Running the Light

By: Sam Tallent, Kyle Kinane - foreword

Narrated by: Greg Chaille, Tracy Chaille, Trae Crowder, Tim Dillon, David Gborie, Chris Gethard, Adam Cayton Holland, Jackie Kashian, Rick Kerns, Kyle Kinane, Bert Kreischer, Kristine Levine, Nathan Lund, Nora Lynch, full cast

Length: 10 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

Debauched, divorced, and courting death, Billy Ray Schafer is a comedian who has forgotten how to laugh. Over the course of seven spun-out days across the American Southwest, he travels from from hell gig to hell gig in search of a reason to keep living in this bleak and violent glimpse into the psyche of a thoroughly ruined man. Ex-inmate, ex-husband, ex-father - comedian is the only title Schafer has left. Trapped in the wreckage of his wasted career, Billy Ray knows the answer to the question: What happens when the opportunity doesn't come - or worse - it comes and goes?

©2018, 2019, 2020 Sam Tallent (P)2021 Tantor

Great listen. Ari Sucks

Great insight into the struggles and reality of a stand up comic. Heartfelt and true descriptions of settings were great listens. Funny jokes. Ari Sucks. Worst read of all the individuals chosen. Dan Soder and the rest, just excellent. Ari Sucks. He could have taken his time. Just seemed a bit rushed. Love all the comedians and Ari. But it just had to be said. Great book! Can’t wait for another read by the author.

Phenomenal

It really is as good as Kyle Kinane describes in the forward. Having a bunch of different people read it was an interesting choice but I feel like it changed the tone at time but over all for real this is a great listen.

Running The Light is heartbreaking and hilarious

Sam Tallent captures the dark and obsessive side of being comedian perpetually on the road while describing a landscape of ugliness with beautiful prose

That Sam can write

The Bachman-esc ending is abrupt and semi unsatisfying but hopefully it allows for Mr tallent to replumb the depths at a later time?! I love Sam’s work his comedy is amazing his writing is fucking phenomenal kudos my brother!

Morose, Graphic and Comforting

I loved the strong use of imagery and brutal honesty. It's a raw tale and truly very gripping - like Tuesdays with Morrie, only there's no one there with the exception of addiction.

A great listen!

I loved the story- it was engaging and well-written. I enjoyed the fact that well-known comics read different chapters. I do wish the audio was more consistent but understand it was recorded during *troubling times

Great story and realistic look at life as a standup

This is a well written story by someone who both knows the world of standup and is a talented author. The audio and editing is often shoddy but it’s read by some of the greatest comics in the business, which was fun enough to give a pass (except Tim Dillon’s chapter, which sounds like he had to take a piss so bad he needed to speed read and the last chapter, which sounds like it was read into a vintage cassette recorder). Great story, expertly told and it pulls no punches.

Read It

Loved the book and was extremely impressed and moved by the story and the vivid settings. The idea of comedians reading it sounds cool and I wouldn’t have found this without Soder — he and Maron were easily the best —and you’ve got a killer cast but half of them can’t read or sound like they recorded on a cell phone.
The book itself was perfect and I hope to read more from this author and will def catch his stand up.

Great Story

As you listen you believe this is an autobiography. knowing it's a novel makes me wonder how close the story is to reality.
Sometimes it seems like the narrators are in a little too much of a hurry but I loved the book.

B.R.S.

you fucking nailed it little nephew! I didn't know you knew all those cool words. You make an Uncle proud!!