Based on a True Story

by Norm Macdonald
Based on a True Story cover
Good Books rating 3.92
Comedy/Humor
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  • ID: 10545
  • Added: 2026-01-25
  • Updated: 2026-01-25
  • ISBN: 9781443414319
  • Publisher: HarperCollins
  • Published: 2016-09-20
  • Reviews: 3

Norm Macdonald's memoir, Based on a True Story, is a rollicking adventure through his life, from his humble beginnings on an Ontario farm to his memorable stint on Saturday Night Live. The book is not just a memoir but a hilarious epic filled with milestone moments, regrets, love affairs, and wild stories from his life. /n/n Macdonald takes readers on a road trip to Las Vegas with his sidekick, Adam Eget, as he tries to regain a fortune lost to sports betting and other vices. The book is peppered with classic jokes and long-mythologized Hollywood stories, offering an exclusive pass inside the mad, glorious mind of a comedy legend.

Reviews
Reddit - StandUpComedy · 2023-02-26
hilarious 4.50

This book is considered the best and funniest comic novel by many readers. The audiobook, narrated by Norm Macdonald, is particularly praised.

The book is widely regarded as one of the funniest comic novels ever written. Many readers find it hilarious and engaging, with Norm Macdonald's narration adding an extra layer of enjoyment. The humor is consistent throughout, making it a standout in the genre. The audiobook is especially recommended for its comedic timing and delivery.

Quick quotes

    It is the best comic novel I have ever read.

    Norm often jokes that it is the greatest comic novel of all time.

    The Audio Book, as read by Norm Macdonald, is his best work.

Slate · 2021-09-16
thoughtful 3.75

The memoir is largely fictional but contains a profound truth about the author's life. It becomes clearer after his death what he was really writing about.

Norm Macdonald's memoir is filled with fabrications, but it contains a significant truth that becomes apparent only after his passing. The book is a mix of humor and deeper, more personal revelations. It's a unique blend of comedy and introspection, making it a memorable read. The author's true intentions and feelings shine through the absurdity.

Quick quotes

    Norm Macdonald's memoir was mostly lies, but one part rings true.

    Only after his death is it clear what he was really writing about.

    It is a mix of humor and deeper, more personal revelations.

The New York Times · 2016-12-21
entertaining 3.50

The book is often very funny but always very fabulist. It is direct and convincingly self-loathing in parts.

Norm Macdonald's memoir is a blend of humor and fabrication, with moments of genuine self-loathing. The book is entertaining and humorous, but it's also clear that much of it is made up. The author's self-deprecating humor adds a layer of depth to the story. It's a unique take on the memoir genre, combining comedy with introspection.

Quick quotes

    240 pages of Based on a True Story, his often very funny but always very fabulist memoir.

    The book is most direct, and most convincingly self-loathing.

    It is a unique take on the memoir genre, combining comedy with introspection.

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