What do you think?
Rate this book
Number One Is Walking: My Life in the Movies and Other Diversions
Number One Is Walking is Steve Martin’s cinematic legacy―an illustrated memoir of his legendary acting career, with stories from his most popular films and artwork by New Yorker cartoonist Harry Bliss.
Steve Martin has never written about his career in the movies before. In Number One Is Walking, he shares anecdotes from the sets of his beloved films―Father of the Bride, Roxanne, The Jerk, Three Amigos, and many more―bringing readers directly into his world. He shares charming tales of antics, moments of inspiration, and exploits with the likes of Paul McCartney, Diane Keaton, Harrison Ford, and Chevy Chase. Martin details his forty years in the movie biz, as well as his stand-up comedy, banjo playing, writing, and cartooning, all with his unparalleled wit.
With gorgeously illustrated cartoons and single-panel “diversions” in Steve and Harry’s signature style, Number One Is Walking is full of the everyday moments that make up a movie star’s life, capturing Steve Martin’s singular humor and acclaimed career in film. The perfect gift from the team who brought you the #1 New York Times bestseller A Wealth of Pigeons.
Steve Martin has never written about his career in the movies before. In Number One Is Walking, he shares anecdotes from the sets of his beloved films―Father of the Bride, Roxanne, The Jerk, Three Amigos, and many more―bringing readers directly into his world. He shares charming tales of antics, moments of inspiration, and exploits with the likes of Paul McCartney, Diane Keaton, Harrison Ford, and Chevy Chase. Martin details his forty years in the movie biz, as well as his stand-up comedy, banjo playing, writing, and cartooning, all with his unparalleled wit.
With gorgeously illustrated cartoons and single-panel “diversions” in Steve and Harry’s signature style, Number One Is Walking is full of the everyday moments that make up a movie star’s life, capturing Steve Martin’s singular humor and acclaimed career in film. The perfect gift from the team who brought you the #1 New York Times bestseller A Wealth of Pigeons.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published November 15, 2022
53 people are currently reading
9583 people want to read
About the author
Steve Martin
209 books3,157 followersStephen Glenn "Steve" Martin is an American actor, comedian, writer, playwright, producer, musician, and composer. He was raised in Southern California in a Baptist family, where his early influences were working at Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm and working magic and comedy acts at these and other smaller venues in the area. His ascent to fame picked up when he became a writer for the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, and later became a frequent guest on the Tonight Show.
In the 1970s, Martin performed his offbeat, absurdist comedy routines before packed houses on national tours. In the 1980s, having branched away from stand-up comedy, he became a successful actor, playwright, and juggler, and eventually earned Emmy, Grammy, and American Comedy awards.
In the 1970s, Martin performed his offbeat, absurdist comedy routines before packed houses on national tours. In the 1980s, having branched away from stand-up comedy, he became a successful actor, playwright, and juggler, and eventually earned Emmy, Grammy, and American Comedy awards.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 705 reviews
January 15, 2023
4.5⭐
Number One is Walking: My Life in the Movies and Other Diversions marks the second collaboration (the first being A Wealth of Pigeons : A Cartoon Collection ) between the inimitable Steve Martin and renowned The New Yorker illustrator Harry Bliss.
In the first segment of the of the book Martin takes us through his career as a standup comic and his Hollywood career sharing anecdotes from his personal experiences, some behind the scenes stories about some of his movies and his interactions with his co-stars and other celebrities including Paul McCartney and the late Robin Williams. The stories are shared in cartoon format with Harry Bliss’s brilliant illustrations bringing Martin’s memories to life. Martin also shares some hilarious exchanges between himself and his collaborator, with both himself and Harry Bliss appearing as cartoon versions of themselves along with Harry Bliss's pet dog Penny who is absolutely adorable. The latter half of the book features The New Yorker style cartoons illustrated by Harry Bliss in varying themes that are thoroughly entertaining. While I am a huge fan of Harry Bliss and The New Yorker cartoons and truly enjoyed those featured in this book, I absolutely loved Steve Martin’s humorous take on his career and wished that the memoir segment would have been longer than it was.
Overall, this is an entertaining read and a perfect pick-me-up between more serious reads or for just when you need a laugh. I loved getting to know more about Steve Martin and his movies in such a unique format. I’m eager to see what this duo comes up with next!
