10 books you should read in December, including Elizabeth Taylor: The Grit And Glamor Of An Icon

Compiled using a wide array of secondary sources, Outside Looking In may not break new ground, but it nevertheless provides a tidy and illuminating overview of the life and oeuvre of one of America’s most important comics. Writer John Corcelli divides ’s evolution into four chronological parts that form the structure of his meticulous biography: class clown (the early years, not the 1972 album), jester, poet, and philosopher. A chapter on Mort Sahl, Lenny Bruce, and Richard Pryor adds context to the landscape Carlin emerged into and evolved from. Corcelli, whose previous biography covered another American innovator, , gives plenty of insight into Carlin’s other influences (ranging from his mother and childhood neighborhood to Danny Kaye and Paul Krassner) and those he influenced (Margaret Cho, Garry Shandling, and many more). The book, which includes a complete list of Carlin’s works, from his seven-inch singles to HBO specials, will be an excellent resource for both the Carlin-curious and longtime fans.