When Comedy Central debuted The Colbert Report in 2005, it was widely lauded as one of the most important innovations in satire since the invention of the word “satire” itself. Among comedians and comedy writers, the degree of difficulty in what Stephen Colbert does is, frankly, astonishing. Like Chuck Yeager breaking the sound barrier, no one was even sure he could survive it until he did. When Colbert appeared at the White House Press Correspondents’ Dinner eviscerating President Bush and saying to the man’s face what half the country wished for years someone would, he was hailed as a conquering hero. It was a moment that gave everyone in comedy pause, and made them question their own timidity. But while the comedy community—and many Americans—view Colbert as fearless, important, and uncompromisingly ballsy, the man himself has a more measured view of what he does and the impact it has.

Stephen Colbert’s conversation with Paul Provenza is in the book.