Rating: 
Summary: Bizzare, hilarious, Brilliant
Review: I wish more writers wrote like this. I really didn't know what to expect when I first got this book. I opened it up to the middle and saw the title "Mars Probe Finds Kittens". I knew instanstly this was not going to you're average "Hey I'm a celebrity and I wrote a book!" things. Marting is just brilliant. His satire is sharp, his sarcasm is honed, and his writing is just excellent. I mean, who else besides Martin would could represent the Clinton scandal with "I Love Lucy"? Clever stuff. Should be required reading for High School english classes.
Rating:
Summary: Laugh 'til it hurts!
Review: The book is hilarious, but having Steve Martin read it to you is even better! This collection of essays, some of which can be found in various issues of "The New Yorker" magazine, delivers intelligent humor from the mind of one of the funniest comics/writers of our age. It raises the bar for intelligent humor.
Rating:
Summary: Hollywood's Best-Kept Secret!
Review: In case you thought Steve Martin was just another actor spouting some brilliant writer's lines, think again. For many of his movies, he IS the writer, and this book proves that the spark of genius in his films is no Hollywood illusion.There is some unevenness in these pieces, but remarkably little considering his range of material and the fact that any publisher would kill to put out a book by such a respectable celebrity. Read this book, or give the audiotape version a listen; guaranteed you'll find something to send you away chuckling. Also guaranteed never to appear in the "Artsy" section; this is humour for the real world, by a real (if somewhat twisted) white-haired guy.
Rating: 
Summary: a good showcase for Martin's talent
Review: In case you didn't already know it, Steve Martin is SMART and witty. As a longtime fan, I've appreciated his humor for some time, but casual fans might not realize that he can really write too. Sure, not every piece is brilliant, but there are some real gems and imaginative ruminations. I particularly love the one when Martin, in his quest to join Mensa, stumbles into a Mensa party, "I worried that the 132 cutoff point might be arbitrary until I met someone with an IQ of 131, and honestly, he was a bit slow on the uptake. If you have a dinner party of 132s and there's a 131 attending, you can actually feel the 131er hit the wall of stupidity." If that isn't good deadpan humor, what is these days? My absolute favorite essay is the closing one, "A Word from the Words" (written by underpants). While this word commiserates with pimple, he adds, "He walked around here with a hangdog look, and even tried to be friends with hangdog look, but around here, a phrase won't mingle with a word; they just won't." I love that. This essay is sidesplittingly funny and inventive. He actual reminds me of some of Woody Allen's earlier writings -- I suspect Martin had read Allen since some of his essays are very reminiscent: My Apology (Allen's classic on Socrates) for example. My only complaint was that there weren't more of these essays. I love getting inside Martin's mind and swimming around with him. Not every one is perfect, but as a collection, they are very strong.
Rating:
Summary: if you don't enjoy this book , you don't enjoy Steve Martin
Review: YES, this book is funny. YES, you will laugh out loud. If you're into Steve Martin like I am, you will definitely enjoy this collection of short essays. Okay, they're not ALL great. But the laughs you do get out of it are well worth it. And even the ones that aren't a riot are...amusing? Maybe I'm biased, cause i happen to love almost everything that he does (I think I may even have a crush on him! yikes!) but if you feel the same way, you'll be glad you bought this book...
Rating:
Summary: Howdy!
Review: This is a an awesome book! I love "A Public Apology" and "A Word from the Words". This is one of those "you have to think to get the joke" book. Being blonde, thats hard but I still got all the jokes. lol its such a good book. One of my favorites for sure. Thanks Steve!
Rating:
Summary: Looking out over the East River,
Review: from my jail cell and still running for public office, I realize I have taken several actions in my life for which I owe public apologies. And so begins the Author's "A Public Apology" in "Pure Drivel". I thought this little collection of wit to be not only funny, but also extremely well penned. If the thought of Steve Martin conjures the image of him clad in Egyptian Regalia singing "King Tut", you will find there is much more to this actor, comedian, playwright, writer of short stories a forthcoming book, and musician. Mr. Martin not only has an extremely unique view of life, he has the ability to deliver it through all of the methods listed above. I agree this was short, I also believe were it much longer, its impact would have been lessened. Timing is what this man does so well, and knowing when enough means finished, is a rare talent indeed.
Rating:
Summary: more mature than cruel shoes, almost as funny
Review: Steve Martin has come a long way since the seventies. He has honed his skills of writing and wit, and in doing so, he has attained a new level of comedy. Pure Drivel is the humor of the snooty New Yorker, and it is the humor that takes a little more know how than the Jerk. The wackiness is still there, and the megalomania is still there. But I think that there is a step in the dry direction that works beautifully with this work that is a step away from the gut wrenching laughter of Cruel Shoes. Although, I couldn't breath for a good five minutes after reading his public apology. Steve Martin is a genius... if Steve is reading this, let it go to your head, I know it will anyway.
Rating:
Summary: Strikingly similar to his previous book, "Cruel Shoes."
Review: Steve Martin. My favorite comedian. I must admit that when I bought this book, I was looking for straight-up comedic laughs as only Steve Martin can deliver. What I got was not what I expected, but still was very intriguing. This book is a short read, true, suited for maybe a book to read while travelling (just not while you're driving) or just trying to pass time. First off, it might not be what you expect. For those of you who have read Steve's 1979 book "Cruel Shoes," this is the same type of humor. Mainly quirky little things that might make you say, "hmm?" Some of it is rather bizarre, as some people have complained, but I don't think that merits a complaint at all. The book is a pleasant read, especially for those with more complex minds who enjoy a more "mature" laugh rather than low-class, low-brow bathroom humor. If you are this kind of person, or if you are a fan of Steve Martin's work, I recommend you buy it.
Rating:
Summary: Another Great Collection of Nuttiness
Review: Steve Martin is a man who knows comedy. He can perform it, but more importantly, he can write it. In 'Pure Drivel' Martin gives us several short essays that run the gambit from slightly odd to totally bizarre- each one hilarious and each one uniquly Steve Martin. This is definatly for people who think there is more to comedy than burping and falling down. After all, comedy is serious business. While this collection isn't quite as nutty as his previous work, 'Cruel Shoes,' it will still make you laugh out loud and make you just a little bit less sane. A lot of fun for any wild and crazy guy!
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