NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “John Cleese’s memoir is just about everything one would expect of its author—smart, thoughtful, provocative and above all funny. . . . A picture, if you will, of the artist as a young man.”—The Washington Post The legendary writer and performer of Monty Python and Fawlty Towers fame takes readers on a grand tour of his ascent in the entertainment world John Cleese’s … in the entertainment world
John Cleese’s huge comedic influence has stretched across generations; his sharp irreverent eye and the unique brand of physical comedy he perfected now seem written into comedy’s DNA. In this rollicking memoir, Cleese recalls his humble beginnings in a sleepy English town, his early comedic days at Cambridge University (with future Python partner Graham Chapman), and the founding of the landmark comedy troupe that would propel him to worldwide renown.
Cleese was just days away from graduating Cambridge and setting off on a law career when he was visited by two BBC executives, who offered him a job writing comedy for radio. That fateful moment—and a near-simultaneous offer to take his university humor revue to London’s famed West End—propelled him down a different path, cutting his teeth writing for stars like David Frost and Peter Sellers, and eventually joining the five other Pythons to pioneer a new kind of comedy that prized invention, silliness, and absurdity. Along the way, he found his first true love with the actress Connie Booth and transformed himself from a reluctant performer to a world class actor and back again.
Twisting and turning through surprising stories and hilarious digressions—with some brief pauses along the way that comprise a fascinating primer on what’s funny and why—this story of a young man’s journey to the pinnacle of comedy is a masterly performance by a master performer.
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“Oh, my precious thumb”…..out of the mouth of John Cleese as a young child…..Everytime I bump a knee or stub a toe, I’ll think of it. John has a unique ability to describe people and situations in a funny, laugh out loud way without being mean.
His childhood, his school years, his trying out for sports….all brought up fondly but not through rose colored glasses. His relationship with his father, I envy that. His mother was a difficult, nervous woman and he explained her in a loving, exasperating way.
His schooling and teachers really helped shape him and his love of learning and doing his best comes through as is his insistence that he was so tall, gangly, and uncoordinated that he didnt learn to ride a bike till he was married. His sexual prowess….non existent…he was a bit niave….quite a bit actually.
His work habits are to be admired, college, job offers directly after from the BBC but his group of friends that became Monty Python, writers for comedy shows, working under David Frost, off broadway, plays on the road… are funny and a learning tool for anyone interested in comedy
He had a car, didn’t have a license, met a girl in New York, saw her once in a while, they broke up, but he married her. Didn’t consider himself a great man but worked with Marty Feldman, Peter Sellers and etc. He noticed who was kind and who was rude and took it upon himself to never be unkind.
For your reading pleasure are skits, wonderful scenes he performed, funny stories about his friends and peers. I was surprised just how much he worked jobs writing, acting, singig even and worse yet trying to dance in his first years after graduation. His roadtrips with friends are to be admired for the fun antics, camaraderie, and incidents as they travel.
Enjoy the ride!
Full disclosure: I’m a “Python” and can quote from their sketches non-stop for hours. Literally ad nauseum.
If you want to know what John’s early life was like, this is the book for you. It’s not surprising to learn that many of the experiences Cleese had in his youth are reflected in his comedic writing and acting.
I learned many interesting things from this book (no spoilers here): why his last name is Cleese and not something else; why the Black Knight never gave up, and why it is important to move your clothes onto the lower peg.
As I read the book, Cleese’s voice echoed in my head – the writing clearly reflects the author.
But, and a BIG but: if you’re looking for stories about Python’s early days, you’ll be disappointed (as I was). In fact, the book’s subtitle should be “Up to but not including almost anything to do with Python.”
All said, I recommend this book.
At the beginning I really loved this book. I like John Cleese and so reading about his life was entertaining and funny as expected. But about halfway through the book I just got quite tired of it and actually didn’t finish I just didn’t care anymore
Funny
John Cleese’s autobiography is…well…it is. I appreciated learning about his youth & early education. I have always thought him to be a very uptight and priggish personality, but learning of the polar opposite personalities of his parents, it all makes sense somehow.
I especially loved the chapters of his early career. I had no idea he had worked with Peter Sellers, Marty Feldman, and David Frost, among others. But again, in retrospect, why wouldn’t he have worked with them? They were all brilliant comedians in their time. I still Miss Feldman & Sellers.
The book is easily read in Cleese’s voice, which is only a drawback if you find his Python monologues to be weary. I felt the book went on a bit too long in some places, not long enough in others.
The one thing I’m left struggling with is what could have happened at my alma mater, Iowa State University, a medium sized college in the middle of BFD IOWA, that caused him to write such a cutting comment on the creative abilities of that school’s professors.
I particularly enjoyed reading about John Cleese’s early years. As his life progressed, however, I would have preferred more inclusion of people’s last names – the constant reference to his colleagues, friends and associates by their first names had me searching for who they were. In part this reflects a failing on my own part to not pay over-much attention to who’s who, but maybe a “cast of characters” and their roles in his life – an appendix, or an index at least, would have helped. It was breezy, easy to read, and while not wildly funny, amusing with good anecdotes.
Autobiography of a creative actor/comedian/writer. Fascinating, humorous, witty recounting of a well-lived life.
John Cleese is not only funny but very smart. His autobiography is pretty much a fact filled reporting of his childhood, his entry into comedy, and his time with Monty Python. For Python fans, this is a fun read of behind the scenes activities. Not a sensational ready, but an enjoyable one.
Great insight into one of the great comedic actors.
expecting a lot more humor, entertainment, etc.
It gave a back story to the history and development of TV comedy shows.
I havent laughed that hard reading a book in decades.
Very funny. The majority of the book is about his life before the Monty Python show.
Definitely surpassed my expectations! As a fan of Monty Python and John Cleese, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was delighted with this autobiography. Cleese’s writing very much reflects the witty, intelligent, and wry humor that is so often present ion the characters he’s created for our entertainment. His candid reflections on his upbringing, his emotional struggles, and his insecurities provide insight into a complicated and creative individual. I frequently found myself laughing out loud – and that’s a beautiful thing!
Being a ‘Monty Python’ fan it was almost required reading. Enjoyed it, although it was not quite what I expected. It was mostly about Cleese.
Well written extended portrait of a life mostly spent writing short (although hysterically funny) skits.