Sick in the Head: Conversations About Life and Comedy by Judd Apatow, © 2016; Random House, New York; ISBN: 9780812-987287; 556 pages; $21.
By Cailin Acosta in La Mesa, California
What makes a comedian successful? Is it natural talent, an unusual perspective on everyday life, or the persistence to keep working when the jokes fall flat? In Sick in the Head: Conversations About Life and Comedy, Judd Apatow explores these questions through interviews with some of the most recognizable names in American comedy. The result is an engaging, if uneven, collection that offers insight into the creative process while celebrating Apatow’s lifelong fascination with making people laugh.
The book brings together interviews Apatow conducted over several decades. His interest began when he was a teenager growing up on Long Island. At 15, he started interviewing comedians for his high school radio station, seeking advice and insight from performers whose careers he admired. That early curiosity eventually developed into a career as a comedy writer, director, and producer.
Apatow, known for films such as The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up, interviews a range of performers, including Jerry Seinfeld, Mel Brooks, Steve Martin, Harold Ramis, Chris Rock, Jon Stewart, Sarah Silverman, Amy Schumer and Seth Rogen. The conversations span generations and different styles of comedy, from stand-up and television to film and screenwriting.
One of the book’s strengths is its attention to the work behind the humor. Apatow asks his subjects about their influences, early career struggles, writing habits, and approaches to developing material. Their answers challenge the assumption that successful comedians simply possess an instinct for humor. Instead, the interviews reveal the importance of observation, experimentation, persistence, and learning from failure.
The collection also benefits from Apatow’s enthusiasm. He approaches his subjects as both an industry professional and an admirer who genuinely wants to understand their craft. His conversational style often produces revealing exchanges, particularly when performers discuss their beginnings before fame changed their circumstances.
The earlier interviews are especially interesting. Apatow’s 1983 conversation with Seinfeld, conducted when Apatow was still a teenager, captures a moment before either man had reached the professional standing for which he would later become known. Looking back at these beginnings adds interest and shows how ambition can develop into a lasting career.
The book’s principal weakness is its structure. With interviews collected over many years, the depth and focus vary from one conversation to another. Some offer meaningful insight into the creative process, while others feel more like informal exchanges between an enthusiastic fan and a celebrity. Readers seeking a comprehensive history of the art form or a systematic guide to writing jokes may find the book less satisfying.
The interview format makes the book easy to approach in sections. Readers can spend time with their favorite performers without needing to follow a continuous narrative. Apatow’s broad selection also introduces readers to comedians they might not otherwise know.
For comedy fans, aspiring writers, and readers interested in the people behind familiar performances, Apatow’s collection is an entertaining and informative look at the dedication required to make an audience laugh.
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.