Customer Reviews

All By My Selves: Walter, Peanut, Achmed, and Me

5 star:		(52)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've been a Dunham fan for a long time, but this book taught me SO much about him that I didn't even know! Loved all of the stories from his childhood and his early days on the stand up circuit. Jeff has worked really hard for his success and it's great to root for him!

Got the book yesterday and already done! I've been enjoying Jeff and his characters for a while now. Not as long as he's been performing, heck he's been touring clubs since the 80s, but I've seen most of his specials on Comedy Central. I always thought he was funny, but with this book, he reveals that he's dedicated, passionate, a good guy, and a family man. Really entertaining read with a bunch of cool insider stories about Hollywood, and even some ventriloquism tricks, which I never thought I'd be interested in reading, but it's very cool! Definitely a recommended read.

I really loved this book! I read one story each night before bed and always went to sleep in a good mood. HIGHLY recommended!

This book is really great! I own all of Jeff's DVDs and have watched his YouTube videos hundreds of times, but this book is different. It really shows Jeff in a personal and intimate way that you don't get to see when he is on stage. My favorite part of the book is how Jeff has stayed so down to earth even as he has become one of the most famous comedians in the world.

I had no idea Jeff Dunham worked so hard to achieve what he is today! He's so funny I always thought it was easy. I enjoyed reading this book. I especially love the Achmed, Walter and all the other characters chime in while you're reading. So funny! Read this book, you'll appreciate his comedy even more!

As a look at Jeff Dunham's life, this book is interesting in and of itself. It's well written, engaging, and paints a nice portrait of someone who seems like a really nice guy. (I loved the mentions of his parents -- and Mr. Dunham worrying about what they might think of his act.) I loved all the backstage history and the comments on the characters and his act. But what I liked best about the book was the look at what he had to do to achieve his dream. People who have made it big so often seem to have simply waltzed into success. Or so it seems to those of us who only witness the success. So seeing how long it took one Success Story to actually succeed is a real eye opener.

I would recommend this book to anyone whether they've ever heard of Jeff Dunham or not. Reading it just for inspiration is worth the price of admission. Anyone who is struggling to achieve a dream will appreciate this book. (And if you're a fan, you'll probably be an even bigger fan once you've read this book.)

Absolutely loved the audio version. Having the characters pipe in made Jeff Dunham's life history even more intersting and comical. After seeing him live in Tampa recently, I just had to know more about how he got started and the story of his success.

First I want to say I read this entire book without moving my lips once. When you see this book in the bookstore and you see how many pages it is you can't help but wonder what does this guy possibly have to say that will take up this much space.
This book was chock full of wonderful show business anecdotes chronicling Jeff's 40 year meteoric rise up through the comedy ranks. I especially enjoyed the stories of Johnny Carson, Milton Berle, Bob Hope and George Burns. It was a great mix of old school and new school.
The stories of the evolution of the different "characters" and the writing process for each one is equally fascinating
I also enjoyed the stories of being on the Best Damn Sports show and the horrendous experience with the football broadcast team.
This book is written in a very conversational style and the little interruptions by the likes of Walter and Peanut and Achmed sprinkled generously throughout add to the fun. Jeff has definitely paid his dues in a profession that is looked down upon and he has persevered and now is getting the spoils of his hard work. You get the feeling he is himself awestruck by what he has accomplished and he is humble and grateful for his success and keeps coming back to his family and his parents.
Ventriliquism may not be cool but Jeff Dunham is certainly cool. If you liked this book read Terry Fators book for another slant on the ventriliquism world.

I wonderful book. Mr Dunham may not be the best book writer but the book was full of information about himself and about the entertainment world. It jumps around, time wise. There are places in the book I am not sure what year I was reading about. But you don't know Jeff Dunham until you read the book and what he has had to go through to get where he is at today: and what he had to give up. I laughed, I cried, I was happy, I was hurt..all by reading this book.

I've seen Jeff Dunham in person several times & he puts on a great show. Not only is he talented, but he really cares about his audience getting the most out of his show for their money; he's really worth seeing in person - I highly recommend it! Now that I've said that, I am a fan. I bought this book and thought, it might be a fun read - and I was curious to how Walter, Peanut, and Achmed would be worked into it. What I found was a light-hearted book that provided a lot of information about how Jeff's family, how he got started in his career, and who he met along the way (many of it will surprise you). From the fact that he met Bob Hope at such a young age, auditioned for Johnny Carson countless times, to the fact that he was going to ask Ellen Degeneres out (does she know this yet?) and how he met his wife (now ex-wife)- I was really impressed by his career, his enthusiasm to do what he loved, and his family's support. It's a great read that is funny and cute!