What do you think?
Rate this book
Truths, Half Truths and Little White Lies
'If I'm going to tell the story of a life, my life, then I need to tell it warts and all. If the tale is too saccharine sweet then what can the reader take away from it? What do they learn about you? I've written everything down. The shit, the death, fun, naughtiness, addiction, laughter, laughter, laughter, some tears and lots of love and happiness. That to me is a better reflection of a human's life.'
Nick's family life was difficult, blighted by alcoholism, illness and sudden misfortune meaning they lost everything overnight. He left school early and drifted from job to job dogged by his own personal demons. It's something of a miracle that Nick survived and even more that he would achieve such success with his writing, acting and comedy.
In Truths, Half Truths and Little White Lies Nick paints a brilliantly funny, moving and brutally candid portrait of childhood, adolescence and eventual success.
Nick's family life was difficult, blighted by alcoholism, illness and sudden misfortune meaning they lost everything overnight. He left school early and drifted from job to job dogged by his own personal demons. It's something of a miracle that Nick survived and even more that he would achieve such success with his writing, acting and comedy.
In Truths, Half Truths and Little White Lies Nick paints a brilliantly funny, moving and brutally candid portrait of childhood, adolescence and eventual success.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published October 8, 2015
57 people are currently reading
1178 people want to read
About the author
Nick Frost
2 books16 followersFrost was born in Dagenham, Essex, the son of Tricia and John Frost, office furniture designers. When he was ten, his sister died of an asthma attack aged 18. He attended Beal High School in Ilford. When Frost was 15 his parents' business failed and they lost the family home. They moved in with neighbours where he witnessed his mother having a stroke due to the stress. Frost left school and took a job with a shipping company to support the family. He subsequently spent two years at a kibbutz in Israel. He met actor Simon Pegg while working as a waiter at a North London Mexican restaurant and the two became close friends and flatmates. Pegg and Jessica Hynes wrote a role for Frost in the cult slacker comedy series Spaced that was partly based on Pegg and Frost's lifestyle at the time.
He appeared in corporate training video clips such as Chris Carter and the Coverplan Challenge, a Dixons sales video, before gaining fame as Tim's army-obsessed best friend Mike in Spaced (1999–2001), which aired on Channel 4 for two series. In 2001, Frost played a small role in a one-off episode of Victoria Wood's Acorn Antiques. This was a specially written episode shown during the series called "The Sketch Show Story" that Victoria narrated, in which Frost played an armed robber who shot dead Acorn Antiques' most lovable character, Mrs Overall.
In 2002, Frost wrote and presented the show Danger! 50,000 Volts!, a spoof of the outdoors survival genre in which SAS experts or the like demonstrated how to improvise solutions to dangerous problems. In the same year, Frost co-wrote and starred in The Sofa of Time with Matt King. In 2004, he appeared in Shaun of the Dead, a "romantic zombie comedy", written by Simon Pegg and Spaced director Edgar Wright. In late 2005, Frost starred in the comedy sketch show Man Stroke Woman on BBC Three. A second series of Man Stroke Woman aired on BBC Three in early 2007. In early 2006, Frost played Commander Henderson in two series of the BBC Two science fiction sitcom, Hyperdrive. Also in 2006, he acted in Kinky Boots. Frost had a small appearance in the British comedy Look Around You, a parody of 1970s/1980s technology parodying the format of shows like Tomorrow's World.
Frost and Pegg appeared in a second Pegg-Wright feature film called Hot Fuzz, an action and cop genre homage, set in Gloucestershire. Frost plays bumbling Constable Danny Butterman, who partners up with Pegg's dynamic Nicholas Angel after the latter is transferred from the Metropolitan Police in London. The pair teamed up again for their self-penned 2011 science-fiction comedy film Paul, whose storyline concerned a fugitive alien. The two also starred in Steven Spielberg's The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn as Thomson and Thompson. Frost narrates the Channel 4 reality show Supernanny. He has made fleeting appearances in the Channel 4 surreal medical comedy series Green Wing as "just a man" in pub scenes (when Boyce asks who he is, he responds, "just a man"). In 2013, Frost played the role of Andy Knightley in the third Pegg-Wright feature film called The World's End. In 2014, he played the eponymous character in the Sky Atlantic comedy, Mr. Sloane.
