Comedy Nerd - by Judd Apatow (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

An intimate, rollicking highly-visual memoir of a comedic genius that offers a rare glimpse into the creative life and inner workings of legendary director producer Judd Apatow through never-before-seen photos, letters and behind-the-scenes stories

"Judd Apatow has put together an amazing scrapbook of his life and career. The best part? There's a lot of pictures. And the stuff that isn't pictures? You don't even have to look at!"--Adam Sandler

In the mid-eighties, a young, self-professed comedy nerd from Syosset, Long Island, named Judd Apatow took to the stage to perform his first standup routine--and survived. Over the coming decades, Apatow would translate his obsession for comedy into one of the most successful careers in Hollywood, through genre-defining films such as The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Bridesmaids, and This Is 40 and iconic series such as Girls and Freaks & Geeks. Through his solo work as well as his collaborations with fellow comedians Steve Carrell, Adam Sandler, Amy Schumer, and countless others, Apatow reshaped the landscape of American comedy.

In this revelatory scrapbook memoir, Apatow has pulled hundreds of personal photographs, letters, scripts, drafts, and paired them with never-before-told stories to create a unique-in-format, deeply-personal-in-tone account of a storied career. Spanning decades, Comedy Nerd takes us on Apatow's lifelong journey of fandom, creativity, and obsession: from the exacting, relentless work that goes into cracking people up; surprising stories about our favorite comedians; and insights into how Apatow has managed to push the limits of his craft in an ever-evolving cultural landscape. It is a candid, joyful, and fascinating portrait of an artist and storyteller who has spent decades making us laugh.

Review Quotes

"Judd Apatow has put together an amazing scrapbook of his life and career. The best part? There's a lot of pictures. And the stuff that isn't pictures? You don't even have to look at! Now if you do read the words, you'll be delighted. But again, personally, I didn't. Apatowww! You the best!!!"--Adam Sandler

"I always knew Judd Apatow was the ultimate Comedy Nerd/memorabilia hoarder and I couldn't be more grateful for the walk down memory lane of all his work that has moved me and made me laugh for as long as I can remember. I'm honored to be a part of his story. This book is just like Judd: lovable, funny, and unforgettable."--Amy Schumer

"Judd Apatow is one of the most caring, empathetic, and deeply sensitive human beings I've ever known. None of that comes through in this book."--Eddie Vedder

"Judd Apatow is one of the greatest comedy writers of all time and his new book proves it. Judd is such a great writer he should change his name to Judd Baldwin."--Chris Rock

"I've known this boy since he was sixteen and even then I wasn't sure if he'd make it. It only took him 576 pages to prove me wrong."--Martin Short

About the Author

Judd Apatow wrote and directed the films The 40-Year-Old Virgin (co-written with Steve Carell), Knocked Up, Funny People, and This Is 40; he directed Trainwreck; and his producing credits include Superbad, Bridesmaids, and Anchorman. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Leslie Mann, and their two daughters, Maude and Iris.