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Show shelves in Ameri ften than more the works of Shak speare, D. Aust n combined. Yet absolutely nothing of its ant Now, is kr for the wrote the Yellov Jon Lovits, shadon AN tal INTERVIEW I guess the first question anyone would ask is. why now? Why, after years INT of anonymity, reveal yourself’ as the author of the Yellow Pages? JON: Because | think with the explosion of information and choices out there, the book is more relevant today than it’s ever WITH withthebook and let your brain go crazy NI: TheYellow Pages is an incredible achievement. I'm reading from a review from the Cleveland Journal: Who else but Jon Lovitz could write a book that starts with an air compressor and ends in a zoo and it all makes perfect sense? been Also, | had the summer off, and | was JON: That's gratifying kind of bored I'm curious about the alphabetical Jon, in reading the Yellow ITS A Book approach. Why did you writeit » es, | noticed there were lot s alphabetically » & PLACE MoT umbers in it. How come Actually, writ the Yellow u-T If you notice all serious s in alphabetical order was UP STUFF, authors use numbers n their B my edit 's suggestion. In early * # books: A Zale of Two Cities. The drafts. i tried stream of conscious UP sTur'r. Three Musketeers. The Ton Commandmen Thereare a few s who say that what you've really written here is phone book What's your response to that ON: Well, my first response would be to ask them if they've read it? Have they sat down and read the Yellow Pages? Because if they have, I can't see how they could call it 1 phone book INT: What would you JON: It's a book about ideas A place not to just look up stuff, but to think up stu ness, but some people found it confusing 1 the ht the alphabetical suggestion was ood one so | went with it You've dabbled in comedy over the s. Did you draw on humor for the book? It's not exactly what | would call a “funny book. But I did use humor where I thought appropriate Comedy Clubs Balloons, and Sump Pumps, for example Let's talk about piza fe a moment Okay There Like say you're tryingto think up adifferent pizzain your book. It seems like an unusual choice. | mean Tolstoy didn’t feel the need to Just sit down LOVITZ INT: The Yellow Pages is arguably the most successful book ever written. Yet, neither it nor you has ever been nominated for a Nobel prize. How do youfeel about that? ON: I'm not really into the awards thing I meanit would benice and everything But if even onereader finds something in my book that makes life a little easier, a little richer, a little more strange, that’s enoughfor me. That's my reward. Th the royalty checks, of course INT: Onelast question? What would you like readers to takeaway fromyour book? JON: Two things. One, being open to all thepossibilities in life, makes life more exciting. And, two, discovering all those possibilities is fun. Just close your eyes and turn my book to any page. With thepossible exception of “Tax Preparation Services you'll probably find something that will enrich your lile And where canpeople get your book? JON: Thanks for asking. Actually it’s available, in softcover, just about everyw Thank you, Jon, for at last revealing the man and the thinking behind a great are a number of references to kind of gift for Mother's Day. It’s al in my book. Beauty Makeovers Cruises. Drywall And that's just one example JON put pizza in War e¥ J ON> Maybe he just never thought of it book. Is there anything you'd like to add? ON: Only that the Yellow Pages is also a great colfee-table book because if you put a glass of soda onit and the glass leaves a ring, it's no big deal |