In October 2015, Frost released a memoir titled Truths, Half Truths & Little White Lies (Hodder & Stoughton), detailing his life up to the age of 30.
He appeared in corporate training video clips such as Chris Carter and the Coverplan Challenge, a Dixons sales video, before gaining fame as Tim's army-obsessed best friend Mike in Spaced (1999–2001), which aired on Channel 4 for two series. In 2001, Frost played a small role in a one-off episode of Victoria Wood's Acorn Antiques. This was a specially written episode shown during the series called "The Sketch Show Story" that Victoria narrated, in which Frost played an armed robber who shot dead Acorn Antiques' most lovable character, Mrs Overall.
In 2002, Frost wrote and presented the show Danger! 50,000 Volts!, a spoof of the outdoors survival genre in which SAS experts or the like demonstrated how to improvise solutions to dangerous problems. In the same year, Frost co-wrote and starred in The Sofa of Time with Matt King. In 2004, he appeared in Shaun of the Dead, a "romantic zombie comedy", written by Simon Pegg and Spaced director Edgar Wright. In late 2005, Frost starred in the comedy sketch show Man Stroke Woman on BBC Three. A second series of Man Stroke Woman aired on BBC Three in early 2007. In early 2006, Frost played Commander Henderson in two series of the BBC Two science fiction sitcom, Hyperdrive. Also in 2006, he acted in Kinky Boots. Frost had a small appearance in the British comedy Look Around You, a parody of 1970s/1980s technology parodying the format of shows like Tomorrow's World.
Frost and Pegg appeared in a second Pegg-Wright feature film called Hot Fuzz, an action and cop genre homage, set in Gloucestershire. Frost plays bumbling Constable Danny Butterman, who partners up with Pegg's dynamic Nicholas Angel after the latter is transferred from the Metropolitan Police in London. The pair teamed up again for their self-penned 2011 science-fiction comedy film Paul, whose storyline concerned a fugitive alien. The two also starred in Steven Spielberg's The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn as Thomson and Thompson. Frost narrates the Channel 4 reality show Supernanny. He has made fleeting appearances in the Channel 4 surreal medical comedy series Green Wing as "just a man" in pub scenes (when Boyce asks who he is, he responds, "just a man"). In 2013, Frost played the role of Andy Knightley in the third Pegg-Wright feature film called The World's End. In 2014, he played the eponymous character in the Sky Atlantic comedy, Mr. Sloane.
In October 2015, Frost released a memoir titled Truths, Half Truths & Little White Lies (Hodder & Stoughton), detailing his life up to the age of 30.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
![Profile Image for [ J o ].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1673171874i%2F4639825._UY200_CR4%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
February 15, 2019
Autobiographies are not really my thing: not unless they're a comedian or relatively funny person and can make me laugh whilst reading them. I don't really care about reading about people's lives. Especially famous people. Who cares? Seriously. Who cares.
But comedians and funny people are different. You know it's going to be funny. It has to be. It's their job. That's basically all it has to be. If it's not then what is the point? For me personally, autobiographies are the only books I'll read for pure escapism. Read to laugh. Read to forget the state of the world. Read for something really quick and simple to read. Read when I just can't be bothered to get in to a long novel and the short stories have ended. Sometimes they read just like funny little stories.
Nick Frost didn't want to be an actor. He accidentally became one. That's a good story in of itself. He first appeared in the (I'm biased) amazingly amazing Spaced on Channel 4 with the (I'm really biased) amazingly amazing Simon Pegg. They'd become best friends. Brain lovers. Platonic soul mates. They shared a bed for fuck's sake.
This almost made my dead, black heart cry though. Nick Frost has a had quite the life and he doesn't hold back. He does what he tells you he's going to do, warts and all. He's so good on his promise that you'll be taken on quite the ride, with humour thrown in. That's the best bit. He's had the shit kicked out of him more than once, almost got blown to smithereens in Israel and has been higher more times than the Beatles. It's unrelenting and bleak, but his humour makes it bearable. Humour is a really good coping mechanism if you do it right.
The feeling you get when you finish a really good book. I got it when I finished this. Like I'd been taken on a ride to hell and back, but on the way we detoured to heaven. I haven't had that feeling from a book in so long and I missed it so much. No more reading books because of their covers, or because everyone on Bookstagram is posting about it. No. Just reading it because I want to and sod the three people who only gave it 1 star on GoodReads because you can't give 0. That's a good feeling to get from a book.
Thanks Nick.
But comedians and funny people are different. You know it's going to be funny. It has to be. It's their job. That's basically all it has to be. If it's not then what is the point? For me personally, autobiographies are the only books I'll read for pure escapism. Read to laugh. Read to forget the state of the world. Read for something really quick and simple to read. Read when I just can't be bothered to get in to a long novel and the short stories have ended. Sometimes they read just like funny little stories.
Nick Frost didn't want to be an actor. He accidentally became one. That's a good story in of itself. He first appeared in the (I'm biased) amazingly amazing Spaced on Channel 4 with the (I'm really biased) amazingly amazing Simon Pegg. They'd become best friends. Brain lovers. Platonic soul mates. They shared a bed for fuck's sake.
This almost made my dead, black heart cry though. Nick Frost has a had quite the life and he doesn't hold back. He does what he tells you he's going to do, warts and all. He's so good on his promise that you'll be taken on quite the ride, with humour thrown in. That's the best bit. He's had the shit kicked out of him more than once, almost got blown to smithereens in Israel and has been higher more times than the Beatles. It's unrelenting and bleak, but his humour makes it bearable. Humour is a really good coping mechanism if you do it right.
The feeling you get when you finish a really good book. I got it when I finished this. Like I'd been taken on a ride to hell and back, but on the way we detoured to heaven. I haven't had that feeling from a book in so long and I missed it so much. No more reading books because of their covers, or because everyone on Bookstagram is posting about it. No. Just reading it because I want to and sod the three people who only gave it 1 star on GoodReads because you can't give 0. That's a good feeling to get from a book.
Thanks Nick.
December 4, 2015
I listened to the audiobook and now I feel like Nick Frost is my boyfriend.
December 30, 2018
Nick Frost gives good autobio! Any fan of the Cornetto trilogy and that fabulous duo that is Pegg and Frost will love this book. It gives the reader/fan everything they'd want to know about Frost's pre-famous life, takes you right up to his beginnings as an actor, even gives you a little tasty insight into the cult classic Spaced, and leaves you wanting more!
Frost is a natural storyteller. Keep in mind the title, because occasionally he goes off the script of his life and embellishes a story until it becomes pure fiction. This is done intentionally and with subtly, so that the reader is lulled into believing the fairytale. He only does it here and there. At other times, Frost lulls the reader into a sense of boredom, leaving you wandering why he's droning on about this or that mundane subject, but then WHAMMO! he drops a life bomb that makes you realize that this bloke his been through the shit.
This rags-to-riches story of a kid born to a good family that fell on hard times makes for some fascinating reading!
Frost is a natural storyteller. Keep in mind the title, because occasionally he goes off the script of his life and embellishes a story until it becomes pure fiction. This is done intentionally and with subtly, so that the reader is lulled into believing the fairytale. He only does it here and there. At other times, Frost lulls the reader into a sense of boredom, leaving you wandering why he's droning on about this or that mundane subject, but then WHAMMO! he drops a life bomb that makes you realize that this bloke his been through the shit.
This rags-to-riches story of a kid born to a good family that fell on hard times makes for some fascinating reading!
January 25, 2022
I bought Truths, Half Truths and Little White Lies by Nick Frost on a whim, probably in an Audible sale. Although I like Nick Frost my expectations were fairly low. It turns out to be really good, both dark and uplifting in equal measure. Nick has been through many trials and tribulations and it's a miracle that he survived, let alone prospered to the extent that he has. This book covers Nick's life from birth until age 30. It's a helluva story. Let's hope there's a book two.
5/5
5/5
June 24, 2021
I liked this - it was funny and interesting but it did end very abruptly! More please!
October 16, 2015
Review coming soon.
May 21, 2017
I was excited to read this because I'm a huge fan of Spaced, Shaun of the Dead and so on, and Nick Frost has always been an exceptionally charming actor. I was expecting perky fluff, a history of his epic bromance with Simon Pegg and loads of anecdotes about their film and TV exploits. So you can imagine my disappointment that Spaced wasn't really mentioned until around page 260-something of a 300 page book.
It's a brave book, depicting a tough life and thoughtfully reflecting on fairness, chances and relativity. Depression isn't an easy thing to deal with and it seems like Nick Frost used this book for catharsis, as his family and his formative experiences make up the bulk of the biography.
Buuuut, my expectations were thwarted, and I feel bad for saying it because this was RAW and I don't want to belittle the book. A fellow book clubber lent me this book saying, "It's really funny" and so I assumed it would be full of hilarious hijinks and memories of how some of my favourite pop culture was created. And in fairness, I laughed a lot, even when Nick Frost is discussing some of his toughest experiences, he never loses his sense of humour and he has a very nice, conversational style.
So, I was hoping for a book full of hilarious Hot Fuzz anecdotes (Timothy Dalton! What a diamond geezer, etc.) but I instead got a gut-wrenching tale of a working class man who stumbled his way into the career of his dreams. Not without its merits, but not what I was expecting either.
It's a brave book, depicting a tough life and thoughtfully reflecting on fairness, chances and relativity. Depression isn't an easy thing to deal with and it seems like Nick Frost used this book for catharsis, as his family and his formative experiences make up the bulk of the biography.
Buuuut, my expectations were thwarted, and I feel bad for saying it because this was RAW and I don't want to belittle the book. A fellow book clubber lent me this book saying, "It's really funny" and so I assumed it would be full of hilarious hijinks and memories of how some of my favourite pop culture was created. And in fairness, I laughed a lot, even when Nick Frost is discussing some of his toughest experiences, he never loses his sense of humour and he has a very nice, conversational style.
So, I was hoping for a book full of hilarious Hot Fuzz anecdotes (Timothy Dalton! What a diamond geezer, etc.) but I instead got a gut-wrenching tale of a working class man who stumbled his way into the career of his dreams. Not without its merits, but not what I was expecting either.
November 1, 2015
I've been looking forward to getting my hands on a copy of this book and as autobiographies go it's one of my favourites, right up there with Stephen Fry's Moab Is My Washpot.
You don't even need to know who Nick Frost is, although, if you are British you may know him from the comedy series Spaced and you will probably have seen him in one of his movies; Shaun Of The Dead, Hot Fuzz, Paul, The Adventures Of Tintin and Cuban Fury amongst others.
This book is part one of Nick's life and it's heartbreakingly sad and hilarious in equal measure. Nick's prose is quick, blunt and raw, which may come across as a little abrasive for some; but if you were brought up in working class Britain in the late 70's and 80's, dabbling in the house scene and disco biscuits as a teen of the early 90's, you will understand perfectly. Some of his life decisions may seem hard and uncaring, but I related to them and to him. However, don't feel that this book is for Brits only, his experiences of doing it tough, dealing with loss, screwed up family members and opportunity are universal.
Nicks tale of how he got there (and very nearly didn't on several occasions) is an engaging, worthwhile read.
You don't even need to know who Nick Frost is, although, if you are British you may know him from the comedy series Spaced and you will probably have seen him in one of his movies; Shaun Of The Dead, Hot Fuzz, Paul, The Adventures Of Tintin and Cuban Fury amongst others.
This book is part one of Nick's life and it's heartbreakingly sad and hilarious in equal measure. Nick's prose is quick, blunt and raw, which may come across as a little abrasive for some; but if you were brought up in working class Britain in the late 70's and 80's, dabbling in the house scene and disco biscuits as a teen of the early 90's, you will understand perfectly. Some of his life decisions may seem hard and uncaring, but I related to them and to him. However, don't feel that this book is for Brits only, his experiences of doing it tough, dealing with loss, screwed up family members and opportunity are universal.
Nicks tale of how he got there (and very nearly didn't on several occasions) is an engaging, worthwhile read.
May 7, 2017
I'm not a particular fan of Nick Frost but had read good reviews of this autobiography so gave it a go. I found it interesting but to say I enjoyed it would be going a bit too far. Much of it is very grim and though I sympathised with him I found myself liking him less as it went on rather than warming to him.
December 5, 2022
Listened to the audio book version. Got nothing out of it.
It’s not explicitly mentioned, but you could see that throughout his life, he managed to get out of trouble [even with the police] because of the color of his skin. Even the cheeky things he did in Israel.
The book is perhaps somewhat tolerable if you’re a huge fan.
It’s not explicitly mentioned, but you could see that throughout his life, he managed to get out of trouble [even with the police] because of the color of his skin. Even the cheeky things he did in Israel.
The book is perhaps somewhat tolerable if you’re a huge fan.
April 25, 2025
It's really nice to see Nick being so generous at appreciating and acknowledging those who helped him throughout his life.
But I am not so sure about the value *for me* in this memoir. The Kibbutz, the partying, the drinking. London, the partying, the drinking...
I am happy to see Nick is in a better mental place now, and hope it stays like that!
But I am not so sure about the value *for me* in this memoir. The Kibbutz, the partying, the drinking. London, the partying, the drinking...
I am happy to see Nick is in a better mental place now, and hope it stays like that!
March 26, 2019
If there's one thing less interesting than hearing someone talk about their dreams, it's someone harping on about their drug-taking experiences. And what they had for dinner. That is approximately 75% of this hastily put together, hodge podge of annecdotes that take the likeable screen presence of Nick Frost and stamp all over that until what's left is a deeply unfunny, self-indulgent whiner who buries a genuinely interesting "coming-of-age-in-difficult-circumstances" story in a tale of how hard he tried to ruin his own life through drink and drugs. I'm a little upset with him for having written this, as I'm sure he is a better person than is portrayed here.
July 6, 2019
It's really hard not to like Nick Frost, even more so after reading about his struggle with depression. And yet the book can be summarised thus:
Dysfunctional childhood
Loves drugs
Loves alcohol
Loves food
Has no ambition
Is saved by Simon Pegg
The book is not without its merits but the fact that it only really gets to the bits I want to hear about 40 pages from the end and then rushes through them, left me really disappointed.
Dysfunctional childhood
Loves drugs
Loves alcohol
Loves food
Has no ambition
Is saved by Simon Pegg
The book is not without its merits but the fact that it only really gets to the bits I want to hear about 40 pages from the end and then rushes through them, left me really disappointed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2023
Man, when it comes to autobiographies, I’ve got to stop reading books by people who gleefully fuck about and boast about pissing it up the wall, then get a massive stroke of luck that bails them out of having to take any responsibility for it and attain the sort of success that kinder, harder working and considerably less drug obsessed people could only dream of.
I like Nick Frost as an actor but in the book he portrays himself as a moaning, Lidl own-brand Hunter S Thompson. Disappointing.
I like Nick Frost as an actor but in the book he portrays himself as a moaning, Lidl own-brand Hunter S Thompson. Disappointing.
May 26, 2019
Loved this, he's a gifted writer sharing a difficult past with painful honesty. Best autobiography I've read, really. Not afraid to make you angry at him with enough self awareness to help you forgive it, too. And funny, vitally. Loved learning more about him.
March 1, 2017
Really liked Nick Frost, after reading this steaming pile of excrement I now think he's a bellend.
April 30, 2024
I like Nick Frost as an actor, and I enjoy his movies, but I did not enjoy this book, and doubt I'd like him much as a person either.
It starts off reasonably promising, with an interesting segment on the time he spent in Israel, but then just becomes a litany of getting drunk and high and acting like a ****.
Still, I'll very happily continue watching the movies. They're fun!
It starts off reasonably promising, with an interesting segment on the time he spent in Israel, but then just becomes a litany of getting drunk and high and acting like a ****.
Still, I'll very happily continue watching the movies. They're fun!
January 13, 2024
I was really hoping to read all about Spaced and the Cornetto Trilogy, but the book was mostly all before his acting career which was a shame. However it was an enjoyable read and it was cool reading more about his early life, so all in all it wasn't half bad.
But no chapters, come on Nick what's that all about?
But no chapters, come on Nick what's that all about?
October 5, 2017
Seven frakking stars.
April 21, 2021
I really enjoyed this. Lots of very interesting and sometimes really fun stories. I think his personality was similar to what I expected from his acting roles, but I was surprised by all he has experienced and I liked that this wasn't a typical celebrity memoir in that so little was about the acting. There were aspects I really connected with and I loved the more emotional aspects. I'm glad I read this and I hope he writes more whether fiction or nonfiction because I enjoyed the writing and how he tells stories.
November 15, 2016
Truths, Half Truths and Little White Lies is the autobiography of Nick Frost and for the most part was a really enjoyable read. In spite of the title, this felt like an open and honest look at the early life of Nick Frost and the events that created the man we've come to know through films such as Sean of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and Paul.
