If you watched The Today Show this morning, you probably noticed weird: I wasn’t on it. I can only assume that not inviting me on to discuss LAWYER BOY was some sort of sick practical joke on the part of The Today Show producers, but to be honest, I didn’t find it very funny.

But speaking of funny, attorney/humorist Kevin Underhill wrote up a review of Lawyer Boy on his blog http://LoweringTheBar.net. Here’s part of it.

“Rick Lax sent me a pre-publication copy of his new book, "Lawyer Boy," which was released today (July 8). After reading it, I first considered hunting him down in order to eliminate further competition in the legal-humor department, but decided instead to post a review of the book.

Hunting people down can be really tiring (unless they are elderly, which this guy is not), and it's expensive to have someone else do it.

This is a very funny book, and that starts with its premise, which is pretty much summarized in the book's first sentence: "I always wanted to be a magician, but my father, a tax lawyer, never considered magic a 'viable career path.'" Neither was political science, which Lax had studied in college. So, really, what other option is there in that situation but law school?

I also majored in "political science" -- which, Lax notes, really doesn't exist -- with a focus on the Soviet Union, which now definitely doesn't exist. My other major was in ancient history, which by definition is the study of things that no longer exist. So, while I was never a magician, my options other than law school were also pretty illusory. Why this kind of background might lead people to legal-humor writing is beyond the scope of this piece, which after all is supposed to be a goddamn book review.

"Lawyer Boy" is, more or less, a memoir of Lax's first year in law school at DePaul University in Chicago. It's a lot more entertaining than that might sound, though, even if you are not a lawyer, because the writing is clear and funny, frequently laugh-out-loud funny. No, not eyebrow-lift or even appreciative-nod funny, but the laugh-out-loud kind.”

You can read the rest on his blog, http://loweringthebar.net.

Technorati Tags:

Woo! Tomorrow I officially become a legitimate author. St. Martin’s Press is publishing my law school memoir, LAWYER BOY. Here’s what I have planned for the day:

6:00 AM to 11:00 AM: Appear on several network mornings shows (Good Morning America, The Today Show, etc…). These shows haven’t actually expressed any interest in having me as a guest, but let’s just say, tonight, when I fall asleep, I plan on leaving my cell ringer on.

11:00 AM to 1:00 PM: Foie gras medallions and with the mayor.

1:00 PM to 4:00 PM: Oprah taping. (Attending as an audience member, but planning to throw copies of my book on stage.)

4:00 PM to 10:00 PM: Field apologetic/remorseful phone calls for every girl who’s ever rejected me.

Technorati Tags: