Customer Reviews

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind

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In his hilarious "unauthorised autobiography", gameshow guru Chuck Barris (The Dating Game, The Gong Show) claims to have been an agent for the CIA. Enjoyment of this comic masterpiece is by no means contigeant on the reader's believing this wildly implausible assertion. In fact, the CIA sequences are woven cleverly into an (entirely credible) account of the chaos and creative energy behind the launch of Barris's earliest gameshows. Tales of his ventures into the world of espionage are "true" in one, very broad sense, however: they reflect Barris' desperate attempts to compensate for a sense of exclusion; this sense, and his belief that the machismo world of the CIA will confer on him some kind of clubby, WASPish acceptability, explain the appearances of these bizzarre passages in what might have otherwise been a factual account of his efforts as television star and producer. The theme of exclusion links him to the great tradition of American "outsider" literature, in particular to the work of Philip Roth. Roth devotees might be shocked that anyone would compare Confessions with an acknowledged masterpiece such as Pornoy's Complaint. Confessions, certainly, is at least as funny; and this reviewer hopes that its importance, unrecognised in 1984, when it was published, will finally be established with the forthcoming release of a motion picture adaptation. It is impossible to overstate the comic brilliance of Chuck Barris' prose. His descriptions of the loons, goons and misfits who populated The Gong Show, for example, are themselves worth the price of admission. He spares no one, least of all himself; and while he lays bare his faults, and is frank about the shortcomings of many of his efforts (he is particularly critical of The Gong Show Movie), he raises a spirited defence for the most reviled form of American television, the gameshow. Reading of his efforts -- "I was just trying to keep people entertained" -- it is hard not to see him as the champion of healthy vulgarity, as the Rabelais, if you will, of the tube. Confessions of a Dangerous Mind is easily the funniest book I have ever read -- and one of the most enlightening. Buy several copies, and win new friends by passing it around. Above all, pester St Martins Press into arranging an early reissue.

This book is a fascinating biography of the working life of Chuck Barris, his development of the gameshow from afternoon space filler to pop culture and his association with the CIA. I bought and read this book many years ago (when it came out) and the impression is still with me. This man lived a more interesting life than most of us and wrote (true or false is irrelevant) a readable account of it.

So satirical that at times even cynical. Barris indiscriminately bashes all circles of life - from women-gold diggers to Uncle Sam. Whether Barris' spy games were true or not, this book was worth the attention.

Several years ago, all I knew about Chuck Barris was that he was the host of TV's "The Gong Show." But when my best friend's father--a true connoisseur of biographies, auto- or otherwise--sort of off-handedly mentioned this book to me, I was intrigued. And when I polished "Dangerous Minds" off in about two sittings, I was entertained, delighted, and duly impressed. Did I believe that Barris was really a CIA operative? Well, stranger things have happened. But what really impressed me was the writing, by turns absurd and intense. I can still see in my mind's eye the images conjured up by the TV studio finale. But for me, few (if any) other written scenes have topped the prelude to Barris's first mission, when he dreams of a hit gone madly awry and comments about it to his control the next morning. The control's reply is as beautiful as it is calm: "We all had that dream."

Although I like that I'm one of only a few people who've actually read this book, it's high time it receives its due. Then again, as good as it is, I don't suppose it could really become too popular. If you catch my meaning.

The best thing about confessions of a dangerous mind was the way in which Barris conducted his relationships. whether it was his dodgy cia links, or his many marriages, all his relationships seemed to be a vehicle to further his career, as opposed to real love felt relationships. While this love was what he craved, every action he did served to ostracize him more.

His experience as a host on "The Gong Show", "That's not my Shoe" and "Mrs. Pickering's Slappy Happy Show" showed his appreciation for the absurd and enjoyment to get a laugh out of people. the news that dana gould is playing him in a movie is perfect. what a match.

I read this book after hearing that George Clooney was making a film adaptation of it. I hope to all powers that be that the movie is better than the book. This "unauthorized autobiography" (which, granted, is a cute gimmick) is just so meandering. Barris recycles parts of his book "Confessions" here, when detailing his background in television, and how he got his start. The CIA origin story is contrived (so much so that it will be changed in the film) and you just don't buy the bit over time.

Never once is it explained how a man could have the background or the skills to do the job that he does in the book. In one backstory in the book Barris has to have a group of black friends help him beat down a man who is ruining one of his television shows. Yet this is the same man who is capable of going out on missions and killing Latin American revolutionaries by himself in broad daylight?

There is no tension, drama, or conflict that is presented throughout the story. You aren't brought into a new world, or even experiencing anything new about the CIA when reading. An episode of 'ALIAS' is better than this! (Although that's no slam on Alias) Barris' character makes no arc or change about himself through the book, and doesn't even recognize one.

And to top if off, he does a stupid B-Movie "whodunnit" storyline in the book by making one of the lead characters in the book a "mole" for the opposition. But watch out! It's not who you think it is! That person is just trying to throw you off.

Give me a break. Read Christopher Moore if you want some good reality based screwball hijinks!