Book Review: I Can't Make This Up: Life Lessons by Kevin Hart | Neil Strauss

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I CAN'T MAKE THIS UP: LIFE LESSONS
Author: Kevin Hart | Neil Strauss
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Nonfiction
Released: June 6, 2017
Review Source: Atria | Netgalley

Superstar comedian and Hollywood box office star Kevin Hart turns his immense talent to the written word by writing some words. Some of those words include: the, a, for, above, and even even. Put them together and you have the funniest, most heartfelt, and most inspirational memoir on survival, success, and the importance of believing in yourself since Old Yeller.

The question you’re probably asking yourself right now is: What does Kevin Hart have that a book also has?

According to the three people who have seen Kevin Hart and a book in the same room, the answer is clear:

A book is compact. Kevin Hart is compact.

A book has a spine that holds it together. Kevin Hart has a spine that holds him together.

A book has a beginning. Kevin Hart’s life uniquely qualifies him to write this book by also having a beginning.

It begins in North Philadelphia. He was born an accident, unwanted by his parents. His father was a drug addict who was in and out of jail. His brother was a crack dealer and petty thief. And his mother was overwhelmingly strict, beating him with belts, frying pans, and his own toys.

The odds, in short, were stacked against our young hero, just like the odds that are stacked against the release of a new book in this era of social media (where Hart has a following of over 100 million, by the way).

But Kevin Hart, like Ernest Hemingway, JK Rowling, and Chocolate Droppa before him, was able to defy the odds and turn it around. In his literary debut, he takes the reader on a journey through what his life was, what it is today, and how he’s overcome each challenge to become the man he is today.

And that man happens to be the biggest comedian in the world, with tours that sell out football stadiums and films that have collectively grossed over $3.5 billion.

He achieved this not just through hard work, determination, and talent: It was through his unique way of looking at the world. Because just like a book has chapters, Hart sees life as a collection of chapters that each person gets to write for himself or herself.

“Not only do you get to choose how you interpret each chapter, but your interpretation writes the next chapter,” he says. “So why not choose the interpretation that serves your life the best?”

OK, so I have always loved Kevin Hart.  He is one of my favorite comedians.  He is so freaking hilarious!!  I don't think I have ever seen him in anything, whether stand up or a movie, where he wasn't amazing.  So when I heard he had a book coming out I jumped at the chance to read and review it.

I knew before even reading the book I would be in for a good experience.  I knew there would be funny parts, and there were.  What I wasn't expecting was how real the entire book felt.  So raw and honest and a completely different light on Kevin Hart.  It was really awesome to get to know about Kevin's life and outlook outside of his comedian persona.

I am leaving my review completely vague without going into any detail because I really think this book should be read with out any preconceived notions.  You will laugh, cringe, be angry, and cheer while reading this book.

I am rating this book 4 stars because I was enthralled reading this book and read it in two days.  There are a lot of good advice and lessons as well as laughs to be had while reading, I definitely recommend it whether you are a Kevin Hart fan or not!