I Was Better Last Night: A Memoir

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars | 1,334 ratings

Price: 17.72

Last update: 02-01-2025


About this item

NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER A poignant and hilarious memoir from the cultural icon, gay rights activist, and four-time Tony Award–winning actor and playwright, revealing never-before-told stories of his personal struggles and conflict, of sex and romance, and of his fabled career

Harvey Fierstein’s legendary career has transported him from community theater in Brooklyn, to the lights of Broadway, to the absurd excesses of Hollywood and back. He’s received accolades and awards for acting in and/or writing an incredible string of hit plays, films, and TV shows: Hairspray, Fiddler on the Roof, Mrs. Doubtfire, Independence Day, Cheers, La Cage Aux Folles, Torch Song Trilogy, Newsies, and Kinky Boots. While he has never shied away from the spotlight, Mr. Fierstein says that even those closest to him have never heard most of the tales—of personal struggles and conflict, of sex and romance, of his fabled career—revealed in these wildly entertaining pages.

I Was Better Last Night bares the inner life of this eccentric nonconforming child from his roots in 1952 Brooklyn, to the experimental worlds of Andy Warhol and the Theatre of the Ridiculous, to the gay rights movements of the seventies and the tumultuous AIDS crisis of the eighties, through decades of addiction, despair, and ultimate triumph.

Mr. Fierstein’s candid recollections provide a rich window into downtown New York City life, gay culture, and the evolution of theater (of which he has been a defining figure), as well as a moving account of his family’s journey of acceptance. I Was Better Last Night is filled with wisdom gained, mistakes made, and stories that come together to describe an astonishingly colorful and meaningful life. Lucky for us all, his unique and recognizable voice is as engaging, outrageously funny, and vulnerable on the page.


Top reviews from the United States

  • Bway Jack
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, hilarious memoir from a stage great
    Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2022
    Harvey Fierstein, needless to say, is a sensational storyteller. His book is every bit as entertaining as his parade of plays, musicals, and movies. I have had the great pleasure of meeting Harvey a few times in my long theatrical career. Although he won't recall these passing introductions, they always made a huge impression on me. He was and is a unique talent, whose memoir is as unique and fascinating as the man himself.

    From a traditional Jewish family of modest means in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, Harvey becomes one of the greatest theatrical writers of the day. His parade of hit shows is like a history of gay theatre from the 1970s until this day. TORCH SONG TRILOGY was an utterly ground-breaking endeavor, an epic three-part play about a gay man coming to terms with his life - his search for love, the challenges of keeping love, his demand for respect from his harshly judgmental but oddly loving Jewish mother. This in the 1970s, when such boldly, outspokenly gay heroes were in scarce supply.

    Like any great storyteller, Harvey (everyone calls him Harvey) elides over the sustained trauma. He talks candidly about his battle with alcoholism, but his recovery - poof! (OK, that's a gag.) He *does* seem to recover within a few pages, with little of the drawn-out torture of most alcoholics. He and the famously combative Arthur Laurents have their disagreements, but Harvey seems to cave to the imperious director's demands with no repercussions. And LA CAGE AUX FOLLES is a huge hit, which makes him even more famous and delightfully rich.

    But the backstage peek at the great parade of shows and talent, from Jerry Herman to Stephen Sondheim (who said no to collaborating) to the great director-choreographer Jerry Mitch to Cyndi Lauper, is delicious. Harvey knows everyone - and I mean everyone - in the theatre. He does film and television, but his heart belongs on stage, playing characters larger than life, from Arnold Beckoff in TORCH SONG to Tevye in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF to the unforgettable Edna Turnblad in HAIRSPRAY. The voice, the timing, the drollery - there is no one as funny and bawdy and endearing as Harvey.

    Ditto this enchanting history of his collaborators, his lovers, his co-stars, the backstage people who make everything happen.

    For anyone who loves theatre, this is a Must Read. If you don't love theatre, do I even know you?
  • Meira
    5.0 out of 5 stars Deeply moving and wonderfully entertaining. Like others on here, I too am better for having read it!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2024
    Many scenes and lines are unforgettable.
    A note about myself as a reader: I don't easily laugh out loud. I can be having a delightful time, finding what I am reading exceptionally clever, but it takes a lot for my laughter to be vocalized. This book had me giggling audibly on the subway numerous times.
    Multiple chapters also brought me to tears. And some did both.
    As an aspiring lyricist I adored reading about a few of my artistic idols like Jerry Herman and Jack Feldman.
    Harvey's warm, genuine, inviting personality is one you just have a blast spending time with.
    I also found myself Googling interviews and acceptance speeches mentioned in the book and sobbing and smiling and going down moving youtube rabbit holes. This read has been a fun, meaningful experience for me and I wish there were more chapters. I didn't want to leave.
  • Esmee
    5.0 out of 5 stars I laughed, I cried, it made me want to read more!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2024
    In the passed few years I've gotten into theater/acting and I've been looking for media about other successful stage actors. This was one of those amazing books that I couldn't put down! It was touching, funny and made me draw parallels with my own life and social group. It's not some vanity project out in the world for the money grab. It's not some gritty expose about the world of entertainment. This is an admirable person's life with ups and downs, points of stagnation and I came away from it feeling hopeful and recommending it to all of my other friends.
  • Michael Youens
    4.0 out of 5 stars All Better Now!
    Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2022
    All through this book I heard Harvey’s unforgettable voice telling me stories. The Broadway nuggets were pure gold. I learned some things about how productions are formulated and brought to life. Thank you Harvey for being funny, witty, creative and loving. I enjoyed reading about your life!
  • Grey Forge LeFey
    5.0 out of 5 stars Like listening to stories from a castmate in the Green Room.
    Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2023
    This book is mostly about theatre and a lot about Broadway as told by the diva who lived it. I'm familiar with Harvey since I saw Tidy Endings on HBO in the 80s and of course all of us gay actors in little theatre dreamed of doing Torch Song back when it was edgy and dangerous.

    Harvey is wonderfully chatty, entertaining, and honest. Who knew his circles were so expansive? He name drops not like someone out to impress, but like someone who considered nearly everyone a friend. His stories are told casually as anecdotes and I catch myself pausing to reflect, "Wait. This person is a megawatt talent, a Broadway icon, a legend. How are they so very real?"

    And so very wise. Harvey shares quotable observations about life generously because he's done the work, paid the piper, and loves like a bubbe.
  • Nina Jaye Henry
    5.0 out of 5 stars Who Knew?
    Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2023
    I have to admit that I always thought Harvey Fierstein was a big name because of his larger-than-life personality and physique, as well as his signature raspy voice. There is so much more to him! It turns out he is a gifted playwright and it seems this is where he most made his mark and some history along the way. Insightful, direct, and honest - well worth reading!
  • Larabobblehead
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
    Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2023
    I've loved Harvey for a very long time. This was such an amazing and intimate look into his story, full of so many moments and stories and emotional upheavals!! I loved every word. I'm so glad I read it, and recommend it to everyone with even a vague interest in theater. Absolutely brilliant.
  • BrooklynDavid
    3.0 out of 5 stars Good
    Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2022
    It's always a delight to sit back and enjoy Harvey's tone and narrative. The raspy voice almost comes across the page. So for fans of his, this is a must-have! To those who want to know more about the early days of gay theatre, this might provide several good footnotes. Otherwise, there's not much here. But the thinness of the material should in no way imply it's not enjoyable. Calorie-free is perhaps the best description for a work by man who is anything but.

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