Number One is Walking: My Life in the Movies and Other Diversions marks the second collaboration (the first being A Wealth of Pigeons : A Cartoon Collection ) between the inimitable Steve Martin and renowned The New Yorker illustrator Harry Bliss.
In the first segment of the of the book Martin takes us through his career as a standup comic and his Hollywood career sharing anecdotes from his personal experiences, some behind the scenes stories about some of his movies and his interactions with his co-stars and other celebrities including Paul McCartney and the late Robin Williams. The stories are shared in cartoon format with Harry Bliss’s brilliant illustrations bringing Martin’s memories to life. Martin also shares some hilarious exchanges between himself and his collaborator, with both himself and Harry Bliss appearing as cartoon versions of themselves along with Harry Bliss's pet dog Penny who is absolutely adorable. The latter half of the book features The New Yorker style cartoons illustrated by Harry Bliss in varying themes that are thoroughly entertaining. While I am a huge fan of Harry Bliss and The New Yorker cartoons and truly enjoyed those featured in this book, I absolutely loved Steve Martin’s humorous take on his career and wished that the memoir segment would have been longer than it was.
Overall, this is an entertaining read and a perfect pick-me-up between more serious reads or for just when you need a laugh. I loved getting to know more about Steve Martin and his movies in such a unique format. I’m eager to see what this duo comes up with next!
November 17, 2022
This is a slight book, and everything that's in it is charming--there just really isn't very much actually in it; I finished the whole book in 45 minutes or so. I would love to have a complete book from Martin in which he applies his critical intelligence and sly humor to his career as an actor, in the same way he did in Born Standing Up to his career as a stand-up comedian. But instead, this book includes 20 or so clever, sometimes whimsical and wise, anecdotes and observations about some of Martin's movies, and some of the directors, screenwriters, and performers essential to them, all of them artfully illustrated by Harry Bliss; and the the rest of the book (really about 70% of the total) are one-panel, New Yorker-style cartoons that Martin and Bliss came up with. They made me smile, which is all I really got out of this book; I wish there had been more.
November 16, 2022
This book is just as funny and insightful as you would expect from Steve Martin, especially in comic book form! I loved the illustrations. No one tells a story quite like Steve Martin and yes he does know everyone in show business! I thank @CeladonBooks and @BlissCartoons for the opportunity to read and review this book.
December 26, 2022
Number One Is Walking is a fun collection of anecdotes, cartoons, and comic strips, only half of which are about Steve Martin's movie career. The illustrations are delightful, and the cartoonist's dog steals the show!
November 12, 2022
If you want a truly unique coffee table book, here you go. If you want a unique walk through the life of a comic (and musical) superstar, well, you get that here as well. The cartoon-style graphics alone are incredible, and when coupled with insights by one of America's best-known (and arguably best-loved) entertainers, it just doesn't get much better.
My description will be brief, simply because this is a book that's better seen than talked about. Basically, it outlines the experiences of the incomparable Steve Martin in motion pictures - he made 40 of them before, about 15 years ago, leaving that industry for, among other things, a successful other career in music (he's a banjo player extraordinaire). His recollections of the movie years include clever and witty depictions of "The Jerk," "Three Amigos," Roxanne" and more; I just named three of my favorites. All are depicted in cartoon format with amusing, sometimes downright funny, narratives. Also included are references to many of his well-known partners in the funny business, like Carl Reiner, Robin Williams and Diane Keaton. The whole thing ends with "And Other Diversions," an extensive series of cartoons.
In short (which reminds me, his buddy and fellow comedian Martin Short is another who gets some page time here), this is a very well-written and perhaps even better-illustrated book I think any student of comedy - and certainly any Martin fan - will enjoy. It's said that a picture is worth a thousand words, but why settle? This delightful book delivers the best of both. Many thanks to the publisher, who sent me a hardcover pre-release copy to read and review.
My description will be brief, simply because this is a book that's better seen than talked about. Basically, it outlines the experiences of the incomparable Steve Martin in motion pictures - he made 40 of them before, about 15 years ago, leaving that industry for, among other things, a successful other career in music (he's a banjo player extraordinaire). His recollections of the movie years include clever and witty depictions of "The Jerk," "Three Amigos," Roxanne" and more; I just named three of my favorites. All are depicted in cartoon format with amusing, sometimes downright funny, narratives. Also included are references to many of his well-known partners in the funny business, like Carl Reiner, Robin Williams and Diane Keaton. The whole thing ends with "And Other Diversions," an extensive series of cartoons.
In short (which reminds me, his buddy and fellow comedian Martin Short is another who gets some page time here), this is a very well-written and perhaps even better-illustrated book I think any student of comedy - and certainly any Martin fan - will enjoy. It's said that a picture is worth a thousand words, but why settle? This delightful book delivers the best of both. Many thanks to the publisher, who sent me a hardcover pre-release copy to read and review.
January 14, 2023
Steve Martin’s brand of comedy is different, and while some find it moderately funny, I, on the other hand, LOVE IT! As a massive fan of the actor, Number One is Walking is such a wonderful gift, a walk down memory lane as Steve shares anecdotes from his time acting in movies in his trademark comic style. That the book is illustrated only makes it all the more fun. Steve Martin is genuinely one of the most versatile and talented people I’ve seen, and he continues to delight us all in new ways, this book being just another addition to his marvels.
November 19, 2022
I read an excerpt of this book and immediately purchased it. I loved the insights about the movie ("Roxanne"), the drawings were excellent, and I looked forward to reading the entire thing.
Unfortunately, the book is far too short and superficial. None of the movies are discussed in any significant depth, and he only touches on 11 of the 40 he said he made; most of those include a single anecdote or idea and there's more a sense of frustration by what was omitted than enjoyment by what was included. The book includes asides about Martin's interactions with various celebrities--Robin Williams, Mike Nichols, Gene Kelly, Paul McCartney, etc.--before the final 2/3 of the book being the single-panel "Far Side" inspired cartoons Martin and Bliss are known for. I'll also note that these aren't front-and-back, so what looks like a substantial book--and is priced as one--has startingly little content.
Bliss is a phenomenal and clever illustrator, but my take-away from this book is more disappointment by knowing how fantastic it could have been and irritation at paying so much for a book with so little actual content. If the full 256 pages had been the first section of the book fleshed out and expanded, this could have been one of my favorites of the year. Instead it's a lesson in previewing books before purchasing them.
Unfortunately, the book is far too short and superficial. None of the movies are discussed in any significant depth, and he only touches on 11 of the 40 he said he made; most of those include a single anecdote or idea and there's more a sense of frustration by what was omitted than enjoyment by what was included. The book includes asides about Martin's interactions with various celebrities--Robin Williams, Mike Nichols, Gene Kelly, Paul McCartney, etc.--before the final 2/3 of the book being the single-panel "Far Side" inspired cartoons Martin and Bliss are known for. I'll also note that these aren't front-and-back, so what looks like a substantial book--and is priced as one--has startingly little content.
Bliss is a phenomenal and clever illustrator, but my take-away from this book is more disappointment by knowing how fantastic it could have been and irritation at paying so much for a book with so little actual content. If the full 256 pages had been the first section of the book fleshed out and expanded, this could have been one of my favorites of the year. Instead it's a lesson in previewing books before purchasing them.
November 17, 2022
While he started as a comedy writer, many people discovered Steve Martin in the 1970s on Saturday Night Live. He then became a successful actor in the movies with hits such as Father of the Bride, Roxanne, The Jerk, Three Amigos, he's written movies, plays, novellas and so much more. And yes, there's that banjo too! To call Steve Martin a Renaissance Man would not be an exaggeration.
In 2020, Martin and Harry Bliss, the talented cartoonist from The New Yorker, created the clever and witty book, A Wealth of Pigeons: A Cartoon Collection. The two have a new collaboration entitled Number One Is Walking: My Life in the Movies and Other Diversions. To explain the title, "number one is walking" is an expression used on movie sets. The lead actor is called number one. And then there's number two, three, etc. The primary actors’ names aren’t used on the set, just their numbers. And soon into his movie career, Martin became number one, which was a bit embarrassing for him.
About half of the book is about Martin's movie career and life in Hollywood. He reflects on his film experiences with interesting and funny stories and anecdotes which are greatly enhanced by Bliss' artwork, done in both a classic comic strip style to lovely portrait-like drawings, mainly of Martin's celebrity friends. Popular comic-strip characters (like Snoopy) whimsically pop into the scenes. After Martin notes that he is now done with acting in the movies, moving on to new projects, the book shifts to works by Bliss, with cartoons that are much like the ones he does for The New Yorker.
