Why people recommend it
Sick in the Head by Judd Apatow is a compelling collection of candid interviews conducted by the filmmaker and comedy creator with many of the world's most renowned stand-up comedians and comedic actors. On No Stupid Questions, Angela Duckworth discussed reading the book from cover to cover, using it to illustrate the immense amount of craft, deliberate practice, and premeditation required to build a successful career in comedy. Pamela Paul also featured the book prominently on The Book Review across multiple episodes, noting that she was deeply engrossed in reading Apatow's insightful conversations with his fellow comedians. Paul highlighted how the collection provides a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the creative processes, psychological drivers, and professional struggles of artists working within the entertainment industry. The podcast discussions collectively emphasized the book's value as both an entertaining read for comedy fans and a serious study of the dedication and psychological resilience required to master the difficult art of making people laugh in a demanding profession.
Who recommended it
- Pamela Paul Discussed
- Angela Duckworth Discussed
Pamela Paul — 2 mentions
“I am reading uh a book that came out last year um by Jud appau called sick in the head and it's really a collection of interviews that appau did with fellow comedians”
“I'm reading Jed APO sick in the head which is what I was reading last week”
Angela Duckworth — 1 mention
“so I did read cover to cover this book by Jud epital the director it's called sick in the head and it's very autobiographical”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
- "More more more" said the baby
- A Child's Christmas in Wales
- Books for living
- Coming apart
- David Copperfield
- Eileen
Other mentions (1: passing, ad reads, own books)
“uh the comic filmmaker Jud app who was a guest on the podcast a couple of weeks ago is at number seven with his new book sick in the head his interviews with comedians going back over the decades”