Johnny Carson. From Someone Who Knew Him Best
591080
An in-depth look at Johnny Carson through the eyes of a lawyer who worked very closely with him for over 20 years.
4230327
This book is well written and teach us all a lesson.  Dr. Carson is not only a surgeon,but is very well read.  He knows the Constitution,and also  knows much about our founders of our conutry.  I like the fact he has solutions to our country's debt and other problems that we have.  I learned a lot from his book and plan to read it again in the near future.
4080599
I was a long time fan of the Tonight Show and this book gave a lot of interesting insight into the personal world of Johnny Carson as well as the development of the television business in the 1970's.
3578399
First of all, he's an inspiration. You would hope he would inspire your teen. Well, he got my son reading. That's a start! I would rather my son learn from someone like Dr. Carson than the majority of the voices out there than won't stop speaking. A great read for adults too.
4011190
The good old days of Carson. Was great to see complete shows with him and his inimitable guests. Even Watched The DVD at the old times when he use to come on.
4534557
I am a follower of Ben Carson and I love the way he thinks. I love his humor and his easy to read writing style.
1323321
Dr. Carson is spot on with his view of political correctness. I hope he decides to be the next U S President.
4400620
Most of Ben Carson's ideas are great!  This book is a great read.
3873703
As did a lot of people my age, I grew up watching Johnny Carson.  This is a great portrait of who he rally was ... The good, the bad and the ugly.  There was a lot of all three.  I am also glad to finally hear Bushkins side to why he was fired.  I highly recommend this book to anyone fascinated with Carson.
2974553
Bushkin provides a special insider's view of Johnny Carson. The tone of the book seemed to be an honest appraisal of not only the relationship between Carson and him but also of a troubled TV star.
A great read !
1404770
Very interesting view of Carson from someone who knew him as well as anyone except perhaps for his wives. I felt the author was a little bitter, although he protested,a little too much, that he wasnt. It didn't cover any of Carson's life before the authors working for him but was very insightfull about Carson. There are lots of juicy stories and plenty of celebrity gossip and stories. Would highly recommend it to any Carson fan.
514061
The sound  and picture quality are five star quality. This is well worth the money if you liked Johnny Carson.
2404175
Henry Bushkin has given us an evocative sketch of a mercurial personality. A reader can be forgiven the conclusion that Bushkins subject was actually two very different people.

So which was the real Johnny Carson? The affable and jocular on-stage Johnny that millions have seen and admired on The Tonight Show? Or the dour and cutting off-stage Johnny who Bushkin tells us could suddenly throw a sharp rebuke at a friend as easily as a joke tossed to his TV audience?

I suspect neither.

The on-stage Johnny was an act, a facade, an escape from the inner emptiness that Bushkin reveals so well. In a different way so was the off-stage performance. Here little bits of the inner bitterness, anger and loneliness that had loomed over him since childhood Carson permitted to seep out through the cracks in his wall.

The real Johnny Carson never emerged from his protective shell either in this book or in life. This third Johnny Carson was a crying, forlorn loveless little boy who had built defenses around him that no one could breach, not even himself.

This book is a tough read and not because of any deficient writing. It resonates with so many of us who have also erected facades and walls to keep our inner demons and a loveless world from engulfing us. Bushkins story arouses much empathy for the lifelong unhappiness of an intelligent, talented and admired human being.

The book tells us about as much, or as little, about Henry Bushkin as about Johnny Carson. It was not the authors purpose and likely he lacked the training to psychoanalyze his subject. He does give us a few glimpses of Carsons shrewish mother and even fewer of his weak father. These brief flashes into Carsons past fail to satisfy the reader looking for a more penetrating probe into Carsons nurturing years that would throw more light onto the development of a famous but tortured personality.

That such an outwardly accomplished and admired man could reveal not a public hint of his inner torment should not surprise us. Robin Williams comes to mind.

Carson died in 2005 as he had lived - alone. He was good at shutting out precisely those people who cared for him.
309239
Good read with some insights not previously known. Would recommend for Carson fans.
420604
All I have to say is that, I have ultimate respect for this great man.  He is definitely a true superior being in every sense of the WORD!!!!  We need more true role models, like Mr. Carson to be more displayed, showcase in the media more often.

  This younger black generation today, (white, latino, asian as well), needs to see more of this.  I mean, a real talented, intelligent, well educated, articulate, and caring black men, like Mr. Carson who has contribute so much, into making peoples lives and society better.

  I'm a very strong advocate, of showing more postive images of us in the media as African American people. That's why the "Bling! Bling!" B.S. that some of these pathitic, worthless, mindless black (brotha's and sista's) rappers and athletes, like to negatively displayed ad nauseam, needs to STOP! And Mr. Carson's story needs to be read, seen and told 24/7.

  Also, I'm tired of hearing unimportant recycle stories, about none interesting, not even talented or cute (both male and female) over hype, overrated caucasian movie stars, people not worthy of my valuble time, coming from dumbing the masses, superficial Tinsale Town (Hollywood).

  I will point this out again for the last time:  BEN CARSON IS MORE IMPORTANT AND RELEVANT TO OUR LIVES!!!
4933410
As a kid watching Game Shows in the 1970's you could not escape Johnny Olson's golden voice.  I always wondered how he could jump from one show to the next to the next to the next...I didn't know anything about Networks, Producers or how many programs Johnny was on but it seemed like all of them.  Randy West paints a picture of a man that's career goes all the way back to early radio right into the transition of early tv and all the hours and different jobs he held.  As an announcer as opposed to the host he went under the radar to most of America for a lot of years but I think this book really gives Johnny his just do.  He set the standard, raised the bar & remains the quintessential voice of any game show past or present. His career & voice will go unmatched..isn't that right Gene Rayburn???  Great read.  Very detailed. Loving tribute.
2422079
Love the book. I have a friend in Tuscan and a brother in Michigan who watched Carson as I did so I sent them each a book. They loved it. There are many surprising things in here I had never heard before.