I stumbled across this book from reading the YouTube comments on a ‘Top 10 books to read’ video. I typically take a screen shot if Youtubers have posted a list, and when I am running low on material, I search the titles in the Library app. I find that I employ this method so I have no frame of reference, and I intentionally refrain from looking up reviews, to ensure my opinion is as unbiased as possible, as this always exposes me to new things, be it good or bad.
As with The Holy Terrors from my last post, I feel as though I have an entire genera of writing, which I had not been introduced to, and which further convinces me that I was born in the wrong era. I feel this way because when I reserve titles on the Library app, they have a section of Featured Selections, which often highlight books which have reached the #1 position of the New York Times Bestsellers list. Without fail I am consistently disappointed with the ‘style’ of writing. I find that these works are usually just slapped together, or cut-pasted-paraphrased-references of other existing works, similar to reading a cliffs notes version from a C+ student (not that I was ever on the honor roll).
This story is set back in the newspaper times of copy boys, cigars and scotch in the offices and when things use to cost nickels. Sammy was a poor kid who quickly learned how to use people for his own personal gain, and has no qualms about it. So bold in the sense when you would finally confront him, you feel as though YOU are the one who is wrong, and second guess your own prejudice. He is ambitious and a fast learner; who adapts on the fly, but this all comes at a price, or so you would expect. He goes from copy boy to Hollywood celebrity status, and you are presented with a front seat view from his rags to riches journey from his first mentor, a struggling writer whos biggest fault is having ethics. He loathes Sammy, but is fascinated with his boldness, all while waiting for to see the train wreck, but which Sammy is always able to narrowly evade at every turn.
We all know a real life Sammy Glick, and are familiar with the tactics he employs for his own personal gain, as ‘he’ is just a collection of traits, not unique to this story. I was constantly presented with my own real life version of Sammy, which I happen to work with, but now I judge less critically (sometimes). In the end of the book, you do end up finding out what makes Sammy run, as you are baited with that catch phrase 50+ time though the story, but ultimately you can empathize with him, which the last quote below references.
Below are a handful of the my favorite imagery which this book provided me. My intention by providing this insight is only to give a sense of how this is written and to encourage the reading of this work.
- I guess I’ve always been afraid of people who can be agile without grace
- you’re drunk Al, your teeth are swimming
- …the head waiter who led us to a table which he flourishingly removed that restaurant symbol of rank, the Reserved sign.
- And the foolishly oblivious couple, he a half-bald, red-faced grinner, fugitive from middle age; she a young, plumpish and pretty blond with a silly champagne smile and a gift for abandon.
- Working out a theory that will end hate in the world…. We only hate the results of people. But people, aren’t just results. They’re a process. And to really give them a break we have to judge the process tough which they become the result we see…
I enjoyed the style of imagery from this book, although I am not too keen on all of all of the Hollywood references, and elaborate descriptions of that industry, which as I enter the second half of my life, I find myself pulling more and more away from.
I did end up purchasing a used copy of this, not with the intention of re-reading, but to lend to any friends or family which may show interest in the future.
I do recommend reading What Makes Sammy Run, as I really did enjoy this, and in-between The Holy Terrors and WMSR, I have read over a dozen other books, which do no prompt me to write a post.
Perspective is key 