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David Mitchell: Back Story
- Narrated by: David Mitchell
- Length: 9 hrs and 25 mins
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Unruly
- A History of England's Kings and Queens
- By: David Mitchell
- Narrated by: David Mitchell
- Length: 11 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 114
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 108
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 108
In Unruly, David Mitchell explores how early England's monarchs, while acting as feared rulers firmly guiding their subjects' destinies, were in reality a bunch of lucky sods who were mostly as silly and weird in real life as they appear to us today in their portraits.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Brilliant
- By Anonymous User on 29-11-2023
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Thinking About It Only Makes It Worse
- By: David Mitchell
- Narrated by: David Mitchell
- Length: 9 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 206
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 181
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 180
Why is every film or tv programme a sequel or a remake? Why are people so f***ing hung up about swearing? Why do the asterisks in that sentence make it okay? Why do so many people want to stop other people doing things, and how can they be stopped from stopping them? These and many other questions trouble David Mitchell. Join him on a tour of the absurdities of modern life - from Ryanair to Richard III, Downton Abbey to phone etiquette, UKIP to hot dogs made of cats.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Quite Nice
- By Matt Marschall on 10-07-2019
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Dishonesty Is the Second-Best Policy
- By: David Mitchell
- Narrated by: David Mitchell
- Length: 8 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 266
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 224
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 222
David Mitchell’s 2014 best seller Thinking About It Only Makes It Worse must really have made people think - because everything’s got worse. We’ve gone from UKIP surge to Brexit shambles, from horsemeat in lasagne to Donald Trump in the White House, from Woolworths going under to all the other shops going under. It’s probably socially irresponsible even to try to cheer up.
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5 out of 5 stars
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A refreshing tonic to the madness
- By Kai1 on 15-12-2019
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Mack the Life
- By: Lee Mack
- Narrated by: Lee Mack
- Length: 8 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 56
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 50
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 50
Where do comedians come from? Why is it that one person is a funny bloke down the pub while another actually makes a living by standing up in front of an audience telling jokes? And where does all that material come from? Well, young Lee McKillop used to wonder that too. Growing up in his parents’ pub, small and wiry in a world of bigger and chunkier specimens, Lee quickly learned that cracking jokes was a way to get attention.
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4 out of 5 stars
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SLIGHTLY OUT OF DATE, BUT AN ENTERTAINING LISTEN
- By Rob in Nelson NZ on 04-01-2023
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How Not to Be a Boy
- By: Robert Webb
- Narrated by: Robert Webb
- Length: 8 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 498
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 454
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 453
Looking back over his life, from schoolboy crushes (on girls and boys) to discovering the power of making people laugh (in the Cambridge Footlights with David Mitchell), and from losing his beloved mother to becoming a husband and father, Robert Webb considers the absurd expectations boys and men have thrust upon them at every stage of life.
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5 out of 5 stars
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5/5
- By Maddy on 29-11-2017
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Small Man in a Book
- By: Rob Brydon
- Narrated by: Rob Brydon
- Length: 8 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 120
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 108
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Story4 out of 5 stars 108
Who is the man behind the many voices of Rob Brydon? Read by the man himself, this audiobook memoir will reveal the warm heart behind one of Britain's favourite impressionists. A multi-award-winning actor, writer, comedian and presenter known for his warmth, humour and inspired impressions, Rob Brydon has quickly become one of our very favourite entertainers.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Funny Man
- By Ross on 02-01-2017
-
Unruly
- A History of England's Kings and Queens
- By: David Mitchell
- Narrated by: David Mitchell
- Length: 11 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 114
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 108
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 108
