Too Much Is Not Enough [Hardcover]

Orson Bean (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1988

With the great wit that made him famous, Orson Bean describes his New England childhood, his days as a magician, his commercial success, his adventures with the rich and famous, and his "drop out" of the limelight.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this amusing, moving and, at times, alarming autobiography, Bean (born Dallas Burrows) recalls suffering a mid-life crisis at age 52, then suddenly being surprised by an inexplicable joy that induced him to examine and right the direction of his life. Born in Vermont in l928, he grew up in a troubled home in Cambridge, Mass., where, when he was 16, his mother committed suicide. Leaving home, he adopted his show-biz name, went on the road with his magic/comedy routines, became famous for his agile wit and charm, and starred on stage and TV. Along the way, he married and divorced, remarried, had four children and divorced again. Then this self-styled dropout experimented with group sex and LSD to deadening effect. But now the ever-spunky Bean is back on track, he assures us, pursuing his boyhood goal "to be the happiest S.O.B. who ever lived." His book is so disarming the reader hopes he makes it.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

TV personality and raconteur Orson Bean spills his philosophical guts in this mishmash memoir. The best parts are descriptions of his childhood, work as a standup comedian, a brush with blacklisting, and courting his second wife Carolyn. This account is overshadowed by overlong excursions into self-discovery: dropping out to live in Australia; describing an appearance by a ghost ; taking LSD; attending EST classes; visiting a nudist colony; discussing open marriage. Best known for appearances on TV game shows, Bean includes only a paragraph on that aspect. Flaky and unfocused but not without humor, this is recommended only for libraries with large pop culture collections. Christopher Schemering, formerly with Arlington Cty. P.L., Va.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 207 pages
• Publisher: Lyle Stuart (June 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0818404655
• ISBN-13: 978-0818404658
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,690,288 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Happy Delight!, June 17, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Too Much Is Not Enough (Hardcover)

If you are looking for charming, heart-felt, quirky tales of misadventure, Orson Bean's autobiography can surely pacify you. Bean is an amazing character that has the power to lift the spirit with his blantant charm and lust for life. His stories are outright wonderful. This is simply stated, honest book. A real gem.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a fantastic book!, December 26, 2004

By 

Patricia (Burbank, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Too Much Is Not Enough (Hardcover)

I've read this book twice--it's a wonderful, quirky account of Orson Bean's personal and professional life. He's a funny and gifted writer--a man who views life with both sarcasm AND compassion. Bean has re-invented himself many times throughout his varied career. No stranger to trendy self-help programs, he always retained his independence and individuality, no matter what fad he was exploring at the time. Bean believes in living a joy-filled life but it took him many decades to learn how. This unconventional autobiography is honest and touching. There's also a little metaphysical wisdom ready to be uncovered if you are sharp enough to read between the lines. Definitely NOT your typical, name-dropping celebrity autobiography. Bean is a wise and compassionate man and he shares his hard-earned wisdom in this book.