Joyful Recollections of Trauma

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 Joyful Recollections of Trauma, by Paul Scheer

I like Paul Scheer; he's very funny, and I keep meaning to listen to his podcast "How Did This Get Made?" but I've seen him in other things.  Like the hilarious NTSF:DS:SUV::.  Anyway, a little bit ago I listened to one of my favorite comedy podcasts and he was a guest, talking about his new book.  I ordered it for my work library, and read it once it came in.  

Scheer had a pretty rough childhood, with a stepfather who enjoyed thinking up creative ways to terrorize little Paul.  Finally he and his mom escaped, and he embarked on his quest to become...an actor!  Lessons in improv led to one thing and another, and finally to the Upright Citizens Brigade, a long-form improv comedy troupe that launched Amy Poehler and others.  

He also realized that he was not okay, and spent a good long time straightening himself out in therapy, which was really interesting to read about.  He'd tried rage and passivity and it took a long time to realize that he could just have and express feelings in a healthy way.  Eventually Scheer met his wife and he talks about his family, and it's all just really sweet.  

So, a nice read that moves pretty fast and is beguilingly honest and funny.  It's a bit in the same vein as Zachary Levi's Radical Love, but doesn't do such a deep dive into how to live a good life after a massively traumatic beginning.

Comments

  1. LorySeptember 20, 2024 at 4:18 AM

    This sent me off to read Radical Love -- which I finished in a day. More and more stories like this are coming out now, reminds me of I'm Glad My Mom Died (which sounds like an awful sentiment but one can completely understand after reading the book).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JeanSeptember 26, 2024 at 8:59 AM

      Yes, and I'm happy that they are! It seems like a good idea to have memoirs that say "I survived this, and so can you, and we can do better by our families."

      Delete

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