In Unruly, David Mitchell explores how early England's monarchs, while acting as feared rulers firmly guiding their subjects' destinies, were in reality a bunch of lucky sods who were mostly as silly and weird in real life as they appear to us today in their portraits.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Brilliant
- By Anonymous User on 29-11-2023
-
Thinking About It Only Makes It Worse
- By: David Mitchell
- Narrated by: David Mitchell
- Length: 9 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 206
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 181
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 180
Why is every film or tv programme a sequel or a remake? Why are people so f***ing hung up about swearing? Why do the asterisks in that sentence make it okay? Why do so many people want to stop other people doing things, and how can they be stopped from stopping them? These and many other questions trouble David Mitchell. Join him on a tour of the absurdities of modern life - from Ryanair to Richard III, Downton Abbey to phone etiquette, UKIP to hot dogs made of cats.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Quite Nice
- By Matt Marschall on 10-07-2019
-
Dishonesty Is the Second-Best Policy
- By: David Mitchell
- Narrated by: David Mitchell
- Length: 8 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 266
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 224
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 222
David Mitchell’s 2014 best seller Thinking About It Only Makes It Worse must really have made people think - because everything’s got worse. We’ve gone from UKIP surge to Brexit shambles, from horsemeat in lasagne to Donald Trump in the White House, from Woolworths going under to all the other shops going under. It’s probably socially irresponsible even to try to cheer up.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A refreshing tonic to the madness
- By Kai1 on 15-12-2019
-
Mack the Life
- By: Lee Mack
- Narrated by: Lee Mack
- Length: 8 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 56
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 50
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 50
Where do comedians come from? Why is it that one person is a funny bloke down the pub while another actually makes a living by standing up in front of an audience telling jokes? And where does all that material come from? Well, young Lee McKillop used to wonder that too. Growing up in his parents’ pub, small and wiry in a world of bigger and chunkier specimens, Lee quickly learned that cracking jokes was a way to get attention.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
SLIGHTLY OUT OF DATE, BUT AN ENTERTAINING LISTEN
- By Rob in Nelson NZ on 04-01-2023
-
How Not to Be a Boy
- By: Robert Webb
- Narrated by: Robert Webb
- Length: 8 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 498
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 454
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 453
Looking back over his life, from schoolboy crushes (on girls and boys) to discovering the power of making people laugh (in the Cambridge Footlights with David Mitchell), and from losing his beloved mother to becoming a husband and father, Robert Webb considers the absurd expectations boys and men have thrust upon them at every stage of life.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
5/5
- By Maddy on 29-11-2017
-
Small Man in a Book
- By: Rob Brydon
- Narrated by: Rob Brydon
- Length: 8 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 120
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 108
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 108
Who is the man behind the many voices of Rob Brydon? Read by the man himself, this audiobook memoir will reveal the warm heart behind one of Britain's favourite impressionists. A multi-award-winning actor, writer, comedian and presenter known for his warmth, humour and inspired impressions, Rob Brydon has quickly become one of our very favourite entertainers.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Funny Man
- By Ross on 02-01-2017
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That Mitchell and Webb Sound: The Complete Series 1-5
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 4
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 4
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Story5 out of 5 stars 3
Welcome to the inside-out world of Mitchell and Webb, a strange and surreal place populated by misfits, eccentrics, talking animals and a few stray Radio 4 arts programme presenters. Included here are all five series of their fantastically skewed comedy show, packed with offbeat sketches and peculiar characters. Meet seedy snooker commentators Ted and Peter; poorly matched crime-fighting duo Angel Summoner and BMX Bandit; a cop who doesn't get results but, by God, he does things by the book; and some nervous Nazis who've just noticed their caps have skulls on them.
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5 out of 5 stars
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V
- By Anonymous User on 02-11-2023
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And Away...
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 232
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Story5 out of 5 stars 231
Bob Mortimer’s life was trundling along happily until suddenly in 2015 he was diagnosed with a heart condition that required immediate surgery and forced him to cancel an upcoming tour. The episode unnerved him but forced him to reflect on his life so far. This is the framework for his hilarious and moving memoir, And Away....
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5 out of 5 stars
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Just Smiling
- By Anonymous User on 13-03-2022
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Easily Distracted
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 59
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 52
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 51
Steve Coogan was born and raised in Manchester in the 1960s, the fourth of six children. From an early age, he entertained his family with impressions and was often told he should "be on the telly". Failing to get into any of the London-based drama schools, he accepted a place at Manchester Polytechnic School of Theatre and before graduating had been given his first break as a voice artist on the satirical puppet show Spitting Image. The late '80s and early '90s saw Coogan developing characters.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Quite interesting
- By Sam B on 14-07-2018
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Moab Is My Washpot
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- Length: 11 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 341
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 308
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 308
Few people serve time in prison before studying at Cambridge. You might be surprised to know that Stephen Fry is one of them. Moab is My Washpot, the remarkable story of Stephen Fry's tumultuous early life, is by turns funny, shocking, tender, delicious, sad, lyrical, bruisingly frank and addictively listenable.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Anyone will enjoy this book
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Before & Laughter
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- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 982
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 852
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 850
Written to take advantage of the brief window between the end of lockdown and Jimmy getting cancelled for saying something unforgivable to Lorraine Kelly, this book is as timely as it is unnecessary. Because you might be interested in Jimmy's life but he's damn sure you're a lot more interested in your own, Before & Laughter is about both of you. But mainly him.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Just excellent…like your Mum
- By Brendan Irwin on 06-10-2021
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For Richer for Poorer
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Overall0 out of 5 stars 0
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Story0 out of 5 stars 0
In September 2006, Victoria Coren Mitchell won a million dollars on the European Poker Tour. In her long-awaited memoir, she tells the story of that victory, but also of a 20-year obsession with the game. It is a journey which has taken Coren from a secret culture of illegal cash games to the high-stakes glamour of Las Vegas and Monte Carlo, and brought with it friendship, laughter, and money, but also loneliness, heartbreak, and defeat. With disarming honesty, Coren lays all of this bare.
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Becoming Johnny Vegas
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 16
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‘My name is Michael Pennington, and I am not a comic character. I'm often mistaken for one though. You might know him by another name. Johnny Vegas.’ From BBC Dickens adaptations to Benidorm and Ideal to the PG Tips ads, Johnny Vegas has become one of Britain's best-loved comic actors.
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3 out of 5 stars
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First and last 2 hours was great
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We Need to Talk About Kevin Bridges
- By: Kevin Bridges
- Narrated by: Kevin Bridges
- Length: 11 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 57
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 52
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 52
Penguin presents the unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of We Need to Talk About... Kevin Bridges.Aged 17, Kevin Bridges walked on stage for the first time and brought the house down. He only had a five-minute set but he discovered he really could earn a living from making people laugh.Kevin began life as a shy, nerve-ridden school-boy. Reaching his teens, he followed his true calling as the class clown.
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4 out of 5 stars
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An amusing insight into an interesting character
- By Louise on 19-12-2021
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More Fool Me
- By: Stephen Fry
- Narrated by: Stephen Fry
- Length: 9 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 257
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 234
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Story4 out of 5 stars 230
Following on from his hugely successful books, Moab Is My Washpot and The Fry Chronicles, comes the third chapter in Stephen Fry's life. This unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of More Fool Me is performed by Stephen Fry himself.
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2 out of 5 stars
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Flat out disappointing
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The Fry Chronicles
- An Autobiography
- By: Stephen Fry
- Narrated by: Stephen Fry
- Length: 12 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 478
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 439
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 442
This dazzling memoir promises to be a courageously frank, honest and poignant read. It will detail some of Fry's most turbulent and least-well-known years, with writing that will excite you, make you laugh uproariously, move you, inform you, and, above all, surprise you.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Okay, if pedantic
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Born Lippy
- How to Do Female
- By: Jo Brand
- Narrated by: Jo Brand
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- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 67
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 62
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 62
When Jo Brand hosted Have I Got News For You late last year, her calm explanation of the effects of sexism on women to a bemused all-male cast turned into a viral phenomenon. There has been a whole tradition of books over hundreds of years where a father shares his wisdom with his son - started by Lord Chesterfield in the 18th century - while women have been silent (aka bullied into thinking their advice wasn't worth writing down). This book puts a stop to all that.
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1 out of 5 stars
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no thanks
- By cobwebsandcathair on 05-11-2020
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Behaving Ourselves
- David Mitchell on Manners
- By: David Mitchell
- Narrated by: David Mitchell
- Length: 1 hr and 50 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 7
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 7
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 7
Over the course of the series, David eats his lunchtime sandwiches with children in a primary school and later goes to a street market to see manners - good and bad - in action. He explores where our manners come from with Professor Steven Pinker from Harvard University and the author Henry Hitchings. What do we mean by 'civility' and 'good manners' in public places? Why are people still pinching vicars' bottoms, and what can the state do to improve standards of public behaviour? And, David asks, how is the digital age changing our sense of public space?
