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Cancer on Five Dollars a Day (chemo not included): How Humor Got Me Through the Toughest Journey of My Life
In the spring of 2000, stand-up comedian Robert Schimmel was diagnosed with stage III non-Hodgkins face-off with a deadly disease helped him better understand himself, and ultimately changed his life.
Paperback, 224 pages
Published
January 6th 2009
by Da Capo Press
(first published January 28th 2008)
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I enjoy this artist immensely, check his comedy too as long as you can handle profanity. This book had me cracking up laughing, shed a tear or 2, cancer certainly isnt funny, but using humor to conquer personal challenge is inspirational. I devoured this book in one sitting, comes highly recommended for a cancer patient's reading list
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I got through this book last night even though I was quite sleepy and tired. Schimmel's book was hard to put down just because it was so funny and inspirational. It takes a special person to want to make others happy even while going through the rigors of chemo and that is exactly what Schimmel does throughout his arduous battle with cancer. I enjoyed his gutter humor in many parts of this book, it was hard not to laugh out loud at his very male humor. This book is a must read just to give a per...more
Jennifer
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Anyone who has cancer or who loves someone that does
Shelves:
cancer
{Update} Well, I am glad that I stuck with it because it does get better. Starting around page 85 it seems as if he mellows out a little bit and gets into what he is learning from the cancer experience, rather than just focusing on what he fears. He makes me laugh outloud on numerous occasions, like when he states that he found the cure for cancer: Yanni. "If I beat this thing, it's because the cancer cells couldn't stand Yanni anymore. They packed up and got the hell out of my body as fa...more
I heard this guy interviewed on the radio and he sounded really down-to-earth and funny despite having lost a son to brain cancer and later having cancer himself, so I thought maybe I could learn something from him about getting through the hard times. The book is honest, painful, funny -- and humor is what got him through (that's how he makes his living - he's a stand-up comic). His humor is often in the gutter, but some of it was still quite funny, and his caring for other people really shines...more
Christina Lazic
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·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
cancer patients and their loved ones.
A journey through a life filled with tragedy and a harrowing, yet successful cancer treatment. Schimmel's recounting of his emotional responses and physical reactions to his cancer and chemotherapy are alternately hilarious and terrifying, and I found myself feeling deep empathy with him.
Cancer patients and their intimates may want to wait until the treatment is over before reading this book, depending on how much they want to know about just how bad it can get.
Cancer patients and their intimates may want to wait until the treatment is over before reading this book, depending on how much they want to know about just how bad it can get.
My friend Matthew got me this book and I read it as soon as he gave it to me.
It made me laugh out loud several times. And it made me feel like crying a few times too. In so many ways I could relate to Robert's feelings and what he was going through - but that was mostly as far as attitude and humor go.
My physical journey just doesn't compare - his was much worse than what I have encountered so far. It made me really think about how "lucky" I am. People think...more
It made me laugh out loud several times. And it made me feel like crying a few times too. In so many ways I could relate to Robert's feelings and what he was going through - but that was mostly as far as attitude and humor go.
My physical journey just doesn't compare - his was much worse than what I have encountered so far. It made me really think about how "lucky" I am. People think...more
This is a great book because Schimmel adds his humor to an awful situation. While I was reading this book I was fighting my own battle against lymphoma so it was very hard to read about the horrible side-effects of treatment that Schimmel went though. But overall this was a great book to read to get a perspective on what it is like to have cancer in today's world.
Robert Schimmel is a riot! He's been through some serious stuff in his life, yet through it all he keeps an amazing wit and sense of humour about it, and more importantly, he uses that humour to make others feel better (at a time when one would suspect he'd prefer to focus on making himself feel better). Go read this book - I can't recommend it enough.
Burned through this in a day just after my first chemo infusion. He goes through a lot and finds humor in the situation. I did follow his personal antics, liver disease and eventual demise which is still looming for me 3 yrs in remission. RIP Schimmel. You made me laugh out loud.
Cancer from a man's point of view, especially focusing on the sex (or lack thereof) aspect of it. Actually, he is very funny in places, finds the humor in the fear. Ironically, he died in a car accident which goes to show if you've had cancer, you're not always going to die from it.