I enjoy reading memoirs of people whose work I admire. While not a traditional memoir, this was a wonderfully creative way for Steve Martin to provide stories and memories of a very significant part of his career. It's an attractive coffee table book too. The section devoted to Bliss' work is also enjoyable. From his early wild and crazy days to his current popular television series, Only Murders in the Building, with Martin Short and Selena Gomez, Steve Martin is a remarkable talent. This new book demonstrates his unique ability to entertain us in so many ways. If you're a fan, you'll want to check this book out.
Many thanks to Celadon Books for providing a copy of Number One Is Walking in advance of its publication.
Review to be posted on MicheleReader.com.
Rated 4.5 stars.
In 2020, Martin and Harry Bliss, the talented cartoonist from The New Yorker, created the clever and witty book, A Wealth of Pigeons: A Cartoon Collection. The two have a new collaboration entitled Number One Is Walking: My Life in the Movies and Other Diversions. To explain the title, "number one is walking" is an expression used on movie sets. The lead actor is called number one. And then there's number two, three, etc. The primary actors’ names aren’t used on the set, just their numbers. And soon into his movie career, Martin became number one, which was a bit embarrassing for him.
About half of the book is about Martin's movie career and life in Hollywood. He reflects on his film experiences with interesting and funny stories and anecdotes which are greatly enhanced by Bliss' artwork, done in both a classic comic strip style to lovely portrait-like drawings, mainly of Martin's celebrity friends. Popular comic-strip characters (like Snoopy) whimsically pop into the scenes. After Martin notes that he is now done with acting in the movies, moving on to new projects, the book shifts to works by Bliss, with cartoons that are much like the ones he does for The New Yorker.
I enjoy reading memoirs of people whose work I admire. While not a traditional memoir, this was a wonderfully creative way for Steve Martin to provide stories and memories of a very significant part of his career. It's an attractive coffee table book too. The section devoted to Bliss' work is also enjoyable. From his early wild and crazy days to his current popular television series, Only Murders in the Building, with Martin Short and Selena Gomez, Steve Martin is a remarkable talent. This new book demonstrates his unique ability to entertain us in so many ways. If you're a fan, you'll want to check this book out.
Many thanks to Celadon Books for providing a copy of Number One Is Walking in advance of its publication.
Review to be posted on MicheleReader.com.
Rated 4.5 stars.
February 3, 2023
For the first third of the book, Steve Martin offers up some anecdotes from his movie career, mostly along the lines of famous-people-I-have-met or shallow chatter he might share on a late night talk show. The tone is mostly upbeat and positive, so it's a little shocking when his stories about Dana Delaney and Robin Williams take different tacks. Still, it's a pleasing breeze through a dozen of so of his major films.
The back end of the book is more like his first collaboration with Harry Bliss, A Wealth of Pigeons: A Cartoon Collection, a collection of single-panel New Yorker cartoon gags. Lightly amusing, gently zany.
The back end of the book is more like his first collaboration with Harry Bliss, A Wealth of Pigeons: A Cartoon Collection, a collection of single-panel New Yorker cartoon gags. Lightly amusing, gently zany.
April 20, 2024
I liked the beginning part of this book as Steve reflects on his films and the ensuing illustrations, but half way, it becomes like The Far Side like single panel vignettes. It became a different book. Steve Martin is a funny dude so I am glad I read it.
January 11, 2023
I read Number One is Walking in one sitting, which is the worst thing about the book - I wanted it to go on and on. Steve Martin and Harry Bliss teamed up to tell stories from Martin's career. Steve told the stories and Harry illustrated them in a comic strip format complete with guest appearances from characters from Peanuts and Cathy. Although I bought the book because I've followed Steve Martin's career for 40 years, I actually became a very big Harry Bliss fan overnight. His artistic talent is phenomenal and I found myself lingering over the illustrations to savour the creativity of his presentation, the little asides in each frame.
The stories themselves were a Martinesque combination of humorous and philosophical takes on life in Hollywood. 'Number One is Walking' is Hollywood code uttered into the walkie talkies for when the star is going onto the set. Martin was the 'Number One' in question for years, until he did a movie with Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin ('It's Complicated') and he was walking toward the set, and heard the assistant director say 'Number Three is Walking.' Humour and a philosophical take on life in Hollywood in one small anecdote.
