This book is so well written and draws the reader into Jim's life from the first page. I was so disappointed when I finished it as I wanted to keep spending time in "Jim's world". For a time the author was my nephew through marriage and I can remember his Mother (Jim's sister) telling me some of the highs and lows of Jim's career at the time. But I learned so much more of this family and Jim's career in this book and found it so fascinating and heartbreaking. The mainstay of what I remember of Jim's sister's conversations with me was the overwhelming and ever present need Jim had always had from childhood to perform. So in reading this book I was struck with a little sadness that although Jim had found a successful outlet for his creativity in performance that brought him fame, he apparently never felt he got the true opportunity to show all sides of his talent.One thing I found so interesting...while looking over the book's website I was looking at all the videos that the author posted. There was one of Jim playing the character Ernest Worrell that was so funny I cried from laughter. Then as I watched it again it struck me that the accent, facial expressions and overall body language seemed very similar to the character Billy Bob Thornton played in Sling Blade. So when I read in the book that Jim was friends with Billy Bob - well - it seemed clear to me where Billy Bob got the inspiration for his Sling Blade character. Just another reminder of how Jim's talent has probably reverberated through many outlets in "show biz" that he never got the credit for.This book is a "must read" not only for Jim Varney fans but also because it gives a really honest and down to earth portrait of just what life is like for those trying to "make it" in show business. I thoroughly enjoyed every page and picture!!!