Jerry Lewis (1926–2017)

Well written and surprisingly subtle autobiography of Jerry Lewis's days with Dean Martin. It's the kind of book that takes you back through time. You feel as though you are Jerry, just getting started in the unique New York show business world of the 1940s, desperately trying to get a foothold. Then you suddenly discover magical on-stage chemistry with an older, equally ambitious singer. Both of your lives change overnight from hungry wannabe to wealthy superstar. More than just an show more autobiography, it's a slice of show business history and an insight into the personality and life story of Dean Martin by his closest friend. Jerry was an only child whose Vaudevillian parents were often absent, and he found the older brother he unknowingly craved, in Dean. It is an emotional, funny and dramatic story, unforgettable. Especially vivid is the one time Dean openly revealed his ambitiousness and drive to succeed, after seeing Frank Sinatra brilliantly perform at the Paramount, to the adulation of his fans. He and Jerry sit at a deli after the show , and the not-so-young, struggling singer Dean bangs on the table, saying "That should be me!" show less

I could have done without Lewis' constant "Christ!" outbursts and his Holocaust joke ("Pastrami killed more of my people than Hitler"), but for the most part I really enjoyed this book. It does give great insight into the relationship between the two men and makes readers feel as though they're right there, back in the old days when Martin & Lewis ruled the world.

My reading of this book has been long overdue and I don't now what took me so long. I can't express just how surprised I was by this book; I expected a lot of bullshit, but I was wrong. The honesty in this book was almost shocking; Jerry didn't hold back. I love the funny stories of him and Dean in the early part of their partnership and marked a few of them to go back and read when I need a laugh. Jerry Lewis has always made me laugh with his Idiot shtick and he made me laugh with the show more written word.

The admiration and love he had for Dean is unmistakable. He was just as mad as anyone that Dean wasn't getting the respect he deserved. Dean was always a clever and masterful comedian, but in a way that was subtle. He could spew off one-liners without even thinking about it.

The honesty and the love that went into this book is well worth five-stars. The last chapter and afterword had me in tears.

Bravo, Jerry. show less

Having been a longtime fan of Martin and Lewis - with Dean Martin being more my favourite as I grew up on his tv shows and music - it was really great to get this point of view on their relationship. Basically, reading about it from Jerry's side added a new perspective to what I already knew from Dean's autobiography.
Lots of memories, lots of laughs, and lots of nostalgia for me. A great, if poignant, book. Or as Jerry would say, Pathos. :)