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Do Yourself a Favor: Read this Book Nov 12, 2008 (82 of 94 found this helpful)
There is just no way to not love this book. Whether you are a fan of Artie Lange or not, the book is fresh and insightful, and it almost goes without saying, funny as hell. Not for the faint of heart (but seriously is anything connected with Howard Stern for the faint of heart?), the narrative is laced with expletives, the situations are sometimes raunchy or downright gross, and the author is not trying to paint a pretty picture of his addiction-riddled life. Once you get past the reality backwash, it is a book filled with honesty and humor as well as some surprising insights.
Artie Lange fully admits to having lived his life thus far as a first-class f***-up, allowing himself to be caught up in every imaginable vice and addiction. But he firmly believes, along with his boss, that his vices feed his amazing comedic genius. His ability to survive his own behavior in itself seems an act of genius. Personally, I think that Artie is one of that rare breed of comedian who can make people laugh hysterically with the most offhand unscripted comment. The life of decadence may make for some inherently funny situations, but I think this guy could make the telephone book funny. Ease up on yourself Artie, the world needs funny guys like you.
While I expected a book filled with humorous stories, what I didn't expect was the down-to-earth telling of them. The narrative is sometimes simplistic, but it really makes you feel like Artie is in the room with you telling you these stories. While I laughed myself sick at times, I also had tears in my eyes over the author's description of his relationship with his father, and his family's life after his father's tragic accident.
All in all the book will leave you feeling that there is a great deal more to Artie Lange than raunchy humor. He came across to me as a genuinely nice human being who cares deeply about the people who make up his universe. His occasional deeper insights (such as his description of the happiest moment of his childhood) reveal him as a complex man, whose flaws only make him that much more interesting. I loved this book, and I like Artie Lange more than ever. I wish him a long life with many fishing trips.
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Funny and Edgy Feb 6, 2009 (40 of 45 found this helpful)
A quick-witted master storyteller, Artie pens his tales with an edgy raw humor while unveiling his uncontrollable propensity for self-sabotage. It's an endearing, provocative memoir, filled with a compilation of stories from Lange's tumultuous life that will bring a dual set of extreme reactions. The anecdotes and insane mind are bursting at the seams, but you many find yourself biting your lip as he bares his soul.
And in a way it all works.
Heroes without flaws appear untouchable. People want their hero with cuts, and blemishes and flaws. And Artie has a lot of them.
It's easy to relate to his funny recollections growing up in Union, NJ, with the typical poor small town stories. He was raised in a close-knit Italian family; reared with all the vintage Jersey sarcastic shields. Artie grew up an obsessed Yankees fan, a wild and unleashed young buck, with the rugged hands from toiling as a longshoreman, to the cynical attitude of a late night cabbie.
There are numerous hysterical observational humor bits throughout. I particularly liked his little tale about his Dad's obsession with Franki Valli. Classic stuff. Shortly thereafter his dad becomes a quadriplegic and passes away, before witnessing Artie being catapulted to fame and hell at the same time. The story is well known, from standup to movies to comedian, to the Stern Show. With success in his back pocket, he begins a smorgasbord of reckless addictions. Shocking revelations that paint a life of success and tragedy that remain to this day. Battles with alcohol, cocaine, gambling, and heroin that makes you cringe with the excesses.
Reading this biography feels like the Belushi/Farley scenario is being played out again. This story is gut wrenching at times, and the tears fill the eyes from laughing uncontrollably, as well as feeling sorry for him the next page; an emotional roller coaster that you never want to get off of. He writes with such a regular guy on the bar stool likeable demeanor, you can feel his honesty from the first page. Totally absorbing, funny, tragic, and sad all at the same time.
Another hilarious recommended title:
High Heels and Dirty Deals - Globetrotting Tales of Debauchery from a Binge-drinking Nymphomaniac
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Too Fat to Give a F*#& Dec 1, 2008 (27 of 32 found this helpful)
As a devout Howard Stern fan, I might have a different perspective than someone who is not as familiar with the Howard Stern radio show. I like Artie. I think he's great on the Stern show and more than earns his keep. Okay here is the big butttttttt.....if you are a fan of the show there is very little this book contains that you haven't heard before like the bank robbery and the pig stories and a very clear omission of his relationship with Dana, who was his long term girlfriend and is/was the love of his life and about his life on the Stern show. Sadly, I found this book to be another "junkie" story but one with whose stories I have heard many times over. If you aren't familiar with Artie Lange, I think you will enjoy this book. For me, it was familiar ground.
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Artie Lange didn't replace Jackie Martling, he replaced Sam Kinison Feb 22, 2009 (6 of 7 found this helpful)
I picked up TOO FAT TO FISH, the autobiography of comedian and HOWARD STERN SHOW cast member Artie Lange, expecting to flip-read it. But, starting with a funny introduction from Stern that Lange matches or exceeds laugh-per-page for the rest of the book, TOO FAT TO FISH did not leave my hands until I read every word.
Despite Stern's introduction, Artie Lange does not say much about his work on the radio show in TOO FAT TO FISH until the last couple of chapters. But Lange and coauthor Anthony Bozza hold your attention throughout the pre-Stern years with tales of the comedian's charmed life. I say "charmed life" because, despite Lange's tendencies toward alcohol/drug abuse, gambling, overeating, and angry outbursts, a world of family and friends - even show-business friends - watch his back. There are a number of touching moments, especially regarding his parents. Prepare to choke up as Artie Lange realizes the only difference between homeless drug addicts and him is the support of those who loved this 296-lb. prodigal son. Nonetheless, even reflections such as that lead to some of the funniest comments in TOO FAT TO FISH thanks to Lange's ability to laugh at himself, wisecracking his way through the details of his darkest moments.
Howard Stern hired Artie Lange on his radio show in 2001 after joke whiz Jackie Martling left. But the void Lange filled best was that of Sam Kinison, a regular HOWARD STERN SHOW guest whose combination of comic talent, substance abuse problems and volatile personality made for hours of compelling radio until his untimely 1992 death.
While there are not as many HOWARD STERN SHOW-related anecdotes as you may expect, TOO FAT TO FISH has a number of celebrity stories. For example, Artie Lange's work with the likes of Tom Cruise and Chevy Chase result in two of his most memorable tales about the ups and downs of the entertainment industry.
Read TOO FAT TO FISH.
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WAAAAAAH! Nov 30, 2008 (9 of 12 found this helpful)
I've been a fan of the Howard Stern show since 1990, and I listen to him daily on Sirius. I've had mixed feelings about Artie during his time on the show--sometimes I liked him, sometimes I hated him, mostly I just felt he was a little too self-important and condescending.
I wasn't going to read Too Fat to Fish, but I figured maybe there was a story or two that I hadn't heard on the Stern Show. There was one (taxi driver story) which was pretty funny, but the rest I had heard before. And I wasn't impressed.
Overall, Artie comes off looking like a big fat baby who throughout his life never took care of himself. It isn't cute... or interesting.
The most annoying parts of the book were the "shout-outs" to old agents, Christina Applegate, Orlando Jones, etc. Who cares.
The very last few pages of the book were an opportunity for Artie to wrap the book up in a comedic way. Instead, he tries to be "serious" with his inspirational message about the war and the troops. By that point of the book I was so bored with it I wasn't even going to finish it, and now I wish I hadn't. What I'm sure was intended as a patriotic message came off as preachy and condescending.
I really feel like I wasted my time and money, and I dislike Artie even more now.