Review: I Can't Make This Up

Without a doubt, Kevin Hart has taken over the comedy world by storm within the last few years. He has been in several movies, has done stand-ups, and he has even become a fitness inspiration as a face for the Nike running club. Now he can add author to his accolades.

I Can't Make This Up: Life Lessons by Kevin Hart is a memoir of Hart's life and basically how he has gotten to where he is today. He grew up in Philadelphia with his mom and brother and he didn't have many aspirations for himself until after he graduated school and someone told him that he was funny. It was then that he thought that he could make a career out of telling jokes.

As Hart details his upbringing, he drops some nuggets of wisdom along the way. For example, he said repeatedly that if it weren't for his humble upbringing, that he wouldn't be as successful as he is today because he would not have worked as hard and would have taken each opportunity presented to him for granted. Another of his life lessons was that you can't control what happens in life but that you can control your response and your outlook (something that I struggle coming to terms with!). This was a key theme in his life.

Although all of this sounds very serious and sobering, Kevin Hart managed to keep his book light. Although you're reading about the time his father got axed in the head for some ambiguous reason, you're not left feeling sad, disgusted, or in shock...it is more of a "WHAT!" Even when Hart discusses in detail his strained relationship with his ex-wife, you won't feel anger or disgust for either...you will laugh and say "WHAT!" He truly couldn't have made anything of this up! (Read the book and you'll understand! lol). I don't remember if Hart said this, but with each of these moments, he reinforced the thought that you just have to laugh at life and not to take it so seriously.

I can honestly say that I appreciate Kevin Hart so much more after reading his book. For the last year or so, he has just been annoyingly everywhere! But, now that I see how long it took him to get where he is, I get it. Even when  he was making it and making money, he faced many setbacks  - financially, in his relationships, and with his family, to name a few - setbacks so deep that he questioned everything. This was a very inspirational and motivational book (which I was not expecting) and it has given me the "umph" to keep pushing towards what I want in life.

**SIDENOTE** Don't read the print version of this book...listen to his audiobook, which is read by Hart himself. You will thank me later!

Until we read again...