Kasher in the Rye Audiobook By Moshe Kasher cover art

Kasher in the Rye

The True Tale of a White Boy from Oakland Who Became a Drug Addict, Criminal, Mental Patient, and Then Turned 16

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Kasher in the Rye

By: Moshe Kasher
Narrated by: Moshe Kasher
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“The finest, most moving and powerful memoir I have ever read.”—MAYIM BIALIK

Rising young comedian Moshe Kasher is lucky to be alive. He started using drugs when he was just 12. At that point, he had already been in psychoanlysis for 8 years. By the time he was 15, he had been in and out of several mental institutions, drifting from therapy to rehab to arrest to...you get the picture. But Kasher in the Rye is not an "eye opener" to the horrors of addiction. It's a hilarious memoir about the absurdity of it all.

When he was a young boy, Kasher's mother took him on a vacation to the West Coast. Well it was more like an abduction. Only not officially. She stole them away from their father and they moved to Oakland , California. That's where the real fun begins, in the war zone of Oakland Public Schools. He was more than just out of control-his mother walked him around on a leash, which he chewed through and ran away.

Brutally honest and laugh-out-loud funny, Kasher's first literary endeavor finds humor in even the most horrifying situations. Biographies & Memoirs Cultural & Regional Performing Arts Funny Witty Heartfelt Comedy Inspiring
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Critic reviews

“The finest, most moving and powerful memoir I have ever read. A complicated and heartbreakingly beautiful analysis of a life of addiction and mental health with a perfect dose of humor."—Mayim Bialik
“Kasher narrates his unlikely odyssey in surprisingly arresting, and
successful, literary terms. . . riotously funny . . .searingly truthful.”
—San Francisco Chronicle
“Kasher’s stream-of-consciousness writing, coupled with vivid
dialogue, make for an emotional story. . . . It is not easy for addicts
to dig deep into their emotional truth about their experiences, but
Kasher does a remarkable job and should be applauded.”—Washington Post
“A compelling memoir . . . .written in Kasher’s distinctly witty and often frantic narrative voice.”—L.A. Weekly
“Kasher spills about his dark childhood . . . .It’s all true (I’ve confirmed). And brutally funny (with the accent
on brutally). I had it so easy. Wow.”—Library Journal
"Out of all the Hip Hop Jewish kids I know with deaf Orthodox parents, Kasher is the funniest. This book is thoughtful, touching, a bit harrowing and hilarious. Don't shy away because his name is Moshe, it's not too 'Jewy'. Emmis." --Marc Maron, comedian and host of the WTF podcast
"Moshe Kasher is a comic genius. In his memoir, KASHER IN THE RYE, he is able to perform an act of comedic magic which is reserved only for the true greats, such as Richard Pryor, Lenny Bruce, and Mitch Hedberg. Kasher's memoir will take you on a dark and hilarious journey of drugs, alcohol, and madness. But, by the time you reach the end of this book, you will be filled with hope and inspiration that even the most vulnerable can find redemption and recovery." --Artie Lange, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Too Fat to Fish
"Hysterical, heartbreaking, flat-out hilarious...after KASHER IN THE RYE, Moshe Kasher will no longer be known just as a brilliant, cutting edge young comic, but as a genuine monster writer of the highest order. Think Holden Caulfield on dope and bagels, with a side of crime and insane asylums. This is the kind of book that makes you want to wake up everyone you know at three in the morning and scream at them to read. Little Moshe Kasher lived a life no one should have to endure, and we're lucky he survived to write about it. He is living proof that whatever doesn't kill you makes you funnier. I fucking loved this book." --Jerry Stahl, New York Times bestselling author of Permanent Midnight
Raw Honesty • Humorous Storytelling • Buttery Voice • Compelling Memoir • Emotional Journey • Redemptive Narrative

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Would you consider the audio edition of Kasher in the Rye to be better than the print version?

I haven't seen the print version, so I'm not sure I can accurately answer this, but I was a little disappointed in the audio version. I don't know if he was trying to compensate for his slight lisp (which I adore, btw) or if he was reacting to the feedback of others, but I felt like he was over-enunciating and it just sounded slightly awkward. I usually love his delivery during stand up, and this just felt a little more... robotic than that.

What did you like best about this story?

I loved his stories about being Jewish, and I really did appreciate his explanation of both growing up w/ a parent who forced pop psychology on him as well as how addiction takes you down. I can relate to both of those last two things!

What three words best describe Moshe Kasher’s voice?

In this book? Stiff, robotic, not natural. Usually, though, I love it!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. I enjoyed it, but the stories began to be so similar after a while that I had to take breaks. But I loved coming back to it every time! I listened to it in about 3 days.

Any additional comments?

I thought the book was extremely powerful and I enjoyed it. Hands down, I really enjoyed it. I don't think it will be for everyone, but I related to it in a lot of ways and I learned a lot from it. I'm a huge fan of Moshe Kasher and will always support his efforts by buying his stuff or seeing him live when I can. Knowing more about his origin story has given me an even deeper appreciation of him and his humor and success. I grew up with a disabled parent. Even though she wasn't deaf, I can relate to A LOT of the things he says about her. And while my struggles in school were different, I also know what it's like to get lost in the system. And addiction... well, I know that one well, too. So this book was very dear to me in many ways.

Big fan of Moshe's

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Where does Kasher in the Rye rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is the single most impressive audiobook that I have ever consumed with my ears. Out of 2 total audiobooks.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Kasher in the Rye?

I didn't anticipate the stuff between the stories. Chapters start with Rap Epigraphs, many from Bay Area legends. I knew some basic plot points about the author from interviews on comedy podcasts...but I didn't expect to hear any Del the Funky Homosapien quotes. However, I also didn't expect the occasional open copyright Klezmer and HipHop beats that would glue the chapters together. And they did their job... softly guiding me to the transition from one circumstance to another.

Which character – as performed by Moshe Kasher – was your favorite?

I like the Moshe Kasher character.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Listening to it on the 40 mile trek home from working a graveyard shift, I would find myself circling the block until the chapter was over.

Any additional comments?

When I wasn't laughing, I would nod my head and agree. "Yep...That's what THAT felt like." I have never related so much to biographical literature. If you are an urban whiteboy born between 1978 and 1983...you will be able able smell the starter jackets and feel the FILA hat on your brow, and will have no problem immersing yourself into the portrait of Oakland that Moshe Kasher paints with a Phillies Blunt brush dipped in a St. Ides pallet.

This book is why I stole my wifes Audible account.

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Kasher's story is outrageous. It's dark, about depression and drug addiction, about family and redemption, but it's told almost as a tall tale. I'm glad Kasher himself is reading the story, as he is a fantastic comedian, and I can't imagine anyone else telling it. I highly, highly recommend.

Wild, humorous, and strangely heartwarming

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we listen to alot of comedy books and this is the best. he had a great story to tell and it was told very well.

great story

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The story is tremendous, touching on so many emotions. Moshe takes you deep into a pit of despair lifting your spirits occasionally with the underlying humor that you cling to just to fight back the tears. A combination of misery, comedy, redemption and darkness delivered with the charisma and sorrow that only the one who lived all of it could do.

Gripping and emotionally riveting

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