What do you think?
Rate this book
The Dangerous Animals Club
From legendary character actor Stephen Tobolowsky, comes a collection of memoiristic pieces about life, love, acting, and adventure, told with a beguiling voice and an uncommon talent for storytelling.
The Dangerous Animals Club by Stephen Tobolowsky is a series of stories that form a non-linear autobiography. Each story stands on its own, and yet there are larger interconnecting narratives that weave together from the book's beginning to end. The stories have heroics and embarrassments, riotous humor and pathos, characters that range from Bubbles the Pigmy Hippo to Stephen's unforgettable mother, and scenes that include coke-fueled parties, Hollywood sets, French trains, and hospital rooms.
Told in a vivid, honest, and wondrous voice, Tobolowsky manages to render the majestic out of the seemingly mundane, profundity from the patently absurd, and grace from tragedy. This book marks the debut of a massively talented storyteller.
The Dangerous Animals Club by Stephen Tobolowsky is a series of stories that form a non-linear autobiography. Each story stands on its own, and yet there are larger interconnecting narratives that weave together from the book's beginning to end. The stories have heroics and embarrassments, riotous humor and pathos, characters that range from Bubbles the Pigmy Hippo to Stephen's unforgettable mother, and scenes that include coke-fueled parties, Hollywood sets, French trains, and hospital rooms.
Told in a vivid, honest, and wondrous voice, Tobolowsky manages to render the majestic out of the seemingly mundane, profundity from the patently absurd, and grace from tragedy. This book marks the debut of a massively talented storyteller.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published September 11, 2012
About the author
Stephen Tobolowsky
6 books61 followersThe quintessential character actor, Stephen Tobolowsky has appeared in more than 100 movies and more than 200 television shows in his career (USA TODAY recently noted that he was the ninth most frequently seen actor in film today). Along the way his roles have spanned almost all aspects of being a working actor, from the big-budget and Oscar Award-worthy (as head of the Ku Klux Klan in Mississippi Burning), to the cult phenomenon (Groundhog Day), to the buzzworthy (Glee). But despite a lifetime devotion to the craft of acting that also includes a classical theater training and a Tony Award nomination, you probably wouldn't recognize him if you saw him on the street. He lives in Los Angeles.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 182 reviews
April 3, 2012
You know those imaginary dinner parties where you get to invite any five people from history for an evening of amazing conversation? This book is the reason Stephen Tobolowsky has always been one of my five. He is a raconteur of the first order, and I think an evening with Beethoven, Abe Lincoln, and Winston Churchill would be made ever more fascinating for his inclusion. But it’s not just that his stories are compulsively entertaining. It’s that they resound with insight and revelation. Tobolowsky’s stories make me glad I’m alive. And they make me want to throw a dinner party every night.
June 26, 2015
I realize now as an adult that I was extremely fortunate to grow up in a family that loved and utilized audiobooks. Living in Wyoming, road trips were a frequent occurrence. The nearest mall/bookstore/Target was 180 miles away, the closest family member 90 miles, and the majority of my family lived a minimum of a 13 hour car ride from our home. This meant that with some regularity we would pack up the car and take off, spending all day with pillows and suitcases piled about us. My parents would put a cooler and whatever else they could stack between my brother and I to keep us from fighting–”He’s on my side of the car!” I would perpetually whine.–and try to keep us occupied with activities other than slapping and crying. One of these activities, perhaps the best, was listening to stories.
My parents instilled in me a love of the oral tradition and an appreciation for a good story teller as much as for the story being told. Perhaps the most unanimously accepted teller of tales on our family road trips was Garrison Keillor. Yes, we took two hours out of every weekend to pump A Prairie Home Companion through our speakers, and we owned several boxes of tapes with Garrison Keillor’s tales of Lake Wobegon. We were also Lutheran, Norwegian, and from a small town. We knew what was meant by church ladies, we’d experienced green jello molds with carrots inside, we ate lutefisk and lefse every holiday. We got Lake Wobegon. There have been few things that me and my brother have agreed upon in life, but the one at the forefront of my mind is that the Tomato Butt story is hilarious.
