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Professional Idiot

Written by: Stephen "Steve-O" Glover,David Peisner
Narrated by: Stephen "Steve-O" Glover,Stu Sone
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Publisher's Summary

Fame can be addictive. From his early days videotaping crazy skateboard stunts to starring in the blockbuster Jackass franchise, there was little that Stephen “Steve-O” Glover wouldn’t do for attention. Whether it was stapling his nutsack to his leg, diving into a pool full of elephant crap, or routinely risking death invading the private lives of sharks, lions, tigers, and bears, almost nothing was out of bounds.

As the stunts got crazier, his life kept pace. He developed a crippling addiction to drugs and alcohol, and an obsession with his own celebrity that proved nearly as dangerous.

Steve-O has been a man in search of a spotlight practically since birth. Growing up all over the world, thanks to his father’s career as a corporate executive, he was the kid who’d drink handfuls of salt in order to make friends. After he stole a video camera from his dad as a teenager, his future path was more or less sealed. Footage of himself skateboarding soon gave way to footage of himself setting his hair on fire or doing back flips off apartment buildings into shallow pools. After detours to several hospitals, a couple of jails, and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College, he landed, quite naturally, on MTV’s Jackass, in 2000.

He took to fame like it was the very thing missing from his life, but it was never enough. He filled the void with booze and drugs, and soon began treating his entire life like it was one big—and supremely risky—stunt.

In 2008, Steve-O holed up in his West Hollywood apartment, where he drank, snorted, smoked, huffed, and swallowed drugs around the clock—and began broadcasting his downward spiral on the Internet. Finally, his Jackass comrade, Johnny Knoxville, and seven other friends staged an intervention and forced him into a psychiatric ward against his will, ultimately saving his life. Today he has been clean and sober for more than three years.

Professional Idiot recounts the lunacy, the debauchery, the stunts, the drug addiction and the path to recovery and redemption with the same bravado and humor that have endeared Steve-O to so many. Hilarious, harrowing, and inspiring all at once, Professional Idiot will entertain those who’ve been with him on his many wild rides, as well as surprise and intrigue those who know him only as the guy willing to do anything—no matter how painful—for a laugh.

©2011 Ballbag, Inc. f/s/o Stephen Glover. (P)2011 Hyperion

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  • c
  • 2020-09-17

Voice actors are bad

Steve-O narrated the first hour which had me emotionally invested. Then out of no where some random guy started doing the voice overs and completely took me out of the zone .. I couldn’t get invested in this bot doing the narration for 9 hours

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good for 15 hour road trips!

Listened to this driving from BC to CA. Thank you for making the drive fun!

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Something to be learned

I didn’t go into the book expecting to be taught lessons on life by Steve-O, but that’s exactly what happened. His honesty and introspection made me open my eyes to some things going on in my own life, and made me realize my addiction was actually an addiction, as I’d been defending it with ‘weed isn’t a drug.’ Funny that by the end of his journey, his goal was no longer to influence anyone other than himself, because he influenced me. Thanks Steve-O.

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Very interesting

It was great to hear this story. Grew up watching these guys, so hearing exactly what went on with Steve-O was fantastic. Some of the voice acting was a little off putting, but over all a great book!

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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Barely narrated by Steve-O

Disappointed that Steve-O only narrated a very small portion stating scheduling conflicts. Took away from the authenticity. Seemed lazy of him.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

disappointing steve-o stops reading 3rd chapter

I was very disappointed to hear that after the second chapter steve-o stopped reading the book. him reading the book was one of the reasons I bought this audio book. I saw that there were different names under the narrativer but just assumed it would be little clips here and there.

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Steve-O is legendary

I love the man, have all his dvds. Could have used less drunken asshole stories, but he is actually very inspirational.

Steve-O you were always my favourite “Jackass”, so glad you are sober!!

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Very interesting

Loved it. So much I didn't know about Steve-O... really an interesting and amazing guy.

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i truly liked this book .

i think this was a real reveal of steve o. could not shut it off . would definitely listen again.

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EYE OPENER

Why can't I give it more than 1 Star? I thought it was pretty good and honest. Would have liked the real voices but overall I thought it was a good listen

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  • Rob
  • 2011-06-10

Steve-O narrates 1st 53mins then you get a new guy

Sort of deceptive. I???m enjoying the audiobook but 53 mins into it Steve-O announces he???ll no longer be reading it and then hands it over to some other narrator. What the hell?
It???s weird trying to adjust to it now that I???ve been used to hearing the actual author talk. Would this be an example of bait and switch? It does says Narrated by Stephen "Steve-O" Glover.
Steve-O, liking the book so far but sad to say as a consumer I am disappointed. (so far 5 stars for content but overall 2 for lame decision on replacement)

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  • Ensey
  • 2011-09-06

Bummed by the "Bait and Switch".

Other reviewer hit it on the head. Great story, but the switch between Steve-O and the second narrator was a poor production choice.

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  • Phynx
  • 2016-07-28

bait and switch

bait and switch Steve narrates for a very short time but the actual story is very interesting and brutally honest

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  • Goombah
  • 2015-10-31

Great til he left.

Everything was going great until once again the narrator, well this time the author and brief speaking man himself Steve-O left his reading and was continued on by some buster that I couldn't relate to like I did Stevo-O.
Bring Stevo back and drop the 16 year reading it.

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  • Jason
  • 2017-03-31

Small let down

Steve O not doing the audio after the first hour was a let down, I think him telling his own story would of been more impactful but still a great audio book

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  • Jordan
  • 2020-02-07

Steve you lazy fuck

Loved the book but wish Steve read the rest of the book instead of passing it off onto someone else. He only reads like 3 chapters then says he’s got to go. It’s kinda annoying.

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  • Online mogul
  • 2019-07-13

Sad Story, cool guy

I've always been interested in Steve-o and his story. the more I've learned from his many interviews and the content on his YouTube channel has only given me respect for his determination. hearing the full story of his rough journey is shocking, more that he actually survived what he did to himself. I'm only disappointed that Steve couldn't read the entire book. he stops after a couple chapters.

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  • joshua nelson
  • 2017-09-07

very good. but.......

very good.....but Steve​-o stop narrating less than an HR in. it was much more compelling and Drew you into his story when it was him.

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  • SSPY843
  • 2022-08-11

Does not do his own stunts

This guy does not even read all of his own book.. I mean what a Jackass

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  • Jennifer
  • 2019-10-25

So much criticism for the narrator...

... While the narrator wasn't Steve-o, I think he did a great portrayal of him. At times I forgot that it was someone else even! The story is what you would suspect from someone of this caliber but I didn't find myself skipping through anything or wishing it was over.

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