The Little Book of Common Sense: Or Pause for Thought with Wogan

by Terry Wogan

Sir Terry Wogan shares his opinion on just about everything from money, relationships, manners, fame, to life in general.

This little work is designed to bring you back, again and again, to refresh your view and attitude to life, living and everything in between. You will find no easy answers to your dilemmas here, rather an alternative view of how to approach them. Or to be honest, just Sir Terry's view. You never know, you might even agree with him...

THE LITTLE BOOK OF COMMON SENSE covers Sir Terry's views on:

Life: One day at a time. But look where you're going. Particularly on a bike...
Talk: Keep it short and to the point. You don't want people to think you're a politician. The most popular person at a party is the good listener. Particularly at an Irish party.
Money: Save or spend? Risk is for derivative and hedge-fund wonks. And it's not their money, anyway. Hold on to your hard-earned ha'pennies - your children are going to need them.

And everything else in-between...

Genres: Nonfiction

130 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2014

About the author

Sir Michael Terence Wogan, KBE, DL (born 3 August 1938), or also known as Terry Wogan, was a veteran Irish radio and television broadcaster who held dual Irish and British citizenship. Wogan worked for the BBC in the United Kingdom for most of his career. Before he retired from the weekday breakfast programme 'Wake Up to Woga'n on BBC Radio 2 on 18 December 2009, Sir Terry had a regular 8 million listeners, making him the most listened-to radio broadcaster of any European nation. He began his career at Raidió Teilifís Éireann where he presented shows such as Jackpot in the 1960s.

Wogan was a leading media personality in the UK from the late 1960s and is often referred to as a national treasure. He is perhaps best known in the United Kingdom for his BBC1 chat show Wogan, for his work presenting Children in Need, as the host of Wake Up to Wogan, the original host of the BBC game show Blankety Blank (before being replaced by Les Dawson), a presenter of Come Dancing in the 1970s, and as the BBC's commentator for the Eurovision Song Contest on radio and television from 1971 to 2008. Wogan started a primetime weekend show on Radio 2 from 14 February 2010.

Reviews

[Indika de Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

A funny yet philosophical book. Enjoyed it tremendously.

[Paul Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whilst the book relates exactly what it says on the cover, I'm glad I didn't pay for it otherwise I'd have felt rather done. The little sayings whilst sort of true and hopefully from the mouth of Wogan are all just too simple and rather twee. Finished it in less than hour and can't really say it one of those books that you leave on the coffee table (or similar) and then dip into on a regular basis. Sorry this isn't what I expected

[John Naylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short book of some of Terry Wigan's thoughts. Impossible not to hear in his voice and at times quite amusing. The illustrations are as good as the words at times.

A reminder of who Terry was and why his words will live on. I intend to read more from him and about him in the future. He was definitely more than just a voice in the radio or the presenter of Eurovision.

[John Mchale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pick it up, read all or some of it. Put it down, pick it up read all or some of it.... You get the idea, light, fun and can't fail to amuse 😁

[Stefan Grieve · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book from friends at Christmas, and I really enjoyed it.
Although it is short, as Terry Wogan apologises for (a lot shorter than it says on this page), it is full of wisdom and witty one-liners.
It captures some of the spirit of Terry (who sadly died at the beginning of this year), and if you were aware of this man, you may end up reading it with his comforting, funny, sometimes sardonic voice.
A small treasure.

(Second reading, 2026)

Enjoyed it again, I appreciated the wisdom and found the cartoons amusing, but in my more seasoned (and as one suggested, cynical) days, I'd say the advice is sometimes not that helpful as it contradicts and is, well, not that wise, in my opinion (also some of the wisdom there is more opinion). The references make it dated, and the book is a bit too slim. Still, much to treasure, the memories connected and the much-loved person who gifted it to me.

[Angie Rhodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only a little book, but it had me giggling, as only Terry Wogan can..One to keep at the side of you, when you need uplifting x