Book Review: Pat Cooper’s “How Dare You Say How Dare Me!”

Pasquale Caputo, better known as Pat Cooper, working with writers Rich Herschlag and Steve Garrin, has written an incredible book titled “How Dare You Say How Dare Me.”

I can feel the intensity in the title while throughout  the book I could feel my heart pounding in anticipation of what the brilliant, Mr. Cooper would say next.

As one might expect of this most honest, courageous entertainer, the book is candid. It also gave Pat a chance to say both positive and negative things about so many people.

It really was an exciting roller coaster ride of verbal bumps, turns and ultimately honest, heartfelt thoughts. All from a man, who is as honest as anyone will ever encounter in mass entertainment.

Pat Cooper is a brilliant comedian and has a street smart, mensh quality that is so rare. It seems impossible but fits on Pasquale Caputo in elegant fashion.

In the book there are transcripts of two of the most incredible appearances in entertainment over the air, history.

I was fortunate enough to be watching the Tom Snyder “Coast to Coast Tomorrow Show” when Mr. Cooper came out of nowhere and spoke his mind about other entertainers.

I had to turn the volume up and as Pat has indelible memories of his mother yelling to “not take so much sauce,” I have the same memories of my beloved mother worrying about waking the neighbors.

That night to hear that show, the dead should have been awakened because it was groundbreaking television, the likes of which I had never heard.

As Pat said, “Now that is called reality television.” My reality is you can keep today’s “reality” television because it is staged. That show with Pat Cooper was real and people are talking about it over thirty years later.

I am not a soothsayer but I doubt “Brand X reality show” will have any “real” impact in any form of “tomorrow,” point taken.

Another transcript in “How Dare You say How Dare Me” was when Pat was a guest on the Howard Stern radio show. He was surprised by calls from his son, daughter and mother all “airing family laundry.” As Pat wrote and I agree, he was the one in a hundred public figure (way more say a thousand) who took the calls on the air and felt great about it.

Pat is three days past 84 years old and has accomplished so much. Yet he has it in perspective and knows how great giving can be. He encourages us to also give and not be a taker. A caution he adds is do not give so much as to have to become a “taker.”

Pat Cooper did give and still gives as an entertainer and in charity. He gave us a great gift with this book.

Driving on the Bronx River Parkway in 1996, my mind was on the World Series the Yankees led three games to two vs the Atlanta Braves.

All of a sudden someone pulled parallel to me and asked directions to a local restaurant. I saw it was Pat Cooper and led him to his destination.

I believe and hope I would have done this for any person. What I know now is life itself needs direction and after reading this book one will gain not only direction but guidance and perspective as well.

The reason is that underneath the talent, candor and brilliance of Pat Cooper is a truly giving man. He has perspective, noting he does not buy bottled water and is happy with the water from the sink.

True enough, but with Pat his life is more a beautiful fountain of candor, humor and care. That my friend, is a thing of beauty.

Watch:  1981 Pat Cooper on Tom Snyder Show