Favorite "Seinfeld" Books

[Schmoopie]

Does anyone have any recommendations for good books on or about Seinfeld (The show or about anyone in the show)?

I just read "Dizzy and Jimmy" by Liz Sheridan and I've posted a review here:
http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=94423

One of my favorites is the one that Jerry wrote called "SeinLanguage" I've read it twice and it's absolutely hysterical! A must-read! That was actually the first birthday present I ever received from my husband when we were dating! Awww!

I also love Jerry's book "Halloween" for kids. I read that every year on Halloween and :lol: every time! And I don't have kids!

The "Letters from a Nut" books aren't written by Jerry but he wrote the foreword for a couple of them, and the "Backward" for another one! Those are a riot! The author writes these letters asking ridiculous things to companies (my favorite is from the first book where he writes to Nordstrom to buy this mannequin that he thinks looks like his dead neighbor; he wants to give it to the familiy!) and then prints the letters he gets in response! I think there are three of these books.

I am currently trying to read "The Philosophy of Seinfeld" but it's too... um, well I guess the word is 'philosophical'. The author is a philsophy teacher and most of that stuff just goes over my head. Sooooo, I have been skimming the book looking for quotes and stuff.

And today I started another book by Jerry Stiller (Frank Costanza) called "Married to Laughter". It's an autobiography and I noticed that he does a whole chapter on "Seinfeld" at the end of the book (which I can hardly stand to wait for!), but it's been interesting reading about his childhood and so forth. This is turning out to be a much better book than the Liz Sheridan one about her and James Dean.

Another book I haven't read but am dying to is called "Seinfeld; The Making of an American Icon" by Jerry Oppenheimer. I can't find it in the library which means I'd have to buy it. I'm a little hesitant because it's an 'unathorized" biography, but I want to learn more about Jerry Seinfeld. I may just read it (despite its bad reviews) and take things with grain of salt.

And yet another book that I have is called The Entertainment Weekly Seinfeld Companion. It has an A-Z section of Seinfeld things (comes in handy on this board! :happyface ), as well as an episode guide. The only thing is that it doesn't have all the seasons. I think it only goes through Season 6 or 7.

If you've read any of these (especially the Oppenheimer book), I'd love to hear what you think of them!

Andrea

[catlover79]

^ I bought the first edition of the EW Seinfeld Companion when it first came out in (I believe) 1994. I also enjoyed Seinlanguage. My sister has always loved the Letters From a Nut trilogy. :lol:

[Schmoopie]

^ I bought the first edition of the EW Seinfeld Companion when it first came out in (I believe) 1994. I also enjoyed Seinlanguage. My sister has always loved the Letters From a Nut trilogy. :lol:

I wish that EW would make another edition of that book and add the entire series. They did have a magazine that I wish I still had that came out right as the series was ending (or already over) that had detailed descriptions of every show. I may see if I can find that somewhere.

Andrea

[Bruhahn99]

Just found SeinLanguage on Ebay for a low price..Im gonna get it.

beth

[DSfan]

Schmoopie, I am wondering where you get these books. Is it off the Internet or a book store? I would really want to buy some of these.

[Schmoopie]

Schmoopie, I am wondering where you get these books. Is it off the Internet or a book store? I would really want to buy some of these.

Most of the ones I've checked out from the library, but I do have SeinLanguage and the Entertainment Weekly book. I got those as gifts from my husband.

I know that Jerry is supposedly a very private person, but I would absolutely love for him to write another book. Even one like SeinLanguage, which doesn't divulge any personal info at all. It's all jokes. I would actually prefer for him to write an autobiography, because I love listening to him talk about his wife and kids. I think a book about his experience of being a husband and father would be both heartwarming and hilarious!

Andrea

[DSfan]

Ok thanks, I will look out for these the next time I go to a library/bookstore.

You must be looking forward to the Seinfeld trivia boardgame that is coming out, I can't wait for it to hit stores in Canada (hopefully it will make it to Canada).

