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So, Anyway...

The Autobiography

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So, Anyway...

By: John Cleese
Narrated by: John Cleese
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About this listen

Candid and brilliantly funny, this is the story of how a tall, shy youth from Weston-super-Mare went on to become a self-confessed legend.

En route, John Cleese describes his nerve-racking first public appearance, at St Peter's Preparatory School at the age of eight and five-sixths; his endlessly peripatetic homelife, with parents who seemed incapable of staying in any house for longer than six months; his first experiences in the world of work, as a teacher who knew nothing about the subjects he was expected to teach; his hamster-owning days at Cambridge; and his first encounter with the man who would be his writing partner for over two decades, Graham Chapman. And so on to his dizzying ascent via scriptwriting for Peter Sellers, David Frost, Marty Feldman and others to the heights of Monty Python.

Punctuated from time to time with John Cleese's thoughts on topics as diverse as the nature of comedy, the relative merits of cricket and waterskiing and the importance of knowing the dates of all the kings and queens of England, this is a masterly performance by a former schoolmaster.

©2016 John Cleese (P)2016 Random House Audiobooks Entertainment & Celebrities Entertainment & Performing Arts Film & TV Entertainment Funny Celebrity Biography Witty Thought-Provoking Comedy
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Mr Cleese is wrong we do care about his youth and his struggles and what made him one of the most influential entertainers of his generation.
I have to agree his voice started out unsure and I was slightly disappointed having really looked forward to this audiobook. But as other reviewers have pointed out he warmed up and it was such a pleasure to listen to him laugh at the memories and sketches.
I have no idea how time consuming and painful it is to write an autobiography and I understand as a fan of his work I can't really ask for more than the pleasure he has already given so many BUT I am asking for more please. Listening to this audiobook is as close as I'll get to sitting down with him over a coffee and asking questions about his life. I just want a few more hours please.

Please Mr Cleese can we have MORE!!!!

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What an incredible, creative, hilarious academic & comedienne - the stories are personal and provide insights into John Cleese from his childhood, school years & his time before becoming the celebrity he is now. I could listen to him all day.

I grew up in a family that absolutely loved Fawlty Towers - my dad would tape the episodes and we’d rewatch them together.

I was a late comer to the Monty Python experience, but enjoyed their humour. I would love to see him perform live one day.

He mentions therapy he’s had, his struggles with depression & his relationship with his parents - loved his honesty, which is a reminder to all that he’s human & that it’s okay to seek help.

I really enjoyed this autobiography.

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You would really have to listen to this book rather than read it. You have to read to get this heading even. Without its notable author narrating you would lose so much of the zany humour, its history and context but also how he relates to others and how he feels about his fellow Monty Python colleagues. He never claims that he alone is the comic genius in that crew and it is clear that he ended up in the right place at the right time - rather than him ending up a boring, if repressed, solicitor like his father wanted him to be - which, of course, is what he most resembles in the world of comedy. John Cleese is a tragi-comic character with many flaws. He is eccentric, thoughtful, highly insecure and more than slightly mad (or at least odd). I thought he might be difficult to live with or invite to dinner. It is odd to hear that he had no idea his scriptwriting partner Graham Chapman was gay for many years. Perhaps my only criticism is that he is notably introspective, a little needy and rather unlike his robust and devil-may-care Twitter persona. Yes! 'So Anyway' is an essential listen for Python and Fawlty Towers fans. As a bonus there are little vignettes of sketches throughout this book. A fun and interesting listen but not a great autobiography. Maybe Cleese has lived his. Who needs to know more than the humour he has left us perhaps peaking with his co-writing Fawlty Towers with his then-wife Connie Booth. Hard to understand why he loves America so much (Texas?). Hardly the most liberal part of the globe. Maybe deep down he IS a stereotypic "solicitor" (with apologies to real ones).

Geez it's Cleese .....or is it Cheese?

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Very funny book. The intro was a brilliant way to start this book. Was great to hear it read by John.

Hilarious

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Should come with a warning not to listen to while driving. If I didn’t have a great grin on my face I was laughing out loud and it felt good, especially in these times
It could have been narrated by anyone else, it had to be Cleese - it’s his story, he is honest whilst being able to not offer too much, self deprecating, beautifully complementary to the people who have shaped his life all the while being able to do it without mush!
Thoroughly enjoyed it - my only complaint is it is too short

Do not listen to while driving!

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what a thoroughly fucking good read, and if you don't like my language please don't listen to this book.. it does a lot to explain how Jim got to Monty python but nothing after.

so anyway, that's how he got started

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Being able to hear Cleese's own tone of voice is wonderful. I found myself snorting with laughter on buses, trains, airplanes and in supermarket aisles, and it was glorious. The sort of listening experience you never want to end. If you like that sort of thing.

Simply delightful from beginning to end.

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good value. lol'd a a lot. very enjoyable. I am now going to rewatch all of the movies and sketches.

i want to be a sketch writer now

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perfectly delivered and gripping the whole way through. i couldn't put my ears down . thank you mr cheese.

loved every minute

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This book highlights why I listen to books narrated by the author. Cleese cracks up and brings you along for the ride.

Perfect

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