BH Interview: Adam Carolla – ‘We Didn’t Hate Rich People Growing Up. We Respected Them’
by Christian TotoAdam Carolla isn’t looking to change the culture at large with his popular podcast.
“My life is about building and working and wrenching on some cars,” says Carolla, host of the most downloaded podcast on iTunes. When a subject as ripe as Occupy Wall Street hits his radar, his gift for precision rants simply takes over.
“It wasn’t premeditated. People bring up topics, and I go on a jag,” Carolla tells Big Hollywood of a commentary conservatives roundly embraced. “There was some pent-up demand for this kind of rant.”
Now, Carolla is leveraging his unexpurgated views on the economic divide for his first eBook, “Rich Man, Poor Man.”
The electronic book, which hit no. 2 on iTunes yesterday on its first day of release, shows some commonalities between the one percent and the 99 percent. Carolla’s signature observations are packaged around witty illustrations by Michael Narren, who previously brought past Carolla rants to life via animation.
“It’s something I’ve always kicked around, not doing the eBook but the ‘Rich Man, Poor Man’ thing,” Carolla says, describing a “parlor game” of sorts he began via his Twitter account.
Need an example?
“A rich guy’s got ten cars, A poor guy’s got a lot of cars, too, but they’re all rusted out and out in front on cinder blocks,” he says. Or, the very rich AND the very poor often spend their entire day in pajamas.
Today’s headlines are filled with real – as well as ginned up – tensions between the rich and poor. Carolla, a father of two, blames it on a generation of parents giving the wrong message to children.
“We’ve been fed a steady diet of, ‘you’re special, and you can do anything you want.’” he says. Those who don’t get everything on their wish list now resent those who do.
“When I was a kid it was pretty easy math,” he says. “There’s rich people, and we’re not one of them but they’re out there. It was understood that if you’d like to have that [rich] guy’s house you have to bust your butt and get an education … we didn’t hate rich people growing up, we respected them.”
The eBook arrives just as Carolla’s podcast is gearing up for a productive 2012. He announced on his first show of 2012 that his podcast studio is being expanded, more proof that getting booted off terrestrial radio didn’t mean audiences weren’t eager to hear what he describes as his nasally drone. He hopes to add new talent to the Ace Broadcasting Network’s roster, a lineup which already includes comedian Larry Miller and Carolla’s father, Jim Carolla. The podcaster would love to have magician Penn Jillette do a weekly broadcast under the Ace imprimatur.
Carolla’s burst of entrepreneurial pluck is something new for the former “Man Show” host.
“I wasn’t very good at getting things done in my life,” he says of his early years, long before his self-made podcast reinvented his career. “It became a little bit addicting. I realized the more you do, the more you can do. It’s weird, like what Richard Branson does, but on a much smaller scale.”
The scale may be modest, but it’s on his own terms now. And if his comedy peers blasted him for daring to critique OWS, he didn’t hear about it.
“I don’t know or notice when I’m being ostracized by the Hollywood community,” he says.
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42 Comments
oy oy oy, drink up, another commonality
A small nasally voice of reason from out of Hollywood. How refreshing, and funny. Go get em' Adam.
He's right. Don't like your lot in life? Bust your a$$ and do something about it. Don't wallow around in your own self pity and loathing. Would I like to be rich? Hell yeah! Am I? No. Who's fault is that? Mine. Why? I didn't apply myself in my formidable years. I'm doing OK now though. A person's success should be neither ridiculed or envied.
I remember at some point there was a book published – "The Millionaire Next Door" I think – the public's stereotype of the "rich" and reality are 2 different things. The typical millionaire, as I remember, was a small-medium business owner who worked long hours for years – stayed out opf the limelight – and built the business.
I like Adam Carolla's podcasts, but there nothing compared to his book.
Adam is a decent guy, but I hope that his recent success and attention from his OWS rant doesn't ruin his career. Now that he's put himself out there, there is now a giant target on his back by the vengeful Left.
