Confessions of a Dangerous Mind: An Unauthorized Autobiography

So satirical that at times even cynical. Barris indiscriminately bashes all circles of life - from women-gold diggers to Uncle Sam. Whether Barris' spy games were true or not, this book was worth the attention.

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind is the unauthorized autobiography of Chuck Barris. Mr. Barris is probably best known as the creator of several popular games shows including the Dating Game, the Newlywed Game and the Gong Show. In this autobiography he also makes the claim that he was one of the CIA's most successful assassins. Although his claim is highly dubious, Mr. Barris has a knack for spinning it into one hell of a story. In the first chapter we are introduced to the 1980 version of Chuck Barris playing the role of the reclusive and paranoid millionaire. A burnt out, former international celebrity best know for serving up some of the schlockiest television shows in the pre-reality television era. Chuck, plagued by nightmares and consumed by his phobias, attempts to exorcise his demons by authoring the book "Confession of a Dangerous Mind" which he refers to an "act of catharsis". However, before he can finish this story and free himself he must complete the now all too clich "final mission" for the CIA. As formulaic as this premise may sound I can guarantee that Chuck has you completely snared by the end of the first chapter. Chuck tells the tale of himself as the proverbial young man down on his luck trying to find his place in the world. He is unable to hold a job, or maintain a stable relationship when he answers a newspaper ad that reads: "COLLEGE GRADUATE: FREE TO TRAVEL". As difficult as this is to believe, he is promptly recruited into the CIA and embarks on his new career as an international assassin. As luck would have it, he simultaneously creates several hit television shows and becomes one of the most successful producers in television for more than a decade. Through out the book the author struggles to intertwine the two disparate careers. Ok, I know this sounds like the plot for a B movie but surprisingly the story actually works. Mr. Barris is effective because he plays upon the fantasies of our culture. Aren't we all longing for a life-changing event that sweeps us away from our mundane existence into a titillating new life? Isn't that the reason we go to the movies or read books, in order to escape the routine for a few hours? I resisted reading this book because I thought it would be too farfetched and the spy plot would be too distracting but. However I found the blend of fiction and non-fiction to be both audacious and compelling. Even if you unable reconcile the fictional aspects from the "true" anecdotes, this tale remains an insightful and entertaining glance into the mind of a creative yet disturbed man. Chuck Barris has often been criticized for the quality of the body of work he has created, but you do have to give Chuck some credit. He knows what the masses want and he consistently delivers it and this book is no exception. My rating: I gave it 5 stars just because I had a great time reading this book on the train into work every morning for a week, which does not happen that frequently. By the way,

Hard to imagine this book is from the creator/host of the "Gong Show"! Dark, entertaining & hilarious. But believable? At times, no. But read it anyway, you'll fall over laughing.Other spoof biographies that are very funny - "No One's Even Bleeding" & "Delano"

Several years ago, all I knew about Chuck Barris was that he was the host of TV's "The Gong Show." But when my best friend's father--a true connoisseur of biographies, auto- or otherwise--sort of off-handedly mentioned this book to me, I was intrigued. And when I polished "Dangerous Minds" off in about two sittings, I was entertained, delighted, and duly impressed. Did I believe that Barris was really a CIA operative? Well, stranger things have happened. But what really impressed me was the writing, by turns absurd and intense. I can still see in my mind's eye the images conjured up by the TV studio finale. But for me, few (if any) other written scenes have topped the prelude to Barris's first mission, when he dreams of a hit gone madly awry and comments about it to his control the next morning. The control's reply is as beautiful as it is calm: "We all had that dream."Although I like that I'm one of only a few people who've actually read this book, it's high time it receives its due. Then again, as good as it is, I don't suppose it could really become too popular. If you catch my meaning.