Rating: 
Summary: A Gentleman and a Gentle Man
Review: I read Harpo's biography long ago, and recently renewed acquaintance with it after seeing a cable biography of the brothers.What makes this book so wonderful is 1. a sense that Rowland Barber accurately captured Harpo's "voice" and 2. Harpo's own story, told with gentle humor and no self-pity whatsoever. And what a story! That someone who was literally expelled from school in second grade (through the window by bullies) could have met so many fascinating people and lived such a wonderful life is amazing. But the nice thing is that you can cheer for him all the way; I'm only sorry I never had a chance to meet Harpo. By all accounts, he was a lovely person with no malice in him at all. I can't remember who this should be attributed to, but it was said of him at his funeral that "he believed the best of everybody until he was proven wrong, and even then, he gave them the benefit of the doubt". That's the man this book reflects.
Rating:
Summary: Extraordinary events touching the life of an ordinary man.
Review: They say you can't judge a book by its cover, but it was the cover that caught my eye in the library fifteen years ago. I was in high school and looking for light, entertaining reading. I was not a big Marx Brothers fan, yet I was compelled by this very recognizable picture on the dust jacket. I did not expect to be so moved, as I now see how others were, by his words. I, also, could not put it down and felt sad as I neared the end. During college as part of team training, the age old question was posed = "If you were on a deserted island, what three books would you want with you?" Without hesitating, I answered, "Harpo Speaks" and proceeded to explain why, listing all the reasons which are posted in these reviews. Everyone looked at me with puzzlement yet I was happy to share this bit of information. I have since read it four times and have enthusiastically loaned it out to several other people. I was thrilled to find thes! e reviews and discover that there are others who understand why I would read it over and over (and don't even have to be on a deserted island to do it!)
Rating:
Summary: Simply The Best Marx Book
Review: I never met Harpo, but I did enjoy the company of his widow, the late Susan Fleming Marx. All of that is, I guess, irrelevant in terms of my appreciate for Harpo Speaks!, which is not merely a wonderful look at a dear, dear man -- but a fascinating look at the show business of the early twentieth century. Harpo was "unaccustomed to speaking" (although he certainly could speak), and this book represents a floodgate of information, charm, and -- indeed -- wit. It's choice. Harpo was and is, perhaps, the most beloved of The Marx Brothers. Although Maxine (Chico's daughter) may beg to differ. Jay Hopkins
Minnesota
Rating:
Summary: Funny, touching, nostalgic; a must for Marx fans
Review: Think you know all about the Marx Brothers?
Harpo, the silent Marx, tells us he doesn't talk much -- at the beginning of a 400+-page autobiography!
Written with Roland Barber, Harpo tells the inside stories of the Marx Brothers. The group that is best remembered for their 1930s films such as "Duck Soup" and "A Night at the Opera" had a long and distinguished career of generating laughs, both on-stage and off.
Harpo used many small (and often hilarious) stories to build the story of the Marxes, many of which are undocumented in other biographical works. For example, Harpo tells of Groucho's decision to leave the group in the early 1920s, and how that decision nearly ended the Marx Brothers career before it began.
Most of the book, however, is lighthearted and anecdotal. Harpo tells of Chico's uncanny ability to find his money, no matter how cleverly hidden; how Chico was able to charm almost every woman he met into bed; and how his oldest brother eventually used his charms to get the Marxes onstage and into Hollywood.
Best of all, though, we get Harpo's story, the story of how an unknown cigar store owner named "Gookie" inspired an uneducated young boy to go on to become a member of America's wildest comic trio!
Harpo takes us right into the world of turn-of-the-century New York City. With vivid detail and unapologetic humor, he tells many tales of the Marx family, his impoverished immigrant parents Minnie and Frenchie, and the consortium of aunts and uncles who inhabited their apartment waiting for a taste of Frenchie's cooking. Harpo tells us of his childhood addiction to black jelly beans, his family's celebration of Election Day, and his father's travels as an inept tailor, all with great warmth and humor.
Harpo then goes on to discuss his and his family's entry into show business: His intorduction to the harp; his family's famous comic names; their "dues-paying" experiences in vaudeville; their adventures dodging fathers of fetching young daughters. He takes us on a city-by-city tour of their travels, ending with the Palace and their ascension to Broadway.
Fortunately, success does not mean an end to hilarity. Harpo goes on to speak about life as a successful member of the New York intelligentsia (Harpo was literally tossed out of school in the second grade), his membership in the Algonquin Round Table, his friendship with Alexander Woolcott, and his eventual Hollywood stardom.
Of course, his movie career is covered, but so is his undercover adventure as Exapno Mapcase, smuggler of top-secret information out of Stalin's Soviet Union!
But the main feature in the book is the warmth and good humor. The Marxes built their lives upon comedy, and Harpo's book does not disappoint. He reveals himself to be one who could not help but see the humor in everything that happened. Harpo's book is a wild, funny joy ride, and everyone who loves a good laugh should read it.
Rating:
Summary: How could you NOT love this man?!!!
