📖 Overview
Howie Mandel is an actor, comedian, and television host who rose to prominence in the 1980s through his stand-up comedy and role as Dr. Wayne Fiscus on the medical drama "St. Elsewhere" (1982-1988).
Known widely as the host of the game show "Deal or No Deal" (2005-2019), Mandel has served as a judge on "America's Got Talent" since 2010. His comedy career is marked by a distinctive voice-acting role as Gizmo in the 1984 film "Gremlins" and the creation of the children's cartoon series "Bobby's World" (1990-1998).
Mandel has been open about his struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and mysophobia, documenting these experiences in his 2009 memoir "Here's the Deal: Don't Touch Me." His candid discussions about mental health have made him a prominent advocate for mental health awareness.
Beyond television, Mandel maintains an active stand-up comedy career and has appeared in numerous films and television shows as both actor and producer. He received a star on both Hollywood's Walk of Fame and Canada's Walk of Fame, acknowledging his contributions to entertainment.
👀 Reviews
Readers of Mandel's memoir "Here's the Deal: Don't Touch Me" appreciate his honest discussion of OCD and mental health challenges. Many reviews mention the book helped them understand their own anxiety or OCD experiences.
What readers liked:
- Balanced mix of humor and serious topics
- Clear explanation of how OCD affects daily life
- Behind-the-scenes stories from his entertainment career
- Straightforward writing style
What readers disliked:
- Some found the timeline jumps confusing
- Several mentioned wanting more depth on certain topics
- A few noted repetitive anecdotes
Ratings across platforms:
Goodreads: 3.7/5 (5,800+ ratings)
Amazon: 4.4/5 (300+ ratings)
Notable reader comment: "His description of living with OCD gave me words to explain my own experiences to others" - Goodreads reviewer
Most negative reviews focus on writing style rather than content: "Could have used better organization and editing" - Amazon reviewer
📚 Books by Howie Mandel
Here's the Deal: Don't Touch Me (2009)
A memoir detailing Mandel's life story, comedy career, and his experiences living with OCD and mysophobia, including how these conditions have impacted both his personal life and professional work in entertainment.
👥 Similar authors
David Sedaris writes autobiographical essays that deal with personal challenges and family dynamics with humor. His work shares Mandel's ability to find comedy in difficult situations while discussing mental health issues like OCD.
Jenny Lawson chronicles her experiences with mental illness through memoirs that blend humor with candid revelations. Her writing style mirrors Mandel's approach of using comedy to discuss serious mental health topics.
Steve Martin combines comedy performance with written work that draws from his entertainment career experiences. His books provide behind-the-scenes insights into show business similar to Mandel's insider perspective.
Michael J. Fox writes about his life in entertainment and his health challenges with openness and humor. His memoirs share Mandel's approach of balancing entertainment industry stories with personal medical experiences.
Bob Saget wrote about his comedy career and life experiences in an honest, revealing style. His work covers similar ground to Mandel's, discussing both the entertainment industry and personal challenges.
Jenny Lawson chronicles her experiences with mental illness through memoirs that blend humor with candid revelations. Her writing style mirrors Mandel's approach of using comedy to discuss serious mental health topics.
Steve Martin combines comedy performance with written work that draws from his entertainment career experiences. His books provide behind-the-scenes insights into show business similar to Mandel's insider perspective.
Michael J. Fox writes about his life in entertainment and his health challenges with openness and humor. His memoirs share Mandel's approach of balancing entertainment industry stories with personal medical experiences.
Bob Saget wrote about his comedy career and life experiences in an honest, revealing style. His work covers similar ground to Mandel's, discussing both the entertainment industry and personal challenges.