Professional Idiot Book Review: Insanely Entertaining Memoir From The Balls Of Steve-O

Reading the Professional Idiot (Book number 5) by Steve-O (Steve Glover in real life) “hurts like a motherfucker” but in the best possible sort. You do not have to be a fan of Jackass to enjoy this one. It is massive entertainment, you’d be naked and you won’t even know it.

This book is pretty much a rock star’s memoir – fame, sex, drugs, insanity and all – minus the music. Professional Idiot chronicles the addiction that is the life of Steve-O in a brutally honest but totally charming, really hilarious way.

If you think about it, the story of Steve-O has all the makings of a cheesy and preachy conversion story: from riches to rags to riches again, suffocating in fame, turning to substance and celebrity addiction, and finally snapping out of it. But instead of being mushy, the memoir chronicled everything in a very cool, easy to read way, without implying or remotely rationalizing that what Steve-O did was acceptable. The way the controversy is handled is similar to The Perks of Being a Wallflower, only this is 100 times more entertaining, more grown up, and real.

It is amazing how the book dealt with some of the darkest things in life in a factual but funny manner. Maybe it has got to do with Steve-O being a canon ball, having a blast in the middle of all the lunacy he’s doing, but the tone of the book is always up there even when the facts of what is truly happening are hell. 😀

For sure there are tons out there who think Steve-O is just a “truly messed up son of a bitch, drug-addled, attention seeking whore, harboring on bat shit insane“, and they are probably right, but amidst the story you would also find the other half of Steve-O which is a determined, committed, sweet, smart, and funny guy willing to submit himself to torture just to make other people laugh. He may not have bet his strengths on the right places all the time but they are there.

Professional Idiot is also an eye opener on substance abuse – addiction is a symptom, not the cause – and those quick to judge are not even aware of that. 🙄 There is something deeper triggering it, and in the case of Steve-O, a family life doomed at the get go. This is also a strong reminder on the importance of sound parenting, and having great friends like Johnny Knoxville and Jeff Tremaine, who loved him enough to care to throw him to the loony bin just to keep him alive.

The end part of the Professional Idiot is awesome. The epiphany is simple, very honest, totally cool, and hopeful. How can you argue with a life goal “to channel my obsessive behavior toward things that won’t hurt me or anyone else: sobriety, veganism, my dogs, my family, being of service to others, and of course, Internet porn“?

Professional Idiot is a kick ass memoir that is a trip to hell and back up. For all it is worth, Steve-O totally makes sobriety rad and with his sex appeal, very hot too.

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On the photo: My copy of the kindle version of Professional Idiot printed out given to me by My Man on my messy desk.