Based on a True Story (MACDONALD, Norm)

"A driving, wild and hilarious ramble of a book, what might have happened had Hunter S. Thompson embedded himself in a network studio." — THE WASHINGTON POST

When Norm Macdonald, one of the greatest stand-up comics of all time, was approached to write a celebrity memoir, he flatly refused, calling the genre “one step below instruction manuals." Norm then promptly took a two-year hiatus from stand-up comedy to live on a farm in northern Canada. When he emerged he had under his arm a manuscript, a genre-smashing book about comedy, tragedy, love, loss, war, and redemption. When asked if this was the celebrity memoir. Norm replied, “Call it anything you damn like."

"Very, very, very funny! Thanks, Norm, for letting me be part of this Booker Prize-for-literature-quality effort." — DAVID LETTERMAN

"I seriously f**king love Norm Macdonald.... A lot of comics over the years have been compared to Mark Twain, but I think Norm is the only one who matches the guy in terms of voice and ability.” — LOUIS C.K., from the foreword

"This book is absurd fiction. . . . Scathing and funny.” — THE NEW YORK TIMES

“Hilarious and filled with turns of phrase and hidden beauty like only a collection of Norm Macdonald stories could be." — ESQUIRE

“Raucous ... a hilarious, innovative work." — A.V. CLUB