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This Might Get a Little Heavy: A Memoir
There was a time when Ralphie May was one of the biggest standup comedians in the country, both by ticket sales and by tonnage. While some things changed―Ralphie lost half his body weight―others did he will be remembered as one of the most successful comics of his time. Completed just months before his untimely passing, in This Might Get a Little Heavy , Ralphie takes readers on a behind-the-scenes tour of his life and career, one that winds across the country, over obstacles, beyond heartbreak, and through the golden age of stand-up.
Raised in poor, rural, Arkansas by a single mom who struggled to make ends meet, Ralphie’s early years were the perfect breeding ground for the kind of pain and stress and adversity that only comedy can cure. Bitten by the comedy bug at a Methodist sleep-away camp when he was 12 years old, Ralphie seized a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity six years later at an open-mic in a pizza parlor. Mentored and inspired by legendary comedian Sam Kinison to move to Houston, where he got his start, Ralphie packed his bags and never looked back. A major headliner for over twenty-five years, in This Might Get A Little Heavy , Ralphie finally tells the world how a chubby poor kid from Clarksville went from Arkansas to Houston to Hollywood and beyond. Full of never before told stories from Ralphie’s life, This Might Get A Little Heavy will bust your gut, pull at your heart strings, and touch your soul.
Raised in poor, rural, Arkansas by a single mom who struggled to make ends meet, Ralphie’s early years were the perfect breeding ground for the kind of pain and stress and adversity that only comedy can cure. Bitten by the comedy bug at a Methodist sleep-away camp when he was 12 years old, Ralphie seized a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity six years later at an open-mic in a pizza parlor. Mentored and inspired by legendary comedian Sam Kinison to move to Houston, where he got his start, Ralphie packed his bags and never looked back. A major headliner for over twenty-five years, in This Might Get A Little Heavy , Ralphie finally tells the world how a chubby poor kid from Clarksville went from Arkansas to Houston to Hollywood and beyond. Full of never before told stories from Ralphie’s life, This Might Get A Little Heavy will bust your gut, pull at your heart strings, and touch your soul.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published December 12, 2017
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125 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
July 4, 2019
Loved this book. Very insightful into who Ralphie was and the real life struggles he had as sadly many comedians seem to have. Still plenty of laughs in the book of course. As I got towards the end I was sad and nervous that with any possible line could come the story of his death. This book was written before his death and made me wish for a section at the end written by a friend/ fellow comedian saying sadly “X” months after the publication of the book Ralphie passed away. He will be missed.
Now it’s time to binge watch everything I can find on him.
Now it’s time to binge watch everything I can find on him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2018
There's a special type of moment that comes when you have finished reading something that changes your life. I remember finishing Ender's Game, Shadow of the Giant, and now I think I will carry the memory of this book for the rest of my life. I watched a lot of comedians in middle school, where I was a lonely Asperger's kid who had no idea if he fit in this world. Ralphie helped me see through a lot of the PC culture that dominated my teachings, and helped me learn how to feel better about myself as a person. His "Just Correct" act will always be close to my heart and my memory, so I came to this book ready to love it. And I do.
I think Ralphie would enjoy the darkly ironic title of his book, given how much he self deprecates in his stand-up. I was hooked by chapter 1 when Ralphie went through his loss of innocence as a child. When reading I could almost feel Ralphie speaking to me like a member of the audience. Every paragraph has something that keeps you interested, something that has that spark that made Ralphie a great comic. He goes through his entire life from beginning to the almost-end. Reading this at work made a lot of people look at me while I was laughing out loud reading about a magician bombing his own set or his friend being a Machiavellian villain. This was all topped off with an unforgettable ending that was Ralphie going though his time in Vegas.
I don't think I've cried so hard when finishing a book. This is the last thing I will get from Ralphie. I still remember hiding from my dad outside our house (during a school day) waiting for him to go back to work after his lunch, listening to "Just Correct" on my PSP. I won't forget seeing him in person perform higher than a kite making me laugh to jokes I accidentally heard from Netflix early (I didn't know the act I was watching was brand new.) I definitely won't forget how friendly he was and that he nicknamed me Hercules when I got a picture and Autograph with him. I lost a part of myself when Ralphie passed, and hopefully this book gave it back to me; pain included. Comedy and understanding ourselves by making fun of everything is a big part of my life. It helps make everyone understand the world through the same lens and laugh. feel joy. Even for a little bit. Thank you for everything you've taught me Ralphie, hopefully I can teach it to someone else some Day.
~Hercules.
I think Ralphie would enjoy the darkly ironic title of his book, given how much he self deprecates in his stand-up. I was hooked by chapter 1 when Ralphie went through his loss of innocence as a child. When reading I could almost feel Ralphie speaking to me like a member of the audience. Every paragraph has something that keeps you interested, something that has that spark that made Ralphie a great comic. He goes through his entire life from beginning to the almost-end. Reading this at work made a lot of people look at me while I was laughing out loud reading about a magician bombing his own set or his friend being a Machiavellian villain. This was all topped off with an unforgettable ending that was Ralphie going though his time in Vegas.
I don't think I've cried so hard when finishing a book. This is the last thing I will get from Ralphie. I still remember hiding from my dad outside our house (during a school day) waiting for him to go back to work after his lunch, listening to "Just Correct" on my PSP. I won't forget seeing him in person perform higher than a kite making me laugh to jokes I accidentally heard from Netflix early (I didn't know the act I was watching was brand new.) I definitely won't forget how friendly he was and that he nicknamed me Hercules when I got a picture and Autograph with him. I lost a part of myself when Ralphie passed, and hopefully this book gave it back to me; pain included. Comedy and understanding ourselves by making fun of everything is a big part of my life. It helps make everyone understand the world through the same lens and laugh. feel joy. Even for a little bit. Thank you for everything you've taught me Ralphie, hopefully I can teach it to someone else some Day.
~Hercules.
February 20, 2020
I saw Ralphie May perform in Kansas City two months before he died. He was so funny, and also promoted acceptance of everyone. He is very much missed!!!
August 17, 2018
Ralphie’s got some funny ass stories in this book. Was good to see how he got to where he was! Worth reading if you’re a fan. RIP Ralphie.
January 2, 2018
Ralphie May fascinates me. I was devastated when I learned of his death. Admittedly I'm drawn to those who struggle with their weight, which is most likely why I was drawn to his comedy. I was pulling for him to overcome his demons, to have a wonderful marriage with his beautiful wife Lahna, be a great dad, funny comedian and overcome his weight issues. But when he died of complications from pneumonia in 2017, I was saddened, not only because of his death but because he died at the downturn of his life. He recently was estranged from his wife and gained back much of the weight loss from his gastric bypass surgery.
The book was an interesting portrayal into his life, and I would assume that a ghost writer wrote the majority of this, although not well. He didn't go deep into his emotional self. We learned a lot about him on the surface. I didn't realize he had been in a near-death car accident, which made him gain the excessive amount of weight. Nor did I realize what a stoner he was (I guess I should have surmised this from his comedy specials, but I didn't realize the extent). He made it seem like he suffered a lot in his life, but other than the car accident and some competitiveness from fellow comedians that went a little far, I didn't see what was so terrible. He certainly didn't do anything to help him garner sympathy and he came off like a douche.
I was also hoping to laugh during this book given that he is a comedian, but I didn't find anything funny. It wasn't touching, funny or particularly insightful. I did enjoy getting to know more about how we reached the level of success he had, but I was hoping to learn more about him.
Worth a read if you are a Ralphie May fan, but don't expect to to learn much.
The book was an interesting portrayal into his life, and I would assume that a ghost writer wrote the majority of this, although not well. He didn't go deep into his emotional self. We learned a lot about him on the surface. I didn't realize he had been in a near-death car accident, which made him gain the excessive amount of weight. Nor did I realize what a stoner he was (I guess I should have surmised this from his comedy specials, but I didn't realize the extent). He made it seem like he suffered a lot in his life, but other than the car accident and some competitiveness from fellow comedians that went a little far, I didn't see what was so terrible. He certainly didn't do anything to help him garner sympathy and he came off like a douche.
I was also hoping to laugh during this book given that he is a comedian, but I didn't find anything funny. It wasn't touching, funny or particularly insightful. I did enjoy getting to know more about how we reached the level of success he had, but I was hoping to learn more about him.
Worth a read if you are a Ralphie May fan, but don't expect to to learn much.
