Emperor of Nothing

The first authorised biography of legendary comedian Larry David, co-creator of Seinfeld and star and creator of Curb Your Enthusiasm. With unfettered access to Larry himself, and exclusive interviews with his family, friends and colleagues, author Blake J. Harris chronicles the unlikely journey of a generation-defining icon.

Larry David has built a comedy empire on candid observations, social faux pas and unapologetically selfish behaviour. But the man behind the clever musings has mostly remained a ‘walking, talking enigma’ – until now. In Emperor of Nothing, Harris moves beyond the mystique to paint an honest portrait of Larry David, tracing his journey from a Brooklyn childhood and early days as a temperamental stand-up comic – voted by peers as ‘least likely to succeed’ – to reinventing himself through his legendary partnership with Jerry Seinfeld and ultimately becoming a star and brutally honest voice of a generation.

Based on more than five years of access to and interviews with Larry and those closest to him, Emperor of Nothing is packed with behind-the-scenes stories, reflections and more awkward hijinks than a Passover Seder gone terribly wrong. Capturing both the icon and irritant, Emperor of Nothing is the definitive biography of the man who made baldness and neurosis aspirational.

Whether you’re a fan, a fellow overthinker, or someone who’s proudly never, ever learned a lesson, this book is for you. Larry might not understand why anyone would want to read about him. But that probably means it’s prett-ay, prett-ay, prett-ayyy good.