++++++++++ THE GOOD ++++++++++
Humour - Considering most of the roles I have seen Nick Frost play in both TV and movies are comedy based, you might expect that there would be a lot of humour in this book, and you would be right. He has a wonderful writing style that keeps you smiling even through some of the darker moments of the book.
Audiobook - I really enjoy autobiographies that are narrated by the author and this book was no exception. Being able to hear his words in the tone he intended them was fantastic, and coupled with his own natural humour and comedy timing only made it that much more enjoyable.
More than just acting - A large part of this book, in fact the overwhelming majority, describes the parts of his life that don't happen on camera. From his family life to the time he spent in Israel, this book is filled with interesting stories that aren't limited to his antics on camera and the events surrounding his subsequent fame.
Easy Reading - This is an easy book to read. It's well written, engaging, fun and well paced. Though there are a few stories told out of sequence that breaks the chronology a little, for the most part, the book keeps you interested and wanting to read more.
Relationship with Simon Pegg - Though it doesn't make an appearance until the last quarter of the book, I enjoyed reading about his friendship with Simon Pegg. I always love it when you see friendships that work on-screen that are just as strong (if not stronger) off-screen, and this is the case here. The unconventional friendship and anecdotes of these two individuals were a lot of fun to read about.
- - - - - - - - - THE BAD - - - - - - - - - -
Not enough about acting - Now hang on a minute, I know what you're thinking, I said that was a good thing earlier. The truth is that it is and it isn't. I can't stand reading actor autobiographies where the only thing of interest is their acting career, but at the same time, I would like to read something about those events. This book does eventually deal with Spaced and tells a few anecdotes from other movies, but for the most part, the story ends before he gets famous, probably as a way to leave the book open for a sequel... which leads on to my next issue.
Only half the story - I've seen this in a lot of biographies recently. The author only tells half the story, enough to get you interested and then ending it. This book even mentions that Nick Frost felt that he might have another set of memoirs in him. Considering this story barely touches on his acting career or his life after Spaced (which finished 15 years ago), that leaves the bulk of his famous years untold, so of course there will be a sequel. Considering this book isn't all that long, this felt like a bit of a copout and cash grab to me.
========== THE VERDICT ==========
Overall I had a lot of fun with this story. It's interesting, well written, extremely well narrated (I definitely recommend the audiobook) and even though I felt it ended a bit too soon, I can definitely recommend giving this one a read.
It's an easy four stars and I am looking forward to part 2.
++++++++++ THE GOOD ++++++++++
Humour - Considering most of the roles I have seen Nick Frost play in both TV and movies are comedy based, you might expect that there would be a lot of humour in this book, and you would be right. He has a wonderful writing style that keeps you smiling even through some of the darker moments of the book.
Audiobook - I really enjoy autobiographies that are narrated by the author and this book was no exception. Being able to hear his words in the tone he intended them was fantastic, and coupled with his own natural humour and comedy timing only made it that much more enjoyable.
More than just acting - A large part of this book, in fact the overwhelming majority, describes the parts of his life that don't happen on camera. From his family life to the time he spent in Israel, this book is filled with interesting stories that aren't limited to his antics on camera and the events surrounding his subsequent fame.
Easy Reading - This is an easy book to read. It's well written, engaging, fun and well paced. Though there are a few stories told out of sequence that breaks the chronology a little, for the most part, the book keeps you interested and wanting to read more.
Relationship with Simon Pegg - Though it doesn't make an appearance until the last quarter of the book, I enjoyed reading about his friendship with Simon Pegg. I always love it when you see friendships that work on-screen that are just as strong (if not stronger) off-screen, and this is the case here. The unconventional friendship and anecdotes of these two individuals were a lot of fun to read about.
- - - - - - - - - THE BAD - - - - - - - - - -
Not enough about acting - Now hang on a minute, I know what you're thinking, I said that was a good thing earlier. The truth is that it is and it isn't. I can't stand reading actor autobiographies where the only thing of interest is their acting career, but at the same time, I would like to read something about those events. This book does eventually deal with Spaced and tells a few anecdotes from other movies, but for the most part, the story ends before he gets famous, probably as a way to leave the book open for a sequel... which leads on to my next issue.
