of his talent.

This was truly good to listen to as an audiobook.

It really reminded me of a podcast, in a sense.

To fully enjoy this book, one has to truly appreciate Steve Martin.

I grew up during the 70s and the 80s, a time when Steve Martin made numerous appearances in movies and on Saturday Night Live.

If you don't quite understand his unique brand of humor, then you might very well think this is just a silly book.

However, I personally really enjoyed listening to it and found it to be quite humorous.

Steve Martin is indeed a bit of a goofball, but that's what makes his work so endearing and entertaining.

The audiobook brought his words to life in a wonderful way, allowing me to immerse myself in his comical world and enjoy every moment of it.

It's definitely a book that I would recommend to those who have a taste for Steve Martin's humor and are looking for an enjoyable listen.

I was in desperate need of a palate cleanser. As I rummaged through my shelf, I came across Pure Drivel, which I had purchased from the Goodwill several years ago.

To my delight, it turned out to be a delightfully quick and humorous read. Some of the stories were particularly hilarious, especially when I imagined Steve Martin narrating them in my head.

“Writing is Easy!”, “Yes, in My Own Backyard”, and “Side Effects” were my personal favorites. These stories had a unique charm that only Steve Martin could bring.

I’ll always have a special place in my heart for Steve Martin and his quirky, strange, satirical, meta, and goofy comedy. His work never fails to make me laugh and brighten my day.

Pure Drivel is a testament to his comedic genius and I’m glad I rediscovered it on my shelf.

In many ways, Steve Martin could be regarded as a comedian belonging to my parents' generation. By the time I began watching SNL during high school and college, he had long departed from the show. (Norm MacDonald, Phil Hartman, and later Tracy Morgan, Tina Fey, and Jimmy Fallon were the stars when I was most actively watching it.) Additionally, I haven't seen a large number of his movies. Born in the '80s, I missed most of his comedies upon their initial release. The movies I remember seeing him in the cast of are films such as "The Pink Panther" and "The Father of the Bride."

However, all of that doesn't truly matter when it comes to this book. It is simply hilarious. Steve Martin is an uproariously funny man.

"Pure Drivel" was published in 1998 by Hyperion. It is a small book that contains over 20 short stories and short essays. Many of them were first printed in "The New Yorker" or in "The New York Times Magazine." I assume the others were new when this book was released. It is the kind of book you could read in one sitting, but it is probably best enjoyed in small portions over the course of a week or two. I read three or four entries at a time, usually before going to bed. I often ended up laughing so hard that my wife would put her book down and say something like, "Okay, read it out loud already."

Martin's humor can be described as non sequitur comedy. It is the type of humor that is so outrageously over the top that it is stupidly funny. Here are the titles of some of my favorite essays, perhaps they will explain what I mean better than I can:

- Mars Probe Finds Kittens

- Times Roman Font Announces Shortage of Periods

- The Sledgehammer: How it Works

- Artist Lost to Zoloft

A note to the writers and authors reading this: At least three of the essays are about writing, and writing-related humor is interwoven throughout the rest of them. As a wannabe author, I know that writers enjoy reading about other writers. I loved that Martin made writing the subject of so many of his jokes.

This book was loaned to me by a friend at work (a guy at least 10 years older than me) who was moving his office. This particular friend is someone I regularly chat with about pop culture. In the process of cleaning his old office, he found this book and said I had to read it. I'm extremely glad he did.

One final note about this book, it's not overly crass. I'm aware that every time I write something like that, it might make me sound like a real prude, but to be honest, I despise reading excessive cussing or sexual references in books. There's something about reading that makes that type of content affect me more strongly than when I see it in a movie. Although I think some of Martin's standup comedy contains a lot of that, this book wasn't too bad. For those of you seeking a rating, I suppose I'd say it is a PG-13 book. It's cleaner than the average episode of SNL.

Highly recommended for those (like me) who get a genuine kick out of the completely ridiculous.