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Sick in the Head
Sick in the Head: Conversations About Life and Comedy | Judd Apatow
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE A.V. CLUB From the writer and director of Knocked Up and the producer of Freaks and Geeks comes a collection of intimate, hilarious conversations with the biggest names in comedy from the past thirty yearsincluding Mel Brooks, Jerry Seinfeld, Jon Stewart, Roseanne Barr, Harold Ramis, Louis C.K., Chris Rock, and Lena Dunham. Before becoming one of the most successful filmmakers in Hollywood, Judd Apatow was the original comedy nerd. At fifteen, he took a job washing dishes in a local comedy clubjust so he could watch endless stand-up for free. At sixteen, he was hosting a show for his local high school radio station in Syosset, Long Islanda show that consisted of Q&As with his comedy heroes, from Garry Shandling to Jerry Seinfeld. They talked about their careers, the science of a good joke, and their dreams of future glory (turns out, Shandling was interested in having his own TV show one day and Steve Allen had already invented everything). Thirty years later, Apatow is still that same comedy nerdand hes still interviewing funny people about why they do what they do. Sick in the Head gathers Apatows most memorable and revealing conversations into one hilarious, wide-ranging, and incredibly candid collection that spans not only his career but his entire adult life. Here are the comedy legends who inspired and shaped him, from Mel Brooks to Steve Martin. Here are the contemporaries he grew up with in Hollywood, from Spike Jonze to Sarah Silverman. And here, finally, are the brightest stars in comedy today, many of whom Apatow has been fortunate to work with, from Seth Rogen to Amy Schumer. And along the way, something kind of magical happens: What started as a lifetimes worth of conversations about comedy becomes something else entirely. It becomes an exploration of creativity, ambition, neediness, generosity, spirituality, and the joy that comes from making people laugh. Loaded with the kind of back-of-the-club stories that comics tell one another when no one else is watching, this fascinating, personal (and borderline-obsessive) book is Judd Apatows gift to comedy nerds everywhere. Praise for Sick in the Head I cant stop reading it. . . . I dont want this book to end.Jimmy Fallon An essential for any comedy geek.Entertainment Weekly Fascinating . . . a collection of interviews with many of the great figures of comedy in the latter half of the twentieth century.The Washington Post Open this book anywhere, and youre bound to find some interesting nugget from someone who has had you in stitches many, many times.Janet Maslin, The New York Times An amazing read, full of insights and connections both creative and interpersonal.The New Yorker Fascinating and revelatory.Chicago Tribune For fans of stand-up, Sick in the Head is a Bible of sorts.Newsweek These are wonderful, expansive interviewsat times brutal, at times breathtakingwith artists whose wit, intelligence, gaze, and insights are all sharp enough to draw blood.Michael Chabon Anyone even remotely interested in comedy or humanity should own this book. It is hilarious and informative and it contains insightful interviews with the greatest comics, comedians, and comediennes of our time. My representatives assure me I will appear in a future edition.Will Ferrell From the Hardcover edition.
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keithmalek
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Shaaaannnn
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Panpan

I skipped over the majority of this book, and thought it was less than average. Don‘t waste your time!

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Sharpeipup
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My husband was afraid of losing his bookmark.

Erinsuereads Oh man. 🤣🤣🤣🤣 4y
TheKidUpstairs As someone who has been known to tuck my bookmark between the arm of my glasses and the side of my face while I read, I totally feel this. 4y
TrishB 😂😂 4y
DAB 😻 😂 4y
28 likes4 comments
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Ash.on.the.line
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I am very tired after a major swimming session yesterday and watching fireworks late into the night! 😅 I really want to finish a book but of course I‘m busy as a bee! 🐝 I have been keeping up with my goals but just barely for #BFC I hope this coming weekend helps me relax some! 😄

wanderinglynn Way to go! 🙌🏻 But don‘t overdo it & wear yourself out. 💜 5y
BookwormAHN Sounds like a fun night though 😺 5y
44 likes2 comments
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CherryPie
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Enjoyed the intro and the idea of a kid pursuing and succeeding in interviewing professional comedians. I'm not really interested in the art of comedy, "the process." Let's see how far I get with this one.

Cinfhen He‘s soooo funny 7y
23 likes1 stack add1 comment
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manifestsanity
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Judd Apatow's documentary on Garry Shandling is one of the most profound, intimate, and humane pieces of comedic scholarship I have ever come across. Shandling was not only a writer and performer, but a mentor and philosopher. He wrote in his diary, "You realize now that comedy is your soul." This is an amazing investigation into the creative process of an artist. Two interviews with Shandling (30 years apart) are included in Apatow's book.

vivastory Apatow & Shandling were briefly touched upon in this book I read last week, but it seemed like a formative influence 7y
47 likes1 comment
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Jess7
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From the writer and director of #KnockedUp and the producer of #FreaksandGeeks comes a collection of intimate, hilarious convos with the biggest names in comedy: #MelBrooks, #JerrySeinfeld, #JonStewart, #RoseanneBarr, #HaroldRamis, #LouisCK, #ChrisRock, and #LenaDunham. #SickintheHead gathers Apatow‘s most memorable and revealing conversations into one hilarious, wide-ranging, and candid collection spanning his adult life #AugustLibrary17 #daisies

