While a review of a book by Steve Martin may seem off-topic in a blog dedicated to Disney, a quick glance at his past deems it appropriate.

Full disclosure, I have always been a great fan of Steve Martin. Not so much his vast film work, but rather his comic sensibilities apparent in his early stand-up days and his more recent forays into literature and theatre. A very private man, this auto-biography puts a spotlight on Martin’s stand-up comedy period. It is delicate and precise and when it is over, his early career is significant and well documented. At the end, Martin remains an enigma, his personal life a mystery. As a fan of his stand-up work, I found the work enlightening and it filled in holes I didn’t know were there when I listened to his comedy albums.

But what may be most interesting to all of us is Martin’s recollection of Disneyland. He worked in various capacities from 14 years old through college. His detailed stories fill a large segment of the book with a great description of working at Disneyland. His experiences have him selling guide maps in the mornings, spending his days traversing the park, occasionally going on a ride if he was lucky enough to find an “A” ticket on the ground. The Diamond Horseshoe, on the other hand, was always free so he spent most of his time there, learning his comedy from Wally Boag and others from the revue.

Martin hones his craft working in one of the two magic shops in Disneyland, and his recollection is one of much fondness. He easily creates a sense of nostalgia for me of a time I never experienced.

It’s a short read, and a good one, especially for fans of Martin’s early work. The story tapers off by the time he finishes the movie THE JERK. Maybe there will be a second part of his funny, poignant memoir in the near future.

At this writing, the book is available in hardcover, or for a few dollars more, you can get an audiobook version read by Steve Martin himself.