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How to Talk Dirty and Influence People

An Autobiography

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How to Talk Dirty and Influence People

By: Lenny Bruce, Lewis Black - preface, Howard Reich - introduction
Narrated by: Ronnie Marmo
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About this listen

 During the course of a career that began in the late 1940s, Lenny Bruce challenged the sanctity of organized religion and other societal and political conventions; he widened the boundaries of free speech. Critic Ralph Gleason said, "So many taboos have been lifted and so many comics have rushed through the doors Lenny opened. He utterly changed the world of comedy."

Although Bruce died when he was only forty, his influence on the worlds of comedy, jazz, and satire are incalculable. How to Talk Dirty and Influence People remains a brilliant existential account of his life and the forces that made him the most important and controversial entertainer in history. Entertainment & Celebrities Performing Arts Celebrity Comedy Biography Funny Witty

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Critic reviews

Praise for How to Talk Dirty and Influence People"I read this book for the first time when I was twelve years old. It made me want to be in showbiz, have a lot of sex, and be Jewish. I've rethought that last one." -Penn Jillette, author of God No!
"If there was a God, then he sent down Lenny Bruce to create the art form of modern stand-up comedy. He sought the truth fearlessly and hilariously until his tragically muffled First Amendment rights surely enabled his dying for our sins." -Richard Lewis, author of The Other Great Depression
"Outside every American comedy club there ought to be a statue of Lenny Bruce - the type of big bronze statue that commemorates and immortalizes heroes... Bringing Bruce's ideas and stories to a new generation might just be the next best thing to erecting those bronze statues." - Playboy, 8/3/16
"Sheds light on the mind behind some of the most controversial comedy routines of the mid-20th century." -Spectrum Culture, 10/11/16
All stars
Most relevant
Works really well as an audio book. Gives a great insight into the man and his life.

Brilliant performance by the narrator

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Lenny Bruce left a great legacy in his short but tumultuous stay in this life. Not only that, but almost 5o years since his untimely death, much of what he voiced back then is still relevant.
Ronnie Marmo's delivery, impeccable. l almost felt as if it were Lenny reading to me. Although longer than l anticipated, l enjoyed it nevertheless.

Great narration, wonderful insight

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Not only a legend of the craft of stand up, but the trailblazer.

An honest & insightful listen into the great mans' life.

Just great.

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100% recommend this! I absolutely loved this audiobook! it's incredibly entertaining! So funny! Not only is it narrated as if it were Lenny speaking, but "Lenny" is so animated that the jokes and ancedotes just come to life in audiobook. I honestly don't think it would have been the same reading it. I just keep thinking how relevant so much of what he was talking about back in the 1960s, is today, and it's ludacris that he faced obscenity charges because of his jokes. However without him we wouldn't have so many of the great comedians that we have today. He influenced so many people and left, and will continue to leave, a lasting legacy. This is exactly what I needed :)

Wonderfully Narrated! Incredibly Entertaining!

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The performance is an absolute perfect impression of Bruce, what an incredible job. a great book about Bruce's interesting life and unwanted fight for free speech. Any comic should learn Bruce's history, a great listen.

Hugely important book with an excellent performance.

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