Last Words by George Carlin
George Carlin's posthumous autobiography, "Last Words," is a captivating and introspective journey through the life and mind of one of the greatest comedians ever. Carlin's wit and humor shine through on every page, even as he delves into personal struggles and social commentary.
Carlin's writing is often raw and honest, and he doesn't shy away from controversial topics. He tackles religion, politics, and the media with his trademark wit and intelligence. He also reflects on his own life and career, sharing his thoughts on fame, success, and the meaning of life. Here is a part of the last chapter I thought you might find interesting:
I no longer identify with my species. I haven’t for a long time. I identify more with carbon atoms. I don’t feel comfortable or safe on this planet. From the standpoint of my work and peace of mind, the safest thing, the thing that gives me the most comfort, is to identify with the atoms and the stars and simply contemplate the folly of my fellow species members. I can divorce myself from the pain of it all. Once, if I identified with individuals, I felt pain; if I identified with groups, I saw people who repelled me. So now I identify with no one. I have no passion anymore for any of them, victims or perpetrators, Right or Left, women or men. I’m still human. I haven’t abandoned my humanity, but I have put it in a place that allows my art to function free of entanglements.
Years ago, I began to recede past Jupiter and its moons, out to the Oort cloud of trillions of comets, beyond the planet formerly known as Pluto, back home with my fellow atoms. All of which originally came from some star or other, not necessarily the one we’re circling.
I believe I am bigger than the universe, smaller than the universe, and equal to it. I’m bigger than the universe because I can picture it, define it and everything in my mind, and contain all that in my mind in a single thought. A thought that’s not even the only one in there: it’s right between “Shit, my ass itches!” and “Why don’t we fuck the waitress?”
That thought, with all the others, is inside the twenty-three-inch circumference of my cranium. So I’m bigger than the universe. I’m smaller than it because that’s obvious: I’m five foot nine and 150 pounds, and the universe is somewhat taller and heavier. I’m equal to it because every atom in me is the same as every atom the universe is made of. I’m part of that protogalaxy five billion light years away and of that cigarette butt in Cleveland. There are no differences. We’re equal. Unlike our fake democracy, the democracy of atoms is real.
That thought, with all the others, is inside the twenty-three-inch circumference of my cranium. So I’m bigger than the universe. I’m smaller than it because that’s obvious: I’m five foot nine and 150 pounds, and the universe is somewhat taller and heavier. I’m equal to it because every atom in me is the same as every atom the universe is made of. I’m part of that protogalaxy five billion light years away and of that cigarette butt in Cleveland. There are no differences. We’re equal. Unlike our fake democracy, the democracy of atoms is real.
"Last Words" is a must-read for fans of George Carlin and anyone interested in comedy, social commentary, or the human condition. It is a fitting tribute to a brilliant comedian and a thought-provoking exploration of life's big questions.
Here are some of his best appearances on YouTube.
