Love All the People: The Essential Bill Hicks--Book Review

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Love All the People: The Essential Bill Hicks. Bill Hicks. Soft Skull Press. Revised edition. 2008.

Book review by Joel
This book is a collection of Bill's comedy acts, writings, essays, and show ideas that he wrote during his short life. He died at 33 in 1994. There is some repetition in the book when it comes to the stand-up acts, but every comedian uses old material in new acts. I did not know as much about Bill as I thought I did. He was just starting to be recognized and was just starting to get offers in when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The book spends quite a bit of time on his censorship from the David Letterman Show in 1993. (David Letterman broadcast Bill's stand-up recently and as seen on the Bill Hicks Web site. David was remarkably good to Bill's mother who was the guest on the show.)

I have been a fan of Bill's for just a few years. I wish I could have seen him live. I actually found out about him from YouTube.com, where you can see many of his videos. This book is not an autobiography, but instead, transcribed comedy acts, some interviews and transcribed show ideas. Some early history comes forth in some mixed interviews, but for the most part, his material and his thoughts were what come through. It created a more personal feel to the book.

I would say it is a book for fans. If you don't know who Bill Hicks is, this is a good source for his stand-up material. But without the delivery, timing and body language, a lot gets lost in translation. Definitely check out his Web site and YouTube videos. He also has several comedy albums out as well.

Joel.

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Do you like this book review? Joel has written for Book Reader's Traverse since its conception in 2004. He often finds his books in unusual places, including hometown shops where he visits, and even dumpsters at times. See his comical bio and picks--Joel's Picks.

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