The years have come and gone, and with them many beloved books and narrators, but it wasn’t until a couple of years ago that I discovered another storyteller I would love as much as Garrison Keillor. That man, is Stephen Tobolowsky. Stephen Tobolowsky has always loved to tell stories, and to me it’s no wonder, he’s great at it. In 2005, after being a character actor in well over 100 movies and TV shows, Stephen Tobolowsky starred in a movie, Stephen Tobolowsky’s Birthday Party. The movie was simple, largely, it showed the actor in his home with friends telling stories on his birthday. As fortune would have it, a few years later /Film podcaster David Chen, a fan of the movie, would invite Stephen onto his podcast; a fortuitous encounter that would precipitate the creation of The Tobolowsky Files–my absolute favorite podcast. I’ve talked about The Tobolowsky Files on the blog before, but it was back when I was a wee baby blogger and probably nobody read it.
The Tobolowsky Files is a podcast in which Stephen Tobolowsky shares tales of life, love, and the acting community. This book, The Dangerous Animals Club, is a collection of stories previously told on his podcast, roughly the first 25 or so installments. Consequently, as you might imagine, a good 95% of what I heard while listening to this book I’ve heard before. But with a storyteller of the quality of Stephen Tobolowsky, that hardly matters. I can once again become completely engaged in his life, and I was more than happy to purchase this collection of tales.
As a character actor, Stephen has worked with innumerable writers, directors, and actors you would recognize, but he always tells the unexpected tale. Through Sephen we get to see the history behind the screen, to see him as a person so real and similar to ourselves that we cannot help but connect with the story. I’m sure many would say that Stephen has had a remarkable life, but to me the most remarkable thing about listening to The Dangerous Animals Club is how completely average his life has been. I realize that may sound degrading, or as if his stories were boring, but I intend quite the opposite. His stories have the ability to grab and affect the listener because they’re so relatable. The bulk of us are not struggling actors, but we have all struggled at some point in our careers. All of us have experienced love, heartbreak, the joys of childhood friendship, the love of family, fleas…okay…maybe those of you who haven’t worked in animal shelters can ex out the last one, but regardless, Stephen Tobolowsky becomes remarkable in his completely unremarkable being.
The Dangerous Animals Club covers, as Stephen has stated, one arch of his life–the beginning of things. This means that the stories largely cover his childhood experiences, college life, graduate school, and starting out as an actor in Los Angeles. As such, if you’re looking strictly for stories about his career and experiences on particular TV and movie sets, you might be better perusing the backlog of The Tobolowsky Files. However, The Dangerous Animals Club is not devoid of such stories, including some tales from Stephen’s time on Heroes, Mississippi Burning, and Wild Hogs. Wondering what ‘The Dangerous Animals Club’ is? Well, it’s a club, obviously. One that Stephen and some childhood friends started to celebrate dangerous animals. They figured Texas was full of them, and they would collect them all…
As stated, Stephen Tobolowsky is a damn fine storyteller. Listening to The Dangerous Animals Club or The Tobolowsky Files, you will inevitably develop feelings of kinship with this man that will allow him to pull at your heartstrings with every turn. With Stephen Tobolowsky I have laughed until I cried, and cried until I laughed. He is a reminder that actors are people too, and a voice I consistently turn to for comfort. I really couldn’t recommend checking out his movie, podcast, or books more–though I will say you want this one on audio, Stephen telling you the stories himself is more than half the magic.
Original review posted at Bunbury in the Stacks.
My parents instilled in me a love of the oral tradition and an appreciation for a good story teller as much as for the story being told. Perhaps the most unanimously accepted teller of tales on our family road trips was Garrison Keillor. Yes, we took two hours out of every weekend to pump A Prairie Home Companion through our speakers, and we owned several boxes of tapes with Garrison Keillor’s tales of Lake Wobegon. We were also Lutheran, Norwegian, and from a small town. We knew what was meant by church ladies, we’d experienced green jello molds with carrots inside, we ate lutefisk and lefse every holiday. We got Lake Wobegon. There have been few things that me and my brother have agreed upon in life, but the one at the forefront of my mind is that the Tomato Butt story is hilarious.
