Chris Rock

June 1, 2014
Grades 5-8 Chris Rock has made a name for himself by making light of serious topics and finding catharsis in laughter. From humble beginnings in a tough neighborhood in Brooklyn to an eventual stint on Saturday Night Live and a legendary status in stand-up comedy, Rock honed a sharp insight into the world around him. No topic is too sensitive for his comedy routines, and this book does not shy away from quoting his most notorious acts, with slight modifications that eliminate much of the profanity. The tone is breezy, and the depiction of Rock appropriately complex, and where else are you going to get insight into such films as CB4, Lethal Weapon 4, and Pootie Tang? Drawing on multiple interviews with Rock himself, this biography celebrates the candor and honesty of this often controversial comedian.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)