March 12, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this autobiography. It is certainly written in Ralphie May's voice, even if he didn't do the actual writing. The book reads as though you're sitting down having a drink with him and he's telling you his life story. Unfortunately that's no longer possible since he passed away suddenly in late 2017. He's always been one of my favorite comics since the first time I heard him (and I'm not sure when that was). I loved the fact he was from Arkansas. I didn't know his (ex) wife was also a comic, and I didn't know they were divorced. That part of the story was very sad. It's also sad that he died so suddenly. I don't think I ever read why or how he died. I'm sure it was some health issue related to his weight and drug use. I didn't realize at one point he weighed over 700 lbs. That takes an unbelievable toll on a person's body. I enjoyed spending the last week or so with Ralphie and learning about his life growing up in Arkansas, being mentored by Sam Kinison and dying all too suddenly. If you're a Ralphie May fan, you should read this as I'll bet there's a lot about the man you never knew.
July 14, 2018
When Ralphie May passed away last October, I among many was sad to hear the news, but not the least bit surprised. Everybody's first impression of him was "whoa, he's huuuuge". In reading his autobiography I learned that it wasn't his weight which finally did him in (despite weighing as much as 700 lb, he didn't have high blood pressure or diabetes) but his workaholic attitude, lack of sleep, a devastating divorce (which he goes into more detail about than most celebrity biopic) and side effects of a collapsed lung. Goes to show you can't judge a book by its cover (pardon the pun) but he was one of my favorite comedians ever so it would have been nice to hear what he had to say about President Cheeto and the me too movement. Loses a star because many of the stories told in this book I have heard before, although that's really more my fault.
August 1, 2024
Ralphie May had a very difficult life. His story was funny and sad and full of so much humanity. He was the epitome of Generation X. He grew up too fast, having to help his single Mom. He knew that he didn't need school to be a stand-up comic and pushed for his dreams. He met the right people along the way, but he had the right attitude and worked hard. His book is definitely not PC. Chapter 16 had me dying of laughter, I knew what was coming, but it still made me laugh and cringe all the same.
January 12, 2020
I loved this book! It offers the reader insight into Ralphie and what made him such a successful comedian. Another example of perseverance through the toughest of times can lead to some truly amazing moments in life. Thank you for opening up Ralphie, you are truly missed!
February 14, 2020
Jesus, what a book....
This is 5 stars because I laughed so hard most of the way through, I snorted. It was almost as if I could hear his voice in the words. No other comedian I know of could get a laugh like Ralphie May.
This is 5 stars because I laughed so hard most of the way through, I snorted. It was almost as if I could hear his voice in the words. No other comedian I know of could get a laugh like Ralphie May.
December 28, 2017
Just like he did when he was alive, this book made me laugh out loud.
I miss Ralphie May.
I miss Ralphie May.
May 17, 2018
Funny in parts, but he wrote this while his life was in a tailspin heading down. No happy ending here.
May 18, 2018
I could hear Ralphie in my head as I was reading it.
September 24, 2018
3.5 stars
December 14, 2018
It was very good, but ultimately quite depressing.
July 23, 2020
Got a few big laughs which made this book well worth the read. Ch 7 was hilarious.
January 7, 2022
Ralphie May is one of my favorite comedians, who left us too soon. It was a great book to learn more about his story with of course his sense of humor the main theme throughout the book. RIP.
March 28, 2022
Love you, Ralphie. One of the best comics of all time.
July 26, 2019
"July 26, 2019 –
100.0%
July 24, 2019 – page 169
55.59%
July 18, 2019 – page 102
33.55%
July 10, 2019 – page 81
26.64%
May 7, 2019 – page 41
13.49%
May 5, 2019 – page 11
3.62% "Nothing makes it fun and exciting than going around a comedians life... strugles... obstacles...
...
It's fun to read book!"
May 5, 2019 – page 11
3.62%
May 5, 2019 – Shelved
May 5, 2019 – Started Reading"
100.0%
July 24, 2019 – page 169
55.59%
July 18, 2019 – page 102
33.55%
July 10, 2019 – page 81
26.64%
May 7, 2019 – page 41
13.49%
May 5, 2019 – page 11
3.62% "Nothing makes it fun and exciting than going around a comedians life... strugles... obstacles...
...
It's fun to read book!"
May 5, 2019 – page 11
3.62%
May 5, 2019 – Shelved
May 5, 2019 – Started Reading"
April 15, 2020
I wasn't expecting to read this, but I picked it up at work and fell in love. Ralphie was honest, hilarious and so full of life and love.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews