Memoirs of an Amnesiac (Paperback)

by Oscar Levant (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
A world class pianist, composer, television and film personality, Levant seemed to know everyone who was anyone. His career took him from the concert hall to Broadway and Hollywood, to radio and television, to drug addiction and the psychiatric ward of Mr Sinai hospital. Through a collection of anecdotal vignettes, Levant offers the reader a roller-coaster ride through the ups and downs of an often troubled, often brilliant artist and critic of the human condition, let loose on the uneasy ground where art and commerce overlap.

About the Author
Oscar Levant

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Samuel French; 1st Samuel French Ed edition (August 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0573606986
• ISBN-13: 978-0573606984
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #297,271 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

55 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Laughing All The Way To The Nuthouse..., June 26, 2002

By	F. Gentile (Lake Worth, Florida, United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This has always been one of my favorite books. I recall reading it for the first time as a pre-teen, and chuckling at his OUTRAGEOUS stories. I'm probably among the last generation that remembers this brilliant man, which is a shame. In the days of the great "talk shows", like Jack Paar, etc.., Oscar Levant was always one of the most coveted, and controversial, guests. I remember seeing him on t.v., as a kid, & being fascinated by this odd looking man who, though I quite honestly didn't get 90% of what he was saying, was obviously someone truly unique. This book has all his irreverent humor, the humor even evident in his telling of his long battle with mental illness, and his extreme, then un-named "obsessive-compulsive" disorder. His brutal honesty about his ordeal was unheard of at that time, and was long before the trend of todays celebrities, who do everything but hawk their x-rays on informercials. There's many names in this book that you will recognize, and his telling of his encounters with various celebrities is not always in their favor, and will have you rolling on the floor. He was literally thrown off the air in the 1950's, for a remark he made on a live talk show, pertaining to Marilyn Monroe and her conversion to Judaism, which is recounted in this book, but can't be repeated here. But at the time, the staid 1950's, it must have had the audience awestruck in utter shock at his outrageous (and incredibly humorous) statement. This is just a fabulous book about one of the greatest wits of this century, the man who started out as an incredibly accomplished and respected pianist, he was most known for his rendition of good friend Gershwins "Rhapsody In Blue", and became something more than just a clown. Totally touching, hysterical, and honest, this book will have you falling in love with dear, lost, brilliant Oscar. In todays, for the most part, [dissapointing] "celebrity" climate, we sure could use the likes of him again.

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Purely Levant at his most Witty, Disturbing, and Honest, January 3, 1998

By A Customer

Oscar Levant's Memior's of an Amnesiac is one of the MUST-READ'S for anybody that enjoys the greatness of wit and wisdom. Levant, throughout the book, is acerbic and sardonic in a brilliant way. His anecdotes come to life marvelously the way he writes, and his biting wit is evident at all times. For instance, the titles of each chapter are laced with his dark-humor (though shockingly revealing of how he feels of himself). Chapters like "Total Recoil", "My Bed of Nails", and "Stand up and Faint". At the same time, the book is achingly disturbing, as he honestly (and avoiding any sugar-coating) tells the stories of his breakdown, his addiction to drugs, and his current mental condition. One cannot help but think that writing it was cathartic for Levant. Levant the musical genius; Levant the tragic figure; Levant the wonderful impudent Wit. All in all Oscar Levant's Memiors of an Amnesiac is a pleasure to read, and a great probe into the mind of the one of the world's greatest characters.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love The Wit!, June 1, 2000

By	The Reluctant Critic (Orlando, Florida USA) - See all my reviews

This book is fun to read, and offers an interesting historical review, from Levant's delightfully twisted view. If Kevin Bacon is six degrees from everyone now, Levant was three in his time. His is simply the most fascinating mind I've had the pleasure of looking into.

I also recommend "The Unimportance Of Oscar", if you can find it (I got my copy from the used book section on Amazon). It's a continuation of the thoughts in this book.