A Hard Kick in the Nuts

Stephen "Steve-O" Glover is 48, and the stunts that made his name no longer sit easily with the body that performed them. He is known as a star of Jackass, a social media figure with a large, loyal following, and a touring stand-up comic. Getting older is the challenge he now takes on.

This is a memoir and advice book in one, written in a self-deprecating comic voice. Glover draws on decades of dangerous, foolish and painful behavior to talk about recovery, relationships and career. The lessons come from experience, not theory.

The topics are practical ones. He considers how to grow up without losing one's own self, why repeating the greatest hits is a trap, and how to stay sober and keep a healthy routine. He also looks at avoiding selfishness and finding a partner for the long run.

The book is aimed at readers who have lived hard, sometimes too hard, and are unsure how to approach the years ahead. It also suits anyone who needs a reason to get out of bed. Glover's own case is the argument: a career built after twenty years of dubious choices, and a life that still has direction.