The years have come and gone, and with them many beloved books and narrators, but it wasn’t until a couple of years ago that I discovered another storyteller I would love as much as Garrison Keillor. That man, is Stephen Tobolowsky. Stephen Tobolowsky has always loved to tell stories, and to me it’s no wonder, he’s great at it. In 2005, after being a character actor in well over 100 movies and TV shows, Stephen Tobolowsky starred in a movie, Stephen Tobolowsky’s Birthday Party. The movie was simple, largely, it showed the actor in his home with friends telling stories on his birthday. As fortune would have it, a few years later /Film podcaster David Chen, a fan of the movie, would invite Stephen onto his podcast; a fortuitous encounter that would precipitate the creation of The Tobolowsky Files–my absolute favorite podcast. I’ve talked about The Tobolowsky Files on the blog before, but it was back when I was a wee baby blogger and probably nobody read it.
The Tobolowsky Files is a podcast in which Stephen Tobolowsky shares tales of life, love, and the acting community. This book, The Dangerous Animals Club, is a collection of stories previously told on his podcast, roughly the first 25 or so installments. Consequently, as you might imagine, a good 95% of what I heard while listening to this book I’ve heard before. But with a storyteller of the quality of Stephen Tobolowsky, that hardly matters. I can once again become completely engaged in his life, and I was more than happy to purchase this collection of tales.
As a character actor, Stephen has worked with innumerable writers, directors, and actors you would recognize, but he always tells the unexpected tale. Through Sephen we get to see the history behind the screen, to see him as a person so real and similar to ourselves that we cannot help but connect with the story. I’m sure many would say that Stephen has had a remarkable life, but to me the most remarkable thing about listening to The Dangerous Animals Club is how completely average his life has been. I realize that may sound degrading, or as if his stories were boring, but I intend quite the opposite. His stories have the ability to grab and affect the listener because they’re so relatable. The bulk of us are not struggling actors, but we have all struggled at some point in our careers. All of us have experienced love, heartbreak, the joys of childhood friendship, the love of family, fleas…okay…maybe those of you who haven’t worked in animal shelters can ex out the last one, but regardless, Stephen Tobolowsky becomes remarkable in his completely unremarkable being.
The Dangerous Animals Club covers, as Stephen has stated, one arch of his life–the beginning of things. This means that the stories largely cover his childhood experiences, college life, graduate school, and starting out as an actor in Los Angeles. As such, if you’re looking strictly for stories about his career and experiences on particular TV and movie sets, you might be better perusing the backlog of The Tobolowsky Files. However, The Dangerous Animals Club is not devoid of such stories, including some tales from Stephen’s time on Heroes, Mississippi Burning, and Wild Hogs. Wondering what ‘The Dangerous Animals Club’ is? Well, it’s a club, obviously. One that Stephen and some childhood friends started to celebrate dangerous animals. They figured Texas was full of them, and they would collect them all…
As stated, Stephen Tobolowsky is a damn fine storyteller. Listening to The Dangerous Animals Club or The Tobolowsky Files, you will inevitably develop feelings of kinship with this man that will allow him to pull at your heartstrings with every turn. With Stephen Tobolowsky I have laughed until I cried, and cried until I laughed. He is a reminder that actors are people too, and a voice I consistently turn to for comfort. I really couldn’t recommend checking out his movie, podcast, or books more–though I will say you want this one on audio, Stephen telling you the stories himself is more than half the magic.
Original review posted at Bunbury in the Stacks.
January 6, 2021
Loved this book on SO many levels. Great humor. Great stories. Great writing. Great thoughts. A author with a lot of talents and wisdom and kindness. Love that he defied Hollywood and kept his name although he doesn’t explain how that happened. Maybe no one after the first agent challenged him? As a rabbi, I loved his reflections on the Bible and his reflections in general. What a nice person he must be.
October 22, 2020
Short, humorous stories from the life of a character actor. You saw him in 'Groundhogs Day' and the TV show 'Heroes'. He also popped up in 'Deadwood'.
Nice, light, reading.
Nice, light, reading.
October 15, 2012
I've been a long-time listener of The Tobolowsky Files, practically since inception, and I've been lucky enough to see Stephen Tobolowsky perform his stories live in Boston. So it's fair to say that I've experienced these stories from all the mediums now: audio, live performance, and now through reading.
If you're already a fan of the podcast, the book might be worth skipping. It is almost an exact repeat of the podcast, which makes sense since Tobo sits down and writes everything out completely and thoroughly before anything is recorded.
However, this book is the perfect introduction to Stephen Tobolowsky's stories for newcomers. It's the perfect compilation: variety of stories, all of them great & resonating stories, but nobody can argue that this is a "best of" either, as some of my favorites from the podcast are missing from this rather short book.
As for the stories themselves, of course, Stephen Tobolowsky is a master story-teller, weaving his autobiography with big themes, ideas, science, philosophy, and drama. He knows how to get maximum impact out of every moment. There's no question that Stephen Tobolowsky has had an extraordinary life, but the best part is that when you hear his stories you feel like, no, you know, that every life contains amazing stories if you know how to tell them, even your own.
If you're already a fan of the podcast, the book might be worth skipping. It is almost an exact repeat of the podcast, which makes sense since Tobo sits down and writes everything out completely and thoroughly before anything is recorded.
However, this book is the perfect introduction to Stephen Tobolowsky's stories for newcomers. It's the perfect compilation: variety of stories, all of them great & resonating stories, but nobody can argue that this is a "best of" either, as some of my favorites from the podcast are missing from this rather short book.
As for the stories themselves, of course, Stephen Tobolowsky is a master story-teller, weaving his autobiography with big themes, ideas, science, philosophy, and drama. He knows how to get maximum impact out of every moment. There's no question that Stephen Tobolowsky has had an extraordinary life, but the best part is that when you hear his stories you feel like, no, you know, that every life contains amazing stories if you know how to tell them, even your own.
August 13, 2016
As a diehard cinephile, I'm certainly aware of Tobolowsky's screen work, but I had no idea what to expect from this collection of anecdotes, essays and other autobiographical tidbits. When I found this book to be funny it wasn't much of a surprise, when I discovered that it was also wise I became impressed.
The stories involving Stephen's childhood suggested to me a more erudite version of Patrick MacManus. The film industry anecdotes are light, crisp and funny. The bulk of the book is made up of stories detailing how Stephen discovered who he is as an artist and how he navigated his love life. These two elements seem inextricably linked. Tobolowsky manages the great trick only seen in the best memoirs, he self-mythologizes while simultaneously pointing out each myth for what it is.
There is a didactic element to the book, albeit a painless one. Each story ends with some sort of life lesson, often directly spelled out. These are the lessons that Tobolowsky took from the events he describes, but there is no expectation that these lessons would necessarily apply to the life of the reader. They are presented casually for the reader to consider, take up or leave as best suits them. The spirit of Judaism is often present in these life lessons, but I would hope that would be no barrier to readers of a different spiritual or philosophical bent.
Highly recommended.
The stories involving Stephen's childhood suggested to me a more erudite version of Patrick MacManus. The film industry anecdotes are light, crisp and funny. The bulk of the book is made up of stories detailing how Stephen discovered who he is as an artist and how he navigated his love life. These two elements seem inextricably linked. Tobolowsky manages the great trick only seen in the best memoirs, he self-mythologizes while simultaneously pointing out each myth for what it is.
There is a didactic element to the book, albeit a painless one. Each story ends with some sort of life lesson, often directly spelled out. These are the lessons that Tobolowsky took from the events he describes, but there is no expectation that these lessons would necessarily apply to the life of the reader. They are presented casually for the reader to consider, take up or leave as best suits them. The spirit of Judaism is often present in these life lessons, but I would hope that would be no barrier to readers of a different spiritual or philosophical bent.
Highly recommended.
February 18, 2024
Set against the backdrop of an acting career in the film industry, The Dangerous Animal’s Club is an extraordinary memoir by a master storyteller of how memory, experiences, and the choices we make teach life lessons while they shape our destiny. The book combines entertaining and laugh out loud descriptions of the salami factory nature of the movie industry with riveting accounts of the crises and surreal encounters in the author’s life. Told by a great raconteur the stories in The Dangerous Animal’s Club should resonate with and inspire anyone who reminisces and tries to make sense of their own life.
June 3, 2021
Stephen Tobolowsky is a fascinating person and an amazing storyteller. I recommend listening on audiobook as it really enhances the experience. I would caution those who listen to his podcast the Tobolowsky Files to maybe skip this though, as it’s all stories from the podcast.
October 6, 2017
This is probably the best book I've listened to in 2017. Tobolowsky is an amazing storyteller. It was hilarious, poignant, and thought-provoking all at the same time. I'll be listening to/reading his other books!
October 8, 2013
The funny thing about Stephen Tobolowsky is I bought his collection of personal stories, The Dangerous Animals Club, without having a clue about the author. Yet, as I read his book, I learned that he has been a character actor in so many of my favorite television shows, most notably, Deadwood. Midway through the book, I looked him up on IMDB and I had my light-bulb moment.
As much as I enjoy watching Tobolowsky act, I think that he might be even better as a writer. The Dangerous Animals Club is a broad collection of stories from Tobolowsky's childhood, relationships and career. He even carefully delves into more contentious subjects such as religion and spirituality.
The element of his writing that struck me the most is that he comes across as very humble. He has had a lot of amazing opportunities in his life and he has a lot of great advice to impart, but it's from the angle of an every man. He writes about life and gives advice from his unique perspective, but does it in a manner that is open and accepting that other experiences might shift his perspective. Tobolowsky comes across as possessing a keen sense of self-awareness.
I enjoyed the entire book, but in particular, I really loved reading about Tobolowsky's childhood. I loved the chapter that the title of the book comes from, as Tobolowsky recounts a childhood club that he formed with friends, in which they set out to catch and collect all of the most dangerous animals that lived in their area. It's hilarious and filled with so much wonder and naiveté.
I definitely related to it with similar things that I did in my own childhood. Tobolowsky's characterization of himself as a child is just really funny. He has this persistence and curiosity that keeps pushing him forward, even when the world is telling him no. It's this attitude that served him well as an adult in the entertainment industry.
The Dangerous Animals Club is a wonderful collection of stories and it's really irrelevant if the reader is aware of his acting career. The collection has a broad reach and I imagine that most readers would find it enjoyable. I hope that Tobolowsky doesn't wait too long to write a follow-up book.
Please visit my blog for more reviews and thoughts.
As much as I enjoy watching Tobolowsky act, I think that he might be even better as a writer. The Dangerous Animals Club is a broad collection of stories from Tobolowsky's childhood, relationships and career. He even carefully delves into more contentious subjects such as religion and spirituality.
The element of his writing that struck me the most is that he comes across as very humble. He has had a lot of amazing opportunities in his life and he has a lot of great advice to impart, but it's from the angle of an every man. He writes about life and gives advice from his unique perspective, but does it in a manner that is open and accepting that other experiences might shift his perspective. Tobolowsky comes across as possessing a keen sense of self-awareness.
I enjoyed the entire book, but in particular, I really loved reading about Tobolowsky's childhood. I loved the chapter that the title of the book comes from, as Tobolowsky recounts a childhood club that he formed with friends, in which they set out to catch and collect all of the most dangerous animals that lived in their area. It's hilarious and filled with so much wonder and naiveté.
I definitely related to it with similar things that I did in my own childhood. Tobolowsky's characterization of himself as a child is just really funny. He has this persistence and curiosity that keeps pushing him forward, even when the world is telling him no. It's this attitude that served him well as an adult in the entertainment industry.
The Dangerous Animals Club is a wonderful collection of stories and it's really irrelevant if the reader is aware of his acting career. The collection has a broad reach and I imagine that most readers would find it enjoyable. I hope that Tobolowsky doesn't wait too long to write a follow-up book.
Please visit my blog for more reviews and thoughts.
June 22, 2013
If you are fortunate enough to have downloaded all the episodes of The Tobolowsky Files, this book is comprised of stories from the podcast. If you are like me, you've listened to every episode numerous times and you know how earth-shatteringly profound these stories are.
I did the audiobook (for obvious reasons) and what you get is a cleaner, more streamlined version. The words are all there (at times, verbatim), with changes made to correct missquotes and a sentence or two as stylistic choices on the author's part. What you miss out on is a certain rawness of emotion you get from the podcast. Tobo is often moved by his own memories and his voice cracks and grows thick as he tells his stories. The audiobook largely cleans that stuff up, which is sort of a shame because I like the sense of spontaneity even in a story that's been told many times.
The other thing noticeably missing from the pages are stories of his closest (departed) friend, Bob Darnell. Funny and profound, these stories are too good to miss out on. I suspect Tobo is saving them for another book. :)
That said, you will be moved. Whether it be a hilarious and terrifying childhood, the loss of a loved one, the disappearance of wildflowers, or a struggle with a bullying teacher...you will feel your soul moved. Some writers distance themselves from their work while others are so close, they cannot extricate themselves from the stories they weave. We as readers get to glimpse the inner workings of a person's mind and perhaps more importantly, sit beside their soul and if we're lucky, touch it for an instant.
That's what listening to Tobo tell his stories is like.
I did the audiobook (for obvious reasons) and what you get is a cleaner, more streamlined version. The words are all there (at times, verbatim), with changes made to correct missquotes and a sentence or two as stylistic choices on the author's part. What you miss out on is a certain rawness of emotion you get from the podcast. Tobo is often moved by his own memories and his voice cracks and grows thick as he tells his stories. The audiobook largely cleans that stuff up, which is sort of a shame because I like the sense of spontaneity even in a story that's been told many times.
The other thing noticeably missing from the pages are stories of his closest (departed) friend, Bob Darnell. Funny and profound, these stories are too good to miss out on. I suspect Tobo is saving them for another book. :)
That said, you will be moved. Whether it be a hilarious and terrifying childhood, the loss of a loved one, the disappearance of wildflowers, or a struggle with a bullying teacher...you will feel your soul moved. Some writers distance themselves from their work while others are so close, they cannot extricate themselves from the stories they weave. We as readers get to glimpse the inner workings of a person's mind and perhaps more importantly, sit beside their soul and if we're lucky, touch it for an instant.
That's what listening to Tobo tell his stories is like.
January 17, 2013
The Dangerous Animals Club
By Stephen Tobolowsky
Autobiographical Novel
The Dangerous Animals Club by Stephen Tobolowsky is a collection of stories and experiences of an actor. It follows his childhood mishaps, family blunders, collegiate errors, and riveting experiences with drugs.
This book has motifs. Shocker. Throughout the book, Tobolowsky juxtaposes his role as a student with the purpose of his book, which is to be a teacher. "I have always chosen to be a student. It's fun to learn." He keeps himself in a student role, but imparts a nugget of experience. A secondary motif is that your expectations are never going to be met: they will either be exceeded or left wanting. "Living with Beth you could also live in a world of possibility where there were no rules at all--except gravity. And we were working on that." Beth is a symbol for both what Stephen wanted from the world and the constant uncertainty and chaos the world provided. She is also the main love interest for much of the work, but ultimately not the one who Tobolowsky ends up with; another unmet expectation.
I would recommend this book to anyone. Seriously. It's as universal as Shakespeare and as filled with pure knowledge as an encyclopedia. The "Rules of Drug Use" was one of the most entertaining passages I have ever read.
By Stephen Tobolowsky
Autobiographical Novel
The Dangerous Animals Club by Stephen Tobolowsky is a collection of stories and experiences of an actor. It follows his childhood mishaps, family blunders, collegiate errors, and riveting experiences with drugs.
This book has motifs. Shocker. Throughout the book, Tobolowsky juxtaposes his role as a student with the purpose of his book, which is to be a teacher. "I have always chosen to be a student. It's fun to learn." He keeps himself in a student role, but imparts a nugget of experience. A secondary motif is that your expectations are never going to be met: they will either be exceeded or left wanting. "Living with Beth you could also live in a world of possibility where there were no rules at all--except gravity. And we were working on that." Beth is a symbol for both what Stephen wanted from the world and the constant uncertainty and chaos the world provided. She is also the main love interest for much of the work, but ultimately not the one who Tobolowsky ends up with; another unmet expectation.
I would recommend this book to anyone. Seriously. It's as universal as Shakespeare and as filled with pure knowledge as an encyclopedia. The "Rules of Drug Use" was one of the most entertaining passages I have ever read.
August 11, 2016
This book was a wonderful surprise. I read one online essay by Stephen Tobolowsky and decided on a whim to buy the book. And I loved it.I was actually really disappointed when I finished that there wasn't more available for me to read.
The book is a memoir written in the form of a series of essays. These essays are not all in chronological order, which he somehow makes work. Some essays are serious, some funny, some philosophical, some instructive, and some just plain interesting. None so far have been tragic which I am glad for. I often feel that people only write memoirs if they are celebrities, or if their lives were filled with tragedy. It was nice to read about an ordinary life that has extraordinary meaning on reflection. Tobolowky is an actor, but a character actor, so not a celebrity. That only makes it better because you get a look at acting from a more realistic perspective - as an actual career, not that different from any career with its ups and downs and unusual occurrences.
Anyway, it was a great read and I highly recommend it. Especially in you don't have a lot of time to read since it is a compilation of essays with lots of natural stopping points.
The book is a memoir written in the form of a series of essays. These essays are not all in chronological order, which he somehow makes work. Some essays are serious, some funny, some philosophical, some instructive, and some just plain interesting. None so far have been tragic which I am glad for. I often feel that people only write memoirs if they are celebrities, or if their lives were filled with tragedy. It was nice to read about an ordinary life that has extraordinary meaning on reflection. Tobolowky is an actor, but a character actor, so not a celebrity. That only makes it better because you get a look at acting from a more realistic perspective - as an actual career, not that different from any career with its ups and downs and unusual occurrences.
Anyway, it was a great read and I highly recommend it. Especially in you don't have a lot of time to read since it is a compilation of essays with lots of natural stopping points.
June 5, 2012
Tobolowsky has appeared in hundreds of film and television roles (e.g., in Groundhog Day; Deadwood; Glee); however, instead of being recognized as a movie star, he writes that he is often mistaken for an insurance salesman or former science teacher. Perhaps it’s this everyman quality that elevates his debut collection of essays. Rather than presenting a mere compilation of anecdotes, Tobolowsky tells each story for a reason, creating a tapestry encompassing catching tarantulas, broken hearts, Davy Crockett, the biblical story of Joseph, and dying twice on Heroes. VERDICT Tobolowsky guides the reader along a hilarious, poignant, and haunting path. The end result is that most magical of memoirs—one that illuminates the reader’s life as much as the author’s. Ignore the celebrity aspect and put this book in the hands of your memoir readers. Lovers of good writing will welcome this powerful, compelling voice.
[From Library Journal, Arts & Humanities Reviews June 1, 2012]
[From Library Journal, Arts & Humanities Reviews June 1, 2012]
May 8, 2013
If you want to know whether to check out this book, I recommend that you start either with one of the freely available episodes of the Tobolowsky Files podcast, or the movie that inspired it, Stephen Tobolowsky's Birthday Party. As an avid listener of the podcast since the beginning, I wanted to support the incredible work done there by purchasing this audiobook. It's like a greatest hits of the podcast, recorded in high quality, a bit more organized to have a flow and conclusion, and with some new moments thrown in. The stories are about life, love, and show business. The book is by turns funny, sad, educational, and thought provoking. As Stephen is such a good storyteller, I highly recommend the audiobook edition.
December 24, 2012
Stephen Tobolowsky, The Dangerous Animals Club.
This is a collection of short stories with an underlying autobiographical theme; the four people Stephen considers his personal heroes. In the midst of telling stories from his life growing up and becoming a character actor, Stephen ponders deep questions of personal and social worth. He is Jewish but did not begin to consider scripture with any seriousness until an adult. He considers two Old Testament stories at some length, Joseph and Creation. These work with the description of personal heroes to unify the book. Many pieces were knee slapping funny and many were edifying.
This is a collection of short stories with an underlying autobiographical theme; the four people Stephen considers his personal heroes. In the midst of telling stories from his life growing up and becoming a character actor, Stephen ponders deep questions of personal and social worth. He is Jewish but did not begin to consider scripture with any seriousness until an adult. He considers two Old Testament stories at some length, Joseph and Creation. These work with the description of personal heroes to unify the book. Many pieces were knee slapping funny and many were edifying.
August 25, 2012
I was lucky enough to get my hands on an ARC and enjoyed it immensely. As a casual listener of The Tobolowsky Files (the podcast, and having attended one of the shows), the obvious question is how it compares to the audio version. Though they are very similar, in the end it's not only the tone of his voice that I love, but his attitude: friendly, open, and real with an inspiring gentleness. Stephen Tobolowsky encourages me, in the most honest way, to be kind and not afraid. I will always be interested in any format of his hilarious stories.
September 8, 2016
I admit it. I'd never heard of character actor Stephen Tobolowsky before this book. I read this on CD and the author narrates it himself. Like any collection of short stories, whether fiction or non-fiction, some I liked more than others. All in all, his collection of non-linear biographical pieces are enjoyable and sometimes funny.
August 10, 2013
Really a good book by this actor/writer who you will certainly recognize, but won't know his name. He shares stories from his own life that will have you laughing into your hand to prevent waking up your wife in the middle of the night as you try to get through one more chapter. Very entertaining.
September 10, 2013
This is a hilarious collection of real-life stories by a movie and TV actor. He has a wonderful way of telling a funny story, as if you were listening to a stand-up comic. My sides hurt from laughing.
May 20, 2022
I was lucky enough to discover the Tobolowsky Files over a decade ago. Jessica and I have laughed and cried a number of times hearing Stephen Tobolowsky distill the essence of life with poignant tales from his life. This book captures many of those stories into a collection, so reading this was familiar for me. However, I still enjoyed reading them and hearing his voice in my head tell the stories. It’s very easy to see his stories come to life, and I wish that he wrote more. Maybe it is easiest for him to tell his story, but I feel like he could write much more.
He also has a way of weaving in quotes and thoughts from seemingly disconnected subjects and making beautiful connections. For example, he makes a connection from theoretical physics to shaping his own concept of destiny. A tachyon is a theoretical particle that is hypothesized from quantum physics, that apparently can travel faster than the speed of light so that it arrives before it departs. The tachyon could be a scientific accounting of what we call destiny.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone that loves thinking about the journey of life and the beauty of it all.
He also has a way of weaving in quotes and thoughts from seemingly disconnected subjects and making beautiful connections. For example, he makes a connection from theoretical physics to shaping his own concept of destiny. A tachyon is a theoretical particle that is hypothesized from quantum physics, that apparently can travel faster than the speed of light so that it arrives before it departs. The tachyon could be a scientific accounting of what we call destiny.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone that loves thinking about the journey of life and the beauty of it all.
January 5, 2020
Books by stand-up comedians don't usually make me laugh, because so much of the humor depends on their physical delivery. Stephen Tobolowsky's book made me laugh, think, and laugh again. He mixes storytelling with religion, philosophy, physics and movie trivia in a way that's not only entertaining but unforgettable. I borrowed this from the public library, but I'm going to buy it for myself and for birthday gifts for everyone I care about. It's that kind of book.
March 3, 2019
Stephen is not only a great actor, but a great author as well. I found this book very funny and I love his attitude on life. My favorite line was - " The one common tragedy I have seen woven throughout my life and the lives of others is that we can't feel the miracle of our own lives." What a profound statement.
December 24, 2021
An amazing read. Stephen tells tales from his childhood, relationships and career and each one is both a great look into his life but a superbly written story. Every story is engaging whether its a life and death tale or simply a reminiscence of childhood. Do yourself a favor and get the audio version as well. Probably the best book I read this year.
June 5, 2022
I don't know how I came to own this book. I didn't realise this was an autobiography and certainly had no idea who Stephen Tobolowsky was. In fact, I only realised this wasn't a novel after one full chapter.
But I found myself really enjoying this book. It was at times funny, at times touching, and at times insightful. The perfect light hearted read.
But I found myself really enjoying this book. It was at times funny, at times touching, and at times insightful. The perfect light hearted read.
July 9, 2017
I read this and My Adventures with God by this author. He is a great writer. This book is his memoir about him becoming an actor and his adventures as an actor, on set. It is hysterically funny in places, and often moving. Highly recommended.
January 13, 2018
A little of the impact was taken out by the fact that I'd heard most (all?) of the stories on the podcast, but still an enjoyable read. Even removing the weirdness of being an actor, Stephen Tobolowsky has had an unusual life, and has a gift for recounting the stories.
April 16, 2019
this book is about Stephen Toblowsky and his adventures when he in an adult and a kid. Like one time when he was a kid he found a spider hole while with his friend so they flushed it out in order to get a spider but they got about 50 spiders so they just ran away.
July 17, 2019
Really a good book by this actor/writer who you will certainly recognize, but won't know his name. He shares stories from his own life that will have you laughing into your hand to prevent waking up your wife in the middle of the night as you try to get through one more chapter. Very entertaining
December 27, 2017
This was the most satisfying book that I've read in a long time. Hilarious, deep, and hopeful - just what I needed.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 182 reviews