Mike Birbiglia documents his transition from a struggling collegiate comedian to a professional performer while navigating a dangerous case of REM behavior disorder. He recounts specific instances of sleepwalking, including an episode where he jumped through a second-story motel window in Washington. The narrative follows his reluctance to seek medical intervention for his nocturnal wanderings and the strain his behavior puts on his long-term relationship with his girlfriend, Abby. He details the everyday humiliations of a low-budget touring comic, from performing in noisy pizza parlors to sleeping in a zipped-up sleeping bag with mittens to prevent self-injury.
Readers interested in the logistics of a stand-up career and the physical realities of sleep disorders will find this a practical case study. It attracts those who value self-deprecating humor and honest accounts of personal failure. The audience gains a specific understanding of how a chronic medical condition can disrupt domestic life and professional ambitions. By the end, the reader sees how a performer converts private embarrassment into a structured comedy routine and finally addresses a life-threatening health issue through clinical treatment.
- Published
- 2010
- Language
- EN
