Naked Beneath My Clothes: Tales of a Revealing Nature Book

Rita Rudner's comedy is carefully structured, impeccably timed and exquisitely funny. From one of the best comedians working today comes a wildly funny collection of stories about men, women, modern problems, and life before remote control.

Rita Rudner on pierced ears: "Men who have a pierced ear are better prepared for marriage. They've experienced pain and bought jewelry."

On Hair: "Nobody is really happy with what's on their heads. People with straight hair want curly, people with curly hair want straight, and bald people want everyone to be blind."

On childbirth: "It's scary. One of my friends told me she was in labor for thirty six hours. I don't even want to do anything that feels good for thirty six hours."

On plastic surgery: "I don't plan to grow old gracefully. I plan to have facelifts until my ears meet."

Publishers Weekly

Stand-up comic Rudner observes male-female interaction and muses on such everyday activities as cooking, driving and restaurant dining in this collection of some 40 short, mostly autobiographical essays. Beneath the giddy, easygoing exterior of these new pieces that are not a part of her act, readers will sense an alert and practical observer. Rudner ponders pregnancy ("Life is tough enough without having someone kick you from the inside'') and the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue ("Wearing swimsuits is a sport like ketchup is a vegetable''); and stories of being audited by the IRS and coming out $200 ahead and being proposed to by a man who simply declared, "Here!'' while handing her the ring are entertaining but decidedly light. Lester's unexceptional cartoons seem superfluous. The collection consists mainly of fluff, but it's fan-pleasing fluff. (July)