Martin told anecdotes about some of his movies, but he skipped some of my favourites - L.A. Story, for example, and Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid and Pennies From Heaven. I would have loved a fuller memoir, but I doubt Martin will ever write a traditional autobiography, it's not his style. The 'Other Diversions' of the title consist of one off cartoons - Martin gave Bliss the caption, and he had to come up with the artwork. Some of the best laughs are in this section. Must get A Wealth of Pigeons, their first collaboration.
The stories themselves were a Martinesque combination of humorous and philosophical takes on life in Hollywood. 'Number One is Walking' is Hollywood code uttered into the walkie talkies for when the star is going onto the set. Martin was the 'Number One' in question for years, until he did a movie with Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin ('It's Complicated') and he was walking toward the set, and heard the assistant director say 'Number Three is Walking.' Humour and a philosophical take on life in Hollywood in one small anecdote.
Martin told anecdotes about some of his movies, but he skipped some of my favourites - L.A. Story, for example, and Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid and Pennies From Heaven. I would have loved a fuller memoir, but I doubt Martin will ever write a traditional autobiography, it's not his style. The 'Other Diversions' of the title consist of one off cartoons - Martin gave Bliss the caption, and he had to come up with the artwork. Some of the best laughs are in this section. Must get A Wealth of Pigeons, their first collaboration.
May 11, 2023
Steve Martin writes about his experiences in the movies and doing standup and cartoonist. Harry Bliss illustrates Martin's stories. Steve Martin is not only a clever comedian but he is also a clever writer.
May 9, 2023
I picked this book up during my local Barnes & Noble's moving sale. I went on the last day, and there were several copies of this book present, more than any other of the remaining inventory. I should've taken that as a sign to skip it, but I'm a lifelong Steve Martin fan, so I couldn't resist.
This book is marketed as an illustrated memoir of Steve Martin's acting career. It doesn't come close to be worthy of being called a memoir. It is a collection of various anecdotes from a few selected films which were then boiled down to brief, one or two-page, illustrations. They leave you wondering, "And then what happened?" But rather than provide any sort of elaboration, the book moves on to the next anecdote.
And the anecdotes only make up one-third to two-fifths of the book—I was too annoyed to get any more precise than that as there are no page numbers, and that would require more math than this book was worth. The rest of the book is a collection of New Yorker cartoons that Martin collaborated with the illustrator, Harry Bliss, on. These were fine. They were cute, whimsical notes of satire, but printed one to a page (the back-side being left blank).
Despite this being illustrated, I was hoping for something more. Martin's memoir of his early years, Born Standing Up, was an excellent work detailing how he got his start in show business and ran through his early career as a stand-up comic, including why he gave it up. I was hoping that this would detail his career in film in the same way. It looks like we'll have to wait for that.
This book is marketed as an illustrated memoir of Steve Martin's acting career. It doesn't come close to be worthy of being called a memoir. It is a collection of various anecdotes from a few selected films which were then boiled down to brief, one or two-page, illustrations. They leave you wondering, "And then what happened?" But rather than provide any sort of elaboration, the book moves on to the next anecdote.
And the anecdotes only make up one-third to two-fifths of the book—I was too annoyed to get any more precise than that as there are no page numbers, and that would require more math than this book was worth. The rest of the book is a collection of New Yorker cartoons that Martin collaborated with the illustrator, Harry Bliss, on. These were fine. They were cute, whimsical notes of satire, but printed one to a page (the back-side being left blank).
Despite this being illustrated, I was hoping for something more. Martin's memoir of his early years, Born Standing Up, was an excellent work detailing how he got his start in show business and ran through his early career as a stand-up comic, including why he gave it up. I was hoping that this would detail his career in film in the same way. It looks like we'll have to wait for that.
March 12, 2023
Number One is Walking: My Life in the Movies and Other Diversions is a graphic novel/cartoon memoir written by Steve Martin and drawings by Harry Bliss.
Number One is Walking is a collection of anecdotes and stories from Martin’s long comedy career. The art is drawn by New Yorker cartoonist Harry Bliss.