This was a good book. I had to read it in small doses because it makes you laugh and cry at the same time. Also, if you or a family member has died of cancer it can bring all those feelings back during that time so that is why I had to read it in small doses. It's a good read though
Ok, i get it...you believe your special purpose is to make people laugh. I wanted to like this book but the author skimmed over any deep feelings about cancer to make a joke. The jokes felt so forced; it was at times painful to read. I felt embarrassed for the author.
During a trip to NYC in Feb 2008, I saw Robert's stand-up performance. The show was a riot and on the way out, I got an autographed copy of this book. It was a fast, easy read and although it is about his battle with cancer- it was great!
This is the kind of book I'm glad I read, but would have difficulty in recommending to anyone. If I'd known beforehand about Schimmel's crass sense of humor and foul language, I probably wouldn't have read it either. Anyway, I appreciate Schimmel's openness and honesty as he shares his journey through chemotherapy. He shares some beautiful, basic lessons for life that all of us should learn. It can be easy to become complacent and take life for granted. (Spoiler alert) I cried when I read that e...more
I loved this book! this got me through and helped me understand what my father was going through while he faught his horrible (and sadly lost his) battle with cancer.
laughed so hard the people on the train were peering over to see what the commotion was all about.
most importantly learned what a merkin was.
RIP
most importantly learned what a merkin was.
RIP
This book is hilarious! Laughter is the best medicine when times are this tough.
Robert shares his journey with grace, but more importantly with humor.
My husband read this book in an afternoon, sitting at the library. He told me that the book made him laugh out loud, and then made him cry. Schimmel is one of his favorite comedians... and wanted to read the book, to preview it, thinking we would get it for his mom, a cancer survivor. I read it this evening, and it immediately became a favorite. I laughed long and hard, and appreciated every word...because they were his. It's his story, told his way, and it's a beautiful one. It's honest, ...more
While he never really explained how to live with cancer on only $5 a day, Schimmel made an impoosibly hard time in his life and made it bearable, for himself and others dealing with the same issues. A good read for those who have cancer and those whom are close to them, but each illness is differnt so it won't resonate completely with all. It protrays the worst of the worst though, and gives you, the reader, a sense of accomplishement when he overcomes everything. Age 16 up.
Robert Schimmel certainly is a wonderful example of how a positive attitude and laughter can make a bad situation better.
I appreciated his honesty when he realizes that sometimes, despite all the positivity and love you can surround yourself with, it isn't always enough.
A short list of the important things in life concludes the book.
Fact for the day: There are wigs for the pubic region. See "merkin."
I appreciated his honesty when he realizes that sometimes, despite all the positivity and love you can surround yourself with, it isn't always enough.
A short list of the important things in life concludes the book.
Fact for the day: There are wigs for the pubic region. See "merkin."
I liked this book very much. Indeed, I laughed and cried. It has some vulgarity, but it's Schimmel so I expected it. It provides a wonderful perspective on cancer from the man's point of view. I felt this little biography on cancer from a comedian's perspective is well written, interesting and engaging. And I am not a man or a cancer patient.
Loved this book! Bought it for my dad for his upcoming b-day, since we both love Schimmel, and had to read it first! Quick read, very funny, touching and heart wrenching. However, it does have a lot of profanity and crude humor, keeping in line with his typical stand-up routine.
A truly inspiring story of a man's will to live despite his diagnosis of cancer. While Schimmel is a comedian by trade, this book is not all jokes and laughs. He does share what seem to be some of his lowest moments and helps readers understand his struggles
I really liked this book. It helps to know what Lena is going through, even though it's not the exact cancer type.
After reading the first few chapters, I remembered that I've heard some of the author's standup and was underwhelmed. The book itself isn't terrible -- there are a few genuinely funny and/or moving passages -- but overall, nyeh.
Histerical! I have a close family member who is currently dealing with cancer and this book is a perfect example of how humor is a necessity in the defeat of cancer. I laughed and cried.
This is a really funny, inspiring, touching, a sad book. I just read a little of it before sending it to my father. It looked really good.
I have never heard of this author but I really enjoyed this humerous, although often off color humor--touching book. I would recommend it.
This was a very interesting read. I wish it delved deeper into living with his soon-to-be ex-wife, but even without it I enjoyed the book.
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