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4 out of 5 stars
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Too short
- By sbg911 on 06-07-2020
Publisher's Summary
Shortlisted for: Biography/Autobiography of the Year - Specsavers National Book Awards 2012
David Mitchell, who you may know for his inappropriate anger on every TV panel show except Never Mind the Buzzcocks, his look of permanent discomfort on C4 sex comedy Peep Show, his online commenter-baiting in The Observer or just for wearing a stick-on moustache in That Mitchell and Webb Look, has written a book about his life.
As well as giving a specific account of every single time he's scored some smack, this disgusting memoir also details:
- The singular, pit bull-infested charm of the FRP (‘Flat Roofed Pub’)
- The curious French habit of injecting everyone in the arse rather than the arm
- Why, by the time he got to Cambridge, he really, really needed a drink
- The pain of being denied a childhood birthday party at McDonalds
- The satisfaction of writing jokes about suicide
- How doing quite a lot of walking around London helps with his sciatica
- Trying to pretend he isn’t a total **** at Robert Webb’s wedding
- That he has fallen in love a LOT, but rarely done anything about it
- Why it would be worse to bump into Michael Palin than Hitler on holiday
- That he’s not David Mitchell the novelist, despite what David Miliband might think
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What listeners say about David Mitchell: Back Story
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 07-06-2020
Disappointed
I found this book difficult to listen to. I have been a long time fan of David Mitchell's but found the content of this book up to the 5/6 chapter made me sad. His classist attitudes that I figured were all a part of the act, are sadly confirmed to be as much a part of the real David Michell as mich as the stage David Michell. There is also a very uncomfortable, old english man, section about men in dresses and non passing "transsexuals" being funny.
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Tristan Butler
- 20-06-2018
Funny, engaging and thoroughly enjoyable
I wish there were more audiobooks by David Mitchell. I think I would happily listen to him
narrate War and Peace, but hearing him read his own book with all its dry and sometimes acerbic wit is a delight. A decent number of laugh out loud moments set against a backdrop of steady, smile-inducing humour.
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Mullies321
- 13-05-2018
Disappointed
I usually love David Mitchell but I just couldn’t get into this book. I found it quite monotonous to be honest! Still searching for that book written by a comedian that is as funny as they usually are!
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 27-03-2022
A story of perseverance
Marvellous, charming and down to Earth whilst also revealing a great man's humanity. Additionally, you could not ask for a better narrator.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 13-11-2021
Thoroughly enjoyed
At times frustrating (just get your driver's licence!) but a lovely, sharing of a story in a life with a joyful and satisfying ending.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Micah
- 27-10-2021
Funny man. Uninteresting life
David Mitchell is objectively funny. His life is not a great story though. Middle class white British people might enjoy this. The general aura of
Pessimism wore me down too.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Joox
- 08-09-2021
Fan squeel
Best narrator.
Loved the openness and pacing.
Binged it as much as possible and will re listen again soon.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Emmy
- 12-07-2021
Loved every minute
I loved every minute of this. It was so honestly written and delivered. I related so much to his thoughts and experiences especially in childhood and it was fascinating to learn about his life and career. Absolutely brilliant.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 22-07-2019
Laughs and insight
I loved this book and will listen to it again and again I’m a big fan of David’s work. A normal life told in an extraordinary way
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kylie
- 17-12-2018
Totally enjoyed worth a listen
A meander worth taking. Laughed out loud in the first 4 minutes and knew i would enjoy this one. Enjoyed it thoroughly.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Delia
- 30-08-2013
One of the Funniest, Clever Brits around
I admit, I already went into this book a little prejudiced in its favour, as I became somewhat addicted to watching David Mitchell on various British Panel Shows. This book did not disappoint. I prefer my comedians to be clever, with witty remarks about interesting subjects, current events etc. I am not really a fan of the Jim Carrey, Robin Williams, Adam Sandler style of humour and this is so far off that style as to be in a different category altogether.
