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Howard Stern Comes Again
Rock stars and rap gods. Comedy legends and A-list actors. Supermodels and centerfolds. Moguls and mobsters. A president.
Over his unrivaled four-decade career in radio, Howard Stern has interviewed thousands of personalities—discussing sex, relationships, money, fame, spirituality, and success with the boldest of bold-faced names. But which interviews are his favorites? It’s one of the questions he gets asked most frequently. Howard Stern Comes Again delivers his answer.
This book is a feast of conversation and more, as between the lines Stern offers his definitive autobiography—a magnum opus of confession and personal exploration. Tracy Morgan opens up about his near-fatal car crash. Lady Gaga divulges her history with cocaine. Madonna reminisces on her relationship with Tupac Shakur. Bill Murray waxes philosophical on the purpose of life. Jerry Seinfeld offers a master class on comedy. Harvey Weinstein denies the existence of the so-called casting couch. An impressive array of creative visionaries weigh in on what Stern calls “the climb”—the stories of how they struggled and eventually prevailed. As he writes in the introduction, “If you’re having trouble finding motivation in life and you’re looking for that extra kick in the ass, you will find it in these pages.”
Interspersed throughout are rare selections from the Howard Stern Show archives with Donald Trump that depict his own transforming from Manhattan tabloid fixture to reality TV star to president of the United States. Stern also tells of his Moby Dick -like quest to land an interview with Hillary Clinton in the run-up to the 2016 election—one of many newly written revelations from the author. He speaks with extraordinary candor about a variety of subjects, including his overwhelming insecurity early in his career, his revolutionary move from terrestrial radio to SiriusXM, and his belief in the power of psychotherapy.
As Stern insightfully notes in the “The interviews collected here represent my best work and show my personal evolution. But they don’t just show my evolution. Gathered together like this, they show the evolution of popular culture over the past quarter century.”
Over his unrivaled four-decade career in radio, Howard Stern has interviewed thousands of personalities—discussing sex, relationships, money, fame, spirituality, and success with the boldest of bold-faced names. But which interviews are his favorites? It’s one of the questions he gets asked most frequently. Howard Stern Comes Again delivers his answer.
This book is a feast of conversation and more, as between the lines Stern offers his definitive autobiography—a magnum opus of confession and personal exploration. Tracy Morgan opens up about his near-fatal car crash. Lady Gaga divulges her history with cocaine. Madonna reminisces on her relationship with Tupac Shakur. Bill Murray waxes philosophical on the purpose of life. Jerry Seinfeld offers a master class on comedy. Harvey Weinstein denies the existence of the so-called casting couch. An impressive array of creative visionaries weigh in on what Stern calls “the climb”—the stories of how they struggled and eventually prevailed. As he writes in the introduction, “If you’re having trouble finding motivation in life and you’re looking for that extra kick in the ass, you will find it in these pages.”
Interspersed throughout are rare selections from the Howard Stern Show archives with Donald Trump that depict his own transforming from Manhattan tabloid fixture to reality TV star to president of the United States. Stern also tells of his Moby Dick -like quest to land an interview with Hillary Clinton in the run-up to the 2016 election—one of many newly written revelations from the author. He speaks with extraordinary candor about a variety of subjects, including his overwhelming insecurity early in his career, his revolutionary move from terrestrial radio to SiriusXM, and his belief in the power of psychotherapy.
As Stern insightfully notes in the “The interviews collected here represent my best work and show my personal evolution. But they don’t just show my evolution. Gathered together like this, they show the evolution of popular culture over the past quarter century.”
560 pages, Paperback
First published May 14, 2019
4124 people are currently reading
4133 people want to read
About the author
Howard Stern
17 books171 followersHoward Stern is an American radio host, humorist and media mogul. Stern hosts The Howard Stern Show four days a week (Monday–Thursday) on Howard 100, a Sirius Satellite Radio station.
The self-proclaimed "King of All Media" has been dubbed a shock jock for his highly controversial use of scatological, sexual, and racial humor. Stern has said that the show was never about shocking people, but primarily intended to offer his honest opinions on a gamut of issues (ranging from world affairs to problems among his own staff). Though controversial, he is the highest-paid radio personality in the United States and the most fined personality in radio broadcast history.
He is best known for his national radio show, which for many years was syndicated on FM radio stations (and a few AM stations) throughout the United States until his last terrestrial radio broadcast on December 16, 2005. He began broadcasting on the subscription-based Sirius satellite radio service on January 9, 2006.
In addition to radio, Stern moved into publishing, television, feature films, and music. He has written two books, Private Parts, which he adapted into a film, and Miss America. Stern's television endeavors include a variety show on New York City's WWOR-TV, a nightly E! show documenting his radio broadcasts, a similar CBS program that competed with Saturday Night Live for a time, "Howard On-Demand" for digital cable subscribers in various markets, and Son of the Beach, a parody of Baywatch for FX which Stern executive produced.
In 2006, Howard Stern was elected into Time Magazine's "Time 100: The People who shape our world" and was ranked #7 in Forbes Magazine's 2006 annual Celebrity 100. On February 13, 2007, Stern became engaged to his long-time girlfriend, model Beth Ostrosky.
The self-proclaimed "King of All Media" has been dubbed a shock jock for his highly controversial use of scatological, sexual, and racial humor. Stern has said that the show was never about shocking people, but primarily intended to offer his honest opinions on a gamut of issues (ranging from world affairs to problems among his own staff). Though controversial, he is the highest-paid radio personality in the United States and the most fined personality in radio broadcast history.
He is best known for his national radio show, which for many years was syndicated on FM radio stations (and a few AM stations) throughout the United States until his last terrestrial radio broadcast on December 16, 2005. He began broadcasting on the subscription-based Sirius satellite radio service on January 9, 2006.
In addition to radio, Stern moved into publishing, television, feature films, and music. He has written two books, Private Parts, which he adapted into a film, and Miss America. Stern's television endeavors include a variety show on New York City's WWOR-TV, a nightly E! show documenting his radio broadcasts, a similar CBS program that competed with Saturday Night Live for a time, "Howard On-Demand" for digital cable subscribers in various markets, and Son of the Beach, a parody of Baywatch for FX which Stern executive produced.
In 2006, Howard Stern was elected into Time Magazine's "Time 100: The People who shape our world" and was ranked #7 in Forbes Magazine's 2006 annual Celebrity 100. On February 13, 2007, Stern became engaged to his long-time girlfriend, model Beth Ostrosky.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 653 reviews
August 20, 2023
My ex absolutely loved him. I tolerated him, because my ex loved him. And then, I noticed a shift in him. And when he married Beth Stern (HGTV fame), I recognized an ultra shift. Then this book came out, and I decided to read it. Here is my review I put up for Goodreads.
Howard has grown up and matured.
This book encompasses some of his interviews with rock stars, comedy legends, A-list actors, supermodels and centerfolds and more over his four-decade career in radio.
This book is a feast of conversation and more, as between the lines Howard offers his definitive autobiography—a magnum opus of confession and personal exploration.
Howard evolved his interviewing style with the combination of his move to Sirius XM and his decision to undergo therapy. At Sirius, he was able to break the traditional interview format while at the same time probe his guests with better, more revealing questions.
What the reader finds — and it’s true that you’ll discover themes and things you may have missed just listening to these discussions — is a refreshingly candid look at how some of the most famous people in the world approach their work (i.e., relentless dedication) and deal with personal issues (e.g., tough upbringings, assault) that make them more relatable to a wide audience.
I highly recommend this to fans of the show, though I especially recommend it to those who may have fixed ideas of who “Howard Stern” is (or was) from “Private Parts,” his shock stunts or his E! network show — you may be surprised to find a mature and thoughtful guy who is very much at the top of his game.
Howard has grown up and matured.
This book encompasses some of his interviews with rock stars, comedy legends, A-list actors, supermodels and centerfolds and more over his four-decade career in radio.
This book is a feast of conversation and more, as between the lines Howard offers his definitive autobiography—a magnum opus of confession and personal exploration.
Howard evolved his interviewing style with the combination of his move to Sirius XM and his decision to undergo therapy. At Sirius, he was able to break the traditional interview format while at the same time probe his guests with better, more revealing questions.
What the reader finds — and it’s true that you’ll discover themes and things you may have missed just listening to these discussions — is a refreshingly candid look at how some of the most famous people in the world approach their work (i.e., relentless dedication) and deal with personal issues (e.g., tough upbringings, assault) that make them more relatable to a wide audience.
I highly recommend this to fans of the show, though I especially recommend it to those who may have fixed ideas of who “Howard Stern” is (or was) from “Private Parts,” his shock stunts or his E! network show — you may be surprised to find a mature and thoughtful guy who is very much at the top of his game.
May 26, 2019
I've never been a fan of Howard Stern, paying as little attention as I could back in the '80s when he was on the radio and everyone was always talking about him, then completely losing track of him when he moved to satellite radio and everyone stopped talking about him; so I was unaware that in the last decade, Stern has mellowed out (due mostly, according to him, to finally seeing a therapist), and has largely replaced the potty humor of his youth with thoughtful long-form celebrity interviews, known in the industry for being the place where famous people surprisingly let down their guard, and reflect on painful personal subjects that they've never admitted elsewhere.
I learned all this because of Stern appearing recently on Conan O'Brien's remarkable long-form podcast, there to promote a new book containing the best of these interviews he's done over the last decade; and this kind of stuff is right up my alley, so I thought I'd take a chance and pick it up*. (*"Pick it up" = "Download it for free off BitTorrent," rapidly becoming my new go-to destination for books too popular to get from the library, but not good enough to bother buying.) And indeed, it was exactly as Stern promised, and I ended up enjoying many of these interviews quite a bit, especially the ones by people like Ellen Degeneres, Jon Stewart and Anderson Cooper who had much darker childhoods than you would ever expect.
Still, though, I struggled with what score to give this book when I was done; for most of the time I was actually going to give it 3 stars, not only because I was only interested in about half the 50 interviews presented here, but also because Stern feels much of the time like he only lucked into getting this probing a talk out of most of them, with him so occupied with trying to turn every interview back into a conversation about himself as much as possible (and with that talk about himself vacillating every other sentence between egomaniacal arrogance and soul-crushing self-loathing), it often seems a wonder that he got any kind of useful information out of these guests whatsoever, with much of it seemingly due to him simply being the one and only mainstream interviewer in America to even present this kind of loose, open atmosphere to begin with.
Ultimately, though, I decided to give the book 4 stars, because I realized that this loose and open atmosphere isn't by random luck at all, but is something Stern has cultivated through hard work for decades, a refreshing "don't give a fuck" attitude that he first developed when establishing his bona fides as a prurience-embracing FCC bane. (One of the fascinating things I discovered on O'Brien's podcast, for example, is that Stern has had a policy his entire career of not allowing publicists to take questions "off the table," and will in fact precisely open the interview with those questions if a publicist tells him he's not allowed to ask them, which in dozens of cases over the years has led to said celebrity walking right out of the booth before answering a single one of them.) Now that Stern is no longer embracing a childish glee over poo-poo and pee-pee to make up the content of his shows, his former attitude when he did is actually working wonders with his attempt to become another Barbara Walters or Charlie Rose, resulting in a book that's a true delight to read precisely because it contains so many unexpected moments. That I feel is worth bumping up my score to 4 stars, and giving it a general recommendation to one and all.
I learned all this because of Stern appearing recently on Conan O'Brien's remarkable long-form podcast, there to promote a new book containing the best of these interviews he's done over the last decade; and this kind of stuff is right up my alley, so I thought I'd take a chance and pick it up*. (*"Pick it up" = "Download it for free off BitTorrent," rapidly becoming my new go-to destination for books too popular to get from the library, but not good enough to bother buying.) And indeed, it was exactly as Stern promised, and I ended up enjoying many of these interviews quite a bit, especially the ones by people like Ellen Degeneres, Jon Stewart and Anderson Cooper who had much darker childhoods than you would ever expect.
Still, though, I struggled with what score to give this book when I was done; for most of the time I was actually going to give it 3 stars, not only because I was only interested in about half the 50 interviews presented here, but also because Stern feels much of the time like he only lucked into getting this probing a talk out of most of them, with him so occupied with trying to turn every interview back into a conversation about himself as much as possible (and with that talk about himself vacillating every other sentence between egomaniacal arrogance and soul-crushing self-loathing), it often seems a wonder that he got any kind of useful information out of these guests whatsoever, with much of it seemingly due to him simply being the one and only mainstream interviewer in America to even present this kind of loose, open atmosphere to begin with.
Ultimately, though, I decided to give the book 4 stars, because I realized that this loose and open atmosphere isn't by random luck at all, but is something Stern has cultivated through hard work for decades, a refreshing "don't give a fuck" attitude that he first developed when establishing his bona fides as a prurience-embracing FCC bane. (One of the fascinating things I discovered on O'Brien's podcast, for example, is that Stern has had a policy his entire career of not allowing publicists to take questions "off the table," and will in fact precisely open the interview with those questions if a publicist tells him he's not allowed to ask them, which in dozens of cases over the years has led to said celebrity walking right out of the booth before answering a single one of them.) Now that Stern is no longer embracing a childish glee over poo-poo and pee-pee to make up the content of his shows, his former attitude when he did is actually working wonders with his attempt to become another Barbara Walters or Charlie Rose, resulting in a book that's a true delight to read precisely because it contains so many unexpected moments. That I feel is worth bumping up my score to 4 stars, and giving it a general recommendation to one and all.
January 10, 2020
Howard: Hello, Seb, nice to see you. You look good, have you been working out?
Seb: No, man, just fasting. 10 pounds lost this month.
Howard: That's really good. Eating healthy too?
Seb: Yeah, it's a long term process. Man, I just got through your book of interviews, it's nice to be here where they all happened.
Howard: Yeah? You read all of it? All 500 pages of it?
Seb: No, not really. Just a third or something, just what I felt could be interesting.
Howard: Like what? Trump?
Seb: God, no. I can't be bothered with his shit anymore. I can say "shit", right?
Howard: Yeah, it's satellite. No censorship, no commercials. So what, you're done with politics?
Seb: I still follow it, I just can't stand them, Trump especially. You know, all the "bigly" claims and his covfefe bullshit. Sure, in the book it's stuff from 20 years ago, but it's the same boastful clown talking.
Howard: Did you read the comedian stuff then?
Seb: Yeah. I loved Colbert, Conan, Jon Stewart, Steve Martin. That's the good stuff. Again, they're just interviews, how much can you really get from them, they're mostly putting up an act anyway.
Howard: You're killing me, Seb. This is my livelihood, man!
Seb: I know, I know. Look, it's like... I don't care what Rosie O'Donnell, Dave Grohl or Lady Gaga have to say. I'm sure there are nice stories there, but it's like with the YouTube video essays. You enjoy them for 10 minutes and then you're left with almost nothing at the end. It's the same with this celebrity culture and obsession with interviews and "takes". They're just there to promote crap and get attention.
Howard: Listen, I get that, but you are a bit harsh. People love these things.
Seb: Maybe. To be honest, I am a bit pretentious. And I wanted to end the book quicker to get to some Elena Ferrante books I just bought. I do appreciate all the work you put in, you know, it can't be easy to get someone to open up like that on air.
Howard: Well thanks. So what did you like about the comedian interviews?
Seb: I just related to them more. All the self-doubt, sweat and sleepless nights that go into good comedy. And it was interesting to find out some background on their lives. I empathised with them, you know. But I can't relate to Ozzy's drug stories or McCartney's... whatever. Yeah, you see? I read 30 pages of what a Beatle had to say and two days later I remember nothing.
Howard: Right. Look, we have to cut to commercials.
Seb: Wait, what!?
Seb: No, man, just fasting. 10 pounds lost this month.
Howard: That's really good. Eating healthy too?
Seb: Yeah, it's a long term process. Man, I just got through your book of interviews, it's nice to be here where they all happened.
Howard: Yeah? You read all of it? All 500 pages of it?
Seb: No, not really. Just a third or something, just what I felt could be interesting.
Howard: Like what? Trump?
Seb: God, no. I can't be bothered with his shit anymore. I can say "shit", right?
Howard: Yeah, it's satellite. No censorship, no commercials. So what, you're done with politics?
Seb: I still follow it, I just can't stand them, Trump especially. You know, all the "bigly" claims and his covfefe bullshit. Sure, in the book it's stuff from 20 years ago, but it's the same boastful clown talking.
Howard: Did you read the comedian stuff then?
Seb: Yeah. I loved Colbert, Conan, Jon Stewart, Steve Martin. That's the good stuff. Again, they're just interviews, how much can you really get from them, they're mostly putting up an act anyway.
Howard: You're killing me, Seb. This is my livelihood, man!
Seb: I know, I know. Look, it's like... I don't care what Rosie O'Donnell, Dave Grohl or Lady Gaga have to say. I'm sure there are nice stories there, but it's like with the YouTube video essays. You enjoy them for 10 minutes and then you're left with almost nothing at the end. It's the same with this celebrity culture and obsession with interviews and "takes". They're just there to promote crap and get attention.
Howard: Listen, I get that, but you are a bit harsh. People love these things.
Seb: Maybe. To be honest, I am a bit pretentious. And I wanted to end the book quicker to get to some Elena Ferrante books I just bought. I do appreciate all the work you put in, you know, it can't be easy to get someone to open up like that on air.
Howard: Well thanks. So what did you like about the comedian interviews?
Seb: I just related to them more. All the self-doubt, sweat and sleepless nights that go into good comedy. And it was interesting to find out some background on their lives. I empathised with them, you know. But I can't relate to Ozzy's drug stories or McCartney's... whatever. Yeah, you see? I read 30 pages of what a Beatle had to say and two days later I remember nothing.
Howard: Right. Look, we have to cut to commercials.
Seb: Wait, what!?
June 6, 2019
A really great read. Stern has matured tremendously. Great interviews. Cogent essays. Though-provoking dialogues. Stern still pries into the sex lives of most of these celebrities, but whereas that used to make up 100% of his approach, Stern has transitioned into an interviewer probing more into the underlying personality of these people rather than only into what they’re doing in the bedroom.
June 27, 2019
i decided to read this after listening to howard stern's two part interview with terry gross. i've never listened to his show other than hearing snippets mostly b/c his tone & tenor was so off-putting. this book is a compilation of some of his favorite interviews & his thoughts on each. he also includes too many interviews with donald trump dating back many years. SPOILER trump has always been a repellent human being & his wife has always stood by her man.
i've heard from disappointed fans that there is nothing new here but as someone who has never listened to his show i thought it was worth a look. reading the interviews meant i did not have to hear his voice & now have context of his evolution from shock jock to skilled interviewer. therapy, getting older, & being happily married have changed his outlook & he endeavors to no longer humiliate his guests. readers will wonder at his choice of a double entendre title for a book that is almost 100% mea culpa.
i've heard from disappointed fans that there is nothing new here but as someone who has never listened to his show i thought it was worth a look. reading the interviews meant i did not have to hear his voice & now have context of his evolution from shock jock to skilled interviewer. therapy, getting older, & being happily married have changed his outlook & he endeavors to no longer humiliate his guests. readers will wonder at his choice of a double entendre title for a book that is almost 100% mea culpa.
July 13, 2020
As a regular listener of Howard Stern’s show, I am predisposed to like this book — though I didn’t expect to love it. As he states in the introduction of this collection of about 35 interviews with actors, musicians, comedians and our current president, Howard evolved his interviewing style with the combination of his move to Sirius XM and his decision to undergo therapy. At Sirius, he was able to break the traditional interview format while at the same time probe his guests with better, more revealing questions.
