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  • Thinking About It Only Makes It Worse

  • By: David Mitchell
  • Narrated by: David Mitchell
  • Length: 9 hrs and 10 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (206 ratings)

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Thinking About It Only Makes It Worse

By: David Mitchell
Narrated by: David Mitchell
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Publisher's Summary

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. Funny, provocative and shot through with refreshing amounts of common sense, Thinking About It Only Makes It Worse celebrates and commiserates on the state of things in our not entirely glorious modern world.

Photo Credit: Chris Floyd, Camera Press London

©2015 David Mitchell (P)2019 Audible, Ltd

What listeners say about Thinking About It Only Makes It Worse

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Quite Nice

What a totally feckless writer. On the other hand the reading guy was quite nice. I did initially use the word narrator however apparently 14 words doesn't constitute a review so it was changed to reading guy to appease our Amazonian overlords.

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12 people found this helpful

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Ode to a simpler time

Always enjoyed David Mitchell's work, and just came across this audiobook. David's view and outlook is always enjoyable.
Perhaps the only drawback is the juxtaposition of where we were to where we are now - in hindsight these topics that ruled the front page, or were iterated over and over at the time, seem quaint by today's standards - but I could hardly blame the book for that. If anything it makes me excited for the 2025 release of his takes/musings on today's calamities.

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  • Ben
  • 20-08-2020

Goes on and on and on and on....

Did you ever meet someone at a party who just wouldn’t shut up. When it didn’t even seem like sentences, more just like random words coming out of their mouth... This is that person. And I really like david in Peep Show.

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EXCELLENT SELECTION OF GUARDIAN COLUMNS

As you probably know, David Mitchell writes a weekly column for the Guardian newspaper in the UK. This is a selection of the best of them, read by David Mitchell himself. There are quite a few extras, some of which help to give context to each column. Logically some of them are a bit dated, but in general you can understand the context. As ever, David reads the columns extremely effectively. I think Stephen Fry described David Mitchell as Ruthlessly Logical, and this is him at his ultra-logical best. Always well argued, and generally very funny. But you just can't avoid thinking that the world he describes is somehow going in the wrong direction and you want to get off.................

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A breath of fresh air.. or maybe it’s common sense.

I adore David Mitchell. This novel is a great example of the humour that can be derived by a critical thinker. Anytime a politician speaks on television, it should be followed by a humorous breakdown by David to cut through the rubbish. Well worth the purchase!

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old man yells at cloud

I do enjoy a good rant, and this was full of grumpy rants. admittedly not David's fault I did zone out at big patches as it was very very British and many things I did not understand as we're completely irrelevant to some all the way across the world. all in all quite good for a few years are old man yells at cloud musings.

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Good laugh, easy to listen to snippets

Laughed lots. I think I would have found it funnier if I was British, and therefore would have understood some of the references better. But enjoyed it either way.
I liked that it was based on lots of newspaper articles that David wrote - so you could leave it and then pick up wherever - and not miss out on an overarching story line.
My only criticism is that I wish there had been some sort of demarcation (a sound?) of where one article and/or chapter ended and another started - I got a little bit muddled. So really my only con is that the format of the book doesn’t work as well as an audiobook.

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Written and read by Mitchell? Sign me up.

A balanced and comedic take on the way we consume information these days. Found myself nodding along in agreement, disagreeing and laughing out loud.
Plus it’s for free in the plus catalog, awesome.

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True David Mitchell

As David Mitchell fan I truly enjoyed it I liked going back in time too Can’t wait to read his next ones

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Enjoyed the insight in to the real David

Super clever writing delivered by the author. Very much enjoyed it and the personal anecdotes. I have deliberately avoided any apostrophes in this review oh dear perhaps I just missed one. I certainly missed a full stop or period as the Americans say. Are they correct or are we? I was heart broken to hear that aluminium should actually be spelled, or is it spelt, Aluminum. Well according to Bill Bryson anyway.

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  • scott
  • 04-09-2019

Good Book: Wrong Milieu

Although I am a huge fan of David Mitchell, this book is not for me. It is brilliant commentary on a social zeitgeist that is not my own. As an american, much of the poignancy of the articles is lost in the Atlantic, I will continue to buy David Mitchell stuff because most of his angry logic transcends politics. This book is a collection of political commentary op/ed Mitchell has written over many years.

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156 people found this helpful

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  • Dawn M Collins
  • 09-10-2019

Literally had to pull over to roadside

To avoid driving into a tree because I couldn’t see where I was headed... since I laughed so hard. Maybe not for everyone but I loved it.

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  • Sam Hooker
  • 22-02-2020

Not your mom’s watery 2% satire. Full-fat sardonic brutality.

My biggest take-always from this were that I’m offended by all the wrong things, and the British monarchy is more useful than most Americans think. I don’t know what to do with this information.

If you’re fully satisfied with the things from which you derive your offense and prefer not to audit them, I do not recommend that you read this book. For everyone else, it’s a witty, insightful romp through the socio-political issues of the last decade that will leave you with things to think about. Thanks a lot for that, David Mitchell.