People forget (or don't know) that the so-called "robber barons" of the late 19th century (e.g., Vanderbilt, Carnegie, Armour) came from modest, even poor, circumstances. In the 20th century, Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and the founders of Hewlett-Packard, while not "poor", were not rich or even "well-off" when they started their businesses. And, as much as we may decry the "products" produced by rappers and hip-hop artists like 50-Cent and Russell Simmons, one has to admire the drive and effort they exhibited on their way to success and the wealth that came with it.
Great book. If I remember correctly the two types of business owners that had more millionaires than any other were dry cleaners and auctioneers. The key ingredient was that both groups did well, but the most important ingredient to wealth? They simply spent and lived on less than what they made.
You do that long enough and you too can be a millionaire!
This article brought to you by Adam Carolla. The smartest part is the Breitbots are cheap shills.
“I don’t know or notice when I’m being ostracized by the Hollywood community,” (Carolla) says." Good for him – most of the people in this country don't care what the poseurs at the "cool kids' tables" in Hollywood or Washington, D.C., think of them (they only care what the "cool kids" in Hollywood and Washington are doing to them).
So, just because Christian Toto happens to like Adam Carolla's new eBook and writes an article about it on one of the Breitbart "Big" sites, that makes him a "shill"? I guess if I happen to like the latest book by William Gibson, P.J. O'Rourke, or Dr. Thomas Sowell, and dare to tell people about it, that makes me a "shill" for these guys? Freakin' amazing, how you think – absolutely freakin' amazing…
JOE S. HOLLYWOOD NATIVE HERE (Grew up close to Carolla too ):
Barry is the first President who DOES NOT WANT to be the leader of ALL the American people-only the President of a supposed 99%, even though most of the remaining 1% in New York, San Francisco & Hollywood shovel him plenty of money.
This is not leadership nor the American way to promise Hope and then use crude scapegoating of any group to address our nation's problems. It's past time to elect a President who won't divide America by class warfare, by race, or by fear in order to save his own grip on power. Vote American next November.
Be in dry cleaning and you'll be movin on up to the East Side…….
I've never begrudged the rich. I want to *be* rich. I admire them, just as Carolla did. Being rich is something to strive toward. And what is wrong with that?
"Freakin' amazing, how you think – absolutely freakin' amazing…"
There is no thinking involved, he's just repeating the talking points.
Well I did hate the rich when I was a kid. But then I grew up and as SBFD0526 commented above, the reason I am not rich is my fault. I could have worked harder, longer, smarter and saved more money, but I chose not to and that is one me, not that it bothers me, I wanted to and did have fun. I made a choice.
But in all honesty I do kind of hate second or third generation rich kids who have no concept of how good they have it and rub their parents or grand parents money in everyone else’s faces. Though I have total respect for all self made rich people.
Couldn't agree more. I was raised to never envy what other people had but to be encouraged by it, knowing that if they could be successful then so could I if I was willing to do the work.
Anyone know why it's not currently available on the iBooks US store. I just tried to buy a copy and was told it wasn't available for purchase.
Why don't you listen to what the man has to say? Might help you in the long run. Wake up man. Freedom and individual liberty are not bad things, friend. Economic freedom is where it's at. You won't get that with your statist heroes lording over us.
Uugh, another pointless troll. They really are digging deep under the rocks for you guys.
Scott, same as you and SBFD – I made choices in my youth, but the main choice was that although I liked the idea of being a high powered successful person with lots of money, I simply didn't want to do the work to get there. I hated the idea of working 60 hours or more a week. I wanted children and I wanted to see my children and my family. So I shot for something more modest, like my dad did (he also never wanted to work for a big company. He preferred small companies and yet he never complained. He made a decent middle-class living and my mom and I were quite happy.). I also made a lot of mistakes and I'm reaping that right now and trying to dig out.
But I can tell you that when I switched from being a moderate liberal to a conservatarian, it was the most freeing thing I have ever done – my destiny was my own and whatever that destiny was, it was because of me and no one else. At the same time, it's terrifying. But it doesn't matter. I absolutely love being the mistress of my own fate.
I agree with you about the later generations of rich families. The grandparents and parents of those people made the same mistake that the Greatest Generation (this is a generalization because I'm sure they all didn't do this) made after WW2 – they spoiled the children understandbly after some very harsh times. 1929 to 1946 were not the best years for most people. But they created little ungrateful monsters or at least kids who were susceptible to certain groups of people to exploit.
