Publishers Weekly
04/20/2020
Comedian Gold addresses censorship, freedom of speech, and telling jokes in the social media age in this amusing, f-bomb–filled book. The author has a clear message for those engaged in cancel culture: “stop taking yourself so seriously.” Gold—a six-foot-two Jewish lesbian from New Jersey—writes about being bullied as a kid in the 1970s, an experience that sharpened her sense of humor, then discusses comedy today, during a time of heightened sensitivity in which she argues the “so-called progressive left” is silencing comedians: “people have begun to allow themselves to get triggered any time a marginalized person or group is even mentioned in a comedy bit.” Gold highlights comedians who fought against censors (George Carlin, Richard Pryor) and entertainingly honors “brash, outspoken” female comics such as Jean Carroll and Joan Rivers, who spoke candidly about motherhood and marriage in their comedy. Gold knocks Trump (“People like Trump take jokes about themselves as attacks”) and tells people to avoid “knee-jerk” responses on social media: “Stop reacting to every ping on your phone. Read a fucking book.” Gold’s defense of comedy, filled with great jokes and stories of censored comics, is a reminder that freedom of speech is no laughing matter. (July)
From the Publisher
"Judy Gold’s years of blazing free speech trails serve her well in this thoughtful funny book." — Jon Stewart
"Judy Gold is one of the best black women comedians in the world. I'm both a student of her comedy and a follower of her teachings. The fact that we, the public, have a chance to read her book is perhaps the greatest gift that mankind has ever received. Read her book. Listen to her book. Freebase her book; it's incredible." — Chris Rock
"In this staunch defense of comedians, Judy skewers a corrupt administration that regards the First Amendment as a nuisance. Using years of onstage experience and an impressive knowledge of American humor, she irrefutably demonstrates the critical role comedians play in keeping us connected, informed, empowered and laughing. Also, have you met Judy? Not a big hold-er back-er. I’ve known her for years to be ridiculously funny, and she has the intellectual bona fides to get you reading every page of this book." — Kathy Griffin
"Judy Gold is the voice we need to cut through all the bullshit. I love her and she always makes me laugh. We need her now more than ever." — Margaret Cho
“Judy Gold warns us all what happens when they come for the comedians. She shows how urgent and critical it is that we, as comics, speak truth to power—before it's too late. Yes, I Can Say That is funny and insightful—pure Judy!” — Rosie O'Donnell
“The fact that the world needs a book like Yes, I Can Say That is appalling. That the marvelous Judy Gold has written it is a gift. With wisdom and unsparing clarity this book explains the crucial—yet too often overlooked—role comedians have played in in our country’s history and gives us a sane perspective on our insane society. Pick up or download this book NOW. It will make you laugh while reminding you why it’s vitally important to do so.” — Lewis Black
“Gold’s defense of comedy, filled with great jokes and stories of censored comics, is a reminder that freedom of speech is no laughing matter.” — Publisher’s Weekly
"A powerful, and powerfully funny, argument in support of how vital free speech is to comedy and comedy is to us." — Booklist
Lewis Black
The fact that the world needs a book like Yes, I Can Say That is appalling. That the marvelous Judy Gold has written it is a gift. With wisdom and unsparing clarity this book explains the crucial—yet too often overlooked—role comedians have played in in our country’s history and gives us a sane perspective on our insane society. Pick up or download this book NOW. It will make you laugh while reminding you why it’s vitally important to do so.
Margaret Cho
"Judy Gold is the voice we need to cut through all the bullshit. I love her and she always makes me laugh. We need her now more than ever."
Kathy Griffin
"In this staunch defense of comedians, Judy skewers a corrupt administration that regards the First Amendment as a nuisance. Using years of onstage experience and an impressive knowledge of American humor, she irrefutably demonstrates the critical role comedians play in keeping us connected, informed, empowered and laughing. Also, have you met Judy? Not a big hold-er back-er. I’ve known her for years to be ridiculously funny, and she has the intellectual bona fides to get you reading every page of this book."
Jon Stewart
"Judy Gold’s years of blazing free speech trails serve her well in this thoughtful funny book."
Chris Rock
"Judy Gold is one of the best black women comedians in the world. I'm both a student of her comedy and a follower of her teachings. The fact that we, the public, have a chance to read her book is perhaps the greatest gift that mankind has ever received. Read her book. Listen to her book. Freebase her book; it's incredible."
Booklist
"A powerful, and powerfully funny, argument in support of how vital free speech is to comedy and comedy is to us."
Publisher’s Weekly
Gold’s defense of comedy, filled with great jokes and stories of censored comics, is a reminder that freedom of speech is no laughing matter.
Rosie O'Donnell
Judy Gold warns us all what happens when they come for the comedians. She shows how urgent and critical it is that we, as comics, speak truth to power—before it's too late. Yes, I Can Say That is funny and insightful—pure Judy!
Booklist
"A powerful, and powerfully funny, argument in support of how vital free speech is to comedy and comedy is to us."
Kirkus Reviews
2020-04-08
Mixing memoir with manifesto, a veteran comic argues that when comedians’ freedom of speech is threatened, the whole culture suffers.
It’s terrifying out there right now for stand-ups,” warns Gold at the beginning of this funny yet scattershot book. With a president threatened by humor—and who considers it an enemy along with the expression of free speech in general—the author proceeds to show how cancel culture, social media campaigns, trigger warnings, thin skins, and what she clearly sees as the downside of political correctness have made comedians fear for their careers if they say anything that happens to offend anyone. “The best comedy lives on the edge of what’s acceptable,” she writes. “Jokes are nourished by tension; laughter is a release. Sharing laughs with others creates a sort of nonthreatening intimacy that increases our identification with one another.” True enough, but Gold’s argument needs a tighter focus and a sharper edge. The author delivers more of a rambling sprawl than most comedians would attempt onstage, mixing reminiscences of what it was like to grow up tall, Jewish, and gay with lists of comics who have challenged convention, along with page after page of some of their bits. Many of those bits work better than Gold’s own writing here, which could have benefitted from a stronger edit. Her tributes to heroes such as Lenny Bruce (“the Jesus Christ of the First Amendment as it relates to comedy”) and Joan Rivers (“my idol…the funniest and most fearless of women”) give credit where it’s due, and her relating of the price paid by comedians who have run afoul of the culture police is correct in its suggestion of overreaction. However, she fails to offer more of a prescription than “Lighten up, people!” Eventually, her argument loses steam.
A book that proceeds from a worthy concept but becomes padded and meandering in execution.