Mitchell is just so likeable, currently being one of the most popular comedians in Britain. Even when being critical of whatever subject he is currently on a rant about, that you can't help but chuckle, whether you agree or not with his views. I also love his self-mocking admissions of what he sells as his faults, vulnerabilities and weaknesses. He plays up the whole nerd, or dysfunctional loser persona, but in actuality he really isn't at all. He also sometimes pretends to be an arrogant know-it-all, and yet he can't maintain that with a straight face for long, so you know it's all just a funny act. He is such a gentleman, even if he does drop the odd "F" bomb, it comes across more as charming, rather than crass, but even so, you won't find that sort of thing in this book.
If you are undecided on whether his style would suit your taste, check him out on Youtube with some episodes of "Would I Lie to You" or "QI" and that will give you a good idea of the humour in this audiobook. Or check out his podcasts "David Mitchell's Soapbox." He also has a couple of other series, The Mitchell And Webb show, which is a comedy variety type show and another series called Peep Show, which while funny, is a little darker, with ruder language and situations. Those two shows are a little less indicative of the style of this book and might not be to everyone's taste.
This book is a mix of biography and just his ramblings on all manner of subjects, told in a very different style, as we are taken on a walk with him around his neighbourhood. It's narrated as though you are out for a walk and a chat with him.
My only problem with this audiobok was that the few times I listened to it in public on my iphone and headphones, I couldn't help grinning like an idiot, or even laughing out loud, which did cause a few strange looks my way.
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19 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Erica N Flynn
- 21-06-2013
David Mitchell is David Mitchell by David Mitchell
I'm not British & therefore only know who David Mitchell is because of Netflix. He is the sort of person I thought he would be, based on his characters in Peep Show & That Mitchell & Webb look: nerdy, neurotic, & a bit stuck-up at times. What I didn't expect is that he made the decision to go in to comedy at such a young age & that once this decision was made it was final (if I had imagined David Mitchell's back story would have guessed that his life-long dream of becoming an accountant was cut short when a BBC exec saw some posh twit being hit in the face with a pie & decided to give him a show). Back Story is a tale of someone who is normal, but just happens to be famous. David Mitchell went to school, he drank too much, he was awkward with girls, he was an ass to some people, some people were asses to him, he made friends, he drank too much again, and at the end of it all, he grew a beard. Also it's funny. Really funny. Funny in a not-too-British-y way, so it's easy for those of us in the States to enjoy & share with friends without having to apologize for recommending it because someone you recommended it to didn't like it & you're then left secretly thinking that person isn't very smart because they don't get dry British humor, causing the friendship to fall apart, which may not be that bad because when it's all over & done you still get to feel superior because you are obviously the more intelligent one. Not that kind of funny at all. Mostly not.
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11 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Joshua
- 15-08-2014
Hilarious, honest and a bit touching
I love the way David Mitchell's mind works. This book is heavily peppered with extremely clever observations, turns of phrase, and all the dry wit that David Mitchell is known for.
I enjoyed every bit of this book, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is a fan of British comedy.
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6 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ben
- 31-10-2013
Mark Corrigan Tells It Like It Is
Would you consider the audio edition of David Mitchell: Back Story to be better than the print version?
If you're familiar with Mitchell's work, you know that his deadpan voice is a big part of his appeal. Listening to him read his own words definitely gives the cynicism a really humorous edge that doesn't come across as well in text unless you're already quite familiar with him as a performer.
Any additional comments?
If you're considering this title, it's probably because you're already acquainted with Mitchell either through Peep Show or That Mitchell & Webb Sound/Look/etc. So speaking as one of these fans, the book delivered exactly what I was hoping it would. Genuinely funny in several places, and just as often thoroughly entertaining.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Patty McGee
- 21-10-2012
Extremely entertaining, a Real RollerCoaster*
What did you love best about David Mitchell: Back Story?
I thoroughly enjoyed the overall honesty of the book. I am being asked what I 'loved best' about the book and now after investing near 10 hours listening to it, it is that. I enjoyed so many parts of this book, but the candid nature of the book was most(dare I say) refreshing. It was. *Read book
What other book might you compare David Mitchell: Back Story to and why?
The other book I would most compare w/David Mitchell's 'David Mitchell: Back Story'(I am being asked this) would have to be 'Bossypants' by Tina Fey. This is because of obvious similarities in age and industry, along with the fact they are both biographies. My first thought was Outliers by Gladwell. Simply because David Mitchell would fall into the category of an 'outlier' who invested the time over time to become excellent in a field. And be where necessary to benefit from time invested.
What does David Mitchell bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
I was grateful to have been read the book by the author as opposed to any other talent and least likely myself. Nothing to take away from anyone who narrates their own books, but this man is a performer and has already mastered the art of saying things others find funny.
If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?
(I am now being asked to make a tag line for a film made out of the book)If you thought he was bookish, unsure around women and wears a 'Hitler' haircut, you might be right about some of those things.
Any additional comments?
I found out about Mitchell and Webb just over a month ago from a friend who I am writing comedy with as to something we could strive towards for our own sketches. I immediately became a fan with 'baddies' and have seen half the series, 'Magicians'(Yes, A funny film, as suggested by the author) and twenty minutes of 'Peep Show'. Such a small preview before I watched 'Magicians', not a reflection of the show. I now know more about that first episode and plan to watch more. In case the reader was concerned. All that said, I have become a fan. Of the work certainly and now the journey as expressed by the author. I don't write reviews much, but felt it important to write this one. Especially because I'm certain the author will read it and I would really want to thank him for making all those sketches. 'That Mitchell and Webb Look' is really fantastic and I enjoyed your book as much. Cheers.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- DJ
- 07-08-2018
Lovely story
I always enjoyed David Mitchell, and this was excellent! Funny all the way through, except the ending, which was heartfelt instead. I wish there were more David Mitchell selections available! This was awesome!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Kim
- 11-11-2013
I like David Mitchell
What was one of the most memorable moments of David Mitchell: Back Story?
The lobster story. It was both hilarious and awful.
What does David Mitchell bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
He says things in certain ways, and when he read the Robert Webb bit it did not sound like the way Robert Webb would have said that at all. Which is fine, but a perfect example of why it's fun to have the author also read the book to you. You get their intention and emphasis that you wouldn't necessarily get with a professional voice actor.
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
Yes. I thought it was extremely funny. Especially his childhood. I love British humour.
Any additional comments?
I was actually surprised at what a regular guy David Mitchell is. I thought he would be very fussy and very conservative, and maybe that's because I watched a lot of Peep Show and got him confused with his character Mark, but I really wasn't expecting to relate to him so much. His explanation of why he's agnostic, for example, rings true for me.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Melissa
- 17-07-2013
I really loved this booked- listened to it 3 times
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
David Mitchell is funny and the book is touching.
What was one of the most memorable moments of David Mitchell: Back Story?
When he talks about falling in love, it was beautiful.
Which character – as performed by David Mitchell – was your favorite?
N/A
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Yes, and listened to it over and over again.
Any additional comments?
I didn't expect to love this book, the preview didn't grab me, but I just loved it.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Steve
- 29-01-2013
brilliant
I like david mitchell, i like his cleverness, i like his wit and timing, i like his honesty and his ranting on a myriad of subjects. His voice can be a bit grating but is minor compared to the rest. I also like the way he weaved his story around his walk around London.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- toni
- 20-11-2012
So disappointed
What disappointed you about David Mitchell: Back Story?
I looked forward to buying this book for ages. Unfortunately it did not live up to expectations, not even close. Boring, not funny, self indulgent.
What didn’t you like about David Mitchell’s performance?
His voice is pretty unpleasant in long stretches
What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?
disappointed
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Stan
- 17-10-2012
A Total Joy
Sometimes, just sometimes, you scan the 'New Releases' section on Audible and you see something pop up that you immediately know that you are going to buy, that you are going to love and that you are going to bang on about to your friends.... immediately!
This has happened only twice to me - once with the Alan Partridge autobiography, and again with this title. Both are unabridged readings of an original work that you want to read,, read by the only person that you would allow or trust to read the material out loud to you.
If you like David Mitchell and his style of verbose wit and dry humour, which often manages to be both down to earth and surrealistic at the same time, then you will love this, not least for the fact that he delivers it like he does all of his material - in a natural and fluid monologue.
My only criticism is that you must be fully awake to appreciate it all, because his delivery is so fast and rich, that you will miss a lot if you are either tired or not paying enough attention, but this is the listener's issue really - not David's.
