Leaving Home

by Art Buchwald, Judy Herbstman (Designed by)

The New York Times Bestseller.
"Dear have I got a treat for you! Art Buchwald has written a book about his life . . . I guarantee 254 pages of pure pleasure." -- Ann Landers
"Strikingly honest . . . [Buchwald] grew up in orphanages and foster homes and never knew his mother who, shortly after he was born, entered a mental hospital and spent the rest of her life
there . . . . But instead of becoming a sociopath, Buchwald became a professional funnyman and a national figure whose columns skewer pretense and politicians . . . . Score one for humor as a means of survival." -- The Washington Post Book World
"

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Humor

254 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1379

About the author

American humorist best known for his long-running column of political satire and commentary that he wrote in The Washington Post, which was syndicated in over 500 newspapers. He wrote more than 30 books. He received the Pulitzer Prize for Outstanding Commentary in 1982. In 1991 he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

Obituary at The Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/...

Columns at The Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/...

Reviews

[Yael · Rating 2 out of 5]

I probably would have found this more interesting if I had ever read Buchwald's column. This also would probably be funnier as a book on tape.

I found this to be somewhat rambling and repetitive and was ready to be done reading it before the book actually ended.

[Roger Smitter · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book labeled Leaving Home—A Memoir would be a book about families, good things happenings, and making sure that all is good.

This book gives us something very different. The core of the book is done by a clever person who works to make other people laugh. Yes, some pieces have some pages that have a nice story about something; it’s much more focused on the life of a commenting.

The first chapter, “Mother and Pop” and second chapter “The Hebrew Orphan Asylum” gives some information for the name of the book. But there are some good pieces too.

There is some material about what he learned in school: “As a professional funning man, I realized particular hell in my English class….” (p. 77) And Chapter 5 has “I hated school.” (107) On page 6, there’s a page that has “In every Marine’s life there is one man he remembers as long as he lives—and that is his drill instruct. (135)

There’s some good in the book and it’s a quick read. But there’s no much takeaway.

[Ilena Holder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book after there was an article about his Marine DI passing away in the Sunday paper. The man was buried in his dress blues. He held a framed photo of Buchwald, which Art had given him. The part where Art went through Marine boot camp had me laughing so hard I cried. Now I have to get the book again and read it. I had never read anything he wrote before.

[Fran · Rating 3 out of 5]

An amazing story of a man who lived an incredible life by being fearless and taking chances. His childhood was difficult. He lived his life by taking chances and always seemed to have a backup plan. The book ends just as his career begins. Would have liked to know more about his adult life.

[Jennifer Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, raw, interesting, inspiring. An easy read.

[Hattie]

Funny, honest..a lot better than Alex Trebek’s book ‘And the Answer Is’ which I read just before this one.

[Elisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

i think perhaps the professional reviewers of this book demonstrated about the same level of ethics in choosing their sales pitch that Buchwald exhibits/describes of himself in his entertainment career--you say what sells, gets you what you want, integrity be damned. i thought the book read like a poor first draft that never got developed or edited. i enjoyed reading about a life, particularly in the historical context he treats, from the 30's forward. and i think the book got better as he moved into his adult years and had more well formed memories. i was truly shocked that this was merited a New York Times Bestseller. But as a friend pointed out to me, best seller means a lot of people bought the book. it doesn't say they enjoyed it or even read it.

what he shared about his childhood was interesting and valuable, it just wasn't good prose or even good analysis. and i didn't find his comments funny until he got to his military experience and beyond, which i found odd for a professional humorist. i was surprised how often he lied to get a job or something he wanted. i guess i'm still a bit silly and naive. he thrived in the entertainment industry, and it is foolish to look for stalwarts of moral integrity there. i was impressed at his chutzpah and scrappiness in getting through life and rising to fame (though i had never heard of him when i started the book) from his self described ignominious beginnings. a true American story. i read this book because it was my late father's and he had underlined throughout, as was his way. my chief enjoyment was following my father's reactions as he underlined, and comparing his underling to my own. you can read this book in one evening, if you are determined to. (:

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is much better than Buchwald's second memoir, which picks up where this one leaves off, as Art leaves New York for Paris and a future as a writer.
His father survived the Great Depression, but his struggles left his son psychologically damaged. Art was bounced from foster home to foster home and so learned to get along by entertaining others, but the cost was great since he also learned how to hide his real feelings effectively. He paid for this later with two major depressions, lower-case, but he learned from these, and despite his obsession with having his talent recognized, he is an extremely likeable fellow. He's brutally honest about himself and this memoir is very much worth reading.

[Kevin A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The irony of the title is that he did not ever feel he had a home. His mother was committed within months of his birth in 1925, and he was placed in a series of foster homes/orphanages until his mid-teens. Once reunited with his father and three older sisters, he can't wait to escape to join the Marines in World War II.

He's a jokester, and can't resist the opportunity, which keeps things from devolving into pathos. As he is the first to admit, despite his unfortunate childhood, he really had good fortune ever since. (Although he's also more than a bit of an operator, having learned to look out for himself out of necessity.)

[Michael Holbrook · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book starts out slow. If you are interested in his time as an orphan, from home to home (even this makes it sound more readable than it is), then dig in. If not, skip to around page fifty or so. The book picks up and is filled with good old-fashion humor as only Art Buchwald can write. His experience in the U.S. Marines, his time at USC, and his eventual landing and living in Paris. Romance, friends, overcoming hurdles, family strife ... it's all here. Putting aside the first twenty percent of this book, it’s an entertaining, warm, humorous read.

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I had no idea who Art Buchwald was prior to reading this Memoir, I truly enjoyed it! I have since learned much more about Art Buchwald (on the internet and from friends, family, etc.). After reading his Memoir, I feel almost as if I know Art Buchwald personally and I have learned many things pertaining to World War II and life in America during many decades in the 1900-2000 range.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been awhile since I've read this book, but I remember thoroughly enjoying reading about his experiences. He is such a wonderful writer.

[Fpaschheim]

Easy to read autobiography. Buchwald overcame early hardship using bravado, persistence and humor.

[Althea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once again, Art Buchwald lets us into his life. We see him as an orphan living in foster homes, discovering New York City and eventually joining the Marines. Poignant and funny.

[Tommyb]

Humor,Memoir

[Louisebrodnitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Surprising.

[linh · Rating 4 out of 5]

i can relate!
what is super interesting is buchwald titled this 'leaving home' but never actually saw it as 'home'.