Rating: 
Summary: Sex, Drugs, Comedy, and one Jew with attitude.
Review: "Whaddaya mean that's aspirin on your dresser," the fuzz said, "What's the needle for?" "I can't stand the taste of the stuff."
Between comedy and social satire, Lenny Bruce was one of biggest icons of his generation. In How to Talk Dirty and Influence People, Bruce explores
his life in a style all his own by addressing important topics such as: drugs, sex, marriage, masturbation, religion, public obsenity, and vaseline. And so the trial continues..
Rating: 
Summary: Comic babble-on
Review: After a strong, and ghost-written, opening, the book degenerates into Bruce's own ramblings. Fact is, stream of consciousness really only works if one IS conscious, and all the drugs Bruce was on -- purely therapeutic, he explains -- blew his mind out well before he sat down to write. And, come on, anyone who thinks Steve Allen was hip clearly has to be brain-addled.
Rating: 
Summary: How to Talk Dirty and Influence People
Review: An excellent, if a little short, account of the life and times of the stand-up comic that helped changed the face of comedy forever. Most of the book which starts with his childhood is presented in a stand-up format which makes for an entertaining read as you can almost imagine Lenny on stage orating this material. In contrast, the two trial transcripts (thankfully truncated) are quite laborious to read, although that may well be the point. There is a nice piece following the section covering his second trial which describes the downfall of the arresting officer and the doctor who diagnosed him as a narcotics addict, despite significant evidence to the contrary. It gave this reader a suitably smug feeling, particularly considering the circumstances of this arrest and trial. He is also refreshingly honest in the book, with frank descriptions of the scams that he participated in, whether it was posing as a priest to solicit money for a leper colony (from which he deducted 'operating expenses') or procuring guests for a popular TV show of the time. He also tells of some occasions where he was the victim of a scam, usually writing material for someone and not being paid for it, although he didn't name any names. I have a fairly recent edition of this book and I'm only surprised that it hasn't had an 'executive editor' appointed to add italicised paragraphs here and there to complete his story along with a final chapter detailing the nature of his death and a suitable epitaph. Anyone who likes honest stand-up comedy should read this book.
Rating:
Summary: The book that breaks taboos ; is completely value free.
Review: Before i read this book i didnt know who Lenny Bruce was. A friend handed me this book; he had picked it from a second hand book seller. This book could have been written by any-one who went through adolescence with open eyes, alert senses, open disposition towards the anti-matter of our social fabric. Lenny in the book breaks taboos, creates new idols, whispers sad thoughts (when he writes that "no one can go home again"), shouts in hope that one day the world will be a better place to live for all those who suffer from man made, antiquated ideas about morality. I swear the book is not funny; it may make you laugh but sure as hell it will make you cry as well.
Rating:
Summary: Timeless and Timely
Review: Bruce's one-man campaign against censors, social hypocrites and authority figures is once again required reading for anyone concerned about the state of American society. This is a brutally funny book that also serves as a great satire on polite society. In the wake of Bush-Ashcroft-"Patriot Act" shenanigans, Bruce's words are painfully relevant some 30-plus years after his death. And once you get past the social message in "How to Talk Dirty..." you'll also find this is a really funny book that makes you laugh out loud!
Rating:
Summary: I was rolling in the floor laughing
Review: I became a Lenny Bruce fan when I was 19 years old, and I still love him. His autobiography gets funnier every time I read it. Some of the scenarios in this book are so wild that I question their validity, but who cares? The man was a comic genius, and you'd be crazy to pass this one up.
Rating:
Summary: Well Worth Reading
Review: I would recommend this book. The content of this book appeals to many people. Anyone interested in comedic history, a satire perspective, social empowerment and "toilet jokes", would get a kick out of this personal peek into secrets behind Lenny Bruce. I enjoyed this book for its humor and social analysis, as well as for the other interests listed previously.
This book is a lesson behind the acceptance and progression of comedic subject matter and language. The language used in this book could be described as crude or obscene, but I would describe as uncensored. Lenny reflects on culture and uses comedy as his outlet. Lenny wrote how he spoke. The text is a hilarious ramble of important events in his life. His commentary is as true and relevant now as it was forty years ago. It provides an education on the journey to become a stand-up comedian, promoting social empowerment and the struggle of being an individual at all costs. Lenny revolutionized stand up comedy, opening door for others in the comedic field. He wasn't afraid to talk about what no one else would, race, sexuality, religion, etc. Lenny didn't allow anybody else's standards determine the content of his performances.
How to Talk Dirty ... is a window into the past and the social standards of the time. When this book isn't making you think it will make you laugh. It contains bits that Lenny developed, some of his crazy scams, excerpts from his performances, as well as a transcript from a court trail against his use of obscenities, Lenny adds his humorous opinions in the text.
Rating:
Summary: Well Worth Reading
Review: I would recommend this book. The content of this book appeals to many people. Anyone interested in comedic history, a satire perspective, social empowerment and "toilet jokes", would get a kick out of this personal peek into secrets behind Lenny Bruce. I enjoyed this book for its humor and social analysis, as well as for the other interests listed previously.
This book is a lesson behind the acceptance and progression of comedic subject matter and language. The language used in this book could be described as crude or obscene, but I would describe as uncensored. Lenny reflects on culture and uses comedy as his outlet. Lenny wrote how he spoke. The text is a hilarious ramble of important events in his life. His commentary is as true and relevant now as it was forty years ago. It provides an education on the journey to become a stand-up comedian, promoting social empowerment and the struggle of being an individual at all costs. Lenny revolutionized stand up comedy, opening door for others in the comedic field. He wasn't afraid to talk about what no one else would, race, sexuality, religion, etc. Lenny didn't allow anybody else's standards determine the content of his performances.
How to Talk Dirty ... is a window into the past and the social standards of the time. When this book isn't making you think it will make you laugh. It contains bits that Lenny developed, some of his crazy scams, excerpts from his performances, as well as a transcript from a court trail against his use of obscenities, Lenny adds his humorous opinions in the text.
Rating:
Summary: Convinced me of the existance of Anti-heroes as idols
Review: I'm in high school, and Lenny Bruce embodies everything I can say. He's smart, funny, and ULTRA observant, not to mention that he's blanket-anti. I found myself agreeing with him more and more, as the book went on. The chapters are quick, dirty, honest, and jagged- in other words, exactly what I expected. He just did things which I wish I could have done, said things I wish I could have said, etc. Of course, because of Lenny, I can do and say those things. Oh, just buy the book already.
Rating:
Summary: Must Have for Lenny Fans
Review: If you are in love with Lenny, you must read the only book he ever wrote. He talks about his childhood, his Navy years, and his career. A lot of the material is rehashed stuff from what he talked about onstage. It is such good material, though, so I didn't mind reading what I had already heard on CD. This reads more like entertainment than a serious refelction on one's life. Even when he talks about serious violations of his constitutional rights,like getting arrested for using 4 letter words on stage, he makes it light and funny. But then, what else would you expect from Lenny? If you are not familiar with Lenny Bruce, I would recommend listening to a CD of one his concerts before reading this book. I think he was more of a verbal guy than a writer. Both the content and the delivery of his material was ground breaking at the time, and his work is classic in the canon of American comedians.
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