I enjoyed this biographical account of the Marx Brothers -- found it hilarious in parts, and highly entertaining and informative throughout. It traces the brothers from boyhood (when they lived in poverty with their immigrant parents in the Upper East Side of New York City), into their days in a vaudeville singing act -- and into their discovery of their comic genius. The book does not trace their careers into movie stardom; for that, readers will have to find another book. However, as an account of their early years in show biz, Crichton's book is highly worthwhile. ( )