Reviews
"Chris Nashawaty doesn't settle for mere behind-the-scenes gossip or trivia. He tells a novelesque story full of gigantic characters--some of whom happen to have famous names--that shows us where comedy comes from and how classic movies are made, usually unbeknownst to the people making them. Wonderfully written and impeccably researched, Caddyshack is a treat for fans of the movie or anyone who cares about comedy and its flawed practitioners." -- Jennifer Keishin Armstrong, author of Seinfeldia "An incisive, definitive portrait of an epoch in the evolution of comedy - told through the improbable saga of the making of a beloved, oddball classic - that solves one of the enduring mysteries of the movie business: How in the name of Bushwood's gopher did this fractured fairytale ever come together?" -- Mark Frost, Co-creator of Twin Peaks , author of The Match: The Day the Game of Golf Changed Forever and The Greatest Game Ever Played: Harry Vardon, Francis Ouimet, and the Birth of Modern Golf "I opened this book thinking, 'Why Caddyshack ?' I closed it completely exhilarated by the way it answers that question. This is a tough, sharp history of comedy and competitiveness, of rising stars and brilliant upstarts. Of difficult egos, awful behavior, fragile friendships, bursts of inspiration, and blizzards of cocaine -- told by the survivors and shaped by Chris Nashawaty's welcome insight and perspective." -- Mark Harris, New York Times bestselling author of Pictures at a Revolution and Five Came Back "Funny? Of course. But Chris Nashawaty's book is also a vivid, surprisingly poignant history of a generation that revolutionized American comedy. Well, and of drugs. Lots of drugs." -- Chris Smith, author of The Daily Show (the Book) "Chris Nashawaty has written a ridiculously funny book that is also tragic, sweet, profane and profoundly entertaining. It's full of sex, drugs and gopher holes, of course. But Nashawaty also tells, through Caddyshack , the origin story of modern comedy. The result is a richly reported book as rollicking and quotable as the film at it honors." -- Steve Rushin, writer for Sports Illustrated and author of Sting-Ray Afternoons " Caddyshack is an American classic born out of both design and happy, slacker accident. The story behind its making is in a way as fascinating and hilarious as the movie itself. This made me love the movie more. And I didn't think that was possible." --Will Leitch, author of Are We Winning? and God Save the Fan , founder of Deadspin. "An everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about look at a cult movie whose reputation has grown in the four decades since its initial release. Nashawaty provides an eye-opening pleasure for Caddyshack fans." -- Kirkus "In Nashawaty's hilarious depiction, the production is shown to have been utter chaos, albeit with some creative genius tossed in... [Caddyshack] provides both an entertaining showbiz chronicle and, by the conclusion, an unexpectedly moving tribute to Kenney's short life and lasting comic legacy." -- Publishers Weekly "A granular, glandular re-creation that's much more fun to read than the movie was to watch." -- The Washington Post, "Chris Nashawaty doesn't settle for mere behind-the-scenes gossip or trivia. He tells a novelesque story full of gigantic characters--some of whom happen to have famous names--that shows us where comedy comes from and how classic movies are made, usually unbeknownst to the people making them. Wonderfully written and impeccably researched, Caddyshack is a treat for fans of the movie or anyone who cares about comedy and its flawed practitioners." -- Jennifer Keishin Armstrong, author of Seinfeldia "An incisive, definitive portrait of an epoch in the evolution of comedy - told through the improbable saga of the making of a beloved, oddball classic - that solves one of the enduring mysteries of the movie business: How in the name of Bushwood's gopher did this fractured fairytale ever come together?" -- Mark Frost, Co-creator of Twin Peaks , author of The Match: The Day the Game of Golf Changed Forever and The Greatest Game Ever Played: Harry Vardon, Francis Ouimet, and the Birth of Modern Golf "I opened this book thinking, 'Why Caddyshack ?' I closed it completely exhilarated by the way it answers that question. This is a tough, sharp history of comedy and competitiveness, of rising stars and brilliant upstarts. Of difficult egos, awful behavior, fragile friendships, bursts of inspiration, and blizzards of cocaine -- told by the survivors and shaped by Chris Nashawaty's welcome insight and perspective." -- Mark Harris, New York Times bestselling author of Pictures at a Revolution and Five Came Back "Funny? Of course. But Chris Nashawaty's book is also a vivid, surprisingly poignant history of a generation that revolutionized American comedy. Well, and of drugs. Lots of drugs." -- Chris Smith, author of The Daily Show (the Book) "Chris Nashawaty has written a ridiculously funny book that is also tragic, sweet, profane and profoundly entertaining. It's full of sex, drugs and gopher holes, of course. But Nashawaty also tells, through Caddyshack , the origin story of modern comedy. The result is a richly reported book as rollicking and quotable as the film at it honors." -- Steve Rushin, writer for Sports Illustrated and author of Sting-Ray Afternoons " Caddyshack is an American classic born out of both design and happy, slacker accident. The story behind its making is in a way as fascinating and hilarious as the movie itself. This made me love the movie more. And I didn't think that was possible." --Will Leitch, author of Are We Winning? and God Save the Fan , founder of Deadspin. "An everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about