Steve Martin is one of my favorite comedians starring in classics like The Jerk; Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, Three Amigos, and Little Shop of Horrors among many, many others. I was really excited to learn he released a memoir in graphic novel form. Upon reading, I was super disappointed to see only about a third of the book deals with his movie life with the rest of the collection being single panel cartons he collaborated on with Bliss. While the cartoons are humorous, I wanted more tales told by Martin. Each movie or celebrity encounter is so short they are told within 2-3 pages. The stories contained are also pretty straightforward pieces that feel like they were cut from a late night talk show interview. Nothing here is bad, but I just anticipating so much more.
Number One is Walking is a collection of anecdotes and stories from Martin’s long comedy career. The art is drawn by New Yorker cartoonist Harry Bliss.
Steve Martin is one of my favorite comedians starring in classics like The Jerk; Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, Three Amigos, and Little Shop of Horrors among many, many others. I was really excited to learn he released a memoir in graphic novel form. Upon reading, I was super disappointed to see only about a third of the book deals with his movie life with the rest of the collection being single panel cartons he collaborated on with Bliss. While the cartoons are humorous, I wanted more tales told by Martin. Each movie or celebrity encounter is so short they are told within 2-3 pages. The stories contained are also pretty straightforward pieces that feel like they were cut from a late night talk show interview. Nothing here is bad, but I just anticipating so much more.
May 12, 2023
A little bit of Martin’s life in movies and a whole lot of cartoons.
The illustrations are well done, but I felt that most of the celebrities were somehow off a bit.
I got a signed copy for Christmas. I loved Shopgirl and haven’t read anything else by Martin. Clearly the man is talented and has a dry sense of humor.
The illustrations are well done, but I felt that most of the celebrities were somehow off a bit.
I got a signed copy for Christmas. I loved Shopgirl and haven’t read anything else by Martin. Clearly the man is talented and has a dry sense of humor.
January 1, 2023
I did not expect for half (or more?) of the book to be New Yorker style cartoons that have nothing to do with Steve Martin. I suppose Martin and Bliss collaborated on them, and they are clever, but I would have liked more anecdotes about his movies and life.
December 26, 2022
This is a memoir about Steve Martin's career in the movies, told in comic strip form. He shares behind the scenes stories from favorite films such as The Jerk to Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, which I absolutely loved as I watched these and loved when I was younger. I loved the insights and Steve’s humor comes through the pages, I just really enjoyed this book so much. It is a great coffee table book that I plan on leaving out for folks to flip through and enjoy as well.
Thank you to @celadonbooks @SteveMartinReally and @BlissCartoons for the #gifted copy to review.
Thank you to @celadonbooks @SteveMartinReally and @BlissCartoons for the #gifted copy to review.
December 6, 2022
It was so fun to reminisce through the comic strip collection of stories that left me smiling ear to ear.
June 1, 2025
A delight.
December 10, 2023
When Lisa from Friends and Fiction Book Club recommended this book, I knew I had to check it out from my library as Steve Martin is one of my favorite actors! It explores the life of Steve Martin through the movies he has done and the actors/ actresses he has worked with. This book was so much fun to read as Steve Martin teamed up with cartoonist, Harry Bliss, so it’s in comic book form for the majority of it. What a wonderful book to give as a gift this holiday season!
December 9, 2022
Perfectly charming. Not at all deep. Exquisite illustration. Highly recommended.
December 31, 2022
This was a fun collection of memoir inspired comics, written musings, flashbacks about working in the movie industry and a collection of one panel cartoons worthy of any newspaper. Number One is Walking is part biography, part movie industry inside news, and all comedy. Done in a fun comic style - this is unlike any other book I have read this year. Innovative and funny.
March 11, 2023
“Number one is walking” is a fun nonfiction book by Steve Martin and Harry Bliss focusing on Martin’s career in movies and other diversions in his life.
Martin begins the book by explaining what lead him into acting in comedy movies starting in 1979 after doing well in stand up comedy in.
The book is presented in as Martin telling various stories from his life and acting career to cartoonist Harry Bliss and Bliss’ dog Penny.
After four decades acting in movies, Martin stops doing movies and returns to his love of playing the banjo and writing songs. In addition to his musical endeavors, Martin also writes for the theatre as well as begins a comedy tour and TV show with friend and fellow actor Martin Short. Oddly enough, by doing the TV show, this provides a creative outlet to replace being in movies.
The second part of the book focuses on other diversions and consists of amusing cartoons drawn by Bliss.
Through the combination of engaging storytelling with beautiful illustrations, this book had led me to check out more of Martin’s films in addition to my favorites of “The Three Amigos” and “Parenthood.”
Martin begins the book by explaining what lead him into acting in comedy movies starting in 1979 after doing well in stand up comedy in.
The book is presented in as Martin telling various stories from his life and acting career to cartoonist Harry Bliss and Bliss’ dog Penny.
After four decades acting in movies, Martin stops doing movies and returns to his love of playing the banjo and writing songs. In addition to his musical endeavors, Martin also writes for the theatre as well as begins a comedy tour and TV show with friend and fellow actor Martin Short. Oddly enough, by doing the TV show, this provides a creative outlet to replace being in movies.
The second part of the book focuses on other diversions and consists of amusing cartoons drawn by Bliss.
Through the combination of engaging storytelling with beautiful illustrations, this book had led me to check out more of Martin’s films in addition to my favorites of “The Three Amigos” and “Parenthood.”
January 10, 2023
Book #5 - Number One Walking: My Life in the Movies and Other Diversions by Steve Martin. This illustrated memoir (with illustrations by New Yorker cartoonist Harry Bliss) is fascinating,
funny and clever. Martin tells charming stories about his film career and shares many great anecdotes about cast mates and celebrities he has met, including Paul McCartney, Diane Keaton, Robin Williams and Chevy Chase. More than half of the book is a collection of New Yorker–style cartoons that Martin and Bliss did together.
I'm a big fan of Martin and this is a great addition to his body of work. He also writes of his decision to stop making movies, his return to standup via his work with Martin Short and the
awesome television series Only Murders in the Building.
This book is a great follow up from his excellent 2008 memoir, Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life, which goes into more detail about his stand up career and why, after much success, he decided to switch to a movie career. I give this book an 8.
funny and clever. Martin tells charming stories about his film career and shares many great anecdotes about cast mates and celebrities he has met, including Paul McCartney, Diane Keaton, Robin Williams and Chevy Chase. More than half of the book is a collection of New Yorker–style cartoons that Martin and Bliss did together.
I'm a big fan of Martin and this is a great addition to his body of work. He also writes of his decision to stop making movies, his return to standup via his work with Martin Short and the
awesome television series Only Murders in the Building.
This book is a great follow up from his excellent 2008 memoir, Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life, which goes into more detail about his stand up career and why, after much success, he decided to switch to a movie career. I give this book an 8.
February 4, 2023
Steve Martin and cartoonist Harry Bliss crisply recount Martin's movie career in Number One Is Walking. It's mostly accolades for fellow actors on Martin's part, with a few real stories mixed in. The format fits Martin's style of humor, with his character in the book occasionally catching Bliss's character off guard with sly wit.
That's the first 90 pages. Then Martin writes a "farewell to movies!" essay and the book moves on to 150 pages of Sunday funnies, Far Side-style. These are occasionally amusing, but definitely fall in the Other Diversions category. For such a handsome production, you wish there was more actual material. Martin's Born Standing Up is far better in that regard.
That's the first 90 pages. Then Martin writes a "farewell to movies!" essay and the book moves on to 150 pages of Sunday funnies, Far Side-style. These are occasionally amusing, but definitely fall in the Other Diversions category. For such a handsome production, you wish there was more actual material. Martin's Born Standing Up is far better in that regard.
August 30, 2022
I'm a huge Steve Martin fan. He has made me crack up for my whole life. From his early stand up records, SNL appearances, and movies like The Jerk and The Three Amigos his silliness is unparalleled. Over the years my fondness for him has grown. All of Me, Parenthood, My Blue Heaven and Roxanne are all catalogued in my personal favorites ever category. This second collaboration with Harry Bliss highlights all the things I love about Steve: it's smart, witty, creative, and has a lot of heart.
March 29, 2023
The art is astoundingly good. There is a simple cartoonish quality to the majority of the pieces but the faces are hyper realistic and impressively good likenesses.
Unfortunately there isn’t enough content here to warrant a book. Most of the movies discussed get two pages. It left me wanting much much more. About half of the pages are single or double page cartoons, and that portion has nothing to do with Steve Martin’s career.
Unfortunately there isn’t enough content here to warrant a book. Most of the movies discussed get two pages. It left me wanting much much more. About half of the pages are single or double page cartoons, and that portion has nothing to do with Steve Martin’s career.