I wish there would be a Seinfeld E! True Hollywood Story or something similar made that would be about 2hrs.

[Schmoopie]

You must be looking forward to the Seinfeld trivia boardgame that is coming out, I can't wait for it to hit stores in Canada (hopefully it will make it to Canada).
I've heard about this and heck yeah I'm excited! I don't know anyone around here who is a Seinfeld fan (except for online!), so I'll probably end up playing it by myself, but I could probably talk my husband into playing. He watches Seinfeld now because of me! ;)

I wish there would be a Seinfeld E! True Hollywood Story or something similar made that would be about 2hrs.
That would be cool, because I'd love to learn more about the show. Of course the DVD's have a ton of extras and interviews that are pretty interesting.

Andrea

[catlover79]

I didn't even know there was a Seinfeld board game coming out. Awesome! Thanks for the heads up!!!! :cool:

[DSfan]

My whole family watches the show actually. My dad especially used to watch everyday after he came home from work.

I want to buy the complete series of Seinfeld but I'm annoyed because, had I not been stupid, I wouldn't have bought a couple of separate seasons a few years ago and now I feel guilty if I were to waste the money. So, either I will regift it lol or take less money and give it a DVD store to sell used.

Seinfeld DVDs have, by far, the best special features!

[Schmoopie]

I want to buy the complete series of Seinfeld but I'm annoyed because, had I not been stupid, I wouldn't have bought a couple of separate seasons a few years ago and now I feel guilty if I were to waste the money.
You're not stupid at all. I was mad when they came out with the whole set too, because I'd been buying them all separate. I just wish I knew what kind of extras were on the big set. I read this on another board that I found by accident, but someone said that they think that Sony should release a DVD set of just the extras of the big set for those who bought them all individually. I totally agree with this! I hate that they "teased" us with the huge set. Who wants to wait that long to buy them? I would rather buy them as they are released, and I like the fact that they are separate.


So, either I will regift it lol or take less money and give it a DVD store to sell used.
I bet someone on this board would be happy to take them off your hands. I would try here first because I'm sure you could work out a really good deal.


Seinfeld DVDs have, by far, the best special features!
You are so right! I love all the special features! In fact, when I get through with my monumental task of watching the episodes one right after the other, I am going to go back and watch the eppys with the commentaries. I figured it out and you could literally sit and watch each episode THREE times; once in the original form, once with the "Notes About Nothing" (which I've already done), and once with the commentaries. Whew! That makes my head spin, just thinking about it:dizzy: . OH! and the "Inside Looks", don't forget those!

Oh man, I have to go lie down now!
:cat: :cat: :cat: :cat: :cat:

Andrea

[DSfan]

The commentaries are actually the one special feature that I always hate for some reason. It reminds of N@N a few years back, when those blurbs would constantly distract me with tidbits of information that I wanted to read but I hate being distracted when watching a show, and commentaries always do that lol.

Schmoopie, when Seinfeld is syndicated on TV, are they heavily edited compared to the DVDs? I find it is one of the only shows that I don't notice editing and was wondering if the DVDs have scenes that I wouldn't have seen normally on tv.

[Anti-Dentyte]

This isn't technically a "Seinfeld" book----it wasn't written by Jerry or any cast member----but I own the unauthorized biography of Jerry Seinfeld called: "Seinfeld: The Making Of An American Icon", by Jerry Openheimer. It's a great insightful read for any fan of Jerry Seinfeld. I highly recommend this book, if you haven't already read it.

[Schmoopie]

Schmoopie, when Seinfeld is syndicated on TV, are they heavily edited compared to the DVDs? I find it is one of the only shows that I don't notice editing and was wondering if the DVDs have scenes that I wouldn't have seen normally on tv.
It's been so long since I've seen the "original" episodes but according to each box set, it says that each episode is about 1-2 minutes longer than what is shown on TV. I haven't noticed any scenes that have been cut, but it's very possible. I still watch "Seinfeld" when it comes on in syndication too! I know, I'm a nut, aren't I?:crazy:

This isn't technically a "Seinfeld" book----it wasn't written by Jerry or any cast member----but I own the unauthorized biography of Jerry Seinfeld called: "Seinfeld: The Making Of An American Icon", by Jerry Openheimer. It's a great insightful read for any fan of Jerry Seinfeld. I highly recommend this book, if you haven't already read it.

