The Jerusalem Syndrome cover art

The Jerusalem Syndrome

My Life as a Reluctant Messiah

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The Jerusalem Syndrome

By: Marc Maron
Narrated by: Marc Maron
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About this listen

The Gospel according to Maron: a spiritual memoir of your average hyperintelligent, ultraneurotic, superhip Jewish standup comedian and seeker.

The Jerusalem Syndrome is a genuine psychological phenomenon that often strikes visitors to the Holy Land - the delusion that they are suddenly direct vessels for the voice of God. Marc Maron seems to have a distinctly American version of the Jerusalem Syndrome, which has led him on a lifelong quest for religious significance and revelation in the most unlikely of places.

Maron riffs on Beat phenomena with its sacred texts, established rituals, and prescribed pilgrimages. He spends some time exploring the dark side of things, as his obsessions with cocaine (known to Maron as “magic powder”), conspiracy theories, and famous self-destructive comedians convince him that the gates of hell open beneath Los Angeles. As his quest matures, he reveals the religious aspects of Corporate America, pontificating on the timeless beauty of the Coca-Cola logo and even taking a trip to the Philip Morris cigarette factory, where the workers puff their own products with a zealot-like fervor. The culmination of Maron’s Jerusalem Syndrome comes during his own tour of the Holy Land, where, with Sony camcorder glued to his eye socket, he comes face-to-face with his own ambiguous relationship to Judaism and reaches the brink of spiritual revelation - or is it nervous breakdown?

Marc Maron has considerably adapted and expanded his praised one-man show to craft a genuine literary memoir. Whether he’s a genuine prophet or a neurotic mess, he’ll make you laugh as you question the meaning of life.

©2013 Marc Maron (P)2013 Random House Audio
Entertainment & Celebrities Celebrity Comedy Middle East Judaism Funny Memoir

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All stars
Most relevant  
I certainly wasn't expecting a masterpiece but that's what this book is, truly. Great fucking job Maron.

Masterpiece

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Maron mentioned this recently on his podcast WTF and it got me curious. I'm not one for memoirs, biographies, or autobiographies. This however was a fervently joyous recollection of a life lived, from the most depraved and annoyingly self indulgent buffoonery to the comforting embrace of just being a good guy amidst family and community. Drops in some context for some of his ramblings. Some insightful if bonkers thoughts. Time I've happily spent.

Maniacal Messiah

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