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How Comedy Saved My Life: My Wild Journey of Addiction, Recovery & Making the Ultimate Comeback - Tales of a Navy Sailor, Prison Guard, Stand-Up Comic & Father
How Comedy Saved My Life is the brutally honest, darkly funny, and ultimately redemptive story of John Perrotta—a Rhode Island prison guard by day, stand-up comic by night.
For decades, John lived two lives. On stage, he was a relentless crowd-work master, booking gigs with rising legends like Bill Burr, Lenny Clarke, Tammy Pescatelli, and Tom Cotter. Off stage, he was drowning in booze, gambling, and drugs, hitting rock bottom more times than he can count—until a near-death experience forced him to make the biggest comeback of his life.
This memoir pulls no punches, from high-speed chases through Providence to performing at bachelor parties and sold-out comedy clubs, all while battling addiction, bankruptcy, and his own worst impulses. But it’s also about second chances. About clawing back from the edge. About how comedy, family, and sheer stubbornness kept him alive when the odds said he shouldn’t be here.
Told with raw honesty and razor-sharp wit, How Comedy Saved My Life is proof that sometimes the funniest stories come from the darkest places—and that laughter truly can be the cure-all.
For decades, John lived two lives. On stage, he was a relentless crowd-work master, booking gigs with rising legends like Bill Burr, Lenny Clarke, Tammy Pescatelli, and Tom Cotter. Off stage, he was drowning in booze, gambling, and drugs, hitting rock bottom more times than he can count—until a near-death experience forced him to make the biggest comeback of his life.
This memoir pulls no punches, from high-speed chases through Providence to performing at bachelor parties and sold-out comedy clubs, all while battling addiction, bankruptcy, and his own worst impulses. But it’s also about second chances. About clawing back from the edge. About how comedy, family, and sheer stubbornness kept him alive when the odds said he shouldn’t be here.
Told with raw honesty and razor-sharp wit, How Comedy Saved My Life is proof that sometimes the funniest stories come from the darkest places—and that laughter truly can be the cure-all.
173 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 2, 2025
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3 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 14, 2025
Very raw and honest stories from a local RI comedian and how he got his start in comedy and everything in life before. The book goes through Johns life all through his lowest of lows and highest of highs and how those highs and lows affect John, his family, and peers. Would absolutely recommend and definitely check him out at a comedy show if you are in RI!
April 9, 2025
Great story flow. No holds barred- keeping it real about addiction. My fave quote from the book: "put your all into whatever you're doing and whatever you're good at, because you just might be smack in the middle of a moment in time that ends up being one of the best chapters of your life."
April 28, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. It was amazing.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews