Comedy and stand-up Books
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC 26.2 Miles to Happiness
Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE TELEGRAPH SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2021 SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT BOOK OF THE YEAR The hilarious trials and tribulations of stand-up comedian Paul Tonkinson as he attempts to beat the much lauded 3-hour mark at the London Marathon. Along the way, we are introduced to the characters helping Paul with his quest. Celebrity names such as Bryony Gordon, Russell Howard, Roisin Conaty and Vassos Alexander pop up with wit and wisdom, alongside an alpine adventure to the Mayr Clinic with Michael McIntyre that pushes Paul to the limit. And not forgetting the words of wisdom' and derision from Paul's anti-running friend, Richard. With a supporting cast of fellow comedians, this is a warmly written and wonderfully honest adventure-through-sport that will both entertain and inspire.Trade ReviewI couldn't put it down... insightful, inspiring and laugh-out-loud funny! -- Michael McIntyreThis book is that rare thing - something that actually makes me WANT to run another marathon. Utterly joyous! -- Bryony GordonThe funniest book about running I have ever read. In fact it is the only book about running I have ever read, but it is HILARIOUS! -- David WalliamsEnjoyed it enormously. Pain. Hope. Misery. Joy. All the big stuff. Excellent. -- Dara Ó BriainWhat a brilliant, funny and above all, inspiring book. I read it in three days flat. I literally raced through it as though running alongside Paul. -- Tim VineThis book is funny (which I expected) and concerns running (ditto), but it is also exceptionally moving and profound. Don't be fooled: it's not really about completing a marathon. It's about life and all its joy and weirdness. Recommended to all, even those who jog no further than the fridge. -- Miranda SawyerFunny and captivating, even persuasive. A book that memorably and joyously illustrates how we can find our escape and ourselves by switching off from the rest of the world that actually switches us on. -- Robin InceExcellent... Extremely talented. Brilliant. * Time Out *Very good book... very funny, very insightful, very inspiring -- Chris Evans * Virgin Radio *Fabulous book -- OJ Borg * Radio 2 *You don’t have to be a runner to enjoy 26.2 Miles to Happiness * The Scotsman *Hilarious * Daily Mail *The best book about running I have read -- Nick Cohen * The Critic *Table of ContentsPreface 5.45 a.m. Race Day Part 1 Beginning: Miles 1-13 1 November. Five months before the marathon. A conversation with Richard 2 Scarborough 1981. The First run London Marathon. Mile 1 3 2 January. Flat white orgy 4 4 January. In da club 5 Two days later. Bryony Gordan drags us south of the river 6 Mid February. McIntyre Mayr madness 7 10 February. This is a journey into time. Mile 10. Rotherhithe. Observations from the pack. 8 Scarborough 1982, 5:30 a.m. Teenage kicks for free 9 Crouch End. Dirty Burger. Richard gets behind the sub-3 goal 10 Late February. Tuesday track. The voices, the voices Mile 13 Wapping. Halfway but NOT Part 2 The Monster: Miles 13-20 11 What's that coming over the hill? 12 Why this is not a misery memoir 13 Happy talking, talking happy talk 14 Early March. You are my hero Mile 16. Isle of Dogs. Peaking 15 Six weeks to go. The life of the hero 16 Five weeks before the marathon in Cuba 17 The hardest week. 26 March - 2 April. 58 1/2 miles 18 Pantsgate Mile 18. Isle of Dogs to Canary Wharf. Crossing over 19 York marathon. There are things we don't know we don't know 20 Meaningful mantras. Rudeness 21 The juice Part 3: The Battle: Miles 20-24 Mile 20. Poplar. Here we go again 22 Super Mario Catch-Up Miles 21, 22. Limehouse to Shadwell. Knocked out 23 Black Tuesdays, 7 p.m. Three weeks before the marathon Mile 23 1/2. Approaching the Embankment. A bearded intervention 24 Two weeks before the marathon. Owning Richard Part 4 Tipping Point Mile 24. Blackfriars. The magical possibility Part 5 Better 25 Mile 25. The final corner 26 Finished 26.2 Bonita Acknowledgements
£10.44
HarperCollins Publishers If I Dont Write It Nobody Else Will
Book SynopsisThe long awaited story of one of Britain’s greatest comic legends.Trade Review'Eric Sykes, now 82, is a splendid survivor. Recently the subject of a charming South Bank Show, the indefatigable Lancastrian is still working, with blithe disregard for his deafness, blindness and heart bypass operation. Characteristically, Sykes ends this engagingly artless autobiography with the news that he has been cast as Frank Bryce in the latest Harry Potter film. The tone throughout is warm-hearted, though occasionally there are welcome blasts of asperity. And there are joyful pages devoted to what is surely Sykes's finest hour – his glorious riot of ad-libbery with Jimmy Edwards in “Big Bad Mouse”.' Hugh Massingberd, Daily Telegraph 'His prose is crisp and dry, with a poetic, vernacular lilt…Candid, erudite and most of all cheery. Warm and comforting.' The Times 'A charmed life…and one does not begrudge him an ounce of his success…Sykes's career is far from over.' Guardian 'A chatty, always amiable memoir. A far better testament to this game old trouper than the normal ghost-written guff.' Daily Express
£14.24
HarperCollins Publishers Challenge Accepted 253 Steps to Becoming an
Book SynopsisPrepare to laugh' Reese Witherspoon253 steps to becoming an anti-it girl.Funny woman, Instagram star and international comedy sensation, Celeste Barber's Challenge Accepted! is a raucous, hilarious and outspoken guide to life, unwanted gas and how to rock a sexy scar.Part-memoir, part-comedy routine, part-advice manual, Challenge Accepted! is Celeste at her best, revealing her secrets to love, friendship, family and marriage (oh hai, #hothusband), and how to deal with life's many challenges why she checks the bath for sharks, how Nutella quite literally shaped who she is as a woman, and why being famous on Instagram is like being rich in Monopoly. It's real, like totally, really real.Trade Review‘Prepare to laugh when reading this memoir. Just when Celeste has you in stitches, she hits you right in the heart.’ –Reese Witherspoon
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers Tired and Tested The Sunday Times Number One
Book SynopsisWelcome to the jungleWhen you've grown up thinking your twenties are all about working hard, playing hard and trying not to get pregnant, life comes at you fast when you go from hump to bump.So you thought adulthood would mean a high-flying career and a luxury lifestyle, but instead have ended up with a Lycra-based wardrobe and a deep fear of what lies at the bottom of the ball-pit in soft play?Join comedian Sophie McCartney as she voyages deep into the uncharted territories of mating, birthing, feral offspring, mums overdoing it at the watering hole, and the perilous viper's nest of the school WhatsApp group.With laugh out loud humour and eye-watering honesty, Sophie shows how whether you've had a day full of whining or a night full of wine, there's joy to be had in the perfectly imperfect wild ride into parenthood.Trade Review ‘Reassuring, relatable and laugh-out-loud funny – I loved it!’ Sarah Turner, The Unmumsy Mum ‘Brilliant! Painfully accurate and criminally funny. Like a chat with your most outrageous friend.’ Ellie Taylor ‘If you’re looking for the funniest mum on Instagram, you’ve found her!’ Mother & Baby magazine
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers How We Fish
Book SynopsisPaul Whitehouse and fishing expert John Bailey celebrate the timeless joy of fishing.Paul Whitehouse and John Bailey have been devout fishermen for longer than they care to remember. A hobby, past time or sport call it what you want they have felt the pull of the water ever since they were kids and have never missed the chance to set up on the bank and try their luck.In this wonderful book, the two fishermen collaborate to celebrate the rich tapestry that is fishing from mentors to memories; from philosophy to modern jargon; from watercraft to becoming self-styled Fishing Detectives'. Punctuated by brilliant stories, beautiful illustrations by Carys Reilly-Whitehouse, and recollections from fishing day trips past, How We Fish is the perfect tome for the veteran fisherman or the budding angler warm, funny and rich in the wonders of the riverbank.
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers T.V.
Book SynopsisTHE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER *The long-awaited return of the comedy national treasure*
£23.75
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Becoming Richard Pryor
Book SynopsisTrade Review"Absorbing, incisive...With skill and insight, Saul shows how both the best and the worst of Pryor could merge into a great body of work unmatched by anyone who was ever paid to make people laugh." -- USA Today "The most detailed and rigorously researched work on the comic's life and performances...Pryor was both the quintessential hipster and the vulnerable, damaged witness of his age...Becoming Richard Pryor captures these dimensions of the persona and the man behind it very well." -- Washington Post "Sharply observed...lays out the case that Pryor was not only a comic genius but 'a bellwether of the great changes of postwar American life, some of which he helped incite.'...Riveting." -- TIME magazine "A gripping read...The only book you need on its subject." -- Sunday Times (London) "A pop-culture masterpiece of exhaustive reporting, psychological insight and elegant writing." -- Cleveland Plain Dealer "Insightful and expansive, Scott Saul's remarkable biography of the now legendary comic chronicles how a sensitive brilliant man with a hardscrabble past mined his personal life for American entertainment, revolutionizing stand-up along the way." -- Playboy, "This Winter's Best Books" "Masterful." -- Newsweek "A fascinating, exhilarating read. Saul dives deeper and comes up with more treasure than previous biographers; he deftly traces the stamp that Pryor left on American culture at one of its more impressionable moments...I didn't want to put the book down and couldn't wait to get back to it." -- Michael Chabon, bestselling and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay and Telegraph Avenue "Becoming Richard Pryor is a compulsively readable book that sets a new gold standard for American biography. Scott Scaul's research is extraordinary; his writing his taut, elegant, and insightful; and he captures both the hilarity and pain that made Richard Pryor such a towering figure." -- Debby Applegate, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for biography and author of the forthcoming Madam: The Notorius Life and Times of Polly Adler "The Richard Pryor biography we've been waiting for." -- Deadspin "With Becoming Richard Pryor, Scott Saul gives us the fullest picture yet of a great and puzzling American figure. What starts as a procedural on the making of an artist becomes a story of a man desperate to be free." -- RJ Smith, author of The One: The Life and Music of James Brown "Pryor has had the good fortune to fall into the hands of a writer with the smarts to understand both his greatness and his madness. Becoming Richard Pryor is a first-rate biography." -- Peter Biskind, author of Easy Riders and Raging Bulls "Becoming Richard Pryor takes you on a wild, tumultuous ride. Scott Saul's superb storytelling is a perfect match for his subject--he keeps you mesmerized, laughing, crying, stunned, hungry, and above all, surprised." -- Robin D. G. Kelley, author of Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original "Becoming Richard Pryor is a book that breaks new ground...Saul details the amazing way that Richard found his way out of the life for which he seemed destined and into the world of the performing arts." -- New York Times Book Review "This is a well-executed study that gives Pryor due credit as pioneer, intellectual and artist. Better written and more thoughtful than David and Joe Henry's Furious Cool. The latter remains worth reading, but this book is the place to start." -- Kirkus Reviews "Magisterial...Brilliantly reveals the glorious highs and lows of Pryor's life...Becoming Richard Pryor reveals itself to be not simply a biography, but the compassionate map of a terra incognita." -- Independent "Drawing on interviews with family and friends, unpublished journals and court records, Saul jauntily chronicles the year-by-year, and almost day-by-day, evolution of Richard Pryor. Glaringly honest, Saul shines a light on a revolutionary stand-up comic who perfected the art of dramatizing his own imperfections, and the world's." -- Publishers Weekly "Drawing on interviews with family and friends, unpublished journals and court records, Saul jauntily chronicles the year-by-year, and almost day-by-day, evolution of Richard Pryor. Glaringly honest, Saul shines a light on a revolutionary stand-up comic who perfected the art of dramatizing his own imperfections, and the world's." -- Booklist (starred review)
£11.96
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Rabbit
Book SynopsisFinalist for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding LiteratureFinalist for a 2018 Southern Book Prize for Biography and HistoryAn absolute must-read - Shondaland“[Rabbit] tells how it went down with brutal honesty and outrageous humor” - New York Times“I know a lot of people think they know what it’s like to grow up in the hood. Like maybe they watched a couple of seasons of The Wire and they got the shit all figured out. But TV doesn’t tell the whole story.” - Ms. PatThey called her Rabbit.Patricia Williams (aka Ms. Pat) was born and raised in Atlanta at the height of the crack epidemic. One of five children, Pat watched as her mother struggled to get by on charity, cons, and petty crimes. At age seven, Pat was taught t
£14.39
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Yes I Can Say That When They Come for the
Book Synopsis"No one makes me laugh harder than Judy Gold.Trade Review"Judy Gold’s years of blazing free speech trails serve her well in this thoughtful funny book." — Jon Stewart "Judy Gold is one of the best black women comedians in the world. I'm both a student of her comedy and a follower of her teachings. The fact that we, the public, have a chance to read her book is perhaps the greatest gift that mankind has ever received. Read her book. Listen to her book. Freebase her book; it's incredible." — Chris Rock "In this staunch defense of comedians, Judy skewers a corrupt administration that regards the First Amendment as a nuisance. Using years of onstage experience and an impressive knowledge of American humor, she irrefutably demonstrates the critical role comedians play in keeping us connected, informed, empowered and laughing. Also, have you met Judy? Not a big hold-er back-er. I’ve known her for years to be ridiculously funny, and she has the intellectual bona fides to get you reading every page of this book." — Kathy Griffin "Judy Gold is the voice we need to cut through all the bullshit. I love her and she always makes me laugh. We need her now more than ever." — Margaret Cho “Judy Gold warns us all what happens when they come for the comedians. She shows how urgent and critical it is that we, as comics, speak truth to power—before it's too late. Yes, I Can Say That is funny and insightful—pure Judy!” — Rosie O'Donnell “The fact that the world needs a book like Yes, I Can Say That is appalling. That the marvelous Judy Gold has written it is a gift. With wisdom and unsparing clarity this book explains the crucial—yet too often overlooked—role comedians have played in in our country’s history and gives us a sane perspective on our insane society. Pick up or download this book NOW. It will make you laugh while reminding you why it’s vitally important to do so.” — Lewis Black “Gold’s defense of comedy, filled with great jokes and stories of censored comics, is a reminder that freedom of speech is no laughing matter.” — Publisher’s Weekly "A powerful, and powerfully funny, argument in support of how vital free speech is to comedy and comedy is to us." — Booklist
£16.14
HarperCollins Publishers Inc CackHanded
Book SynopsisThe British comedian of Nigerian heritage and co-executive producer and writer of the CBS hit series Bob Hearts Abishola chronicles her odyssey to get to America and break into Hollywood in this lively and humorous memoir. According to family superstition, Gina Yashere was born to fulfill the dreams of her grandmother Patience. The powerful first wife of a wealthy businessman, Patience was poisoned by her jealous sister-wives and marked with a spot on her neck. From birth, Gina carried a similar birthmark—a sign that she was her grandmother’s chosen heir, and would fulfill Patience’s dreams. Gina would learn to speak perfect English, live unfettered by men or children, work a man’s job, and travel the world with a free spirit.Is she the reincarnation of her grandmother? Maybe. Gina isn’t ruling anything out. In Cack-Handed, she recalls her intergenerational journey to success foretold by her
£15.19
Ebury Publishing Why Not Me
Book SynopsisMindy Kaling has found herself at a turning point. So in Why Not Me?, she shares her ongoing journey to find fulfilment and adventure in her adult life, be it falling in love at work, seeking new friendships in unlikely places, or attempting to be the first person in history to lose weight without any behaviour modification whatsoever.In How to Look Spectacular, she reveals her tongue-in-cheek solutions for guaranteed on-camera beauty. Player tells the story of Mindy being seduced, then dumped, by a female friend in LA. And in Soup Snakes, she spills some secrets on her relationship with ex-boyfriend and close friend B. J. Novak.Mindy has put the anxieties, the glamour and the celebrations of her second coming-of-age into this book, to which anyone can relate. (And, if they can't, they can skip to the parts where she talks about meeting Bradley Cooper.)
£11.69
Cornerstone Tragically I Was an Only Twin
Book SynopsisFor his many friends and fans, Peter Cook was quite simply the funniest man they''d ever encountered. And nearly eight years since his death, his status as one of Britain''s greatest comedians shows no sign of shrinking. Despite his reputation for idleness, Peter Cook was a great comedy writer, who created countless outrageous sketches and articles and was famed for his prolific role in the satire boom of the 1960s. The very best, the most famous and some of the most unusual of his comic masterpieces are collected here. Some of these pieces have never been published before, others are out of print, a few only survive in print, and many have only ever been seen or heard - never read. This collection ranges from Cook''s first writing, at school and university, via Beyond The Fringe, with Dudley Moore, Alan Bennett and Jonathan Miller, his dualogues with Moore as Pete & Dud and Derek & Clive, and their brilliant TV series, Not Only But Also, to transcripts of his late, great TV app
£15.29
Penguin Books Ltd Me. You. Not a Diary The No.1 Sunday Times
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewDawn's witty outlook on life will have you laughing * Prima *A must-read to pass on to friends and family of all ages * Women and Home *A manual for how to create your own happiness * Sunday Times *A mellow, gentle read with words of wisdom * Independent *It's beautiful, like Dawn, and stuffed full of goodies -- Jo BrandThis book is inspired!!! -- Nadiya HussainOne brilliant, inspiring woman -- Emma KennedyWho wouldn't want to spend a year in the company of Dawn French? * BEST *A lovely concept . . . it's very intimate -- Matt Baker, BBC The One ShowLovely! -- Jane Garvey, BBC Radio 4 Woman's HourDawn French will get you thinking * Fabulous Magazine *I spent a good 10 minutes snogging it -- Sarah CoxI love it. Lots of my friends are getting sent one now!!! -- Deborah MeadenThis woman is a warm hug in human form - just thinking about her makes me smile. Dawn spreads joy in abundance. She is dazzling -- Lorraine Kelly
£8.54
Penguin Books Ltd Humour Seriously
Book Synopsis***WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER***''A smart, funny, brilliant book on how to be smart about being funny, brilliantly'' Sarah Cooper''This book has finally convinced me that joking around can actually be important and powerful'' Ed Gamble''Eye-opening, important and utterly enjoyable. Come for the humour, stay for the insights'' Arianna HuffingtonHumour is a superpower. If you''re not using it, the joke''s on you.When we''re kids we laugh all the time. The average four year-old laughs as many as 300 times a day, while the average forty year-old laughs 300 times every two and a half months! We grow up, start working and suddenly become serious and important people, trading laughter for bottom lines and mind-dumbing zoom calls. But the benefits of humour for our work and life are huge. Studies have shown that humour makes us appear more competent and confident, strengthens our relationships, unlocks creativity and boosts resilience during difficult times. Dr. Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas are on a mission to help everyone discover the power of humour. Based on the popular Stanford Business course, this book will show you how to mine your life for material, explore the Four Deadly Humour Myths and help you figure out which style of humour you fall into - The Magnet, The Sweetheart, The Sniper or the Stand Up. Drawing on behavioural science, advice from world-class comedians and stories from top leaders, Humour, Seriously will show you how to harness the power of humour every day. Trade ReviewHumour is magical. It can make fear and pomposity vanish and creativity and resilience appear in their place. The ultimate guide to using the magical power of funny as a tool for leadership and a force for good, Humour, Seriously is an intoxicating mix of science, strategy, and slapstick - a knee-slapping, mind-expanding tour de force * Daniel H. Pink, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of When,, Drive, and A Whole Mind *A smart, funny, brilliant book on how to be smart about being funny, brilliantly. And I'm not just saying that because they say I am smart, funny, and brilliant in it. Buy it * Sarah Cooper, Comedian and author of 100 Tricks To Appear Smart In Meetings *I've learned (often the hard way) that the best way to be taken seriously is to not take yourself too seriously. My teams are always at their best when approaching problems with levity, which entails both humility and optimism and always engenders trust. Plus, it's more fun - like this book! * Eric Schmidt, former CEO and Executive Chair of Google (Alphabet) *A sharp, incisive, and genuinely funny read. Humour, Seriously translates the knowledge of the world of comedy to tools that actually work in the world of business * Anne Libera, Director of Comedy Studies at The Second City *If you think your workplace would work better if everyone laughed more, this is your playbook * Chip Heath, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Power of Moments *I've always used humour as a secret weapon at Spanx. Jennifer and Naomi make a scientific case for the importance of humour and show it's an incredible way to connect with customers and build culture. This book will help anyone embrace the power of laughter * Sara Blakley, Founder and CEO of Spanx *Humour is an act of social courage that, when used correctly, has a transformative effect. Humour, Seriously gives us the tools we need to deploy humour expertly in any environment * Susan Cain, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Quiet *Eye-opening, hilarious, and absolutely original, Humour, Seriously will change the way you think on the job, about the world, and in your life * Leslie Blodgett, Founder and former CEO of Bare Essentials *Of all the known ways to ruin humour, the most common start with the words 'research,' 'analyze,' and 'professor.' The bad news is that this book features all of those words. Prominently. The good news is that against all odds, you'll actually have fun reading it. It probably won't turn you into Ali Wong, Dave Chappelle, or Hannah Gadsby, but it will give you a much deeper appreciation of how they think-and teach you some new ways to make people laugh * Adam Grant, New York Times-bestselling author of Originals and Give And Take, host of the TED podcast WorkLife *In this eye-opening, important and utterly enjoyable book, Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas use science to explain how humour at work (and in life) helps alleviate stress, anxiety, and burnout. Come for the humour, stay for the insights * Arianna Huffington, co-founder of The Huffington Post and CEO of Thrive Global *If this book and Brad Pitt walked into a bar, and I could only pick one, I'd take the book home with me * Nancy Lublin, Former CEO, Crisis TextLine and DoSomething.Org *Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas have written a remarkable book for a remarkable moment in history. I long ago learned that when weighed down by serious matters, one may best be taken seriously by seeking out a certain light-heartedness as an expression of humility, optimism and confidence on the road to the serious business of nurturing trust and leading others * Joel Peterson, Chairman of Jetblue Airways *This myth-busting, grin-inducing, data-driven humdinger of a book simply nails what I've clung on to for years: that humour can be more than ephemeral entertainment. When appropriately curated, it creates the right culture for success. In fact, its absence should be a cause for concern. You may eat your five a day and walk ten thousand steps but when did you last check if there was enough laughter in your life, in your team, in your business? If you had a centuries-old tried and tested tool that enhances rapport, creativity, collaboration, resilience, leadership, mental and physical health, sales and more - why wouldn't you use it? * Neil Mullarkey Author, speaker, improviser and Co-founder, London’s Comedy Store Players *I've been a comedian for ages, and this book has finally convinced me that joking around can actually be important and helpful.
£15.29
Penguin Books Ltd Bonkers My Life in Laughs
Book SynopsisJennifer Saunders'' comic creations have brought joy to millions. From Comic Strip to Comic Relief, from Bolly-swilling Edina in Ab Fab to her takes on Madonna or Mamma Mia, her characters are household names.But it''s Jennifer herself who has a place in all our hearts. This is her funny, moving and frankly bonkers memoir, filled with laughter, friends and occasional heartache - but never misery.BONKERS is full of riotous adventures: accidentally enrolling on a teacher training course with a young Dawn French, bluffing her way to each BBC series, shooting Lulu, trading wild faxes with Joanna Lumley, touring India with Ruby Wax and Goldie Hawn.There''s cancer, too, when she becomes ''Brave Jen''. But her biggest battle is with the bane of her life: the Laws of Procrastination. As she admits, ''There has never been a Plan. Everything has been fairly random, happened by accident or just fallen into place. I''m off now, to do some sweeping...''Prepare to chuckle, whoop, and go BONKERS.Trade ReviewFabulous? Yes. Funny? Absolutely * Mail on Sunday *Beautifully written and frequently hilarious * Guardian *Delightfully funny... she writes with moving honesty * Hello! *Her account of battling breast cancer is as honest as it is uplifting * Daily Mail *'Hilarious and brilliant' -- Kirsty Young * BBC Radio 4 *Endearing and hilarious. If only all celebrity biographies were this funny * Telegraph *
£10.44
Penguin Books Ltd Madhouse
Book Synopsis''An absolutely brilliant read'' Patrick Kielty, Late Late Show, RTÉ‘Blisteringly honest . . . hilarious, traumatic, joyful and terrifying. Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy read!’ Liz Nugent''Gloriously unabashed . . . vibrant, poignant and surprisingly hopeful'' Irish Times I grew up in a psychiatric experiment crossed with an alcoholic experiment. . . . a place run by two people who were extraordinarily drunk and guarded by a potentially vicious dog with a brain tumour.PJ Gallagher spent much of his childhood knocking back Lucozade with the local alcoholics in his parents'' northside pub. But the chaos that reigned for his first ten years was nothing compared to what happened when - having lost the pub - his mum took in six psychiatric patients from the local hospital to give them ''care in the community''.Worst. Idea. Ever.Madhouse is PJ''s riotous life story. Covering everything from dogs, motorbikes and the art of small talk, to the lessons of mental breakdown and finally figuring out love, this is PJ unbound. Most surprising - to PJ more than anyone - is the prospect of becoming a dad in his late forties, when he always thought of ''family'' as a trap.Madhouse is the funny, insightful and moving story of someone just trying to keep his head above water - and how he is making sense of it all at last!''Terrifically honest, as well as a being funny and sad'' Matt Cooper, The Last Word, Today FM''Delivered in Gallagher’s brilliantly blunt northside brogue, evoking a shade of Roddy Doyle'' Irish Independent''Tells his story with humour and insight making it feel as though you are chatting with an old friend'' Irish Examiner''Bold, anarchic . . . relates wild antics and traumas from his tumultuous life with both humour and perceptive clarity'' Business Post''So open . . . amazing for understanding and trying to destroy the stigma [of mental health struggles] . . . a great read'' Elaine Crowley, Ireland AM, Virgin Media
£10.44
Pennsylvania State University Press Satire as the Comic Public Sphere
Book SynopsisStephen Colbert, Samantha Bee, John Oliver, and Jimmy Kimmelthese comedians are household names whose satirical takes on politics, the news, and current events receive some of the highest ratings on television. In this book, James E. Caron examines these and other satirists through the lenses of humor studies, cultural theory, and rhetorical and social philosophy, arriving at a new definition of the comic art form. Tracing the history of modern satire from its roots in the Enlightenment values of rational debate, evidence, facts, accountability, and transparency, Caron identifies a new genre: truthiness satire. He shows how satirists such as Colbert, Bee, Oliver, and Kimmelalong with writers like Charles Pierce and Jack Shaferrely on shared values and on the postmodern aesthetics of irony and affect to foster engagement within the comic public sphere that satire creates. Using case studies of bits, parodies, and routines, Caron reveals a remarkable process: when evidence-based news repTrade Review“Those engaged in research and thinking on “the comic” will find this book a valuable aid.”—J. C. Jaffe Choice“Should endure as an important, discerning account of the paradoxical nature of satire, especially in our postmodern media environment.”—Brian P. O’Sullivan Studies in American Humor“The book is masterful at bringing together a wide range of thinkers and using their insights to construct an account of satire that allows us to see its new roles and, as Bill Maher might put it, its new rules.”—Steven Gimbel Philosophy of Humor Yearbook“Any scholar or student interested in the roles of comic and satiric discourse in twenty-first-century culture will benefit from reading this book. In my own engagements with satire, I will turn to this book first as an authoritative sorting-out of where we are and where we are going.”—Bruce Michelson,author of Mark Twain on the Loose: A Comic Writer and the American Self
£78.16
Hachette Books Digging Up Mother A Love Story
Book Synopsis
£10.99
Random House USA Inc Chasing the Last Laugh
Book Synopsis
£14.45
Random House USA Inc Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama
Book SynopsisNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In this “essential” (Entertainment Weekly), “hilarious” (AV Club) memoir, the star of Mr. Show, Breaking Bad, and Better Call Saul opens up about the highs and lows of showbiz, his cult status as a comedy writer, and what it’s like to reinvent himself as an action film ass-kicker at fifty.“I can’t think of another entertainer who has improbably morphed so many times, and all through real genius and determination.”—Conan O’BrienONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The New Yorker, Vulture, NewsweekBob Odenkirk’s career is inexplicable. And yet he will try like hell to explicate it for you. Charting a “Homeric” decades-long “odyssey” from his origins in the seedy comedy clubs of Chicago to a dramatic career full of award nominations—with a side-trip into the action-man world that is baffling to all who know him—it’s almost like there are many Bob Odenkirks! But there is just one and one is plenty.Bob embraced a life in comedy after a chance meeting with Second City’s legendary Del Close. He somehow made his way to a job as a writer at Saturday Night Live. While surviving that legendary gauntlet by the skin of his gnashing teeth, he stashed away the secrets of comedy writing—eventually employing them in the immortal “Motivational Speaker” sketch for Chris Farley, honing them on The Ben Stiller Show, and perfecting them on Mr. Show with Bob and David.In Hollywood, Bob demonstrated a bullheadedness that would shame Sisyphus himself, and when all hope was lost for the umpteenth time, the phone rang with an offer to appear on Breaking Bad—a show about how boring it is to be a high school chemistry teacher. His embrace of this strange new world of dramatic acting led him to working with Steven Spielberg, Alexander Payne, and Greta Gerwig, and then, in a twist that will confound you, he re-re-invented himself as a bona fide action star. Why? Read this and do your own psychoanalysis—it’s fun!Featuring humorous tangents, never-before-seen photos, wild characters, and Bob’s trademark unflinching drive, Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama is a classic showbiz tale told by a determined idiot.
£15.20
Random House USA Inc Born a Crime Stories from a South African
Book Synopsis#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • More than one million copies sold! A “brilliant” (Lupita Nyong’o, Time), “poignant” (Entertainment Weekly), “soul-nourishing” (USA Today) memoir about coming of age during the twilight of apartheid “Noah’s childhood stories are told with all the hilarity and intellect that characterizes his comedy, while illuminating a dark and brutal period in South Africa’s history that must never be forgotten.”—Esquire Winner of the Thurber Prize for American Humor and an NAACP Image Award • Named one of the best books of the year by The New York Time, USA Today, San Francisco Chronicle, NPR, Esquire, Newsday, and Booklist Trevor Noah’s unlikely path from apartheid South Africa to the desk of The Daily Show began wi
£15.30
University of California Press Thats Not Funny
Book SynopsisA 2022Best Comedy Book,VultureA rousing call for liberals and progressives to pay attention to the emergence of right-wing comedy and the political power of humor. Why do conservatives hate comedy? Why is there no right-wing Jon Stewart? These sorts of questions launch a million tweets, a thousand op-eds, and more than a few scholarly analyses. That's Not Funny argues that it is both an intellectual and politically strategic mistake to assume that comedy has a liberal bias. Matt Sienkiewicz and Nick Marx take readersparticularly self-described liberalson a tour of contemporary conservative comedy and the right-wing comedy complex. In That's Not Funny, complex takes on an important double meaning. On the one hand, liberals have developed a social-psychological complexit feels difficult, even dangerous, to acknowledge that their political opposition can produce comedy. At the same time, the right has been slowly building up a comedy-industrial complex, utilizing the humorous, irony-lTrade Review"Provocative. . . . Progressives will want to take notice." * Publishers Weekly *"Astute and accessible. . . . As Sienkiewicz and Marx convincingly argue, comedy’s power can be used to shift the ideological and political needle in any direction depending on who is telling the jokes. We should be paying attention lest we ignore an entire ecosystem working to accumulate not just fans but political power." * New Review of Film and Television Studies *"Sienkiewicz & Marx have produced a very significant book that will shift the view of the relationships between humor, comedy, the media (including especially new media), and the political landscape. Their book is easy to read, devoid of jargon, and very clearly presented." * Humor *"The most fascinating and haunting comedic book of an academic nature in years." * Vulture *"A timely examination of an important contemporary cultural phenomenon…certainly likely to encourage class discussion." * Studies in American Humor *"That’s Not Funny is a fast, informative read and approaches political and cultural questions with curiosity and aplomb. . . .A great introductory text for researchers looking to delve into the alt-right underground, particularly to understand its connections to other demographics and the mainstream itself." * U.S. Studies Online *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction: Right-Wing Comedy 1. Fox News and Mainstream Right-Wing Comedy 2. Making Comedy Great Again: Paleocomedy 3. Religio-Rational Satire: Owning the Libs One Faulty Syllogism at a Time 4. The Legions of Libertarian Podcasters 5. Trolling the Depths of the Right-Wing Comedy Complex Conclusion: Performing Right and Left Notes Bibliography Index
£18.90
Random House USA Inc Sicker in the Head
Book SynopsisNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • An all-new collection of honest, hilarious, and enlightening conversations with some of the most exciting names in comedy—from lifelong comedy nerd Judd Apatow.“When I need to read an interview with a comedian while in the bathroom, I always turn to Judd Apatow for deeply personal insights into the comedic mind. Place one on your toilet today.”—Amy SchumerONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: VultureNo one knows comedy like Judd Apatow. From interviewing the biggest comics of the day for his high school radio show to performing stand-up in L.A. dive bars with his roommate Adam Sandler, to writing and directing Knocked Up and producing Freaks and Geeks, Apatow has always lived, breathed, and dreamed comedy.In this all-new collection of interviews, the follow-up to the New York Times bestselling Sick in the Head, Apatow sits down with comedy l
£14.39
Random House USA Inc Its Garry Shandlings Book
Book SynopsisFrom Judd Apatow comes an intimate portrait of his mentor, the legendary stand-up comic and star of The Larry Sanders Show, with never-before-seen journal entries and photos, as well as new contributions by fellow comedians and writers.NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NEW YORK Garry Shandling was a singular trailblazer in the comedy world. His two hit shows, It’s Garry Shandling’s Show and The Larry Sanders Show, broke new ground and influenced future sitcoms like 30 Rock and Curb Your Enthusiasm, and his stand-up laid the foundation for a whole new generation of comics. There’s no one better to tell Shandling’s story than Judd Apatow—Shandling gave Apatow one of his first jobs and remained his mentor for the rest of his life—and the book expands on Apatow’s Emmy Award-winning HBO documentary, The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling.Here, Apatow has gath
£29.70
Transworld Publishers Ltd Straight Outta Crawley
Book SynopsisRomesh Ranganathan is a comedian, actor and writer. A former maths teacher, he is now known for his award-winning series The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan, his weekly topical show The Ranganation, his sitcom The Reluctant Landlord and the BAFTA nominated Asian Provocateur, which features Romesh's mum. Amongst all of this, he still manages to squeeze in time to record his award-winning podcast 'Hip Hop Saved My Life', to write his regular Midlife Crisis column for the Guardian, and to pen his bestselling autobiography, Straight Outta Crawley. DJ Muffin drops the Mic is his first children's book and gave him an excuse to write about two of his favourite things - hip hop and cake.Trade ReviewVery, very funny. I can’t recommend it highly enough. * Jonathan Ross *His ability to produce bitingly fresh gags marks him out from the crowd. * The Guardian *Frank and very funny. * The Daily Telegraph *Delivered with consummate skill... totally original. * Evening Standard *Irresistible gags with stink-bomb impact. * The Guardian *
£10.44
Transworld Publishers Ltd Son of a Silverback
Book SynopsisMulti-award-winning comedian, presenter, actor, author and scriptwriter RUSSELL KANE is best known for the BBC Sounds podcast, Evil Genius which has become a flagship show and was the best performing original podcast on the platform. Russell's other podcast, Boys Don't Cry, also features regularly on the iTunes podcast chart. Recent TV appearances include The Apprentice You're Fired, Antiques Roadtrip, Stupid Man, Smart Phone and the host of three series of Live At The Electric. Other TV appearances include Live at The Apollo, Michael McIntyre's Big Show, Love Island Aftersun, Comedians Giving Lectures, 8 Out of 10 Cats, The Crystal Maze and Celebrity Juice.Winner of Best Show in 2010 at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards, Russell went on to make history as the first comedian to win both the Edinburgh Award and Melbourne Comedy Festival's Barry Award in one year. Russell is currently tourin
£9.49
Faber & Faber Who am I again
Book SynopsisSir Lenny Henry is one of the country's best-loved comedians with a career spanning over forty years. Here he writes about his youth for the first time.You might think you know Lenny Henry. Think again.'Glorious.' NEIL GAIMAN'Touching and affectionate.' CANDICE CARTY-WILLIAMS, SUNDAY TIMES'Heartfelt . . . honest.' OBSERVER'Moving, powerful and very funny.' MAIL ON SUNDAYIn 1975, a gangly black sixteen-year-old apprentice factory worker from Dudley appeared on our TV screens for the first time. He had no idea he would go on to become a national treasure. Here at last, Sir Lenny Henry tells the revealing and very funny story of his rise to fame.Surviving a tough family upbringing, along with the trauma of finding out the truth about his father at a young age, Lenny beat the odds. With a riotous warmth and his trademark energy, in Who Am I, Again?<
£11.24
Faber & Faber Who am I again
Book Synopsis** PRE ORDER LENNY HENRY''S NEW AUTOBIOGRAPHY RISING TO THE SURFACE NOW **Sir Lenny Henry is one of the country's best-loved comedians with a career spanning over forty years. Here he writes about his youth for the first time.You might think you know Lenny Henry. Think again.''Glorious.'' NEIL GAIMAN''Touching and affectionate.'' CANDICE CARTY-WILLIAMS, SUNDAY TIMES''Heartfelt . . . honest.'' OBSERVER''Moving, powerful and very funny.'' MAIL ON SUNDAYIn 1975, a gangly black sixteen-year-old apprentice factory worker from Dudley appeared on our TV screens for the first time. He had no idea he would go on to become a national treasure. Here at last, Sir Lenny Henry tells the revealing and very funny story of his rise to fame.Surviving a tough family upbringing, along with the trauma of finding out the truth about his father at a y
£9.49
Faber & Faber Different Times
Book SynopsisThey don't make comedy like they used to . . .From the slapstick comedy of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel, the surrealism of Spike Milligan and Monty Python, and the golden age of political incorrectness helmed by Benny Hill, to the alternative scene that burst forth following the punk movement, the hedonistic joy of Absolutely Fabulous, the lacerating scorn of Jimmy Carr, Ricky Gervais, and Jo Brand and the meteoric rise of socially conscious stand up today: comedy can be many things, and it is a cultural phenomenon has come to define Britain like few others. In Different Times, David Stubbs charts the superstars that were in on the gags, the unsung heroes hiding in the wings and the people who ended up being the butt of the joke. Comedians and their work speak to and of their time, drawing upon and moulding Britons' relationship with their national history, reflecting us as a people, and, simply, providing raucous laughs for millions of people
£18.00
Faber & Faber Rising to the Surface
Book SynopsisThe rise and fall and triumphant rise from the ashes of Lenny Henry during the 80s and 90s.''Moving and ebullient'' Daily Telegraph ''Relayed with characteristic exuberance and self-deprecation'' Guardian Rising to the Surface traces Lenny Henry's career through the 80s and 90s. The 16-year-old who won a talent competition, now has to navigate his way through the seas of professional comedy, learning his craft through sheer graft and hard work.We follow Lenny through a period of great creativity prize-winning tv programmes, summer seasons across Britain, the starring role in a Hollywood film, and stand-up gigs in New York. But with each rise there is a fall, the most traumatic being the death of his mother. But by the end of the book he has been able to rise through a sea of troubles and breaks out to the surface to accept the Golden Rose of Montreaux for his work in television.
£19.00
Faber & Faber Rising to the Surface
Book Synopsis''The king of character comedy.'' Good Housekeeping''A lynchpin of British comedy.'' Alan MooreThe nation's favourite comedian opens up about two extraordinary decades at the heart of British comedy. Packed with inside stories and wisdom, this is a heartfelt, inspiring and always-hilarious memoir of a true comedy legend.Relayed with characteristic exuberance and self-deprecation.' Fiona Sturges, Book of the Day GuardianHighly enjoyable . . . Funny, pacy and sharp.' Mail on SundayMoving and honest.' ObserverThis paperback edition contains a new chapter in which Lenny Henry wrestles with Shakespeare as he searches for a new direction in his career.
£9.49
Faber & Faber CountryFail
Book Synopsis
£11.69
Samuel French Inc The Kitchen Witches
Book SynopsisWinner! 2005 Samuel French Canadian Playwrights Contest Isobel Lomax and Dolly Biddle are two mature cable-access cooking show hostesses who have hated each other for 30 years, ever since Larry Biddle dated one and married the other. When circumstances put them together on a TV show called The Kitchen Witches, the insults are flung harder than the food! Dolly's long-suffering TV-producer son Stephen tries to keep them on track, but as long as Dolly's dressing room is one inch closer to the set than Isobel's, it's a losing battle, and the show becomes a rating smash as Dolly and Isobel top both Martha Stewart and Jerry Springer!
£10.99
Samuel French Inc Bingo
Book SynopsisBingo is a splashy, zippy, fun new musical comedy - great for theatres looking to produce a small musical with a big heart. Bingo is about a group of die-hard bingo players who stop at nothing to miss their weekly game. In between the number calling, strange rituals and fierce competitions, love blossoms and long lost friends reunite. These lovable characters spring to life with a smart, funny script and bouncy, hummable score. Audiences will be laughing in the aisles when they aren''t playing games of bingo along with the cast!Best friends and Bingo pals Vern, Honey and Patsy brave a terrible storm in order to attend the yearly celebration of the birth of Bingo and tribute to its founder, Edwin S. Lowe. As the storm knocks out power at the Bingo Hall, Patsy and Honey remind each other of the ominous night fifteen years ago that began in the same way. In flashback, Honey tells us about the night Vern and her best friend, Bernice, had their falling out. Bernice''s swee
£10.99
Samuel French Inc Savin Up for Saturday Night
Book SynopsisLovin'' ain''t easy in this one-honky-tonk town, so when the bartender and the bandleader fall for the same dance hall girl, you''re in for an evening of showstoppers and toe-tappers, cat fights, and love quadrangles that''ll keep any joint jumpin'' till way past last call. And if you think you got the gumption, you''re welcome to get up and dance along.
£10.99
Samuel French Inc The Games Afoot Or Holmes for the Holidays Ludwig
Book SynopsisIt is December 1936 and Broadway star William Gillette, admired the world over for his leading role in the play Sherlock Holmes, has invited his fellow cast-members to his Connecticut castle for a weekend of revelry. But when one of the guests is stabbed to death, the festivities in this isolated house of tricks and mirrors quickly turn dangerous. Then it's up to Gillette himself, as he assumes the persona of his beloved Holmes, to track down the killer before the next victim appears. The danger and hilarity are non-stop in this glittering whodunit set during the Christmas holidays. Winner of the Mystery Writers of America Edgar Allen Poe Award for Best Play!
£10.99
Samuel French Inc Social Darwinism
Book SynopsisWinner! 2006 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival National Student Playwriting Award Winner! 2006 Paula Vogel Award Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival From the author: To anyone who has ever gotten a beat down for looking like a woman, being a woman, looking like a queer, being a queer, not being manly enough, being too manly, or having the audacity to be any race other than Caucasian, here's the last laugh! Social Darwinism is a socio-political absurdist comedy that follows a familial group: an Alpha Male, Alpha Female, Second Banana (Subordinate Male), Subordinate Female, Adolescent Male, Adolescent Female, Outside Male, and Outside Female as they move through several different social classes as viewed by a Field Scientist and his Assistant:
£10.99
Samuel French Inc Paris
Book SynopsisA pivotal meeting between a daughter and her father.Paris is the work of a writer entirely deserving of exposure. I can hardly wait to see what Clara Mamet comes up with next. - BackstageParis premiered at The Ruskin Theater in 2011, originally directed by Paul Sand and starring Clara Mamet and John Pirruccello.
£10.99
Samuel French Inc Go Back to Where You Are
Book SynopsisIn Go Back to Where You Are God offers Passalus, a failed actor from ancient Athens festering in hell, the opportunity of redemption by returning to Earth to free a young woman from her domineering mother, Claire, a distinguished stage actress. Passalus accepts the proposal with the understanding that on completing his mission his soul be annihilated. God agrees - with the caveat that Passalus not become entangled in the lives of others. Granted the ability to shape-shift, Passalus assumes the role of a British matron and former actress, arriving at Claire's summer home during a week-end in which she is hosting friends and family. But Passalus is also equipped to hear the inner thoughts of the characters he encounters - and armed with knowledge of their suffering is unable to remain aloof. He also finds himself falling in love with Claire's brother, Bernard, the underappreciated author of eccentric comedies. The play dramatizes second chances in love - and love that facilitates the sou
£10.99
Samuel French Inc Judith of Bethulia
Book SynopsisImagine the outrageous Mae West in a Cecil B. DeMille biblical epic. Judith, a beautiful, wealthy young widow, is reviled by her own people as a gold digging adventuress. When her ancient city of Bethulia is facing brutal annihilation, Judith, wearing her most glittering finery, slips into the enemy camp, seduces and ultimately decapitates the ruthless General Holofernes. This wild homage to the Hollywood movie epic is the latest trip to the cinematic past by the author of Vampire Lesbians of Sodom and The Divine Sister.
£10.99
Samuel French Inc Yellow
Book SynopsisWinner! 2012 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award, Best Production Winner! 2012 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award, Best World Premiere Play Yellow chronicles a year in the life of the perfect family in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Bobby Westmoreland, a high school football coach, and his wife Kate, a respected therapist, have two ambitious children in high school. Their son Dayne is the golden football star while their daughter Gracie is an overly-dramatic actress. Gracie's best friend is a young gay boy, Kendall, who is at constant odds with his abusive, fundamentalist mother, Sister Timothea. The play opens with the start of the football season and high school auditions for Oklahoma. Everything falls apart when an unexpected tragedy rocks the Westmoreland family to the breaking point. Yellow explores the themes of cowardice, intolerance and the damage caused to families by secrets, rejection and the difficulty of forgiveness. A departure from the comedy of earlier works, Del Shore
£10.99
Samuel French Inc Birthday Boy
Book SynopsisMatt returns from a break at work to the company lunch room, where he meets new employee Melora. A spark ignites almost immediately, but the blossoming friendship is still subject to life''s realities of age, responsibility, and commitment. Meanwhile Matt''s wife Arianne has plans for a celebratory evening at home that get interrupted by an unintentional spark of her own. Birthday Boy is about what happens when there''s a sudden connection between two people that if pursued could interfere with a life that has been going along just fine; about the paths we choose to take and those we choose not to; the commitments we do honor, the worthwhile sacrifices we must make. In short, a celebration of the messy, imperfect, life that being a husband, a wife, a father, a mother, all entails in order to evolve into the grownups we''re meant to be.
£10.99
Samuel French Inc Pizarro
Book Synopsis2005 Baker''s Plays High School Playwrighting CompetitionLooking for the thrill of exploration, gold, and adventure in a faraway land, Maria accompanies her Uncle Francisco to Peru only to watch him turn from brave captain to a greedy ruler.
£10.99
£9.70
Tafelberg Publishers Ltd PieterDirk Uys The echo of a noise
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£14.40
AA Publishing 100 Things I Meant to Tell You Rants Rhymes
Book Synopsis
£19.22
The History Press Ltd A Bloody Picnic Tommys Humour 191418
Book SynopsisOne of the crucial factors which kept Tommy going on the Western Front was his facility to see what was comic in the horror, deprivation and discomfort of trench warfare, an attitude which blossomed further in the rest areas behind the lines. The nature of the comedy ranged from gentle irony to a rougher hilarity that produced on belly laughs. Such laughter could arise from extreme physical pain and discomfort, from the provision of sustenance and from matters relating to dress, equipment and weapons. A further source of fun was bizarre events not dissimilar to situation comedy and pantomime. Moreover, a whole culture of humour surrounded Tommy's words and songs, and many trench pets cats, dogs, horses, goats, even rats were in on the joke in one way or another. Nor was it only the British soldiers who managed to find something to laugh about in the trenches the Germans could sometimes see the funny side as well. A Bloody Picnic provides an unusual perspective on how soliders coped with the grim realities of the First World War.
£9.49
Headline Publishing Group Look Back in Hunger
Book SynopsisJo Brand is one of Britain''s funniest and best-loved comedians. With a sharp eye for the absurd and in her own unique voice, she tells her story for the first time. What possessed her to become a professional comedian in the cut-throat world of stand-up comedy after ten years as a psychiatric nurse? How did she deal with late night drunken audiences? From her early years growing up in a small south coast town with two brothers who toughened her up, to emerging on stage as ''The Sea Monster'', Jo Brand tells it like it is with wit and candour.
£10.44