What the reader finds — and it’s true that you’ll discover themes and things you may have missed just listening to these discussions — is a refreshingly candid look at how some of the most famous people in the world approach their work (i.e., relentless dedication) and deal with personal issues (e.g., tough upbringings, assault) that make them more relatable to a wide audience. I highly recommend this to fans of the show, though I especially recommend it to those who may have fixed ideas of who “Howard Stern” is (or was) from “Private Parts,” or his shock stunts or his E! network show — you may be surprised to find a mature and thoughtful guy who is very much at the top of his game. Even though tasteless jokes are still part of his program, there’s only a sprinkling of that fun nonsense here.
What the reader finds — and it’s true that you’ll discover themes and things you may have missed just listening to these discussions — is a refreshingly candid look at how some of the most famous people in the world approach their work (i.e., relentless dedication) and deal with personal issues (e.g., tough upbringings, assault) that make them more relatable to a wide audience. I highly recommend this to fans of the show, though I especially recommend it to those who may have fixed ideas of who “Howard Stern” is (or was) from “Private Parts,” or his shock stunts or his E! network show — you may be surprised to find a mature and thoughtful guy who is very much at the top of his game. Even though tasteless jokes are still part of his program, there’s only a sprinkling of that fun nonsense here.
May 28, 2019
I’m not sure how to rate this book. I’m a huge fan. I’ve been a faithful radio listener for 20+ years. So of course I pre-ordered the book. But this book, I feel, is not necessarily for the faithful listeners. This book is clips and transcripts of some of Howard’s best interviews over the years, with some thoughts and such in between. He reveals some personal stuff in the book but it’s not necessarily a “tell all” type of memoir. So if you’ve listened to the interviews and heard every show (like me) then this is all stuff you’ve already heard.
BUT, it is very good and it’s very interesting because he chose interviews that were very compelling. Where guests really revealed intimate or tragic things about themselves and their lives. So even if you aren’t a Howard Stern fan, you could read this book and enjoy every word of it because you will learn things about celebrities you wouldn’t learn anywhere else.
He talks about a LOT of heavy topics, too. Like how Pamela Anderson was gang raped. Lena Dunham was raped. Stephen Colbert’s father and two brothers were killed in a plane crash. Rosie O’Donnell talked about the really hard childhood she had losing her mother at a young age. Howard wrote:
“…she announced she was gay. That really struck a chord with me. I had an older cousin, Stacy, who came out in the 1950s, when he was thirteen. This was in a tough neighborhood in Brooklyn, but my family was very accepting. My mother would set him up on dates, and even as a little kid I appreciated how courageous Stacy was. The same went for Rosie. I couldn’t imagine how much guts it took for her to come out, especially considering the potential risk to her career, yet she did it. “
Several celebrities discussed their run-ins with Harvey Weinstein. And Howard shared his interview with Harvey (where Harvey lied outright about the casting couch rumors).
Courtney Love talked about what it was like losing her husband to suicide. “No, he was weak. He was weak. Howard: Does that bother you that you guys weren’t on good terms when he died? Courtney: We were on good terms. He was just really weak. Howard: He couldn’t fuck at that point or think about anything other than his own condition. Courtney: He couldn’t think of anything but drugs. Howard: It is sad. So sad.”
Chris Cornell talked about his addiction to Oxy. “Yeah, it’s—you don’t know what’s going on. You don’t feel anything. Kicking it is so hard because all of a sudden your whole body comes to life, and you’ll have had all of these physical problems you didn’t realize you had because you don’t feel a damn thing. And so your knees will hurt. Your joints ache. Your brain hurts. It’s very depressing. It’s very hard to stay off. Getting off isn’t as hard as staying off. “
The interviews were really heavy at times. “Sometimes the conversations can be funny, like Snoop Dogg and Seth Rogen talking about their love of weed. Sometimes it can get dark, like hearing about Anthony Kiedis and Drew Barrymore being exposed to drugs when they were just kids.” And then it could be funny–like Alex Trebek revealing that he went to a party in Malibu and ate a bunch of Hash brownies because he has a sweet tooth. LOL!
And of course, Howard talks a lot about the animal rescue him and his wife do. He opened up about his cat, Leon: “We had Leon for eight years. We were never sure how old he was. This past September, the vet found a large tumor. We had to get it removed or else Leon would die. The surgery was routine, we were told, and he was expected to come through it fine. I had this strange feeling. A few days before he went to the hospital, I had a long talk with him. I said, “Leon, you’re going in for an operation. I can’t lose you. You’ve been with me through thick and thin. Don’t worry, you’re going to be all right. We’re going to be spending a lot more time together.” But deep in my mind I knew this could be it. Sadly, he died on the operating table. The tumor was even bigger than they thought, and he lost too much blood during the procedure. We had Leon cremated, and we put the small box containing his remains in a large Chinese vase in our bedroom. In that vase we keep the remains of our dog Bianca and all our resident cats who have passed away: Apple, Charlie, Sophia, and now Leon. Inside Leon’s box is also his collar with contact information in case he ever got out of the house. “My name is Leon Bear Stern,” it read. “Here is my phone number in case I am lost.” I was the one who had been lost—lost until I found Leon.”
I still cry whenever I read about his experiences losing his pets (they’ve lost a few cats over the years). It touches me pretty deeply.
Anyways, the book is excellent.
BUT, it is very good and it’s very interesting because he chose interviews that were very compelling. Where guests really revealed intimate or tragic things about themselves and their lives. So even if you aren’t a Howard Stern fan, you could read this book and enjoy every word of it because you will learn things about celebrities you wouldn’t learn anywhere else.
He talks about a LOT of heavy topics, too. Like how Pamela Anderson was gang raped. Lena Dunham was raped. Stephen Colbert’s father and two brothers were killed in a plane crash. Rosie O’Donnell talked about the really hard childhood she had losing her mother at a young age. Howard wrote:
“…she announced she was gay. That really struck a chord with me. I had an older cousin, Stacy, who came out in the 1950s, when he was thirteen. This was in a tough neighborhood in Brooklyn, but my family was very accepting. My mother would set him up on dates, and even as a little kid I appreciated how courageous Stacy was. The same went for Rosie. I couldn’t imagine how much guts it took for her to come out, especially considering the potential risk to her career, yet she did it. “
Several celebrities discussed their run-ins with Harvey Weinstein. And Howard shared his interview with Harvey (where Harvey lied outright about the casting couch rumors).
