Angry Optimist: The Life and Times of Jon Stewart
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Angry Optimist: The Life and Times of Jon Stewart Hardcover – September 9, 2014
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Editorial Reviews
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Praise for Angry Optimist"Including both humorous and serious insights from colleagues, Rogak presents a detailed picture of the Comedy Central show, revealing exhausting writing schedules, dogs in the office, interns running around at top speed and people who aren't particularly enamored with the host. … An inside look at the man who changed the face of comedy talk shows." —Shelf AwarenessPraise for And Nothing but the Truthiness: The Rise (and Further Rise) of Stephen Colbert
"Enthusiastic fans will delight in Rogak’s lengthy, detailed behind-the-scenes coverage. . . . This engaging, entertaining biography. . . succeeds in capturing Colbert’s anarchic, iconoclastic spirit."—Publishers Weekly
"In this carefully crafted, behind-the-scenes biography, Rogak succeeds in uncovering the ‘truthiness’ about the real Colbert."—Booklist
"A conversational, multiperspective account of his life . . . This is the first major biography of Colbert and one [which] fans will appreciate."—Library Journal
"Gives us insight into the man behind the mouth."—Kirkus Reviews
"Enthusiastic fans will delight in Rogak’s lengthy, detailed behind-the-scenes coverage. . . . This engaging, entertaining biography. . . succeeds in capturing Colbert’s anarchic, iconoclastic spirit."—Publishers Weekly
"In this carefully crafted, behind-the-scenes biography, Rogak succeeds in uncovering the ‘truthiness’ about the real Colbert."—Booklist
"A conversational, multiperspective account of his life . . . This is the first major biography of Colbert and one [which] fans will appreciate."—Library Journal
"Gives us insight into the man behind the mouth."—Kirkus Reviews
About the Author
LISA ROGAK is the author of more than forty books, including the biographies And Nothing but the Truthiness: The Rise (and Further Rise) of Stephen Colbert and the Edgar- and Anthony-nominated Haunted Heart: The Life and Times of Stephen King. She is the editor of the New York Times bestselling book Barack Obama: In His Own Words.
More About the Author
I'm an independent journalist going on more than 30 years as a full-time writer, a fact that surprises even me! In that time, I've written about everything from high-tech and cats to food and travel.
Writing has provided me with a fascinating, adventurous life. I wake up each morning looking forward to discovering what new things I'll learn that day. After all this time, it never ceases to amaze me that I have been able to make my living by indulging my curiosity and asking total strangers really nosy questions...
My latest books include Dogs of Courage: The Heroism and Heart of Working Dogs Around the World, Dan Brown: The Unauthorized Biography, and Pope Francis in His Own Words.
After spending a year traveling around the world as a full-time vagabond, I now split my time between New Hampshire and South Carolina.
Writing has provided me with a fascinating, adventurous life. I wake up each morning looking forward to discovering what new things I'll learn that day. After all this time, it never ceases to amaze me that I have been able to make my living by indulging my curiosity and asking total strangers really nosy questions...
My latest books include Dogs of Courage: The Heroism and Heart of Working Dogs Around the World, Dan Brown: The Unauthorized Biography, and Pope Francis in His Own Words.
After spending a year traveling around the world as a full-time vagabond, I now split my time between New Hampshire and South Carolina.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By
Matthew Ries
on September 9, 2014
Format: Hardcover
Comment
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The life and times of Jon Stewart are more than the last fifteen years of helming The Daily Show with Jon Stewart as author Lisa Rogak writes. The unlikely rise of the short wise-cracking Jewish kid from Jersey rising to become one of the most influential, and comedic, voices of political commentary is a told expertly and without bias.
Given Stewart’s impact the last fifteen years, Rogak could have easily just given a brief synopsis of his life prior to January 1999 instead she spent the a third of the book detailing Stewart’s childhood, collegiate years, and life before and after deciding to go into comedy. Rogak gives the reader as glimpse to Stewart as a young man that will affect how he helmed The Daily Show, including the triumphs and the many failures that he experienced throughout the 1980s and 90s.
Once Rogak gets to Stewart’s tenure on The Daily Show, instead of just detailing the next decade and a half, she shows how Stewart made the show more in his style and how he was hands on than previous host Craig Kilborn. Throughout the last two-thirds of the book, Rogak tackles The Daily Show years not strictly chronologically but as a mixture of chronology and themes. This approached allowed Rogak to give the reader a fuller understand of Stewart and The Daily Show as a whole.
Rogak was very evenhanded in her approach to the overall view of Stewart, mixing praise and criticism from critics and how the viewing audience has seen Stewart. Triumphs and embarrassments are told in their detail as well has controversies surrounding the show from his interview style, to the lack of female writers, and his liberal bias.Read more ›
Given Stewart’s impact the last fifteen years, Rogak could have easily just given a brief synopsis of his life prior to January 1999 instead she spent the a third of the book detailing Stewart’s childhood, collegiate years, and life before and after deciding to go into comedy. Rogak gives the reader as glimpse to Stewart as a young man that will affect how he helmed The Daily Show, including the triumphs and the many failures that he experienced throughout the 1980s and 90s.
Once Rogak gets to Stewart’s tenure on The Daily Show, instead of just detailing the next decade and a half, she shows how Stewart made the show more in his style and how he was hands on than previous host Craig Kilborn. Throughout the last two-thirds of the book, Rogak tackles The Daily Show years not strictly chronologically but as a mixture of chronology and themes. This approached allowed Rogak to give the reader a fuller understand of Stewart and The Daily Show as a whole.
Rogak was very evenhanded in her approach to the overall view of Stewart, mixing praise and criticism from critics and how the viewing audience has seen Stewart. Triumphs and embarrassments are told in their detail as well has controversies surrounding the show from his interview style, to the lack of female writers, and his liberal bias.Read more ›
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By
Bassocantor
TOP 1000 REVIEWER on September 8, 2014
Format: Audio CD
1 Comment
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So announces Jon Stewart, nee Jonathan Stuart Leibowitz, as he became known. After Stewart had gained success on television, he hosted Senator John Edwards, who had decided to announce his candidacy for president on Stewart's show. Stewart had to remind him that his show was not "real" news: "We are a fake show, so you might have to do this again somewhere."
♣ ANGRY OPTIMIST is a well-written, interesting story about the famous television purveyor of "fake news." This book contains lots of fun tidbits of information; for instance, I had no idea that Stewart was an excellent soccer player, or that he had changed his name. I was not terribly surprised at the great struggle he had to become a successful comedian. Like so many before him, he worked odd jobs during the day, and tried to impress somebody on the stage at night.
♣ Stewart admits he wasn't a real likeable kid: "I was obnoxious, and people in New Jersey in the late seventies dug that, man." He discovered pretty early in life that he liked doing comedy, but of course, it was a very tough road. He moved to New York, but was so terrified at performing on stage that it was over a year until he got up enough courage to give it a try. His early routine was mostly about growing up Jewish in New York; this script didn't go over terribly well. His first few attempts in a comedy club were disasters--almost terrible enough to destroy his dream. Nevertheless, he gamely kept on, and learned some tricks of the trade.
♣ The heckling was at times brutal--even later, when he gained some success. On a very early cable channel show he managed to land, his first guest was Howard Stern. To Stewart's surprise, Stern mocked him, announcing that he "would be off the air in six weeks.Read more ›
♣ ANGRY OPTIMIST is a well-written, interesting story about the famous television purveyor of "fake news." This book contains lots of fun tidbits of information; for instance, I had no idea that Stewart was an excellent soccer player, or that he had changed his name. I was not terribly surprised at the great struggle he had to become a successful comedian. Like so many before him, he worked odd jobs during the day, and tried to impress somebody on the stage at night.
♣ Stewart admits he wasn't a real likeable kid: "I was obnoxious, and people in New Jersey in the late seventies dug that, man." He discovered pretty early in life that he liked doing comedy, but of course, it was a very tough road. He moved to New York, but was so terrified at performing on stage that it was over a year until he got up enough courage to give it a try. His early routine was mostly about growing up Jewish in New York; this script didn't go over terribly well. His first few attempts in a comedy club were disasters--almost terrible enough to destroy his dream. Nevertheless, he gamely kept on, and learned some tricks of the trade.
♣ The heckling was at times brutal--even later, when he gained some success. On a very early cable channel show he managed to land, his first guest was Howard Stern. To Stewart's surprise, Stern mocked him, announcing that he "would be off the air in six weeks.Read more ›
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9 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By
David Wineberg
TOP 1000 REVIEWER on September 5, 2014
Format: Audio CD
2 Comments
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Jon Stewart has been lucky. He was able to move up through the entertainment industry, step by step, seemingly without setbacks, controversy or tragedy. He went from standup to tv to film to books, and now film directing. He got gigs and parts seemingly effortlessly. He didn’t have to sleep in his car or spend time in jail or rehab. About the lowest he fell was having to share a Manhattan apartment with Anthony Weiner. He developed his verbal talent because he is short (ish).
His biography is a straightforward narrative, revealing not that much, and focusing on the Daily Show, which made him a household name. His great contribution to entertainment is to look at the news as a sitcom: “I can’t wait to find out what’s happening with my favorite characters. Like, ‘Oh, I’m so sorry they dropped Saddam Hussein from the show. Oh, they’re bringing him back!’”
He has also changed the way young Americans look at the news. Far too many consider the Daily Show their primary source for news. Yet it is (proudly) fake. Not original, not journalism, and certainly not thorough. It is made for laughs, and that’s apparently how Americans want their news delivered these days.
This has given Stewart popularity and power well beyond those of a mere comedian. Politicians line up to be skewered in interviews. Scientists say it the only vehicle for them to get their data and theories out. On the darker side, Stewart got Rick Sanchez of CNN fired after belittling him so much on air that Sanchez fired back and overreacted – also on air. The irony is that as much as Stewart dislikes CNN, “You’re the one I liked.” It was all part of the greater joke, you see.
The high point of the book came with his stunningly unique wedding proposal, which I will not spoil.Read more ›
His biography is a straightforward narrative, revealing not that much, and focusing on the Daily Show, which made him a household name. His great contribution to entertainment is to look at the news as a sitcom: “I can’t wait to find out what’s happening with my favorite characters. Like, ‘Oh, I’m so sorry they dropped Saddam Hussein from the show. Oh, they’re bringing him back!’”
He has also changed the way young Americans look at the news. Far too many consider the Daily Show their primary source for news. Yet it is (proudly) fake. Not original, not journalism, and certainly not thorough. It is made for laughs, and that’s apparently how Americans want their news delivered these days.
This has given Stewart popularity and power well beyond those of a mere comedian. Politicians line up to be skewered in interviews. Scientists say it the only vehicle for them to get their data and theories out. On the darker side, Stewart got Rick Sanchez of CNN fired after belittling him so much on air that Sanchez fired back and overreacted – also on air. The irony is that as much as Stewart dislikes CNN, “You’re the one I liked.” It was all part of the greater joke, you see.
The high point of the book came with his stunningly unique wedding proposal, which I will not spoil.Read more ›
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