Shrinkage

June 30, 2014
In his debut, Bishop, sidekick on The Adam Corolla Show, turns the story of his inoperable brain tumor into a comedic memoir of illness, courage, despair, and hope. Not long before Bishop's wedding, a doctor told the thirty year old that he had "six months to a year" to live. Though this may not seem like an ideal jumping off point for an amusing book, much of its charm is in the humorous prose (on being conceived despite his mom being on contraception: "This can only mean I am the Chosen One"). Bishop never pulls punches, and writes openly about the doctors (and others) he detests most and why, the stressful issues that came between his wife and parents, and even the humiliation of soiling himself. Still, whether he is being serious or funny, the heart of the book lays in his battle with cancer, which, though it causes him to lose his mobility, voice and masculinity, never causes him to lose hope. It is this unflinching positive spirit of survival, as well as the steadfast strength and devotion of his wife Christie, that proves true the old adageâcomedy is tragedy plus time. The book provides a relatable and informative look at cancer treatment that will benefit anyone who is or knows someone living with the disease.