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    Role Models
    Role Models
    Role Models
    Audiobook7 hours

    Role Models

    Written by John Waters

    Narrated by John Waters

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Role Models is filmmaker John Waters's self-portrait told through intimate profiles of favorite personalities-some famous, some unknown, some criminal, some surprisingly middle-of-the-road. From Esther Martin, owner of the scariest bar in Baltimore, to the American playwright Tennessee Williams; from the atheist leader Madalyn Murray O'Hair to the insane martyr Saint Catherine of Siena; from the English novelist Denton Welch to the timelessly appealing singer Johnny Mathis-these are the extreme figures who helped the author form his own brand of neurotic happiness.

    Role Models is a personal invitation into one of the most unique, perverse, and hilarious artistic minds of our time.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateJun 16, 2010
    ISBN9781400187034
    Role Models
    Author

    John Waters

    John Waters is the writter and director of twelve films.

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    Reviews for Role Models

    4/5

    194 ratings18 reviews

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    • 5/5
      I adore John Waters, and loved his books Crackpot! and Shock Value, so I imagine this will be right up my alley. This was my favorite of John's books, a lot like seeing his stage show, plus in depth interviews with his role models of course. Even if you have a passing interest in him, this will entertain, and dare I say educate you, as he inflicts his tastes in music, modern art, and celebrity on you.
    • 5/5
      This man is simply fascinating. I taught at his alma mater. It was once an outstanding school. How it is run by corrupt, money grubbing, spineless shills. Back to John, however. Highly recommend his book. He is always interesting, and a true non conformist. I respect the hell out of him.
    • 5/5
      John waters is a national treasure. Everything he writes is worth reading if you’re in sync with his depraved world view. The audiobook is read by waters himself, and it’s an added pleasure to hear him occasionally unable to keep himself laughing at his twisted observations.
    • 4/5
      Listening to Waters read one of his books is always a pleasurable experience. He is an incredible, expressive narrator. In this case, however, the subject matter isn't as fascinating as is sometimes the case. Waters has the ability to humanize and sympathize with nearly anyone, from gay pornographers to (some) members of the Manson Gang. He also shows an incredible enthusiasm for modern art that is apparently not a put-on. His reading recommendations are also interesting, but all-in-all, this is not as interesting or entertaining as Mr. Know It All, which is in some ways similar.
    • 4/5
      I don't know why anyone, if given the option, would choose to read a John Waters book and not listen to it. This was every bit as hilarious, crude, and salacious as I expected, and I learned a lot, too! Lots of laugh-out-loud moments, though, oddly, the only thing that didn't sit well with me was Waters' assessment of mental illness. Of course, it's John Waters, and, like everything else, he could just be saying that to get a rise.
    • 4/5
      What a fantastically complex human being.
    • 5/5
      The inimitable John Waters. That's all you need to know.
    • 5/5
      Through "Role Models", John Waters, describes his loves, hates, interests and fears, through his experiences with close friends, acquaintances, places, heroes and role models. I love John Water's style of writing. You feel like you're reading personal correspondence from a close friend - a kooky friend, whom you worry about terribly and are always pleased to hear that they got through the weekend safely. Not for everyone - there are some frank and fearless descriptions here. In fact, his life reminds me of exactly how conservative I really am (and not the crazy bohemian I imagine myself to be).
    • 4/5
      Sick, twisted, at times surprisingly highbrow fun from The Pope of Trash.
    • 3/5
      Illuminating look into a very interesting man.
    • 4/5
      Weird, frequently outlandish, and quite entertaining.
    • 4/5
      We keep the flag flying high and bright. THE FREAK FLAG. Waters introduces us to the pop, high, and low culture icons that have influenced his life. This book contains the funniest joke I have heard in years. Of course, I can't repeat it here. I will share this nugget: "May I ask what you do for a living?""Can I be honest with you?""Sure.""I trade deer meat for crack."Waters never apologizes for his snobbery or his perversion. I love you John Waters. The most touching chapter was about his friend Leslie Van Houten (who recently was denied parole for the 19th time).
    • 3/5
      Witty and self-reflective. I am not a John Waters fan as the creator of Hairspray or as the cult hero and yet the book is still entertaining and thoughtful. Maybe even more so because I was able to read his words and take them for what they are. The commentary of an aging gay man who pencils in his mustache, has been in the company of some very cool people, and was once outrageous only to now be quite tame.
    • 5/5
      I love John Waters, although I'm not a particular fan of his films. I just like him, and he's one of those writers where every line could be a quotation. (I would have to say my favorite from this book, after much deliberation, is when somebody asks him if he has any hobbies, and he offended replies "HOBBIES? DO I LOOK LIKE A DABBLER?" and it makes me feel good to know he is a fellow obsessive about his interests.) This is a collection of essays about people who have inspired him in some way -- some are more like interviews, others are people he has known over years, and then there are some that are ruminations on people he has never met, but have impacted his life and career. The most fascinating chapter is his very fair and thoughtful piece about his friendship with Leslie Van Houten. Also noteworthy is the essay about extreme pornographers, because really, what do you have to be doing for John Waters to think you're extreme?
    • 3/5
      Waters writes like he's delivering a monologue. It ain't great literature, but if you think you'd love to have a drink with the guy, you'll enjoy the read. Drinks not included.
    • 4/5
      His collection of essays centers around people and things he considers role models throughout his life: his favorite clothing designer, one of the Manson girls, various artists.... The resultant book is exactly as Waters, and his movies, appear to be - by turns charming and degraded. Likely to leave some readers wishing they could wash out their brain with soap, but it's definitely an intriguing look at what's important to him.
    • 1/5
      Totally missed the entire point of this book. I'm a fan of Waters - this one just escaped me.
    • 5/5
      Brilliant. John Waters is smart and endearing like always.