The irony is laid on heavily, as this series of autobiographical monologues covers the difficulty of staying sane in the USA of the 1940's and 50's, and the 60's. Well worth the read. ( )

This book is a profile photo-sketch collection of topical quips from the brilliant social satirist Dick Gregory. In less than a year, he changed his career from a $10/day car washer to $5000 a week headliner. On the eve of the civil rights revolution, he was the voice of the black man that everyone could laugh WITH.

This book has great photographs of the star, but the material is far from his best, and it fails to get what his packed "shows" really had in them. The Introduction is by that dullard, Hugh Hefner, the editor of Playboy, which aided Gregory's notoriety and success in the "entertainment" field. Hefner provides details of Gregory's life--touching upon growing up in a slum with six children and no father but an indomitable mother, his athletic prowess on the track in spite of starvation, service in the Army and Post Office, and his night club jobs.

Gregory's first "break" was when he stepped in as emcee at the Playboy Club. A large group of Southern gentlemen were there. Dick began "Good evening. It's wonderful to see so many fine Southern people here tonight. I happen to know quite a bit about the South. Spent twenty years there one night."

Gregory's first job was shining shoes in a St. Louis slum, where whites would rub his head for "good luck".

And his performances were in the 50's and 60's when "proper" audiences would actually scream at performers "get the niggers off stage". Gregory would respond with intelligence, courtesy, spontaneity and very talented humor. This book, however, is not a sharp and witty as his shows I have seen. This has quips, but is better for its art photo posed and otherwise scenic shots of the great comedian. I have seen his "act" light up cities and minds. ( )