I won't spoil any of the fun by discussing the content because that's why you will buy this book, but I will say that you might want to be careful listening to it on public transport, unless you have no qualms about sounding like and looking like a gibbering idiot to people who happen to either be looking your way or within earshot of you.
I was on a packed commuter train to Leeds when David started talking to me about the vagaries and consistencies of Agatha Christie's characters; Poirot and Hastings, and I had to stop because I was starting to shudder and cry. When he gets your funny bone, he REALLY gets your funny bone.
Personally, I do not care how revealing or non-revealing David Mitchell is about his personal life, I just love listening to him talk and rant, because he is better at it than I am, and I tend to agree with 99% of what he says.
Guilty pleasures? (listen to the book and you will find out.)
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 14-11-2012
Really enjoyable
One of my favourite audiobooks so far. The book has a nice balance - part biography, part comic asides, structured around a wander around London. It's perhaps a little shy in places, and I suspect there are some warts left uncovered, but fair enough. DM is refreshingly candid about his desire for success and his pleasure in enjoying it, and if I ever met him it would be nice to clap him on the back and say "well done you". Except he would find that mortifying, and I would be mortified at having mortified him, and he would feel bad about my feeling bad, etc.
Anyway, the bit about why we should be grateful we don't live in a meritocracy nearly resulted in spittle on the windscreen.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Mr. S. J. Tilston
- 14-10-2012
Superb
Mitchell is an incredibly witty man, his misery cheers me up. His book is narrated by himself and is very well read.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Narny
- 04-02-2013
A funny and honest listen.
This is another example I think where listening to an audiobook being read, particularly by the author, is far superior than reading it from a book.
David Mitchell is both very funny and very self-efacing. Not a hint of smugness that some may have expected. He is certainly not complacement and is very quick to say how lucky he is to be where he is.
However it is the chapter on his now wife Victoria that is particularly poignant. He is so much in love and it is very nice to hear how two very well-suited people got together.
Oh, and have a streetmap of London handy if you can.
Another great listen from a funny man.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Semer 57
- 30-11-2012
I loved this!!
I have never seen Peep Show, but have enjoyed David Mitchell's dry wit on lots of panel shows. I was so glad that he was reading this as you cannot imagine anyone else. I listen in the car and he cheered me on my journeys. Also his paean of love to Victoria Coren was so touching. They seem to be a perfect match. Thank you David.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Toby
- 30-08-2013
Honest and Heartfelt
Would you consider the audio edition of David Mitchell: Back Story to be better than the print version?
Extremely well read by a man of more depth than his public persona permits you to see, a absolute joy to listen to.
Any additional comments?
Engaging from start to finish, the final chapter was especially moving in his comments about 'Victoria' - now what I expected, an altogether funny, moving and insightful audiobook.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Andrew
- 29-11-2012
superb read / listen
an insight into the world of a comedy genius and his odd goings on. He's not so different to you and me, apparently
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- John
- 28-11-2012
This Man Has Issues!
Yes he has issues, but frankly who doesn't! This is a very witty, incisive and elegantly written account / rant of events and related thoughts from childhood through to his professional success. It gets 5 stars on the basis of the excellence of the recounting, including amusing tangental perspectives of the more mundane aspects. Very good!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Amanda Launchbury-Rainey
- 27-05-2019
Funny and moving
David Mitchell reads his own life story as if on a walk around London, clever in itself. I loved the way he describes his relationships with his parents, his friends and Victoria (had a good blub during that chapter - so romantic). I have completely altered my ideas about the person I thought he was from his on screen and radio persona. I like him all the more. A great listen from a lovely human being.
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Mark
- 25-11-2015
If the Devil and Al Qaeda invented a sound.
I enjoyed peep show and Mitchell's performance...obviously your exposure to his vocal quirk is watered down by the very fact there are others in the show. He's not constantly talking.
If the Devil and Al Qaeda through a joint venture decided to create a new musical note that would piss off / bore / anger / make feel unwell / anger again.Then Mitchell's voice is what it would sound like. Out with the delivery the story-(ies) within are on the mild side. Mildly entertaining stories a plenty, his geeky youth-constant reminders that he wasn't a "spoilt bastard", his bad back? I had had enough and turned off at the end of a mammoth tale regarding a lobster.
No thanks. No thank you. Nope!
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