The Book of David [Hardcover]

David Steinberg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 12, 2007

From award-winning comedian, director, writer, and producer David Steinberg comes the totally original, utterly blasphemous, and hysterically funny memoir of a young man who emerged from a traditional Jewish childhood to become an international star -- all because, it seems, he kept God in stitches.

David Steinberg was raised in Winnipeg, Canada, by parents who expected little from him. And no wonder. Instead of studying Talmud in order to become a rabbi, he chose to major in Martin and Lewis with a minor in basketball. As David imagines the story of his life (since his success otherwise makes no sense), God one day spotted him on the playground and decided that this young man with no ambition could go far with His help. Sure enough, God soon had David on network TV and Broadway, and selling out nightclubs across the country -- as well as being pursued by hot starlets.

The Book of David is David Steinberg's hilarious trip down memory lane, assuming that the lane has a biblical address. This wild riff on the Old Testament is guaranteed laughter.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Much funnier than the Bible. Much wittier. And...more accurate, especially the showbiz parts. God and David Steinberg go way back, and it's great to see them together again, hilarious as ever. One of them curious, human, and extraordinarily witty, and the other...God."

-- Garry Shandling

"David's book reminds us, once again, what a great and original comedian he is. A wonderfully inventive piece. I had no idea David was Jewish."

-- Billy Crystal

"Funny! David Steinberg is a credit to his people, actually to all people, and the spelling and grammar in this book are incredible."

-- Robin Williams

"That this is David Steinberg's first book, big surprise. That his first book is funny from beginning to end, no surprise at all!"

-- Paul Reiser

"For years, David Steinberg and I have compared notes on our mutual disdain for any form of hard work. Now I am shocked and outraged to discover that he has gone ahead and written a book, an excellent one at that, filled with wit and erudition. In short, he has betrayed me and every lazy man who once counted him as a cohort. Every shiftless layabout shall now know the truth: that David Steinberg is a highly motivated purveyor of quality...he's dead to me."

-- Larry David

About the Author

David Steinberg, now in his fifth decade as a major entertainer and comedian, was a regular substitute host for Johnny Carson, and appeared with Johnny more than anyone except Bob Hope. As a standup, he had four number one comedy albums and two network television shows, and was a leader of Second City during its heyday. He went on to help write and direct such television megahits as Curb Your Enthusiasm, Seinfeld, Mad About You, Friends, and Designing Women. He is also executive producer, creator, and host of Sit Down Comedy with David Steinberg. Over the last forty years, he has worked with nearly all of entertainment's funniest performers and comedians.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; 1 edition (June 12, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743272323
• ISBN-13: 978-0743272322
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #891,600 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Hilarious!!!, May 31, 2007

By 

A laughing reader (San Francisco) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Book of David (Hardcover)

It's sure not the average autiobiography. There is nothing average about this book. I haven't laughed this hard at a book since David Sedaris' "Me Talk Pretty One Day." It's an incredibly brilliant idea, to pretend that David Steinberg is a character in the Bible and that the stuff of his life takes on biblical significance. Somehow every name in pop culture shows up and God too to reveal all His secrets. If you can't laugh at this, you either dont have a sense of humor or take yourself way too seriously. LOL funny!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious and original, June 24, 2007

By 

Jean (Pasadena, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Book of David (Hardcover)

I LOVED this book. It's smart and funny...I enjoyed Steinberg's conversations with God.(really funny).It has great stories about Hollywood in the 70's (hanging out with Groucho, Jack Benny etc). I didn't want to put it down..What a great read!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars At least it was short, February 8, 2010

By 

James B. (Water Mill, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Book of David (Hardcover)

While there were a couple of amusing moments, they were few and far between. The first reviewer said that if you don't find this funny, you either have no sense of humor or take yourself too seriously. Well I'll tell you who takes himself too seriously - David Steinberg. He tells us that he's on the road constantly chasing women and then seems to ask us to have sympathy that his wife is unhappy and he misses his daughters? While I suppose some might think he's just being tongue in check about how irresistable he is to women, he came off as a major egoist. That got old pretty fast. I appreciate that comparing Nixon's face to a foot might have been groundbreaking in the 70's, but it doesn't do much for me today.