Kevin Hart (2) (1979–)

Every experience is a potential life lesson. Even if you don’t appreciate it at the time, each struggle in the present is preparing you for something else in the future.

Going into this I really didn't know that much about Kevin Hart. I'd seen him in a few movies (he's hilarious in Jumanji) and I knew he was a stand up comedian though I've not caught any of his shows. I noticed his book was getting some great reviews so I figured why not? I am so glad I gave it a shot.

I Can't Make This Up show more is a memoir about Kevin Hart's life and how he worked to make it big in the entertainment industry. He covers everything from his childhood, family, friends, career and the many mistakes he's made along the way. The story is told with a lot of humor, as you'd expect from a comedian, brutal honesty and a lot of heart (pun intended). Kevin's life philosophy is surprisingly uplifting and positive. The unique way he looks at the world is what has allowed him to grow from highly negative circumstances and learn from all of life's experiences to keep growing personally and professionally in the face of both adversity and success. Yes, success has it's own challenges too. It's a great message, one that applies to anyone in any walk of life not just those trying to make it in the entertainment business.

I listened to the audio book narrated by the author. I'm starting to think this is the way to go with memoirs when it's possible. His delivery can't be beat and he added so many funny little asides that were not part of the book itself that you would miss by reading the book the traditional way. show less

A hilarious book about an average kid named Marcus who is trying to make a movie out of his superhero comic creation in an afterschool film class. The dialogue between characters flies fresh and fast (you can imagine Kevin Hart's hyper presentation) and the kids are realistic and natural in portrayal. But above all, you see Marcus' growth and change during his project, and his ultimate driving force (hinted at throughout) is tender and genuine. Plus readers will pick up a lot about show more moviemaking and I appreciate how iteration is demonstrated as a big part of the work. show less

My feelings about Kevin Hart are complicated. He's been undeniably funny many times in his career, but he's also got a very uncomfortable relationship with the LGBTQ community, which concerns me. I thought perhaps this book would help me to cement a clearer picture of who he is, but I'm afraid that it didn't. It's occasionally amusing, often fascinating, and seems to be completely honest. He doesn't paint himself in the best light at times, and is more than willing to call out his poor show more decisions and bad behavior. I respect that. But he also doesn't spend much time on most of those bad decisions, although one could argue that he shouldn't, because that's not what the book is about. I'm so torn on this book (and the man behind it), but at the end of the day it is a compelling read and worth the time. show less

I was not expecting to like this book as much as I did. Often, I would catch myself laughing out loud very loudly, even in front of a crowd... which is very unlike me. But it couldn't be helped. Hart's sense of humor kept me entertained throughout the whole book and left me constantly wondering what happened next. And at the same time, I found myself underlining many sentences and passages, as I felt his experiences offered many morsels of wisdom that were applicable to my life. His story is show more one that I can really relate to-- especially at this juncture in my life. Like him, I found a passion that I am pursuing wholeheartedly, and his dedication and persistence are things I found truly inspiring to my dreams. Hart is a hard worker and doesn't ever take no for an answer, and I have learned so much from his sharing of his life. I love this book very much and think everyone will have a good time reading it. show less