Only half the story - I've seen this in a lot of biographies recently. The author only tells half the story, enough to get you interested and then ending it. This book even mentions that Nick Frost felt that he might have another set of memoirs in him. Considering this story barely touches on his acting career or his life after Spaced (which finished 15 years ago), that leaves the bulk of his famous years untold, so of course there will be a sequel. Considering this book isn't all that long, this felt like a bit of a copout and cash grab to me.
========== THE VERDICT ==========
Overall I had a lot of fun with this story. It's interesting, well written, extremely well narrated (I definitely recommend the audiobook) and even though I felt it ended a bit too soon, I can definitely recommend giving this one a read.
It's an easy four stars and I am looking forward to part 2.
January 30, 2016
I picked up this book because I've been a fan of Nick Frost's acting. I was expecting a typical celeb memoir with a bit of honesty and background. The book couldn't have been further from my expectations.
This is a memoir. It would be a great memoir if just written by a non-celebrity or non-public figure, it just so happens to be written by an actor. Frost goes into detail about his childhood and early twenties and it's a fascinating tale. I never knew he had experienced so much before finding Simon Pegg and his eventual success.
The book ends at the point that Frost starts acting. I was expecting to read stories about Shaun of the Dead and other films, but it's not there. Which is alright. There is room for a follow up book, written a bit later in Frost's life to discuss his film career.
If you enjoy coming of age memoirs, check it out. Frost lived a full life even before hitting success.
This is a memoir. It would be a great memoir if just written by a non-celebrity or non-public figure, it just so happens to be written by an actor. Frost goes into detail about his childhood and early twenties and it's a fascinating tale. I never knew he had experienced so much before finding Simon Pegg and his eventual success.
The book ends at the point that Frost starts acting. I was expecting to read stories about Shaun of the Dead and other films, but it's not there. Which is alright. There is room for a follow up book, written a bit later in Frost's life to discuss his film career.
If you enjoy coming of age memoirs, check it out. Frost lived a full life even before hitting success.
November 7, 2015
Allow me to lead with the fact I went with the audio book. What better way to absorb an autobiography than to have the person himself tell you about himself.
Simply a wonderful tale. Mr. Frost does not shy away from issues that harmed him emotionally nor does he shy from times when he was behaving in the wrong. He covers much but my only regret is that it stops prior to work on Shaun of the Dead.
As a writer, this was simply wonderful. As an audio book, he seems like he would be one of the greatest people to sit in a pub and have several pints with while exchanging stories, joking around, and having a good time.
Simply a wonderful tale. Mr. Frost does not shy away from issues that harmed him emotionally nor does he shy from times when he was behaving in the wrong. He covers much but my only regret is that it stops prior to work on Shaun of the Dead.
As a writer, this was simply wonderful. As an audio book, he seems like he would be one of the greatest people to sit in a pub and have several pints with while exchanging stories, joking around, and having a good time.
November 22, 2016
I wanted to find out if there was a clever man behind the bumbling oaf of an embarrassment to the human race which Mr. Frost often portrays on screen. There doesn't appear to be, if much of this book is to be believed. An admittedly less-than-ideal childhood is followed by an angst-ridden, drugs and alcohol-fuelled adolescence and early adulthood (?) where no-one appears to be safe from the 'pranks' or sheer bloody-minded thoughtlessness visited upon all and sundry. Frost's unending use of scatological invective and annoying current slang may be deliberate - to what end I do not know - but it certainly detracted massively from what little enjoyment this reader experienced.
November 17, 2015
It is an OK read. Nothing special happens. It's all very normal.
Within the first few pages he mentions a scene in The Great Escape with Paul Newman.
For someone who claims to be a real big film fan, this is a terrible mistake, and I'm surprised that none of his friends or publishers spotted this. I thought it may have been a clever little joke. It wasn't.
Within the first few pages he mentions a scene in The Great Escape with Paul Newman.
For someone who claims to be a real big film fan, this is a terrible mistake, and I'm surprised that none of his friends or publishers spotted this. I thought it may have been a clever little joke. It wasn't.
October 26, 2015
A sometimes painfully honest but very readable memoir.
October 27, 2015
Couldn't put it down. Lots of laughs, room for book 2 which I hope happens sometime in the near future.
January 10, 2023
Poorly edited. Misogynistic. I regret reading this, as I used to like Nick Frost.
August 25, 2020
Nick Frost is an actor most well known for his acting role on Spaced and his film collaborations with Simon Pegg, so I was very excited to read his autobiography.