look at a cult movie whose reputation has grown in the four decades since its initial release. Nashawaty provides an eye-opening pleasure for Caddyshack fans." -- Kirkus "In Nashawaty's hilarious depiction, the production is shown to have been utter chaos, albeit with some creative genius tossed in... [Caddyshack] provides both an entertaining showbiz chronicle and, by the conclusion, an unexpectedly moving tribute to Kenney's short life and lasting comic legacy." -- Publishers Weekly, "Chris Nashawaty doesn't settle for mere behind-the-scenes gossip or trivia. He tells a novelesque story full of gigantic characters--some of whom happen to have famous names--that shows us where comedy comes from and how classic movies are made, usually unbeknownst to the people making them. Wonderfully written and impeccably researched, Caddyshack is a treat for fans of the movie or anyone who cares about comedy and its flawed practitioners." -- Jennifer Keishin Armstrong, author of Seinfeldia "An incisive, definitive portrait of an epoch in the evolution of comedy - told through the improbable saga of the making of a beloved, oddball classic - that solves one of the enduring mysteries of the movie business: How in the name of Bushwood's gopher did this fractured fairytale ever come together?" -- Mark Frost, Co-creator of Twin Peaks , author of The Match: The Day the Game of Golf Changed Forever and The Greatest Game Ever Played: Harry Vardon, Francis Ouimet, and the Birth of Modern Golf "I opened this book thinking, 'Why Caddyshack ?' I closed it completely exhilarated by the way it answers that question. This is a tough, sharp history of comedy and competitiveness, of rising stars and brilliant upstarts. Of difficult egos, awful behavior, fragile friendships, bursts of inspiration, and blizzards of cocaine -- told by the survivors and shaped by Chris Nashawaty's welcome insight and perspective." -- Mark Harris, New York Times bestselling author of Pictures at a Revolution and Five Came Back "Funny? Of course. But Chris Nashawaty's book is also a vivid, surprisingly poignant history of a generation that revolutionized American comedy. Well, and of drugs. Lots of drugs." -- Chris Smith, author of The Daily Show (the Book) "Chris Nashawaty has written a ridiculously funny book that is also tragic, sweet, profane and profoundly entertaining. It's full of sex, drugs and gopher holes, of course. But Nashawaty also tells, through Caddyshack , the origin story of modern comedy. The result is a richly reported book as rollicking and quotable as the film at it honors." -- Steve Rushin, writer for Sports Illustrated and author of Sting-Ray Afternoons " Caddyshack is an American classic born out of both design and happy, slacker accident. The story behind its making is in a way as fascinating and hilarious as the movie itself. This made me love the movie more. And I didn't think that was possible." --Will Leitch, author of Are We Winning? and God Save the Fan , founder of Deadspin. "An everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about look at a cult movie whose reputation has grown in the four decades since its initial release. Nashawaty provides an eye-opening pleasure for Caddyshack fans." -- Kirkus, "Chris Nashawaty doesn't settle for mere behind-the-scenes gossip or trivia. He tells a novelesque story full of gigantic characters--some of whom happen to have famous names--that shows us where comedy comes from and how classic movies are made, usually unbeknownst to the people making them. Wonderfully written and impeccably researched, Caddyshack is a treat for fans of the movie or anyone who cares about comedy and its flawed practitioners." -- Jennifer Keishin Armstrong, author of Seinfeldia "An incisive, definitive portrait of an epoch in the evolution of comedy - told through the improbable saga of the making of a beloved, oddball classic - that solves one of the enduring mysteries of the movie business: How in the name of Bushwood's gopher did this fractured fairytale ever come together?" -- Mark Frost, Co-creator of Twin Peaks , author of The Match: The Day the Game of Golf Changed Forever and The Greatest Game Ever Played: Harry Vardon, Francis Ouimet, and the Birth of Modern Golf "I opened this book thinking, 'Why Caddyshack ?' I closed it completely exhilarated by the way it answers that question. This is a tough, sharp history of comedy and competitiveness, of rising stars and brilliant upstarts. Of difficult egos, awful behavior, fragile friendships, bursts of inspiration, and blizzards of cocaine -- told by the survivors and shaped by Chris Nashawaty's welcome insight and perspective." -- Mark Harris, New York Times bestselling author of Pictures at a Revolution and Five Came Back "Funny? Of course. But Chris Nashawaty's book is also a vivid, surprisingly poignant history of a generation that revolutionized American comedy. Well, and of drugs. Lots of drugs." -- Chris Smith, author of The Daily Show (the Book) "Chris Nashawaty has written a ridiculously funny book that is also tragic, sweet, profane and profoundly entertaining. It's full of sex, drugs and gopher holes, of course. But Nashawaty also tells, through Caddyshack , the origin story of modern comedy. The result is a richly reported book as rollicking and quotable as the film at it honors." -- Steve Rushin, writer for Sports Illustrated and author of Sting-Ray Afternoons " Caddyshack is an American classic born out of both design and happy, slacker accident. The story behind its making is in a way as fascinating and hilarious as the movie itself. This made me love the movie more. And I didn't think that was possible." --Will Leitch, author of Are We Winning? and God Save the Fan , founder of Deadspin.