Error loading page.
Try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, there may be a network issue, and you can use our self test page to see what's preventing the page from loading.
Learn more about possible network issues or contact support for more help.

So Many Steves

Afternoons with Steve Martin

Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

Steve Martin is more candid than he's ever been about his creative life—in this engrossing audio-biography centered around a series of conversations recorded over many afternoons at home with his friend and neighbor, writer Adam Gopnik.


Steve Martin met his good friend Adam Gopnik three decades ago, and in that time, Gopnik has always marveled at Martin's ability to flourish in a wide variety of artforms: magic, comedy, art collecting, writing, and music. In So Many Steves, New Yorker writer Adam Gopnik creates a new type of profile: a year's worth of conversations with Martin where Gopnik pulls back the curtain on his friend's illustrious career.


This biography places you in Martin's apartment across from Steve and Adam, listening as their conversation flows from Steve's first job in a magic shop to selling out stadiums as a standup comedian, starring in major motion pictures, writing his first novel, teaching himself to play the banjo, and starting a respected art collection. Through it all you'll hear clips from Steve Martin's iconic stand up routines and movies as well as excerpts from his writing and tv appearances, all knit together by an original banjo score created and played by Steve.


Widely praised for his dada persona and portrayal of funny-yet-relatable parents, Steve shares behind the scenes anecdotes from his films―L.A. Story, The Jerk, Three Amigos, and more―giving listeners a taste of life on set. More than a history, this series of intimate conversations between old colleagues reveal Martin's thoughtful approach to both art and life. As Steve develops as an artist, challenging himself with learning new crafts, Adam sees his friend growing and evolving as a person: becoming warmer, more gregarious, and even more gracious.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

  • Formats

  • Languages

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      This short audiobook makes the listener want more. Wisely, Adam Gopnik asks questions, provides context and insights, then lets the protean Steve Martin tell his own stories. The work comes across as a kind of memoir. Martin's conversational tone elevates the personal recollections of his complex life. His fine intellect and love of literature, music, and art shine through, as do his schtick, banjo picking, and his artful storytelling. We get the great comic from his student days of studying philosophy and reading e.e. cummings to his pursuit of stand-up, acting, writing a novel, writing a Broadway musical, and more. Through it all are banjo playing and jokes delivered in Martin's classic laconic style. A.D.M. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
    • Library Journal

      Starred review from September 1, 2023

      New Yorker writer Gopnik (A Thousand Small Sanities) invites listeners to join him in the Manhattan apartment of his friend, actor Martin, for excerpts from their yearlong series of recorded conversations. From magician to movie star, and from comedian to art collector, Martin has no shortage of selves; Gopnik explores why it is that he continues to acquire and then abandon so many skill sets. With background banjo, shuffling papers, city sounds, and the crackling of comedy recordings, this audio experience is so immersive that listeners can easily imagine they are there with Gopnik, watching his friend walk to the shelf for a book or being interrupted by a phone call from Martin Short. As they are longtime acquaintances, their interaction has an organic flow and friendliness that is engaging and inimitable. This listen is a brief but beguiling blend of shooting-the-breeze and biography. VERDICT Will appeal to listeners seeking a candid, creative conversation that offers intriguing insight into celebrity and self. Recommended for fans of Martin's wit and wisecracks.--Lauren Hackert

      Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

Languages

  • English

Loading