Life of the Party: Stories of a Perpetual Man-Child

Bert Kreischer

May 2014 · Macmillan + ORM

About this ebook

A collection of outrageous stories by the standup comic, TV host, and inspiration for the movie National Lampoon’s Van Wilder.

“Bert Kresicher is as fearless on the page as he is on the stage. Bert admits things in Life of the Party that most of us wouldn’t even admit to ourselves. Open to page one and let Bert Kreischer take you on a magical ride.” —Mick Foley, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Foley Is Good

Bert Kreischer doesn’t know how to say “no.” If he did, he wouldn’t have gotten himself mixed up with a group of Russian mobsters on a class trip to Moscow, earning him his nickname, “The Machine.” He wouldn’t have wrestled with a bear or swum with sharks on national television. He wouldn’t have (possibly) smoked PCP with a star of Saturday Night Live. And he wouldn’t have been named the Number One Partier in the Nation by Rolling Stone, inspired the movie National Lampoon’s Van Wilder, or have become one of the most in-demand touring comedians in the world, performing to sellout crowds across the country.

The stories Kreischer shares in Life of the Party are a guidebook on how not to grow up. From his fraternity days at Florida State University to his rise as a stand-up to his marriage and first brushes with fatherhood, Kreischer shows you a path that may not lead you to maturity or personal growth. But it will lead you to a shitload of fun.

“[Kreischer’s] affability and self-deprecation only lead to his charm, and the result is a genuinely hilarious look at life in the fast lane.” —Publishers Weekly

Ratings and reviews

Comedian Bert Kreischer is well known for being a gifted storyteller. This is clear from reading Life of the Party. The book is basically stories from his act, which are in fact stories from his life. The good thing is that these stories are genuinely funny. The bad is that you can hear almost all of these stories from Kreischer's podcast or routine, albeit without some of the details. It is also clear that while Bert is a genius at telling stories, he is remarkably lacking in his ability to construct a narrative. LotP feels like an anthology from his life. It isn't bothersome until the book ends, feeling somewhat abrupt. I do recommend the book as it is very funny. I also recommend his show, Bertcast. But I was hoping for a little more out of Life of the Party.

Bert does not hold the sophistication for words of say Shakespeare or Plato, but what he does an amazing job of is telling you things in self shaming ways that would make most people cringe. He is not a poet laureate, he is a modern day jester pleasing the crowds with ferocious storytelling ability and charm that is unmatched. Great book and easy flowing read.

Don't read this book in public. People will look at you funny when you randomly burst into laughter every couple pages. Awesome book!

About the author

BERT KREISCHER is a standup comic who performs to sellout crowds across the country. He is a regular guest on The Joe Rogan Experience and The Rachael Ray Show and has appeared on Late Night With David Letterman and Jimmy Kimmel Live. He is the host of the Travel Channel's Trip Flip and previously hosted Hurt Bert and Bert the Conqueror. His one-hour special Comfortably Dumb appears on Comedy Central.