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How to Talk Dirty and Influence People

An Autobiography

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How to Talk Dirty and Influence People

By: Lenny Bruce, Lewis Black - preface, Howard Reich - introduction
Narrated by: Ronnie Marmo
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About this listen

 During the course of a career that began in the late 1940s, Lenny Bruce challenged the sanctity of organized religion and other societal and political conventions; he widened the boundaries of free speech. Critic Ralph Gleason said, "So many taboos have been lifted and so many comics have rushed through the doors Lenny opened. He utterly changed the world of comedy."

Although Bruce died when he was only forty, his influence on the worlds of comedy, jazz, and satire are incalculable. How to Talk Dirty and Influence People remains a brilliant existential account of his life and the forces that made him the most important and controversial entertainer in history. Entertainment & Celebrities Performing Arts Comedy Celebrity Biography Funny Witty

Critic Reviews

Praise for How to Talk Dirty and Influence People"I read this book for the first time when I was twelve years old. It made me want to be in showbiz, have a lot of sex, and be Jewish. I've rethought that last one." -Penn Jillette, author of God No!
"If there was a God, then he sent down Lenny Bruce to create the art form of modern stand-up comedy. He sought the truth fearlessly and hilariously until his tragically muffled First Amendment rights surely enabled his dying for our sins." -Richard Lewis, author of The Other Great Depression
"Outside every American comedy club there ought to be a statue of Lenny Bruce - the type of big bronze statue that commemorates and immortalizes heroes... Bringing Bruce's ideas and stories to a new generation might just be the next best thing to erecting those bronze statues." - Playboy, 8/3/16
"Sheds light on the mind behind some of the most controversial comedy routines of the mid-20th century." -Spectrum Culture, 10/11/16
All stars
Most relevant
captured the essence of Bruce, worthwhile listen excellent stuff gonna listen again it was excellent

fantastic audio

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Promising start, but loses its way half way through. Last few chapters were a struggle to finish. The performance of the reader is what keeps the book from completely falling apart..
A fan of Lenny, but sadly not the book!!

Autobiography??? Mmmmmm!!!

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Great book for lovers of the history of freedom of speech In America and fans of Lenny Bruce.

Exactly why Lenny Bruce is important

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A gripping yarn told by one of the brightest. The performance was excellent and sounds just like the real deal.

As relevant now as at was then

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The rhythm of the narrative is refreshingly upbeat, despite the often despairing conditions Lenny Bruce describes. It’s a humorous, ironic and often absurd portrait of a comedian who suffered for pointing out the hypocrisy of the society around him.
The narration is excellent throughout, capturing the accent, cadence and intonation to perfection.
The over-laudatory preface is quite tedious - the usual exercise in superlatives - a dull start to what is a remarkable audiobook.

Well done

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