Synopsis
George Carlin was one of America's pre-eminent comedic voices. In 1993 he asked his friend, author Tony Hendra, to help him write his autobiography. For almost fifteen years, in scores of conversations, the two discussed Carlin's life, times, and evolution as a major artist. When Carlin died in June 2008 with the book still unpublished, Hendra assembled it as his friend would have wanted. Last Words is the rollicking, wrenching story of Carlin's life, as well as a parting gift of laughter to the world of comedy he helped create.
The Washington Post - Jeff Nussbaum
George Carlin didn't want to write an autobiography in the classic sense. In his mind, only "pinheaded criminal business [leaders] and politicians" wrote autobiographies. The word he settled on to describe Last Words was "sortabiography." A comedian's sortabiography. But this description has it exactly backward. Last Words is indeed an autobiography—and quite a good one—by a man who, as he takes us through his life, reveals himself to be a sortacomedian. Yes, his albums were sold in record stores under the comedy heading, but what Last Words ultimately reveals is how Carlin became a political protester, slam poet, cynic, polemicist and performance artist whose messages were delivered under the veneer of humor.