Acclaimed author and Emmy Award-winner Steve Martin tells the history of his career in stand-up comedy. It is a portrait of a man dedicated to the art of making people laugh. He reveals how in his search for comic originality, fame fell on him as a by-product, and admits that he was not naturally talented, but working around that minor detail made him inventive. Steve Martin was not self-destructive, although he almost destroyed himself. However, it was during his research of this crucial part of his professional life that he was reminded why he did stand-up and why he walked away. Twenty-five years later, he now views that time with surprising warmth, and even feels an affection for the war years.