April 11, 2023
Following his critically acclaimed memoir about his years as a comic, BORN STANDING UP, Steve Martin released a second memoir containing stories about his time in the movie business, NUMBER ONE IS WALKING. Rather than taking the same path as his first autobiography, Martin enlisted the help of cartoonist Harry Bliss to produce a sort of graphic novel style retelling of Steve’s years on the silver screen.
I was all set to give this book four to five stars, but unfortunately, Steve’s career in the movies is responsible for less than half of the total page count, which is a real shame as the marketing behind the book’s release was heavily focused on pushing that it is a memoir of his Hollywood years. The bulk of the book is focused on the “Diversions”, which are New Yorker style cartoons produced by the duo. Those were OK, but not exactly what I was looking for.
That being said, I absolutely loved what he and Harry had put together as they highlighted stories from Steve about his work on films like Planes, Trains And Automobiles, A Simple Twist of Fate, and Three Amigos, and many others. I was laughing out loud reading about John Candy, Martin Short and Diane Keaton (Martin Short’s introduction on Three Amigos was the best). I desperately wanted more and I have no doubt that Steve could have produced many stories that easily could have filled the book cover to cover.
I get that this is meant to be a coffee table book, but I feel like there is a lost opportunity here. Steve is endlessly charming, hilarious and effortlessly interesting. One of my biggest regrets was not going to see him when both he and Martin Short performed live here in Ottawa a few years ago. I can’t fully recommend this one given that more than half of the book is not something I cared for or would revisit, but the movie years that the co-authors shone a spotlight on were excellent.
I was all set to give this book four to five stars, but unfortunately, Steve’s career in the movies is responsible for less than half of the total page count, which is a real shame as the marketing behind the book’s release was heavily focused on pushing that it is a memoir of his Hollywood years. The bulk of the book is focused on the “Diversions”, which are New Yorker style cartoons produced by the duo. Those were OK, but not exactly what I was looking for.
That being said, I absolutely loved what he and Harry had put together as they highlighted stories from Steve about his work on films like Planes, Trains And Automobiles, A Simple Twist of Fate, and Three Amigos, and many others. I was laughing out loud reading about John Candy, Martin Short and Diane Keaton (Martin Short’s introduction on Three Amigos was the best). I desperately wanted more and I have no doubt that Steve could have produced many stories that easily could have filled the book cover to cover.
I get that this is meant to be a coffee table book, but I feel like there is a lost opportunity here. Steve is endlessly charming, hilarious and effortlessly interesting. One of my biggest regrets was not going to see him when both he and Martin Short performed live here in Ottawa a few years ago. I can’t fully recommend this one given that more than half of the book is not something I cared for or would revisit, but the movie years that the co-authors shone a spotlight on were excellent.
November 17, 2022
This was the funnest memoir I have ever read. I have always loved Steve Martin. His ability to capture an audience, and perform so brilliantly is truly a gift. I have grown up watching him in so many movies, and this book touches on his experiences with some of those. I remember being a young girl, and watching Little Shop of Horrors. His character, Orin Scrivello, commanded the screen. Martin played that part so well that you couldn't hate the guy even though he was an addict and abuser. I also loved him in My Blue Heaven as the cocky mobster turned informant, Vinnie Antonelli. I truly fell in love with Steve Martin when he starred in Roxanne. You'll learn more about his efforts to get that movie made in the book. This was such a genius way to write a memoir in that Steve's friend and internationally famous cartoonist, Harry Bliss illustrated this book. His comic style illustrations made Steve's story jump off the pages. You literally see Steve describing all these events to Harry, but he has a special friendship with Harry's dog, Penny. Also in the book, we get to see some of Harry's own work that is truly remarkable. The man is a talent! I finished this book with such a good feeling, and couldn't help the smile on my face. I feel like I got to know one of the best actors, comedians, and overall person that makes Steve Martin who he is in the best way possible. Harry Bliss made that happen, and I applaude him tremendously.
November 19, 2022
A quick read. I admire Steve Martin's versatility. This book is both light and insightful. Not every routine was well-received, and not every movie will be successful after ten years. Try a second time, and a third, but don't get locked in to what doesn't interest you. The cover photo is of a man who is trying to look successful and trying to make it look easy --- but is he really confident?? Harry Bliss's cartooning holds together a "story" that has a lot of gaps -- some rather large ones.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 705 reviews