Category: Reviews-Random House Canada

TITLE: Here’s the Deal: Don’t Touch Me
AUTHOR: Howie Mandel & Josh Young
PUB DATE: November 24, 2009
PUBLISHER: Bantam
PAGES: 240
GENRE: Humour & Autobiography/Biography

ABOUT THE BOOK:
A frank, funny, no-holds-barred memoir that reveals the Deal or No Deal host’s ongoing struggle with OCD and ADHD–and how it has shaped his life and career.

Howie Mandel is one of the most recognizable names in entertainment–respected by his peers and beloved by audiences as the host of the enormously popular prime-time game show Deal or No Deal. With a career that spans three decades and many different show-business platforms–he’s a renowned stand-up comedian who continues to perform more than 150 sold-out shows a year, he created the award-winning TV show Bobby’s World, he’s starred in feature films and the hit TV series St. Elsewhere, and he’s also hosted his own daytime talk show–he’s one of the most versatile performers anywhere. But there are aspects of his personal and professional life he’s never talked about publicly–until now.

Eleven years ago, Mandel first told the world about his “germophobia.” He’s recently started discussing his adult ADHD as well. Now, for the first time, he reveals the details of his struggle with these challenging disorders. He catalogs his numerous fears and neuroses and shares entertaining stories about how he has tried to integrate them into his act. “If I’m making myself laugh,” he writes, “then I’m distracted from all the other things going on in my head that are, at times, torturous.” And he speaks frankly and honestly about the ways his condition has affected his personal life–as a son, husband, and father of three.

Fans who’ve been dying to know “the deal” behind Mandel’s remarkable rise through the show-business ranks will be rewarded with many never-before-told anecdotes, each one generously leavened with Mandel’s trademark humor. There are tales from every phase of his colorful career–from his early days as a teenage carpet salesman and aspiring stand-up comic to his stint opening for Diana Ross, his six years on St. Elsewhere, and beyond.

As heartfelt as it is hilarious, Here’s the Deal: Don’t Touch Me is the story of one man’s effort to draw comic inspiration out of his darkest, most vulnerable places. It’s sure to please Howie Mandel’s legion of fans–and provide hope to the millions who strive to succeed in spite of OCD and ADHD.

MY THOUGHTS:
I have to admit that I normally don’t read biographies but when I heard that Howie Mandel had written a book I was dying to read it. I have been a huge fan of Howie’s for the longest time and still am to this very day.

Howie’s book called Here’s The Deal Don’t Touch Me is a very personal and in your face book about Howie’s OCD and ADHD and how it affected his life and how he deals with it.

I was laughing through out the book. Howie is a kid at heart and admits to taking his practical jokes a little too far at times. So much so that his wife, Terry has issued a 5 mile radius from the house. There is even a chapter about it.

One of the funny tales he tells was when he was a teenager and being invited to a party. The party had moved to another room leaving Howie and another boy alone so Howie came up with the idea to remove all the photos that lined a wall. He even went as far as removing a nail so when the girl tried to put the photos back up she was left with one photo still to hang and she didn’t realize there was a nail missing and worked at it but still couldn’t figure out what was going on.

Howie just doesn’t play practical jokes on unsuspecting people or friends he even includes his family into them. He has mentioned a few funny things that involved his children. (Jackie, Alex and Riley)

I realized that Howie and I are very similiar about camping and roughing it for us is staying in a hotel that doesn’t offer 24 hour room service. I have never been a camper and camping just doesn’t appeal to me. He recounts the time he took his daughter to go and pick up floaties and Jackie saw tents. Curious about them she asked Howie about them and he promised he would take her camping. At this point I was thinking okay Howie is a germophob how in the world is he going to go camping? Well his solution was go camping in his back yard and then once his daughter was asleep he would bring her back into the house and he would sleep in his own bed.

This was a funny book and one that I really enjoyed reading. It was nice to be able to read about the man and what his life is like living with OCD. Simple things we take for granted and don’t think twice about causes Howie much stress in his life.

Also included in the book is various photos in color and black & white. I have to admit that I like Howie with no hair.

Check out Howie’s official site
http://www.howiemandel.com

If you want to buy the book you can go toRandom House Canada.

This finished copy of the book was provided for review by Jess from Random House Canada. Thank You so much Jess for sending the book to me.