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  • JG
  • 10-12-2019

Excellent, if UK-focused

A wonderful writer and excellent narration, but the content may sometimes be a bit too UK-specific for audiences abroad.

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  • chuckifer
  • 12-10-2019

Misleading description!

Don't be fooled by the description! Although Mr. Mitchell is very funny, his subject matter is mostly focused on British politics and political figures and what I can only assume are very public issues with BBC. Snorefest! I think England is a wonderful place and I've enjoyed trips there but I don't have a clue what this fellow is running on about or who. I'm sure these topics are interesting for folks that live there and follow British current events but I live in America. We have plenty of our own political fun to follow here and I don't want to read/listen to a book about any of that either. Nothing in the description leads one to know they are about to hear a guy on a political soap box. It was a daily deal but I am disappointed. Maybe that's why it's on sale. I'm going to return it on principal but thought I would give other potential buyers a heads up!

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  • Jill
  • 05-11-2019

Just deeply funny while simultaneously so sadly true

I just loved this book, I laughed out loud and so long I missed a few funny bits that came right behind. Doesn’t matter if you don’t know politicians or footballers mentioned there are interchangeable sorts in US and you will identify the types

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  • Russell Sim
  • 13-10-2019

a great book

but I didn't really care much for one of the chapters, because who really cares about British politics anywayq.

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  • Count B
  • 21-12-2019

BEST TO BE BRITISH

A very funny book, But is very dated. Also, about 25% of the comedy will be lost if you are not British. If you like Mitchell, you will revel in his hard edger cutting wit. The reviews on this book are spot on & some people just got lost in the humour being so UK biased, much of which is dated political satire, but if you are willing to accept 75% funny then a good book. His other book is way funnier, try that one first.

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  • Curtis Mason
  • 24-10-2019

great humor about politics, stupidity,and politics

there I said politics three times! this book is written with British politics in mind but applies to just about any political structure anywhere. it also talks a lot about the economy social weirdness and the human condition.

there is a fair amount of foul language in this book so listen to beware but I loved it.

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  • Kindle Customer
  • 14-02-2020

Hilarious

I couldn’t stop laughing. I love Mitchell’s voice and his witty remarks. I downloaded all his books. Love them

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  • Fast feet
  • 10-11-2019

Brilliant! Made me look forward to my daily commute

So funny it made me laugh out loud on several occasions. I think this man could talk about anything and make it amusing.
A pleasure to listen to his narration.
This is my first time listening to this author, and I’m getting ready to buy another of his books.

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  • Dave
  • 09-10-2019

Interesting but rather dated content

The author makes clear from the beginning that this is a compilation of columns from many years ago. Although the content is humourous, some of the context is lost through the passage of time.

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  • MR N S BHALLA
  • 09-09-2019

Basically I laughed on the tube. A lot

The main downside to this book is that I basically went around smirking for several days while commuting. Some of articles could have been grouped together better, but if you find David Mitchell funny (both on panel shows or on Peep Show) then this book - and Mitchell's performance of it) will have you stitches.

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  • Crispin Bateman
  • 27-06-2019

Very witty

Some people are intelligent, some people are funny. David Mitchell is one of those rare people who manages to be both. There’s a little too much politics and finance is some sections (namely the politics and finance sections, to be fair), but on the whole the spread of topics covered is well considered and expertly delivered.

Honestly, I am jealous of his skill and talent!

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 27-01-2021

I like David Mitchell, but not this much.

The delivery was flat, monotone and the content not very engaging. When you throw in his Brexit diatribe and New Labour insights it all sounded like an entitled student complaining that the world doesn't agree with him and what idiots they must all be. Not worth it, sorry.

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  • Blake
  • 27-06-2019

Great book, well read and very funny

I didn't know too much about David Mitchell before reading / listening to this book. But he seems very smart and quick witted. He reads well and keeps you engaged. Laughed out loud several times and will look out for more from him.

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  • AMIQUENCE
  • 13-11-2019

Classic wit from much loved Brit

David Mitchell does what he does best, satiricising (yes that’s a new word) the news of the day - often last decade - reminding you that while in politics the names sometimes change (or don’t) the stories pretty much remain the same.

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  • Philip
  • 11-09-2019

what is the point of asking for a headline!!!!!!@

A very funny easy listen easy to start and stop and pick up again, when you just want to listen to a funny rant on the news before brexit.

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  • Bagpuss
  • 07-09-2019

Couldn’t bring myself to finish it

As a fan of David Mitchell I was looking forward to this and it started well. As he descended into politics and economics you began to realize he doesn’t have a great grasp of complex issues and eventually came across as a sanctimonious ranter. Shame.

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  • Henchman 21
  • 19-07-2019

Not as dated as I could justifiably have assumed.

I agree with too much of what Mitchell says to comment on the bits where I do not.

Needed two more chapters.

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