Still Foolin' 'Em

August 12, 2013
Avoiding the trappings—excess schmaltz, laundry list of famous friends, boozy party log—of so many celebrity memoirs, Crystal delivers a funny and genuinely moving chronicle of his life inside and outside Hollywood. The quips come as fast they do in the best Crystal films and Oscar hostings, making sure the reader knows that there isn’t a ghost writer guiding this one. Now 65, Crystal, the youngest of three brothers, was a comic from the start, soaking up all he could from the TV comedians of the ’50s during his childhood in the New York suburbs. In addition to loving comedy, Crystal grew up loving music (his father owned a popular record store in the city) and, of course, baseball. Both of these passions stayed with him throughout his life and, something most fans could only dream of, Crystal not only met but befriended idols like Mickey Mantle and boxer Muhammad Ali. His successes are balanced with opportunities that didn’t pan out, or movies that fizzled at the box office: a last-minute cancellation of a semi-permanent gig with the then-fledgling Saturday Night Live is outshone by the opportunity to perform on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. In addition to providing the inside scoop on some of his most iconic roles, from Harry to Princess, Crystal manages the extremely difficult feat of making his prose as vibrant and funny as his stand-up. He’ll always be a hard act to follow.

Starred review from February 15, 2014

Don't let him fool you, this book is not just for the senior crowd. Crystal pokes fun at growing old but also takes listeners through his life decade by decade, recalling the highlights of his amazing life and career. Even those who have followed him through the years will be surprised at the extent of his accomplishments, which include multiple Emmys, a Tony, and even a day as a New York Yankee. Crystal recounts his past, alternating between performing chapters like a stand-up routine with a live audience and a more standard narration. He shares his classic impersonations of Muhammad Ali, Sammy Davis Jr., and others, and his great acting and comedic timing take this audiobook to a level that print alone just can't match. Crystal is hilarious, but what really stands out is not just his funny bone but his big heart. VERDICT This book should be listened to in order to be truly appreciated.--Theresa Horn, St. Joseph Cty. P.L., South Bend, IN

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from November 25, 2013
If you have to choose between the print and audio editions of Billy Crystal’s memoir, know this: if the book is funny, the audiobook is drive-off-the-road hilarious. It opens with a live performance of the book’s first chapter at New York’s Cantor Film Center, with Crystal enjoying the audience as much as the audience is enjoying his reading. As he riffs on the unspeakable aspects of aging, the book comes alive with impromptu jokes and ad-libs. The subsequent chapters deal with his life and career, and are replete with funny and tender moments alike. Crystal deals with his bar mitzvah memories, his early stand-up career, and his film success (and failure), along with more poignant and personal stories, e.g., the sudden loss of his father when he was 15 and the abiding love he’s felt for his wife for more than four decades. Crystal also offers unforgettable interpretations of well-known public figures and recreates many of his more memorable comedic characters. Some lighter portions of the book switch back to a live performance, but more personal revelations are an intimate exchange between Crystal and the listener. A Henry Holt hardover.