Marc Maron

I've followed Maron's career on and off since he was the host of Short Attention Span Theater on Comedy Central in the early 90's. I found him annoying, grating, manic, smart and funny as hell, and someone with whom I would not want to spend any time in person. This book serves to only further cement his status as one of my favorite living comedians, but happy that he's usually on the other side of the country from me. Maron's description of "The Situation in [His] Head" while on an airplane show more is hilarious and I TOTALLY could see this happening to me. The chapter totally eviscerating John Mackey of Whole Foods is terrific, well, really it's all good. I don't normally recommend comedians' books, but this is one I gladly recommend to anyone with a sense of humor and half a brain. show less

I received this book through Goodreads' First Reads program. Be aware before you continue to read this that I quote the book in a few places. I don't think they qualify as spoilers, per se, but they do reflect some of the more philosophical moments in the book.

The strength of Marc Maron's comedy lies (and has always lain) in the honesty of his stories. He strips back the layers so many comedians use to shield themselves, throwing himself out there for anyone to laugh with or laugh at.

Maron's show more latest book, Attempting Normal, transfers his angry, self-deprecating (and occasionally self-abusive) sense of humor to prose. I will admit that while I did not often laugh at the situations presented within (Maron's sense of humor doesn't entirely mesh with mine), there is a certain appealing frankness about the whole thing. Maron splices comedy and pathos, but as absurd as some of the situations may seem, his simple, down-to-earth narration lends an air of credence to them.

Take, for example, this quote: "I felt like I needed closure. I needed to be punched in the heart with the reality of the situation. That is what emotional connection is to me sometimes. Pain makes me know I am alive. Joy and comfort are awkward and make me want to die. I needed to see in her eyes that she didn't care about me and I had no power over her. Of course, I was hedging my bets. Some part of me hoped we would once again lock into that shared emotional frequency that undeniably connected us. I thought that connection was indelible, no matter what happened between us, even if it was like a tattoo that seemed like the right thing to do at the time but is now just a fading green mistake."

This resonated with me, likely because I have gone through the same situation. In fact, this is the power inherent in Maron's stories--the fact that we've been there too.

As someone who is highly invested in the fine arts (theatre, writing, and music in particular), this quote stuck out at me:

"The point is, maybe I need to re-immerse myself in fine arts. They're magic. It doesn't always work but the good stuff, or at least the stuff that resonates, should engage your heart in a way that can reflect, sate, define, amplify, provoke, or relieve what seems like chaos or confusion in your life. The art allows you to experience it and better understand your own undefined or renegade emotions. Sometimes the art gives you new things to worry about. That's some good art there."

This, I think, is the core of the fine arts. It allows us to either conceal or confront the issues in our lives in a way that is, for the most part, socially acceptable, and provides a benefit to society.

These are just a few examples of some rather philosophical moments sprinkled throughout the book; while they may be "deep thoughts", they are always presented in an impressively accessible way.

Overall, I was impressed with Maron's latest work. While the laughs may be aimed at a different audience, the situations are things we can all relate to, tied together by Maron's expert storytelling ability. show less

I'm an established Marc Maron fan for about a year, a regular listener to his podcast for its content as well as for his personality - which is more than a little abrasive, but also so consistently honest and vulnerable that I cared enough to pick up a copy of his new book this month. There are two parts of the book: ATTEMPTING, with essays that reflect on his past work as a comic and failed relationships, and NORMAL, reflections on his current life as a touring comic, TV show star and show more last-ditch efforts to be a real adult. While I thoroughly enjoyed ATTEMPTING and would give that collection of essays four stars on its own, the meandering NORMAL section felt a lot like a college kid trying to think of strong essay to write the night before its due date. There just wasn't enough of a point for the second half of the book to exist (except for the excellent "Babies" essay), hence the three star rating. But I really do recommend the first half for any Maron fans, and anyone with a passing interesting in comedy and the traumatic emotional anecdotes of others. show less

Marc Maron started the WTF Podcast 8 years ago, interviewing celebrities in his garage. The former stand up comedian went from the brink of failure to producing a wildly popular show. Maron has hosted people like Robin Williams, Norm McDonald, President Obama, Dan Harmon, Louis CK, Al Gore, and more. His laid-back, informal method of “interviewing” his guests has led to his being able to have something more akin to a conversation, rather than a pat question and answer session. This style show more has allowed his guests (and Maron himself) to open up and approach topics honestly. Sometimes painfully so.

Waiting for the Punch is a compilation of excerpts from various interviews, broken up by chapter into subjects such as success, failure, addiction, relationships, sexuality, and more. The folks featured in the book run the gamut from comedians to politicians, drag queens to musicians. While some of the excerpts are laugh-out-loud funny, many are truly moving, as the guests talk about trauma or troubles from their past.

In the end, the book has something for everyone. I especially love the way so many guests seem willing to talk openly about struggling with addiction, mental illness, or childhood trauma. The excerpts from Robin Williams always struck an especially poignant note with me. If you’re looking for a comedic-leaning book about dealing with life, this is a great, inspiring read.

An advance copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. show less