I am SO glad you mentioned this book! I have been dying to read it but I was kind of leary about it, since it says it's "Unauthorized". I read several reviews about it on Amazon.com and on Barnesandnoble. com and most of those readers didn't like it because they said that the author obviously doesn't like Jerry Seinfeld. Why would you write a biography on someone you don't like? I really wish that Jerry would write his own autobiography (although he did write "SeinLanguage" but that's not an autobiography) and talk about his wife and kids and his life. I'd love to learn more about him. Now that you mentioned liking the book, I'm definitely going to buy it. I'll just take most of what it says with a grain of salt.
Not that there's anything wrong with that!:lol:

Andrea

[catlover79]

I also bought Jerry Seinfeld: Much Ado About Nothing by Josh Levine back in 1994. That too was a very good book.

[Cactus Jack]

That would be cool, because I'd love to learn more about the show. Of course the DVD's have a ton of extras and interviews that are pretty interesting.

Andrea
I dont think there will ever be a THS for Seinfeld, no backstage drama LOL



Oh I LOVE the Notes About Nothing I had them on just about every episode when I watched it all earlier this year and late last year

[Schmoopie]

Thanks everyone for all the great book suggestions!

Andrea

[catlover79]

Thanks everyone for all the great book suggestions!

Andrea
No problem!!! I think you'd like Much Ado About Nothing because it's like half a biography of Seinfeld himself, and half about the workings of the show. It was published back in 1993 and as far as I know, has never been updated.

[Anti-Dentyte]

I am SO glad you mentioned this book! I have been dying to read it but I was kind of leary about it, since it says it's "Unauthorized". I read several reviews about it on Amazon.com and on Barnesandnoble. com and most of those readers didn't like it because they said that the author obviously doesn't like Jerry Seinfeld. Why would you write a biography on someone you don't like?
Andrea

The fact that it's "unauthorized" is a good thing, because all that means is that it was written objectively without being censored by Jerry Seinfeld or his representatives.

While reading the book, I never had the impression that Jerry Openheimer didn't like Jerry Seinfeld----all he does is he stays objective and has interviewed many of Jerry Seinfeld's relatives and former schoolmates and ex-girlfriends. Obviously when you interview aquaintances, you're going to get some that are going to say negative things because they're jealous and resentful because the person is rich and famous. Jerry Seinfeld is very successful in life, so it's no wonder that some people are bitter about it and want to tarnish his image.

But also nobody's perfect----Jerry Seinfeld has his flaws like the rest of us. Openheimer simply included all the feedback he received in his book----positive and negative. (And yes, some people did have some nice things to say about Jerry Seinfeld.)

[Schmoopie]

The fact that it's "unauthorized" is a good thing, because all that means is that it was written objectively without being censored by Jerry Seinfeld or his representatives.

While reading the book, I never had the impression that Jerry Openheimer didn't like Jerry Seinfeld----all he does is he stays objective and has interviewed many of Jerry Seinfeld's relatives and former schoolmates and ex-girlfriends. Obviously when you interview aquaintances, you're going to get some that are going to say negative things because they're jealous and resentful because the person is rich and famous. Jerry Seinfeld is very successful in life, so it's no wonder that some people are bitter about it and want to tarnish is image.

But also nobody's perfect----Jerry Seinfeld has his flaws like the rest of us. Openheimer simply included all the feedback he received in his book----positive and negative. (And yes, some people did have some nice things to say about Jerry Seinfeld.)

Well, it's funny because for some reason whenever I hear or see the word "Unauthorized" I think "tabloid" which is stupid, I know...:doh: But that was the reason I hesitated.

However, now that I've read your great comments on the book, I'm definitely buying it!

Andrea

[Anti-Dentyte]

Yeah, I definitely recommend that you buy it. :) There are some nice pictures in it too, of Jerry when he was a kid and when he was a teenager with his ex-girlfriend, etc.

Something cool for any fan of Seinfeld is that there's actually an interesting chapter about his family history----about his grandparents and his parents and how they met. I learned a lot of things about Jerry that I didn't know, for example that he's part Polish. (I already knew that he was Jewish). We learn a lot about Jerry's quirky entrepreneur father who by all accounts had a great sense of humor (which was obviously an inspiration to Jerry). ;)

In short, everything you always wanted to know about Jerry Seinfeld is contained in this book.

[Schmoopie]

I was at Powell's Bookstore in Portland (OR) this weekend and I picked up some Seinfeld books! They didn't have the Oppenheimer one, but I'm gonna order that on line.

I bought:
Jerry Seinfeld-The Entire Domain
Sein Off-The Final Days of Seinfeld
and
Seinfeld-The Totally Unauthorized Tribute (Not that there's anything wrong with that)

The Entire Domain book is a biography, but it ends when the show does. It's probably not as good as the Oppenheimer one, but it may make for some interesting reading. It has lots of pictures.

The Totally Unauthorized Tribute is an awesome book and has TONS of info about Seinfeld (cast, crew and TV show)

Andrea

[Anti-Dentyte]

Great. :) I should buy some more Seinfeld books too.

[DSfan]

I was at Powell's Bookstore in Portland (OR) this weekend and I picked up some Seinfeld books! They didn't have the Oppenheimer one, but I'm gonna order that on line.

I bought:
Jerry Seinfeld-The Entire Domain
Sein Off-The Final Days of Seinfeld
and
Seinfeld-The Totally Unauthorized Tribute (Not that there's anything wrong with that)

The Entire Domain book is a biography, but it ends when the show does. It's probably not as good as the Oppenheimer one, but it may make for some interesting reading. It has lots of pictures.

The Totally Unauthorized Tribute is an awesome book and has TONS of info about Seinfeld (cast, crew and TV show)

Andrea

I'm wondering, what section of the bookstore are all these books stored? Are they all over or how can you find them? I want to look out for them the next time I need to get a book for school or something.

[catlover79]

I'm wondering, what section of the bookstore are all these books stored? Are they all over or how can you find them? I want to look out for them the next time I need to get a book for school or something.
They're usually in the media/entertainment section...or you could try the humor section as well.

[DSfan]

Thanks! I'll be on the lookout in the future...

[catlover79]

Thanks! I'll be on the lookout in the future...
You're welcome!! :D Keep us posted...

[Schmoopie]

They're usually in the media/entertainment section...or you could try the humor section as well.
Powell's is so huge that they had their own TV section (and when I say huge, I'm talking literally a city block!:eek: ). That's where I found the books about Seinfeld the TV show, but the biography on Jerry I found in the humor section.

Andrea

[Anti-Dentyte]

We have a huge bookstore here that I go to in downtown Vancouver (Chapters Bookstore---which is actually a chain, but the "flagship" store in Vancouver is this one), which is about half a city block in size, with 3 floors! If you can't find a book at that store, you won't find it easily anywhere (except online).

[Schmoopie]

We have a huge bookstore here that I go to in downtown Vancouver (Chapters Bookstore---which is actually a chain, but the "flagship" store in Vancouver is this one), which is about half a city block in size, with 3 floors! If you can't find a book at that store, you won't find it easily anywhere (except online).
I think I've been there before, but thanks for the reminder! I love that bookstore!

Andrea

[Anti-Dentyte]

Schmoopie: You know Vancouver?

[Schmoopie]

Schmoopie: You know Vancouver?
Yeah! My husband and I go there a lot! It's only about 3 hours away!:wave:

Andrea

[Anti-Dentyte]

Schmoopie: Oops! Somehow I thought you lived in Portland, Oregon. :D Now I see that you live in Seattle. ;) I've been to Seattle a few times too. :)