Title How to Talk Dirty and Influence People

Author Lenny Bruce

Year Published 1965

Kind of Book Humor/Memoir

How strongly I recommend it 5/10 

My Impressions It was fascinating to learn a little bit about Lenny Bruce's life and to hear some stories about what it was like being a stand-up comedian in the early days, however the book was not particularly funny or informative about his life

Date Read circa 2020

Practical Takeaways

• (How to make it with a girl) Tell the girl you need something from your apartment or hotel room and to come up and have a seat while you look for it

• (In order to not get screwed over by a mechanic) Memorize one esoteric thing about the appliance you’re having repaired. Say something to the mechanic/handyman fixing it and then leave before he can ask you any questions that might reveal you don’t know what you’re talking about

• Say “I don’t believe you” to a person in conversation when you don’t know what to say

• Don’t break up in the middle of the night. Break up in the afternoon on your day off A: that way you’re not on the street with nowhere to go in the middle of the night

Big Ideas

• We want other people to do well

But

• We don't want other people to do better than us

Surprising Facts

• Lenny Bruce developed an average of 4 new minutes of material a night 

• Lenny Bruce was arrested for saying “cocksucker” in his set. It was then debated in court whether the word is funny.

Unknown Terms

Quotes

“Anyone who is married for security is a hooker”-Lenny Bruce

“There’s nothing sadder than an old hipster”-Lenny Bruce

“I am happy he’s doing well, but not better than me.”-Lenny Bruce