Confessions of a Dangerous Mind

Rating:
Summary: I hope the film is better
Review: I read this book after hearing that George Clooney was making a film adaptation of it. I hope to all powers that be that the movie is better than the book. This "unauthorized autobiography" (which, granted, is a cute gimmick) is just so meandering. Barris recycles parts of his book "Confessions" here, when detailing his background in television, and how he got his start. The CIA origin story is contrived (so much so that it will be changed in the film) and you just don't buy the bit over time.

Never once is it explained how a man could have the background or the skills to do the job that he does in the book. In one backstory in the book Barris has to have a group of black friends help him beat down a man who is ruining one of his television shows. Yet this is the same man who is capable of going out on missions and killing Latin American revolutionaries by himself in broad daylight?

There is no tension, drama, or conflict that is presented throughout the story. You aren't brought into a new world, or even experiencing anything new about the CIA when reading. An episode of 'ALIAS' is better than this! (Although that's no slam on Alias) Barris' character makes no arc or change about himself through the book, and doesn't even recognize one.

And to top if off, he does a stupid B-Movie "whodunnit" storyline in the book by making one of the lead characters in the book a "mole" for the opposition. But watch out! It's not who you think it is! That person is just trying to throw you off.

Give me a break. Read Christopher Moore if you want some good reality based screwball hijinks!

Rating:
Summary: I hope the film is better
Review: I read this book after hearing that George Clooney was making a film adaptation of it. I hope to all powers that be that the movie is better than the book. This "unauthorized autobiography" (which, granted, is a cute gimmick) is just so meandering. Barris recycles parts of his book "Confessions" here, when detailing his background in television, and how he got his start. The CIA origin story is contrived (so much so that it will be changed in the film) and you just don't buy the bit over time.

Never once is it explained how a man could have the background or the skills to do the job that he does in the book. In one backstory in the book Barris has to have a group of black friends help him beat down a man who is ruining one of his television shows. Yet this is the same man who is capable of going out on missions and killing Latin American revolutionaries by himself in broad daylight?

There is no tension, drama, or conflict that is presented throughout the story. You aren't brought into a new world, or even experiencing anything new about the CIA when reading. An episode of 'ALIAS' is better than this! (Although that's no slam on Alias) Barris' character makes no arc or change about himself through the book, and doesn't even recognize one.

And to top if off, he does a stupid B-Movie "whodunnit" storyline in the book by making one of the lead characters in the book a "mole" for the opposition. But watch out! It's not who you think it is! That person is just trying to throw you off.

Give me a break. Read Christopher Moore if you want some good reality based screwball hijinks!

Rating:
Summary: Is it believable? Who cares?
Review: Several years ago, all I knew about Chuck Barris was that he was the host of TV's "The Gong Show." But when my best friend's father--a true connoisseur of biographies, auto- or otherwise--sort of off-handedly mentioned this book to me, I was intrigued. And when I polished "Dangerous Minds" off in about two sittings, I was entertained, delighted, and duly impressed. Did I believe that Barris was really a CIA operative? Well, stranger things have happened. But what really impressed me was the writing, by turns absurd and intense. I can still see in my mind's eye the images conjured up by the TV studio finale. But for me, few (if any) other written scenes have topped the prelude to Barris's first mission, when he dreams of a hit gone madly awry and comments about it to his control the next morning. The control's reply is as beautiful as it is calm: "We all had that dream."

Although I like that I'm one of only a few people who've actually read this book, it's high time it receives its due. Then again, as good as it is, I don't suppose it could really become too popular. If you catch my meaning.

Rating:
Summary: Is it believable? Who cares?
Review: Several years ago, all I knew about Chuck Barris was that he was the host of TV's "The Gong Show." But when my best friend's father--a true connoisseur of biographies, auto- or otherwise--sort of off-handedly mentioned this book to me, I was intrigued. And when I polished "Dangerous Minds" off in about two sittings, I was entertained, delighted, and duly impressed. Did I believe that Barris was really a CIA operative? Well, stranger things have happened. But what really impressed me was the writing, by turns absurd and intense. I can still see in my mind's eye the images conjured up by the TV studio finale. But for me, few (if any) other written scenes have topped the prelude to Barris's first mission, when he dreams of a hit gone madly awry and comments about it to his control the next morning. The control's reply is as beautiful as it is calm: "We all had that dream."

Although I like that I'm one of only a few people who've actually read this book, it's high time it receives its due. Then again, as good as it is, I don't suppose it could really become too popular. If you catch my meaning.

Rating:
Summary: fascinating look at relationships
Review: The best thing about confessions of a dangerous mind was the way in which Barris conducted his relationships. whether it was his dodgy cia links, or his many marriages, all his relationships seemed to be a vehicle to further his career, as opposed to real love felt relationships. While this love was what he craved, every action he did served to ostracize him more.

His experience as a host on "The Gong Show", "That's not my Shoe" and "Mrs. Pickering's Slappy Happy Show" showed his appreciation for the absurd and enjoyment to get a laugh out of people. the news that dana gould is playing him in a movie is perfect. what a match.

Rating:
Summary: fascinating look at relationships
Review: This book is a fascinating biography of the working life of Chuck Barris, his development of the gameshow from afternoon space filler to pop culture and his association with the CIA. I bought and read this book many years ago (when it came out) and the impression is still with me. This man lived a more interesting life than most of us and wrote (true or false is irrelevant) a readable account of it.