Shrinkage--Manhood, Marriage, and the Tumor That Tried to Kill Me

June 30, 2014
In his debut, Bishop, sidekick on The Adam Corolla Show, turns the story of his inoperable brain tumor into a comedic memoir of illness, courage, despair, and hope. Not long before Bishop's wedding, a doctor told the thirty year old that he had "six months to a year" to live. Though this may not seem like an ideal jumping off point for an amusing book, much of its charm is in the humorous prose (on being conceived despite his mom being on contraception: "This can only mean I am the Chosen One"). Bishop never pulls punches, and writes openly about the doctors (and others) he detests most and why, the stressful issues that came between his wife and parents, and even the humiliation of soiling himself. Still, whether he is being serious or funny, the heart of the book lays in his battle with cancer, which, though it causes him to lose his mobility, voice and masculinity, never causes him to lose hope. It is this unflinching positive spirit of survival, as well as the steadfast strength and devotion of his wife Christie, that proves true the old adageâcomedy is tragedy plus time. The book provides a relatable and informative look at cancer treatment that will benefit anyone who is or knows someone living with the disease.

April 15, 2014
Radio personality Bishop, aka "Bald Bryan" from the Adam Carolla Show podcast, depicts his battle with an inoperable brain tumor. In 2008, surfing a wave of personal and career success in radio, the 30-year-old author began experiencing troubling health issues beginning with numbness in his lips and tongue and a lack of coordination. He would consume a beer or two and become extremely drunk. For five months, he kept quiet regarding his symptoms. Finally, Bishop confided to the love of his life and live-in girlfriend, Christie, that something was wrong. Initially given six months to live, Bishop began radiation and chemotherapy treatments. Combining humor with the stark reality of his situation, Bishop shepherds readers through his life following the bleak diagnosis. From being fitted for his radiation mask to his bachelor party in Las Vegas, a comical trip to a sperm bank, his wedding and honeymoon in Maui, the author chronicles both the highs and lows of his journey through the disease. "Things started to get significantly worse after our honeymoon," he writes. "For the next month, my symptoms worsened almost by the day." The author adroitly weaves his family story and professional exploits into the tale of his illness, and he also mixes in the personal touchstones of his journey, including the playlists he used during his treatment; photos; a list of his greatest regrets; and down-to-earth advice for those facing this serious illness ("Tumor Tips"). Bishop recounts the pressures on his new wife, the financial stress the couple faced and his guilt over a family breach spawned by the emotional stress of his illness. A candid recounting of this funnyman's navigation across cancer's rocky terrain and his trek back to health. Bishop's narrative brings a much-appreciated dose of human warmth to a dark and scary place.

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April 15, 2014
Bishop attempts to lighten the solemn topic of cancer in his first book, which is part humorous memoir and part self-help guide. Shortly after getting engaged and scoring a gig as radio and television personality Adam Carolla's acolyte, 30-year-old Bishop was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. Initially given six months to a year, Bishop carried on, finding solace in his career, his fianc'e, and his optimistic sense of humor. Offering tumor tips and numerous digressive footnotes, he wryly takes readers through his experiences, recounting the challenges of planning a wedding while undergoing radiation treatments, the surprising variety of porn made available in sperm banks, and his adventures trying alternative healing procedures involving thanking the tumor instead of cursing it. The candid, dude-oriented prose is sometimes bogged down by lists that feel like filler content: his biggest regrets, feel-good playlist, and illustrious fraternity of assholes, a vindictive catalog of doctors, former bosses, and other people he hates. But ultimately, Bishop delivers a moving testament to the goodness of friends, family, and strangers during times of need.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)