I always said that if I ever did make it rich or even very successful, my kids would still know about summer jobs and chores and hard work. I would absolutely refuse to spoil them in any way except with my love.
It's funny, but early this morning, flipping channels, the BIO channel had a story on the Sam Walton and Wal-Mart. That man worked his butt off to get that company off the ground and nothing stopped him. At one point it is mentioned that he cut employees to make more money, the fact was, he was able to become so successful that Wal-Mart employees hundreds and hundreds of people across the United States. That is how it works. Sure, some lost jobs initially, but this so-called "selfish act" allowed him to build the business bigger and bigger and ultimately hire more people.
People need to see beyond the moment. And unfortunately the only ones that do so regularly are people like Walton or Jobs, etc. They see the end result. Sure, losing a job sucks. I've been in that situation before, but if the country is keeping an economy going, you go out and find a new job and reinvent yourself if you have to. Standing around complaining doesn't get you anywhere.
BTW, Adam, can't you make this book available for the regular Nook and Kindle – some of us don't have a color Nook or Kindle Fire and would love to read the book and be able to recommend it to others!
Reminds me so much of an article I read yesterday by Neal Boortz … the morning guy at Atlanta's WSB 750AM. He says to be successful, you must do three things:
1. Stay in school.
2. Don't get pregnant.
3. When you get out of school, get a job. Any job. Keep working until you find a job that pays better.
I highly recommend this article. Here's the link:
http://www.boortz.com/weblogs/nealz-nuze/2012/jan...
Yep, we all make our choices, after you do that there is no use being bitter about someone else who chose a different way. I also had the same idea that if I had kids, while they would have it better than I did they would not get everything their hearts desire. If they want all the extras they'd have to earn it.
I was working for 2 years at a company when a new guy asked me why I didn't already have a house of my own which really confused me. Then he said that he was saving hundreds of dollars each week for a deposit for an investment property and I should already have one. Then I told him that I have rent and bills to pay, whereas he lived with his parents for free, they paid for food, cloths, holidays and even his car. No wonder he was ahead of me, I didn't begrudge him of that, but I hated the fact that he assumed everyone else had it that easy.
So then are the Bigs cheap shills every time they review a book? a movie? a TV show? Are they cheap shills for doing an article on Glee every week?
Yeah, I knew a lot of my friends who moved home after college and were able to save, etc. I stayed home for a year, saved some money and took off for law school. Now I'm up to my eyeballs in law school debt. Should have never stayed in CA. Never realized that there is a glut of attorneys here and that is why, despite a decent resume, I've found it so hard to find that wonderous job that would pay me 6 figures a year. Because the competition is so tough, unless you went to one of the top schools, you're on your own.
So I settled into doing independent contractor work so I can pay the bills and be with my kids. It's going to be even harder being a single mom now (husband decided to check out of the marriage), but I have my mom and I'll be living with her for a while so that will help me save some money and pay off some debt and start afresh.
I have a best friend that basically fell into a job after college. She was a political economy major at Berkeley (but somehow she's not a raging liberal, God bless her) and got a job in the financial industry in NY making obscene amounts of money. She confided to me last summer how much and it's quite jaw dropping. But she feels bad for getting that much. As she put it, "I'm not saving lives." But I assured her that she was getting paid that amount because she does her job well and that is what the market will bear for her position. Am I jealous of her? Sure, that small part of me would love to be in a financial position where I didn't have to worry. But you know what, I worry not because I don't necessarily make enough, but because – wait for it – I spent too damn much! I've learned my lesson. I will never own another credit card as long as I live. For me, it's like giving crack to an addict! LOL!
Absolutely nothing. I don't think you'd find many people that wouldn't like to be rich. The joke is that you accept the nonesense that liberals hate wealthy people. Many of them ARE wealthy people themselves.
we did too, it was not an option to defame the wealthier than us, or discriminate against people that were different.
Bless my parents.
though we never did like those damn Yankees.
ziggy zoggy ziggy zoggy oy oy oy
right you are there
Great book. The Most popular vehicle in America? the Ford F-150. Most popular vehicle for Millionaires? The Ford F-150. Unlike perceptions, Millionaires are not the ones living in 4000 sq/ft starter castles mortgaged up to the hilt and driving leased exotic cars.. which is why they're Millionaires.
