Lil' John: Laughing My Way Through Life
By John Rinaldi
Reviewed by Dan Hanson
May 21, 2026

I recall a local news bit a few years ago when a reporter showed people on the street photos of famous people and asked them to identify them. It was funny (maybe sad) how few of the world leaders and business icons could be identified. But there were two people that every single person could ID. One was local attorney Tim "I'll make them pay" Misny who has his face plastered on billboards all over town. The other was John Rinaldi, better known to all as Lil' John.

Almost everyone in Cleveland has seen Big Chuck and Lil' John on the their TV at some point. Decades of corny, sometimes hilarious, but never mean-spirited, skits were shown between cult movies on Friday nights on Channel 8. Big Chuck Schodowski passed away in January 2025 and Lil' John is now 80 years old and decided to share dozens of funny, and sometimes moving, events from his life in this book.

Along with all the fun there were two concepts that stood out to me. One was how he frankly discussed his short stature. He wrote how being about 4' tall had both disadvantages and benefits. There is never a hint of "why me." He accepted who he was and made the best of it. It didn't prevent him from anything - even from joining ROTC in college despite being 4F. That ties in to the other big take away.

That is his attitude/philosophy. He stresses that "Happiness is an attitude" and says that "despite any unfair or randomly cruel punches life has thrown at me, I don't stay sad for long." What a great approach.

So the many dozens of interesting and funny stories will keep you entertained, his philosophy of "Laughing My Way Through Life" will stick with you.

Reviewed by Dan Hanson 5-21-26

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