Review: After reading this book, all I can say is..........AMAZING!!! Harpo led such an unbelieveable life, and I feel so gratified that I could share in it by reading his life story. I was hooked from the first page, and I just couldn't put it down. This man went through so much adversity in his childhood, but he was neither bitter nor cynical about it. He just accepted whatever life threw at him, and we are all the better for it. He has (or should I say had) a magnificant way of telling a story. I loved reading about the early days and his adventures of being "Exapno Mapcase" when he was in Russia. And the way he told the story of how his wife Susan courted him. She sounded like a great lady. Also, how Harpo and Susan told the "The Story" to their kids about how they were adopted. Harpo truly was a gentle man, and I for one, am glad he was able to achieve peace and serenity in his life. His story is uplifting, and I really and truly wish I could have met this sweet, funny, and adorable man. Highly recommended.
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Summary: "...and in conclusion"
Review: That line use to crack Harpo up! This book is like sitting down and hearing your best friend tell you the story of his life, and WHAT a life! Harpo lived through the toughest of times full of bigotry, proverty and a world torn by war, yet the love of his family and friends provided him a safe haven that few people ever experience. Harpo's outlook on life, his gentle nature and true love of people served him well. This book takes you to Harpo's world and seats you at the Algonquin Round Table for a 10 year lunch with some of the most famous people of the 20's and 30's. It's a trip back in time and an insider's veiw of the world of vaudeville and life on the road. All of this history is told with warmth and humor that makes you want to read it over and over. I found this book in the 1970's and I've read it many times. I have two copies, one a well worn paperback and the other a treasured first edition with a perfect book jacket! I've spent many hours in Harpo's company and with each time the telling just gets better. In these pages you'll find a man who was a success at his craft, his family and with his friendships. I think his greatest acomplisment was the family he and Susan created with four adopted children late in life and "The Story" about how each child came into the family is too wonderful to be missed. The greatest gift he had was himself and he gave it generously to everyone he met. And though this book he shares himself with you.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing book, amazing man
Review: "Harpo speaks" is easily the best book ever written by, about, or relating to the Marx brothers. In his sweetly conversational manner, Harpo tells his entire story from growing up to growing old, and its a delight to read. For someone who never went beyond the second grade, it is an impressive effort. Then again, Harpo Marx was not an ordinary man. And in conclusion....(injoke, read the book!) A wonderful read, one you will read several times and enjoy every time.
Rating:
Summary: What a life!
Review: Harpo Marx is one of the funniest men of the depressing twentieth century. But the funniest part is, his own life was even funnier than the character he played on stage.
My mom gave me this book when my grandmother told her it was the funniest book she had ever read. Now, having read it, I can say its comic value stands the test of time. Though Harpo himself never made it past the second grade, his autobiography is a classic work of literature: his warm personality draws you in immediately, and you're introduced to so many formative figures and events of the times. Whether it's espionage under Stalin's nose, sitting in on the legendary Algonquin Round Table, having clothes ripped off by George Bernard Shaw, or pulling practical jokes on William Randolph Hearst in his own castle, Harpo's entire life, full of love, laughter, and meaning, is one giant anecdote--the perfect stuff for an autobiography!
Rating: 
Summary: Harpo speaks volumes!
Review: Okay, I'll admit it. I've been a Marx fanboy for years now. But I was always skeptical about this one. Maybe I was expecting some stodgy star bio or just the same old material you'd find in every other Marx brother tome out there. But hey, every review I've read was so glowing, you'd think the reviewers were getting a little scratch on the side. So I broke down and read it... All I can say is - what the hell was I waiting for?? There's no use rehashing what everyone has already said about "Harpo Speaks". Funny. Sad. Intriguing. Thoughtful. Poignant. It's all of those and then some! In fact, Harpo has so many stories to tell and memories to share, you'd wish he could've written a part two. Drawbacks? There are some. Harpo can drop a name and spin a yarn with ease but when it comes to the Marx movies, he generally ignores them, making only a reference to them here and there. Also, Harpo focuses mainly on his friends and I was really surprised he only paints a general picture of his brothers. It's hard to get a real sense of his relationships with them beyond Chico and to some extent, Zeppo. Gummo and Groucho are barely touched. I was hoping to find a goldmine on how Harpo got along with his other siblings. But that vein never panned out. In particular, I really wanted some "dirt" about the making of the book itself. Yes, the afterwords by Harpo's wife and son told much about the man - but nothing about the book. Harpo makes no mention of working on it during his fading health/retirement years. What made him decide to write it? What role did Rowland Barber have in its making? Considering Harpo died soon after the book was published, what was the response to his book at the time? A brand new intro would go a long way towards putting things in perspective. The book was written in 1962 after all and the afterwords in 1985.
But overall, these aren't big disappointments. This book drew me in for 400 plus pages and wouldn't let me go. It gave me a much more complete sense of the man behind the harp and made me regret even more that I wasn't around back then to see him in action.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating look at social life of vaudville stars
Review: The book is an interesting window into what Harpo loved. Harpo went through much of his young life with no real close friends, and then he found them, among the fellow stars of Vaudeville, the members of the hollywood crowd. Much of the book is about the antics and parties that he attended, but you never really feel like he felt in, it was almost like he was on the outside looking in. A very heartfelt, good book, especially if you have an interest in the subject. Harpo doesn't play you like a crowd, he tells you how it is.
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