Courtney Love talked about what it was like losing her husband to suicide. “No, he was weak. He was weak. Howard: Does that bother you that you guys weren’t on good terms when he died? Courtney: We were on good terms. He was just really weak. Howard: He couldn’t fuck at that point or think about anything other than his own condition. Courtney: He couldn’t think of anything but drugs. Howard: It is sad. So sad.”
Chris Cornell talked about his addiction to Oxy. “Yeah, it’s—you don’t know what’s going on. You don’t feel anything. Kicking it is so hard because all of a sudden your whole body comes to life, and you’ll have had all of these physical problems you didn’t realize you had because you don’t feel a damn thing. And so your knees will hurt. Your joints ache. Your brain hurts. It’s very depressing. It’s very hard to stay off. Getting off isn’t as hard as staying off. “
The interviews were really heavy at times. “Sometimes the conversations can be funny, like Snoop Dogg and Seth Rogen talking about their love of weed. Sometimes it can get dark, like hearing about Anthony Kiedis and Drew Barrymore being exposed to drugs when they were just kids.” And then it could be funny–like Alex Trebek revealing that he went to a party in Malibu and ate a bunch of Hash brownies because he has a sweet tooth. LOL!
And of course, Howard talks a lot about the animal rescue him and his wife do. He opened up about his cat, Leon: “We had Leon for eight years. We were never sure how old he was. This past September, the vet found a large tumor. We had to get it removed or else Leon would die. The surgery was routine, we were told, and he was expected to come through it fine. I had this strange feeling. A few days before he went to the hospital, I had a long talk with him. I said, “Leon, you’re going in for an operation. I can’t lose you. You’ve been with me through thick and thin. Don’t worry, you’re going to be all right. We’re going to be spending a lot more time together.” But deep in my mind I knew this could be it. Sadly, he died on the operating table. The tumor was even bigger than they thought, and he lost too much blood during the procedure. We had Leon cremated, and we put the small box containing his remains in a large Chinese vase in our bedroom. In that vase we keep the remains of our dog Bianca and all our resident cats who have passed away: Apple, Charlie, Sophia, and now Leon. Inside Leon’s box is also his collar with contact information in case he ever got out of the house. “My name is Leon Bear Stern,” it read. “Here is my phone number in case I am lost.” I was the one who had been lost—lost until I found Leon.”
I still cry whenever I read about his experiences losing his pets (they’ve lost a few cats over the years). It touches me pretty deeply.
Anyways, the book is excellent.
July 2, 2019
I love Howard, but I was disappointed when I found out this was basically a book of interview transcripts.
It turns out this book is so much more.
Howard introduces each interview with an honest reflection and connection to how he’s evolved as a radio personality and as a person. He discusses his regrets throughout his career, specifically his arrogance and ego.
It turns out it’s a unique memoir of personal growth. A kinder, gentler Howard!
It turns out this book is so much more.
Howard introduces each interview with an honest reflection and connection to how he’s evolved as a radio personality and as a person. He discusses his regrets throughout his career, specifically his arrogance and ego.
It turns out it’s a unique memoir of personal growth. A kinder, gentler Howard!
June 18, 2019
1 1/2 stars
A long time ago I was into Howard Stern's obnoxious humor, but as I matured it just became exactly that...obnoxious. I stopped listening to him for a long time and sort of lost touch with what he was up too. Then my husband started subscribing to SiriusXM and discovered Howard Stern's show. He kept going on about how good his interviews were as I rolled my eyes. Thenmy husband trapped me in the car I gave it a listen and you know, it wasn't so bad. Some of the old Howard was there, but you could tell there was a change. I then saw his interview on the David Letterman Netflix show and decided to give this book a chance.
Unfortunately, I got about 31% of the way when I realized I just couldn't do it anymore. The formatting is exhausting to read. It starts with Howard's introduction where he talks about therapy as a game changer, then moves onto the interviews portion. Before each interview there is a short introduction written by Howard and then a transcript of the interview...well, a portion of it. In between, there are interviews with Trump before he became President as well as introspective sections like "Sex & Relationships" and "Money & Fame". The in-between sections are Howard's thoughts combined with snippets of interviews that have to do with the topic.
This formatting probably would work in audio book form, but in book form I found it a bit brutal. Mainly because the tone is missing. But more so, because this "book" lacks substance. I thought it was going to be more about Howard and his thoughts, but his introspection is very superficial and the things he reveals about himself is the same regurgitated material he's given before. I'm not going to lie that I was also disappointed that he decided to give Trump and Weinstein a platform. He said he went back and forth about adding the Weinstein interview because it pissed him off that Weinstein lied in his answers. Duh! He was lying to everybody. But, he doesn't ever go into WHY he ended up deciding to add the interview. Was it because he's still that shock jock or because he found something important in it? It's never answered.
Some of the interviews were a bit interesting hence the 1/2 star. Surprisingly, I found Courtney Love's thoughts on Curt Cobain's death heartbreaking as well as the abuse that Rosie O'Donnell experienced. Andersen Cooper and even Ozzy Osbourne also had interesting interviews. Some of them were actually insightful, which is what surprised me when I listened to Howard's show for the first time. Unfortunately, there is very little of this insightfulness for me to keep going and so it's time to let this one go.
A long time ago I was into Howard Stern's obnoxious humor, but as I matured it just became exactly that...obnoxious. I stopped listening to him for a long time and sort of lost touch with what he was up too. Then my husband started subscribing to SiriusXM and discovered Howard Stern's show. He kept going on about how good his interviews were as I rolled my eyes. Then
Unfortunately, I got about 31% of the way when I realized I just couldn't do it anymore. The formatting is exhausting to read. It starts with Howard's introduction where he talks about therapy as a game changer, then moves onto the interviews portion. Before each interview there is a short introduction written by Howard and then a transcript of the interview...well, a portion of it. In between, there are interviews with Trump before he became President as well as introspective sections like "Sex & Relationships" and "Money & Fame". The in-between sections are Howard's thoughts combined with snippets of interviews that have to do with the topic.
This formatting probably would work in audio book form, but in book form I found it a bit brutal. Mainly because the tone is missing. But more so, because this "book" lacks substance. I thought it was going to be more about Howard and his thoughts, but his introspection is very superficial and the things he reveals about himself is the same regurgitated material he's given before. I'm not going to lie that I was also disappointed that he decided to give Trump and Weinstein a platform. He said he went back and forth about adding the Weinstein interview because it pissed him off that Weinstein lied in his answers. Duh! He was lying to everybody. But, he doesn't ever go into WHY he ended up deciding to add the interview. Was it because he's still that shock jock or because he found something important in it? It's never answered.
Some of the interviews were a bit interesting hence the 1/2 star. Surprisingly, I found Courtney Love's thoughts on Curt Cobain's death heartbreaking as well as the abuse that Rosie O'Donnell experienced. Andersen Cooper and even Ozzy Osbourne also had interesting interviews. Some of them were actually insightful, which is what surprised me when I listened to Howard's show for the first time. Unfortunately, there is very little of this insightfulness for me to keep going and so it's time to let this one go.
May 20, 2019
Howard Stern became famous, in part, for his no holds barred interviews of celebrities. As a listener of over thirty years I was disappointed by many of his choices for this book. Key omissions include Sam Kinison, Pat Cooper, and my personal favorite, Tiny Tim. Kinison is spinning in his grave as the King of all Media now praises the likes of Rosie O’Donnell, Roseanne Barr and Ellen Degeneres, to name a few of the witless comics who Sam and Howie would rake over the coals for their lameness. The angry young man has gone Hollywood. Stern claims in the intro that psychoanalysis has sharpened his interviewing skills and he is wrong. The K-rock days, from 1985-2005 and the early Sirius days were his best. The opening chapter with his kiss ass encounter with Madonna is nauseating; Like a Virgin will fade into obscurity, along with its’ singer. Paul McCartney, on the other hand, is treated with a well deserved adulation. Donovan should have been included for his influence on George Harrison’s guitar style and other revelations. In-between chapters use interviews with the terrible president but great guest, Donald Trump. The segments run the course of twenty years. Mike Tyson was surprisingly funny, unfiltered and candid regarding prison, drugs and women. He is Stern’s best guest of the past thirteen years; a no BS kind of guy. Some of his choices mystify me. The Kardashian bimboes are included out of 1,500 Sirius interviews. Why? James Caan gets a few paragraphs and deserved an entire chapter; a phenomenal guest. Until his death in 1992, Sam Kinison was a regular and would spend all four hours with Stern; another mistake here by Howie in editorial choices. David Letterman is great. Dave and Howard have perfect chemistry they clicked for an hour and a half. Howard’s mother Ray called for his 46th birthday and the result was nothing short of amazing. His mother and father Ben provided some of the best moments of the 1990’s. Unfortunately, there are far too few examples like this in the book. Stern has sold out and become as predictable as everyone else out there. Do not bother with this book.
June 24, 2019
I have been a huge Howard Stern fan for years so getting my hands on his new book was a must. Although his interviews are head and shoulders above the rest, I have to say I was underwhelmed. He did though put in one of my favorite and definitely one of the most memorable interviews with singer/songwriter SIA. I thoroughly enjoyed the segment "And Now a Word From Our President" which showcased many of Howard's interviews with Donald Trump. (Your president folks) Classic Howard. xxoo
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September 10, 2019Howard Stern’s book Come Again is simply transcripts of his shows.
January 20, 2020
Howard Stern's third book, COMES AGAIN, is simply disappointing. It boils down to over 500 pages of transcripts of radio interview. What's more it puts on full display the reason I have a disconnect with the radio personality I used to listen to daily like a religion. Howard has transformed into Hollywood Howard, a celebrity on the level of celebrity that he used to knock down to size on his radio show when it was relevant.
I don't begrudge the guy the ability to mature. That is fine if you don't find value in asking celebrities uncomfortable questions. But when you sit there and try to justify how wonderful these people are, that's just hypocritical. It reveals Howard for what we all kinda knew all along, the second he got famous he became just like them and not like us.
Personality and growth aside, the book just comes off as a money grab. Its lazy. Far too many transcripts of radio interviews he's conducted over the years peppered with a bit of commentary. Then he tries to justify it in a long, drawn out introduction claiming he poured of the content of this book for two years. Well, he wasted two years of his life.
Howard Stern's COMES AGAIN is lazy, long and lethargic. If it were half the size and contained more, new, commentary from Howard it would have had a chance. But, he signed a contract, took a check and didn't put in any work. Not worth the time investment if you ask me.
I don't begrudge the guy the ability to mature. That is fine if you don't find value in asking celebrities uncomfortable questions. But when you sit there and try to justify how wonderful these people are, that's just hypocritical. It reveals Howard for what we all kinda knew all along, the second he got famous he became just like them and not like us.
Personality and growth aside, the book just comes off as a money grab. Its lazy. Far too many transcripts of radio interviews he's conducted over the years peppered with a bit of commentary. Then he tries to justify it in a long, drawn out introduction claiming he poured of the content of this book for two years. Well, he wasted two years of his life.
Howard Stern's COMES AGAIN is lazy, long and lethargic. If it were half the size and contained more, new, commentary from Howard it would have had a chance. But, he signed a contract, took a check and didn't put in any work. Not worth the time investment if you ask me.
August 6, 2019
I understood that this book’s focus was the interviews and I also understand that Howard has evolved. For me it was never about rating women’s bodies or having strippers in studio; it was about honesty.
As a fan, I’m happy Howard has evolved as a human. I’m happy he’s happy. But as a fan I can also be saddened by the fact that his happiness comes with being dishonest to his fans to some degree.
The book is 90% transcripts and 10% original content. I do like the “now a word from our president” sections. It shows that even though he disagrees with Donald, Howard can still find the humor in his previous visits.
I think the best chapter in the book is he Hillary chapter—again because of the honesty. He tried to get her and he couldn’t. It’s a little behind the scenes, a little “what if”, and a lot of entertaining. If the book had more of this then it’d be 5 stars. But it doesn’t. So three stars it is.
As a fan, I’m happy Howard has evolved as a human. I’m happy he’s happy. But as a fan I can also be saddened by the fact that his happiness comes with being dishonest to his fans to some degree.
The book is 90% transcripts and 10% original content. I do like the “now a word from our president” sections. It shows that even though he disagrees with Donald, Howard can still find the humor in his previous visits.
I think the best chapter in the book is he Hillary chapter—again because of the honesty. He tried to get her and he couldn’t. It’s a little behind the scenes, a little “what if”, and a lot of entertaining. If the book had more of this then it’d be 5 stars. But it doesn’t. So three stars it is.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2019
Pattycake interviews with PR savvy celebrities conducted by an admittedly kinder and gentler Stern. The Mueller Report of talk radio transcriptions.
Stopped the masochistic mundanity at page 190 (out of 500+).
Stopped the masochistic mundanity at page 190 (out of 500+).
August 13, 2019
Part interview transcripts and part reflection on those interviews, Howard Stern Comes Again was a pleasant surprise that depicts a colorful composite of a nuanced and at times, conflicted man.
This book is probably better for those who aren’t already huge Howard Stern fans. If you haven’t listened to his show much or heard his interviews OR if you only know him by his shock-jock past, this is a great insight into his growth as an interviewer and a person. There’s a nice array of guests spanning several decades, so I think you’ll be able to make up your mind about him either way by the end.
As I mentioned in my Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman review, I read the books concurrently and was able to round out some of my conflicting feelings about Howard Stern individually, and perhaps more broadly, what he represents. Stern of the 80s, 90s and into the 00s was a reactionary and crass contrarian who has admitted since that he harbored a lot of bitterness and feelings of inadequacy. He lashed out frequently and showed very little compassion at times. He said hurtful things not despite this fact, but because of it, just for the reaction. I would have not been interested in anything Stern of the past had to say.
But he’s grown since then. He’s become more empathetic. He’s been given more freedom and has been able to let go of the anger he had. It’s a success story that I cling to now when it feels like cruelty for the sake of it has become more and more acceptable. His journey is laid out in segments at the beginning of each chapter introducing the guest and usually providing a personal anecdote that contributed to his line of questioning or mindset at the time. Some of them are more significant than others, while a few come off as self-congratulatory. On the whole, these parts have more of a memoir feel than the interviews, but both work well together.
What I had more of a problem with intermittently was what he said to his guests. There’s a huge tonal shift if he’s speaking to a woman that’s more ‘sexualized’ in his mind vs the average man he has on. There felt like so much more inherent respect with the men and a select few women he has seemingly arbitrarily deemed worthy. The way he speaks about women with the men he’s interviewing can be diminishing as well. This isn’t limited to the Trump interviews or conversations 10+ years old; some are relatively recent and feel jarring compared to, say, his empathetic consideration of mental illness or drug addiction.
If anything, the book is a great example of self-improvement. And perhaps an even better example of how we all have so much more room to continue to grow.
This book is probably better for those who aren’t already huge Howard Stern fans. If you haven’t listened to his show much or heard his interviews OR if you only know him by his shock-jock past, this is a great insight into his growth as an interviewer and a person. There’s a nice array of guests spanning several decades, so I think you’ll be able to make up your mind about him either way by the end.
As I mentioned in my Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman review, I read the books concurrently and was able to round out some of my conflicting feelings about Howard Stern individually, and perhaps more broadly, what he represents. Stern of the 80s, 90s and into the 00s was a reactionary and crass contrarian who has admitted since that he harbored a lot of bitterness and feelings of inadequacy. He lashed out frequently and showed very little compassion at times. He said hurtful things not despite this fact, but because of it, just for the reaction. I would have not been interested in anything Stern of the past had to say.
But he’s grown since then. He’s become more empathetic. He’s been given more freedom and has been able to let go of the anger he had. It’s a success story that I cling to now when it feels like cruelty for the sake of it has become more and more acceptable. His journey is laid out in segments at the beginning of each chapter introducing the guest and usually providing a personal anecdote that contributed to his line of questioning or mindset at the time. Some of them are more significant than others, while a few come off as self-congratulatory. On the whole, these parts have more of a memoir feel than the interviews, but both work well together.
What I had more of a problem with intermittently was what he said to his guests. There’s a huge tonal shift if he’s speaking to a woman that’s more ‘sexualized’ in his mind vs the average man he has on. There felt like so much more inherent respect with the men and a select few women he has seemingly arbitrarily deemed worthy. The way he speaks about women with the men he’s interviewing can be diminishing as well. This isn’t limited to the Trump interviews or conversations 10+ years old; some are relatively recent and feel jarring compared to, say, his empathetic consideration of mental illness or drug addiction.
If anything, the book is a great example of self-improvement. And perhaps an even better example of how we all have so much more room to continue to grow.
May 27, 2019
It was ok. I felt like the chapters he really did a long, in depth, introduction were great. I got to see what he was going after, his goal, his approach. Others I felt were short and not much to go by and others were about other topics and then a quick blurb about the interview. I’d love to read more of what he wanted to get out, did get out, didn’t get, all if it. That was most interesting to me.
July 1, 2019
Howard Stern. You either love him or hate him. I myself, love him. I've listened to him through out the years sporadically but in the last year when I was working everyday, I listened faithfully every morning and on the way home too. Whether it is the banter with his c0-workers, questions from people calling in, mimicking his elderly parents or his interviews, he is always honest and funny. I really enjoyed this book and when he started talking about it on his show I pre-ordered it right away. This is a book of interviews and before each one is a description, sometimes his thoughts, where he was at that time in his life etc. My two favorite take aways were when he was talking about his Cat Leon and his painting at the end of another one of his Cats named Sophia. The interviews were great. Although I skipped maybe two or three because the people either didn't interest me or I didn't know who they were. Donald Trump was a regular caller throughout his years on radio and there are quite a few "And Now from our President" that I had no interest in and skipped over as well. This was my coffee in the morning book and it made that morning coffee that much more enjoyable.
June 25, 2019
Loved the format and seeing how Howard Stern has grown over the years. He truly is a master interviewer and can make me interested in just about anyone. It's also true that I got a lot more out of the print interviews than listening to them, probably because I'm a visual person. Overall a great book that's a lot more than just interviews.
November 29, 2019
I have a great respect and appreciation for people who change and grow during their life. I don’t think change is easy and most people go to great lengths to avoid it.
I was no lover of early day Howard Stern. Someone who dressed up as Fartman, who focused on women’s body parts, who talked about sex like a hormonal, titillated teenager, - I found him juvenile and ridiculous.
I have since seen him on a few talk shows discussing how therapy has changed him. And it has changed him. I decided to read his book and found him thoughtful, insightful, introspective, empathetic, caring, and interesting. He was a very informed interviewer and I gleaned a lot of information from what I read.
It is unfortunate, but hardly unexpected, to see so many Howard fans turn on this “new” version. So many of them have remained stuck and they don’t understand or appreciate Howard’s transformation. I hope others who had dismissed Stern in the past, as I had, give him a chance. His journey has a lot to offer those who listen.
I was no lover of early day Howard Stern. Someone who dressed up as Fartman, who focused on women’s body parts, who talked about sex like a hormonal, titillated teenager, - I found him juvenile and ridiculous.
I have since seen him on a few talk shows discussing how therapy has changed him. And it has changed him. I decided to read his book and found him thoughtful, insightful, introspective, empathetic, caring, and interesting. He was a very informed interviewer and I gleaned a lot of information from what I read.
It is unfortunate, but hardly unexpected, to see so many Howard fans turn on this “new” version. So many of them have remained stuck and they don’t understand or appreciate Howard’s transformation. I hope others who had dismissed Stern in the past, as I had, give him a chance. His journey has a lot to offer those who listen.
May 22, 2019
I have been a fan of Howard Stern’s for many, many years and loved this book. Howard’s introductory remarks to the book and to each interview are poignant and show how much he has grown emotionally without ever losing his sheer brilliance as a entertainer. It’s amazing how many famous people have opened up to him during these interviews because of Howard’s extraordinary preparation and empathy.
July 2, 2019
On my nook, this ebook was 601 pages and they flew by way too damn fast. I tried to slow my reading down and savor each introduction and interview but I just kept gobbling them up like a beast. Nomnomnom! Stern is so much more, I hate to use the word likeable here buuut...likeable, more relatable now. I love that he shares how therapy has helped him grow and his interviews are better for it. I was also happy with the interviews he chose (I could've done without so many from Trump but I get what he was doing, I think) and love that he gives you an explanation beforehand as to why each interview was chosen. All around, good stuff. I'll most likely read again at some point in my life, just because.
June 16, 2019
I gave this book 5 stars because I can't imagine how a book like this could be any better. Howard has done a really great thing here - he put together a compilation of excerpts from some of his best interviews, and the people are a who's who of pop culture and influence. I had always enjoyed his interviews, as he usually asks things that regular people would want to know about the subject. But as Howard has matured with age (and a lot of therapy), his interviews have grown deeper and even more interesting. I believe he is the best interviewer out there. And as is evident here, people open up to him in a way that's rarely seen. I truly enjoyed this book, and am so glad that he decided to write it.
May 18, 2019
To Howard
I wasn't sure I'd love this book. I'm not sure why, but I didn't think I would. I listen to Howard daily and have for years. I should love the book! I can honestly say that not only did I love this book, but I. ADORED it. It was written with emotion and care
. It was written with respect and class. If I never heard one word Howard Stern ever said, I'd read this book and truly want to know him, and many celebrities as friends. Truly a favorite. Amazing job, Howard! Truly first class.
I wasn't sure I'd love this book. I'm not sure why, but I didn't think I would. I listen to Howard daily and have for years. I should love the book! I can honestly say that not only did I love this book, but I. ADORED it. It was written with emotion and care
. It was written with respect and class. If I never heard one word Howard Stern ever said, I'd read this book and truly want to know him, and many celebrities as friends. Truly a favorite. Amazing job, Howard! Truly first class.
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October 18, 2019I don't know how to rate this read.
Full disclosure: I have never listened to Howard Stern [FM or Sirius] or watched America's Got Talent so totally unfamiliar with anything but his reputation.
I decided to read this book after watching him on Bill Maher and Colbert.
I read the Introduction [long] and 22 interviews -- with people I was interested in. Skipped every section on DJT and the compilations.
Enjoyed what I read and not sorry. But feel no need to read more of it.
Full disclosure: I have never listened to Howard Stern [FM or Sirius] or watched America's Got Talent so totally unfamiliar with anything but his reputation.
I decided to read this book after watching him on Bill Maher and Colbert.
I read the Introduction [long] and 22 interviews -- with people I was interested in. Skipped every section on DJT and the compilations.
Enjoyed what I read and not sorry. But feel no need to read more of it.
May 14, 2019
Great read!
May 27, 2019
Most people wouldn’t think I’d read this. It was a gift and I found it quite good although that old stuff is still there with him. But he’s an excellent interviewer and I like learning about people.
May 11, 2020
Anyone who knows me will not be surprised to see 5 stars. I truly love this man.
I was in the "ugh, he's just a shallow, raunchy, loudmouth schnook" category for years, never having actually listened to his show but just hearing ABOUT him all the time.
Then around 1995, on a long car ride, scanning through the channels on the radio, I happened upon someone talking about just some everyday topic, sharing his opinion and getting others' input, like he was just having a heart to heart with friends. I didn't know who it was at that point. But I found myself talking back to him as I was driving. "I know! Right?? Yeah!" Then I found out it was Howard. What?
I kept listening. Then I was hooked. I found his openness and honesty refreshing. I wasn't necessarily bothered by the other stuff -- the strippers, the fart jokes -- but that's not what I tuned in for either. But, ok, some of it was funny. I'm not above "potty humor."
But over the last 25 years, it's been a pleasure to see him evolve as a human and as a professional. And as an animal lover and an animal rights advocate, I admire him and Beth for all the work they've done for rescue animals.
Anyway, these interviews shine, and his intros to each one give some background that helps to give more context for each one.
I was in the "ugh, he's just a shallow, raunchy, loudmouth schnook" category for years, never having actually listened to his show but just hearing ABOUT him all the time.
Then around 1995, on a long car ride, scanning through the channels on the radio, I happened upon someone talking about just some everyday topic, sharing his opinion and getting others' input, like he was just having a heart to heart with friends. I didn't know who it was at that point. But I found myself talking back to him as I was driving. "I know! Right?? Yeah!" Then I found out it was Howard. What?
I kept listening. Then I was hooked. I found his openness and honesty refreshing. I wasn't necessarily bothered by the other stuff -- the strippers, the fart jokes -- but that's not what I tuned in for either. But, ok, some of it was funny. I'm not above "potty humor."
But over the last 25 years, it's been a pleasure to see him evolve as a human and as a professional. And as an animal lover and an animal rights advocate, I admire him and Beth for all the work they've done for rescue animals.
Anyway, these interviews shine, and his intros to each one give some background that helps to give more context for each one.
February 3, 2020
I haven't listened to Howard's show, so all of these interviews were new to me, and though I skipped a few of them (only if I really disliked someone or just truly wasn't interested), for the most part, I read all of them and enjoyed them a lot. I also liked reading his POV that he shared at the beginning of many of them that gave added context to the interviews, or was just his reflection now when looking back on them.
I've sincerely enjoyed seeing how much Howard has grown and changed as a person over the years, and I enjoy his deeper and more compassionate side now. You can tell he's put a lot of work into himself, and it really shows through his love for his wife, his children, the animals he helps his wife rescue, and his passion for his job. It's beautiful thing.
I've sincerely enjoyed seeing how much Howard has grown and changed as a person over the years, and I enjoy his deeper and more compassionate side now. You can tell he's put a lot of work into himself, and it really shows through his love for his wife, his children, the animals he helps his wife rescue, and his passion for his job. It's beautiful thing.
February 26, 2020
I’ve never listened to Stern’s radio show. I thought I knew who he was. I was wrong. He’s matured into a great interviewer (which he attributes to a LOT of therapy). I do love a good interview, not the pre-scripted Q&A type, but a real conversation that flows naturally. In this book, some are funny, some are kinda dirty (old-school Stern), but most have sensitive, revealing moments. Some of the best, singer Sia, David Letterman, Steve Martin and Chris Rock.
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