Surprisingly, and unlike a lot of celebrity autobigraphies I have read, this one focused mostly on his life before he became a TV and film star, and I noticed there was a long chapter about his family life. I also noticed that his family life was far from cheeful, because of the amount of tragedy that he had faced in his life, with the loss of several family members, including his mother. I noticed also that he talked a lot about drugs, which it seems he took frequently. This was followed by a chapter about his time spent living and working in Israel, which included stories about him stealing food from the kibbutz where he was based.
Simon Pegg was hardly mentioned until about half way into the book, but I wasn't surprised when he was mentioned a lot; Spaced, and its stars, including Pegg's co-writer Jessica Hynes (then known as Jessica Stevenson) wasn't mentioned until very late in the book.
I enjoyed this book a lot; I loved the way that Nick Frost seemed able to get a laugh from anything, however bleak; the book was full of moments where he talked about far from cheerful situations, including being attacked in the street, even bereavements, and followed it up with some gallows humour. It was good to know that he wrote the whole thing himself, though given the title, I did wonder if I should take any of it with a pinch of salt (one epic moment of revenge turned out to be a fantasy sequence). The only real issue I had was that the narrative repeatedly switched between the past and present tenses, often in the same sentence, and I wasn't sure if that was deliberate or not.
The book hinted that Nick Frost would write a second autobiography, and I would definitely read it if he did.
Surprisingly, and unlike a lot of celebrity autobigraphies I have read, this one focused mostly on his life before he became a TV and film star, and I noticed there was a long chapter about his family life. I also noticed that his family life was far from cheeful, because of the amount of tragedy that he had faced in his life, with the loss of several family members, including his mother. I noticed also that he talked a lot about drugs, which it seems he took frequently. This was followed by a chapter about his time spent living and working in Israel, which included stories about him stealing food from the kibbutz where he was based.
Simon Pegg was hardly mentioned until about half way into the book, but I wasn't surprised when he was mentioned a lot; Spaced, and its stars, including Pegg's co-writer Jessica Hynes (then known as Jessica Stevenson) wasn't mentioned until very late in the book.
I enjoyed this book a lot; I loved the way that Nick Frost seemed able to get a laugh from anything, however bleak; the book was full of moments where he talked about far from cheerful situations, including being attacked in the street, even bereavements, and followed it up with some gallows humour. It was good to know that he wrote the whole thing himself, though given the title, I did wonder if I should take any of it with a pinch of salt (one epic moment of revenge turned out to be a fantasy sequence). The only real issue I had was that the narrative repeatedly switched between the past and present tenses, often in the same sentence, and I wasn't sure if that was deliberate or not.
The book hinted that Nick Frost would write a second autobiography, and I would definitely read it if he did.
February 6, 2018
Clearly, Nick's editor didn't bother to read or edit. Nick's stories are interesting, if not anything like what I expected going in, but a decent editor would have helped him pick a tense, basic grammar, and some structure. Rambling is only endearing for so long. Both his writing and his laissez-faire attitude toward even some of the tensest episodes in his early adulthood made it hard to keep caring to the end. As several other reviewers noted, I found myself becoming progressively less connected and invested in Nick's story as it went on. That's never the direction you want a memoir to go.
If you're looking for hilarious anecdotes and a view into where the creativity comes from, this is not the book for you. If you're one of those readers who cherishes the opportunity to learn someone else's pain, trials and tribulations, and path on through to some semblance of redemption, then there's a thread of hope in here for you. It's a dark memoir, but not as deep as it could be. Perhaps try the audiobook, and at least you can hear Nick's "conversational writing style" sound a little more natural. Personally, I'd recommend you pick up a copy of Simon Pegg's "Nerd Do Well" and a copy of Alan Cumming's "Not My Father's Son" and then you're covered all around.
If you're looking for hilarious anecdotes and a view into where the creativity comes from, this is not the book for you. If you're one of those readers who cherishes the opportunity to learn someone else's pain, trials and tribulations, and path on through to some semblance of redemption, then there's a thread of hope in here for you. It's a dark memoir, but not as deep as it could be. Perhaps try the audiobook, and at least you can hear Nick's "conversational writing style" sound a little more natural. Personally, I'd recommend you pick up a copy of Simon Pegg's "Nerd Do Well" and a copy of Alan Cumming's "Not My Father's Son" and then you're covered all around.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews