Looking to learn more about this wonderful man, then look no further! With his signature wit and style, he tells about his life and make you laugh along the way. Enjoy!

This book really surprised me. Cheech seems real and down to earth. Really enjoyed this book! It was a funny story just like you would expect from Cheech.

GREAT AUTOBIOGRAPHY

As a child of the sixties and seventies there was no escaping the world of comedy. It changed from people telling jokes and stand-up comedians reflecting on their lives and the world around them. And if you were in high school in the seventies two comedy acts were at the top of their game. One was George Carlin, the other was Cheech and Chong.

Cheech and Chong reflected the young at the time, pot smoking and authority questioning laid back kids who just wanted to have fun. Their skits are still known today with so many quoting them from time to time, new youngsters having no clue it came from them (“Dave’s not here man”). What we never saw though at the time was the men behind that comedy. I can’t recall ever reading anything where they commented on the current political situation of this and that, instead seeing it in their comedy.

But that changes as Cheech offers the story of his life in this autobiography. We get it all from his earliest beginnings to his meeting Tommy Chong and their rise to fame, their departure from the team to his becoming an actor in films and TV. But that’s just the famous side. There is also the man beneath it all.

Cheech is not just the stoner many thought he was from the character he portrayed in his comedy. He is much more intelligent than people are willing to give him credit for. He’s authored books and is an avid collector of Chicano art and an expert on the subject. He used his fame not only to further himself and his family but to draw attention to this world of art as well.

And as the title suggest Cheech isn’t his real name. Instead he is Richard Anthony Marin. Who knew! And why not! But he goes by Cheech still and it’s helped him further the things he believes in as well as leaving him comfortable in what many would consider retirement age. Can he really be 71? Let’s hope he sticks around a lot longer, a sentiment I’m sure he’d agree with. This way we can continue to enjoy the humor he offers, the art he promotes and the intelligence he has to offer. After reading this book you’ll find he has much of all three to offer and the book presents that to us.

CHEECH IS NOT MY REAL NAME by Cheech Marin is a wonderfully entertaining memoir of a man who played a Mexican stoner and became famous doing it, but really is a intelligent and fascinating individual that is proud of his life and recognizes he is blessed to have what he has.
As a fan, it was hard to see past Cheech Marin's days with Tommy Chong as Cheech & Chong to identify Cheech as more than that character. But having read his book and being reminded of his expansive acting career, he is so much more than just 1/2 half of deadbeat stoners Cheech and Chong. He tells of his unusual childhood and growing up, including a stint surviving in the cold north of Canada. He has some great stories about starting out in the comedy world in the 1970's, from people he met, to places he went, to things he saw. The way he tells stories is great, describing the situation and building up to the climax of the story, then dropping a deadpan side comment that is so on point, it takes a minute before you start laughing. He walks a tightrope in describing his relationship with Tommy Chong, which mirrored how their relationship was. He talks that on stage in particular, they were amazing together and clicked perfectly, while offstage they were like brothers, cool one minute, passionately disagreeing the next. It's clear, though, Cheech has a fondness and respect for Chong. He recognizes that neither of them would have been successful without the other.
Cheech & Chong fan or not, Cheech's memoir, CHEECH IS NOT MY REAL NAME, will leave you smiling and wanting to someday meet Cheech so you can hear more stories.

What a fun read this book was! I have enjoyed Cheech Marin's movies and comedy, so it was a natural for me to want to read this book. He spoke of life growing up, living in East LA. He was also a straight A student. His father was a cop for about 30 years. Cheech (not his real name!) dodged the draft as he did not want to go to Vietnam. After that, he realized that he had an artistic side and wanted to go in that direction. Soon after, he met Tommy Chong, and the rest is history, as they say. But there is much more to it, but you need to read this book! He is funny and the book is well-written. And fun. I loved it!

Cheech is Not My Real Name is an autobiography by Cheech Marin, who you may know better as one half of Cheech and Chong. The story begins with Cheech being on TV at age 6 and at age 7 being told that he will never be an artist. After starting at a Catholic school he realized that he excelled at being a door to door salesman after being forced to do various fundraisers. During the draft, he fled the US and ended up in Canada and got a job with a magazine. Sometime around there he met Tommy Chong and they were doing performance troupe type work but ended up going out on their own as a duo. He was able to get his status changed from a draft dodger to unfit for military service. Cheech and Chong blew up and he talks about a few of the shows they did where there were so many people that they couldn't even see where the crowd ended. They got movie deals and were screwed by higher ups in the biz. Eventually the duo went their separate ways and Cheech did work as a voiceover actor - appearing in Disney movies Oliver & Company and The Lion King (a couple of my favorites!) Cheech has also competed on Celebrity Jeopardy several times and is often "on call" to fill in if any of the other celebs need to back out at the last minute! A really interesting read about a really interesting and fun dude!

I received a free e-copy of this book I was not otherwise compensated.

Cheech Is Not My Real Name but Dont Call Me Chong by Cheech Marin with John Hassan was received direct from the publisher. Richard Anthony Marin, Vietnam war draft dodger, prolific pot head to most of the nation that knows who he is, and let us not forget, he is from East LA. His father was a 30 year Los Angeles Police Department veteran, and Cheech was a straight A student while growing up. In college, Chech discovered what would make him famous and that he had an artistic talent as well, that I will let you read the book to find out what it is. While dodging the draft in Canada, which he was later exonerated for, he met Tommy Chong and the duo got famous. Apparently the two did a lot of stand up and many famous bands opened for them. I personally did not know this is how they got famous. The duo then did some movies you may have seen, the 70's rolled on by, turning into the the 80s when it all came apart, when the duo broke up. The book is a very entertaining read and any fan of "Cheech" Marin should read the book.

4 Stars

Ever since I was a kid I knew about Cheech and Chong. My first experience with them was The Corsican Brothers. So when I was given the chance to read Cheech Marin&apos;s book, Cheech is not my real name... and don&apos;t call me Chong I didn&apos;t hesitate. <br>
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Cheech is not at all like the&nbsp; character he portrays in the &quot;stoner&quot; comedies he became famous for. From tales of his childhood to the present one learns of his family and friends. How he fled from the draft in Vietnam to start life anew. I learned quite a lot more than I expected. He is funny, articulate and extremely intelligent. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I highly recommend it to anyone who needs a laugh. <br>
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I received this book from the publisher&nbsp; in return for my honest opinion. I received no monetary compensation for this review.

I had no idea Cheech was so well-rounded! It really shouldn't be much of a surprise, though, for someone who's been in the entertainment industry as long as he has. I really enjoyed reading his story of rise, and fall, and rise again....of hard work mixed in with a whole lot of luck and being in the right place at the right time. It seems like he has has a lot of great opportunities, and worked hard to make the most of them!