Marty Toohey

Bronx Man Marty Toohey

Marty Toohey was born in the Bronx at a time when few neighbors had jobs, tenants had their furniture removed to the sidewalk, and not every kid could afford penny candy. Toohey's first memoir, Bronx Boy, chronicles those early years. In this, his second book, he narrates the many adventures of his adult life. With a penchant for storytelling, Toohey writes about his time in the navy when the USS Pawcatuck pitched over in an Atlantic storm and the sailors were thrown headfirst through the ship's galley as meals flew from trays. He describes a four-hour interview with Bill Ziff that changed his life, as well as playing golf in Bermuda and getting a near hole-in-one on Pebble Beach. He recalls his close call during a vasectomy; traveling as a foreign correspondent; and trying to avoid being shot while driving through Watts, California, during the race riots in 1965. Finally, he recounts his downfall as publisher and his bumpy ride back up. A varied collection of personal and often humorous stories documenting his life and career, Bronx Man tells the tales of Marty Toohey, who feels like he's the luckiest man alive.