Jess7 #SickInTheHead by #JuddApatow #TBR #WhiteBooks #DaisiesWhiteBooks #DaisiesAndWhiteBooks - All Books I Own EXCEPT The Hate U Give (which on the top of my #WishList 💜 (edited) 7y
MinDea I got to see Judd Apatow at The Comedy Store in LA in May. He was hilarious. Love his stuff. 7y
MinDea I didn't know he had a book! Adding to my TBR! 7y
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Jess7 That's awesome @MinDea ! I love Apatow's shows. Specifically, I really like the show #LOVE on #Netflix - both seasons are super funny. I also liked #GIRLS on #HBO and he was the producer for that show. 7y
MinDea I have not watched either of those shows. I actually never used to watch TV until I met my boyfriend a few years ago who is a huge TV watcher. So I end up watching whatever his shows are. Might have to check out those other 2 when he is not home! 7y
Jess7 I watch #love with my husband - it's a good show to watch together bc it's a rom com but really funny - GIRLS is definitely a show my husband wouldn't enjoy though 7y
IamIamIam Just saw the Judd Apatow book in the airport and almost bought it! 7y
100 likes9 stack adds7 comments
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britt_brooke
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Ha! Whoopsie. 🤦🏼‍♀️ #booknerdproblems

Soubhiville Yep, I do this too! 7y
RanaElizabeth I am so glad that they do this with ebooks, I've definitely done this more than once! 7y
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Lmstraubie Been there, done that. 😂 7y
My_novel_obsession Been there...done that 🤓 7y
monkeygirlsmama I do that a lot. Thank God Amazon keeps track since I obviously don't. Haha 7y
britt_brooke @Anovelobsession @monkeygirlsmama Thank goodness Amazon is paying attention! I truly have no recollection of purchasing this. 😂😆 7y
Redwritinghood I've done that before too. 7y
britt_brooke @Redwritinghood I'm glad I'm not the only one! 😁 7y
104 likes10 comments
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TheBookJar
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Sick in the Head is a perfect read for anyone who needs a book they can pick up and put down at will. Like, for example, if you just got two puppies! It is filled with short, wildly informative, interviews with comedians!

GypsyKat So cute! 8y
6 likes1 comment
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Andrea6
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Ready to give this bad boy a go! Apatow is one of my favorite directors and producers. Can't wait to see what this is like.

Andrea6 Update- had to put this one down. It wasn't quite what I had anticipated. I do plan to complete as soon as I get through the rest of the stack. 7y
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Tillie
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#RiotGrams #FunnyBooks Apatow's interviews with comedians, started when he was just fourteen, were enlightening. The creative process, the art, the angst of performing...

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ontheBL
Mehso-so

Hilarious, smart, deep, intriguing. It's full of inspirational quotes from super famous and influential comedians. If you are minutely aware of comedy, it's a great read.

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AmyS
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Bailedbailed

When I realized I didn't even particularly care about the interviews with these two, I knew it was time to call it quits. If you are really interested in comedians' processes, you might like this. There are comedians I really like and admire but this book wasn't for me.

Megabooks A friend sent me this, but I haven't read it yet. I keep putting it off for whatever reason. 😕 8y
32 likes1 stack add1 comment
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AmyS
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#somethingforsept #booksanddrinks My friend felt bad that I didn't get cake for my birthday last month so she made me DELICIOUS spice cake cupcakes from scratch. Even just the smell is amazing. 😋 Enjoying it with tea and a book (a favorite combo).

DebinHawaii That looks delicious and like the perfect pairing with the tea and book. 😀 8y
Posemn Oh yum! Spice cupcakes. Perfect for fall. Happy Birthday (a little late)! 8y
52 likes1 stack add2 comments
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PrezBookster
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Mehso-so

I wanted so much more from this book! For such a successful man, Judd really doesn't have a self esteem, and that isn't attractive. I was interested to learn all the many things Judd had been involved in, so it was an okay book.

MLVReads I got this book last summer and barely made it through the first few interviews. I'd like to finish it, but there was no pull to keep me going. 8y
PrezBookster @MLVReads I agree, It took me weeks to read and that's not normal 8y
26 likes2 comments
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PrezBookster
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Anyone else love floating shelves like I do?

NatalieR That is so cool! 8y
28 likes2 comments
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PrezBookster
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Sick in the Head by Judd Apatow
This makes me super happy!! #waytogo @juddapatow #makesmehappy #payitforward #booksforlife all proceeds of this book are being donated to provide free tutoring and literacy programs!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

23 likes1 stack add
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PrezBookster
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Huh... 🎭

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PrezBookster
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So funny, I know a lot of people this would pertain too! 🙃

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PrezBookster
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Tyson approves my book choice #readingbuddy

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Awk_Word_Smith
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Damn you, B&N, with your Buy2-Get1 table! #WeOnlyCameForMagazines

RealLifeReading Always so tempting!! 8y
Awk_Word_Smith Usually I don't find this many books on that table @RealLifeReading 8y
8 likes1 stack add2 comments
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PrezBookster
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Does anyone else use you bookmark to keep your place while reading? I need it to keep my focused! #adultADD

KellyKate I do!! When my daughter was little she would carry one of my paperbacks around with a business card as a bookmark, and move it down the page as if she were reading- she was 2! 8y
PrezBookster @KellyKate I love that! Glad I'm not alone! I also love hearing that she was so interested in reading so young! Go mama! 8y
KellyKate @PrezBookster ☺️ thank you so much for saying that. 8y
13 likes3 comments
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PrezBookster
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I just started to hear more about this book recently, so I decided to give it a shot. And... I loved the sassy emoji-like binding!

5 likes1 stack add
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Gayan
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So I come to Alaska and the first day I have to check out the book store.

LizzyM Did the same thing tho in Juneau ha! 8y
27 likes1 comment