I didn't have the opportunity to live at home and save, while I never got myself into debt (that is until I bought a unit) but I was never able to get ahead. Oh well that is life. I have a good job now that covers the bills (and let's me read the internet!) so can't complain to much. My brother is one fo the lucky ones, he found a job that he really likes, so it seems less like work, but that pays really well (more than me). Lucky b@stard!
While I do have a credit card, I'm keep a tight reign on it. But in the end all we can do is keep working and not give up.
My ex's friend also got lucky – majored in philosophy and is now CEO of some small company making big bucks living in Hermosa Beach with his wife who is an entertainment producer (I think she works primarily on the Special Olympics if I'm not mistaken). My ex always complained about that, but I reminded him time and again – he married his first wife at the age of 21 instead of concentrating on finishing college (he still went while married, but also had to work), perhaps moving in with his parents and saving more money. He didn't have any children with her, but still. And as time went on I saw him make similar mistakes – he's not a risk taker. He wants to start this business or that business, but never follows through. And then complains when others are successful.
I think it's best when everybody keeps their nose in their own business. I tell that to my kids all the time. You go down a dangerous path when you're constantly worried about what everybody else is doing and what everybody else is getting.
Yup, just keep working and not give up. And love ourselves the way God loves us.
i don't "hate" the beneficiaries of intergenerational wealth. i don't even envy them. i might think some of them are d-bags of the highest (lowest?) order, but it doesn't go beyond that. i simply recognize that in a free society people like that are just gonna naturally occur. the only alternative is draconian death/inheritance taxes along with severe restrictions on what can be transferred while someone is living. bottom line, i don't believe anyone has a right to tell anyone else how they should spend their money, and that includes where it goes when they die.
I agree, parents should be able to pass on their wealth to their kids and people should be able to spend their money they way they want. But I'm still going to be annoyed by rich dirt bags that never worked a day in their life.
What's he got to lose by being honest? He's being a self made man. Screw the left. Screw them hard and let's ALL stop worrying what these idiots thing or may do. Want to really piss them off? Go to work, put in overtime when needed, take care of your family, go to Church if you're inclined, and laugh. If any of us do any of those things we'll have a target on our backs. I enjoy my target. It lets me know who I am and that I am living the right way in life. I got news for the left in the media. You guys need us a hell of a lot more than we need you. Start bowing down to us now.
And many people one would consider super wealthy still keep their habits they hgad in acquiring their wealth.
Look at Warren Buffet – still lives in his surburban house in Omaha and it wasn't but a few years ago that he decided traveling by executive jet wasn't an extravagance (owning one is a terrible extravagance; look at Nicholas Cage – in trouble with the IRS over back taxes and owns a Gulfstream jet ) – anyway Buffet, still thinking like a business man, couldn't see buying a jet so he bought the biggest company, Netjets – that offers exec jets for charter…
They are terrific timesavers – if you can afford to hire one!
Sam Walton – founder of Walmart – to his dying day drove an old pickup and went to the same barber he had for decades…
There is a wonderful little book – The Wealthy Barber – that gives the principles of wealth creation – http://tinyurl.com/53al8p – years ago I learned that it isn't your gross but your net that determines your wealth – not that I consider myself wealthy – but like my golf game know the principles even if I can't always put them to practice
Get it on! Got to get it on, no choice but to get it on….mandate: get it on!
I love this guy. I saw him in Detroit a couple of months ago. Very pleasantly surprised to hear him pop up on Dennis Prager as well. He has libertarian leanings (on drugs, specifically) and is atheist, but I forgive him that. He's hilarious and has mostly conservative viewpoints, although he understandably doesn't label himself that (probably not a smart move in Hollywood). I betcha his liberal fans agree with 90% of what he says too, but don't identify his values as conservative.
Why? It's my belief that liberals, by and large, don't recognize or understand conservative principals. Very lopsided. Conservatives, on the other hand, can't help but understand fully liberal viewpoints because we're inundated with them in virtually all our schools and media. Liberals can go through life rarely hearing conservative ideas in this sad age.
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