The stars of stand-up comedy

the long version

"A lively biographical encyclopedia that will be in demand...thoroughly entertaining...a long overdue and perceptively rendered volume that will function as both a valuable reference item and as a fun browsing compendium." Booklist "Comprehensive...interesting, informative and readable text; one could have an enjoyable time flipping from one entry to another, culling facts not only about the comics but also about social mores, history, and the American character...well researched and reliable...a most useful and fun purchase." American Reference Books Annual "A standout book on stand-up comedians...he writes with empathy...What gives Smith's book its value is that...he describes the comic with well chosen excerpts from the routines. Smith can also usually chart the life path and the extenuating circumstances that produced the style. He is very good and comprehending on Lenny Bruce...and Smith's long entry on Mort Sahl captures remarkably the incisive style of a comic satirist...there are two kinds of reference books about show business: very good and fairly awful...good ones answer hard questions, surprise you with facts you didn't know and are impossible to put down because one revelation leads to another." Charles Champlin, Los Angeles Times "Wise and insightful...I'm sure that as much as I know about the business I'll have frequent occasion to refer to it." Steve Allen