I'm Not a Terrorist, But I've Played One on TV; Memoirs of a Middle Eastern Funny Man

New York, N.Y.: Simon & Schuster, Inc, 2015. First Simon & Schuster hardcover Edition [stated], First printing [stated]. Hardcover. Very good/Very good. Paul Mobley [jacket photography]. [8], 225, [7] pages. Inscribed by the author on the title page. Inscription reads: To Santiago, Keep Painting! Maz Jobraini. Book includes Introduction and Acknowledgments. Also includes Part One: Fighting Chuck Norris and Sterotypes, In That Order; Part Two: Stand-Up and Pat-Downs: Life on the Road; Part Three: The Persian Elvis (a.k.a. Pelvis). In this book, Maz Jabrani recounts his childhood growing up Iranian in America, and his quest to make it in Hollywood without having to wear a turban, tote a bomb, or get kicked in the face by Chuck Norris. His hilarious and moving memoir chronicles a lifetime of both killing it and bombing onstage, but no actual acts of terror. Maziyar Jobrani (born February 26, 1972) is an Iranian-American comedian and actor who is part of the "Axis of Evil" comedy group. The group appeared on a comedy special on Comedy Central. Jobrani has also appeared in numerous films, television shows, including Better Off Ted, on radio, and in comedy clubs. His filmography includes roles in The Interpreter, Friday After Next, Dragonfly, and Jimmy Vestvood: Amerikan Hero. He appeared as a regular character on the 2017 CBS sitcom Superior Donuts. Jobrani has made appearances on shows like The Colbert Report, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Talkshow with Spike Feresten, Whitney, and regularly performs at top comedy clubs such as The Comedy Store. He has toured with the Axis of Evil Comedy Tour. He provided the voice of Ahmed Farahnakian in the audiobook version of World War Z. Derived from a Kirkus review: The struggles and successes of "the Persian Eddie Murphy." Iranian-American comedian, actor and first-time author Jobrani tells a fish-out-of-water story, all the while maintaining a self-deprecating tone. The author also recounts his desire to blend in and be seen as just another rich kid in Northern California, albeit one whose "loud and brown" father picked him up from soccer practice in a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow. Cultural typecasting followed Jobrani throughout his fledgling Hollywood career, perhaps most shockingly when he caught his big break at the renowned Comedy Store in Los Angeles in 1999 and was asked to dress in "Middle Eastern garb," like "the Persian equivalent of blackface." The author hits his stride with his chronicle of the period after 9/11, when he went on the offensive with his comedy, sharing his political views and observations in his stand-up act and on cable TV specials. Jobrani embraced the role of comedy in healing after 9/11 and, later, with two other comics on the international Axis of Evil Comedy Tour. This mission and his tales from the road comprise the bulk of the book. Jobrani believes it is his duty to bring these issues to light in a humorous, accessible way-e.g., when he quips that he is not involved in jihad, explaining he "lost interest altogether once [jihadis] started putting bombs in their underwear." He also offers this practical advice: "Don't Wear A Backpack At Home Depot." A funny and occasionally insightful memoir of an Iranian-American comedian finding a voice in showbiz.