Author · 1 summary
American comedian and actor
Kevin Hart grew up in North Philadelphia, raised mostly by his mother, a single parent who worked at the University of Pennsylvania. His father was addicted to drugs and was in and out of prison. After high school he sold shoes and started to perform at amateur nights in comedy clubs.
His early years in stand-up were hard. Audiences booed him off stage, and he took years to find his own voice. Success came when he began to tell jokes about his own life, family and height. His specials, starting with I'm a Grown Little Man (2009) and Laugh at My Pain (2011), filled arenas and led to film roles in Ride Along, Central Intelligence and the Jumanji films. He also built a media company.
I Can't Make This Up (2017), written with Neil Strauss, tells this story. It argues that discipline and setbacks taught him more than talent did. In 2019 he stepped down as host of the Academy Awards after old homophobic jokes and tweets resurfaced, and he later apologized.
I Can't Make This Up: Life Lessons is Kevin Hart's memoir, written with Neil Strauss, about growing up in North Philadelphia and rising from booed amateur to stadium comedian. For readers who want a funny success story with a lesson at the end of every chapter.
New books, occasionally
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