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Life... #1
Life... With No Breaks
Nick Spalding tried to write a book in 24 hours. Turns out that’s impossible... it took 30!
He had a dull, drizzly weekend to kill, so made a start on the book he’d been promising to write all his life... and had it finished by midnight Sunday.
You’ll laugh out loud reading his odyssey of non-stop writing, in a selection of anecdotes, asides and stories... all dredged up from an over-stimulated brain functioning on caffeine, nicotine and the occasional chocolate biscuit.
The book is a conversation with YOU and with Nick you'll venture into the thorny topics of love, life, sex, horribly timed bowel movements and a deathly fear of sponges (among many other things).
After you've read Life... With No Breaks, you may never look at the world the same way again!
He had a dull, drizzly weekend to kill, so made a start on the book he’d been promising to write all his life... and had it finished by midnight Sunday.
You’ll laugh out loud reading his odyssey of non-stop writing, in a selection of anecdotes, asides and stories... all dredged up from an over-stimulated brain functioning on caffeine, nicotine and the occasional chocolate biscuit.
The book is a conversation with YOU and with Nick you'll venture into the thorny topics of love, life, sex, horribly timed bowel movements and a deathly fear of sponges (among many other things).
After you've read Life... With No Breaks, you may never look at the world the same way again!
222 pages, ebook
First published October 8, 2010
515 people are currently reading
866 people want to read
About the author
Nick Spalding
36 books1,395 followersNick Spalding is an author who, try as he might, can't seem to write anything serious.
Before becoming a full-time author, he worked in the communications industry, mainly in media and marketing. As talking rubbish for a living can get tiresome (for anyone other than a politician), he thought he'd have a crack at writing comedy fiction - with a very agreeable level of success so far, it has to be said. Nick is now a multimillion seller. This flabbergasts him every single day.
Nick is now in his fifties - and is rather annoyed at the universe about it, because it gave him no choice in the matter. He's also addicted to Thai food and roast potatoes (not together), loves Batman and Warhammer, and has a dreadful singing voice.
***
Find out more about Nick and his books at www.nickspalding.com
Before becoming a full-time author, he worked in the communications industry, mainly in media and marketing. As talking rubbish for a living can get tiresome (for anyone other than a politician), he thought he'd have a crack at writing comedy fiction - with a very agreeable level of success so far, it has to be said. Nick is now a multimillion seller. This flabbergasts him every single day.
Nick is now in his fifties - and is rather annoyed at the universe about it, because it gave him no choice in the matter. He's also addicted to Thai food and roast potatoes (not together), loves Batman and Warhammer, and has a dreadful singing voice.
***
Find out more about Nick and his books at www.nickspalding.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 184 reviews
May 23, 2013
Just found the guy a bit pretentious and uninteresting. From the moment I read him telling people who are interested in PC specs to get out more because it'll do them some good and then proceeding to explain his terrible diet and smoking habit.. I just didn't love it.
I have another of his books which I also picked up on a freebie offer, The Cornerstone, which I'll give a try and hope it works out a little better. :)
I have another of his books which I also picked up on a freebie offer, The Cornerstone, which I'll give a try and hope it works out a little better. :)
August 14, 2010
Well crap. I feel terrible. It seems I'm the only person who read this and didn't fall all over themselves gushing about it.
Look, if you want to read what amounts to a long blog post, that is what you get here. I understand it was written in one sitting but that doesn't make it enjoyable or relevant. I was drawn in by the gimmick, I admit.
There is good here. Meeting his wife for the first time. His fear of sponges. His uncle's funeral - hilarious! Then there is bad. I'm no prude but I don't want to read about boners and such nonsense. Heck, I laughed my face off at the poop story. But much of this was just grasping at straws and forcing humor that just wasn't there. And yes, a little self-indulgent. I was rolling my eyes more than I was laughing. I do think if he wrote some fiction I would give it a try though.
Sorry Nick. Nothing personal.
I wasn't going to write anything here but I hate when I look at a book and it has no reviews.
Look, if you want to read what amounts to a long blog post, that is what you get here. I understand it was written in one sitting but that doesn't make it enjoyable or relevant. I was drawn in by the gimmick, I admit.
There is good here. Meeting his wife for the first time. His fear of sponges. His uncle's funeral - hilarious! Then there is bad. I'm no prude but I don't want to read about boners and such nonsense. Heck, I laughed my face off at the poop story. But much of this was just grasping at straws and forcing humor that just wasn't there. And yes, a little self-indulgent. I was rolling my eyes more than I was laughing. I do think if he wrote some fiction I would give it a try though.
Sorry Nick. Nothing personal.
I wasn't going to write anything here but I hate when I look at a book and it has no reviews.
October 31, 2017
I suppose I should applaud the initiative and the spirit of adventure... and I must admit that I did laugh out loud a couple of times...
But in the end I became acutely aware of time passing and an ever-increasing feeling of desperation. 'Come on everyone, let's all pull together and we can finish this...'
...
Tedium.
But in the end I became acutely aware of time passing and an ever-increasing feeling of desperation. 'Come on everyone, let's all pull together and we can finish this...'
...
Tedium.
June 12, 2020
I’ve been reading some quite hard, heavy hitting books recently and this was the perfect remedy for that.
This book was a nice light read to make to make you chuckle and felt more like a chat with a friend than a sit down with a book. It was funny although crass in places but that was the book, and a very easy read that took me no time at all to breeze through.
I had no idea how the book would go but it was a nice mix of funny accounts throughout the authors life, ordinary everyday life observations and interactions with the reader. Not a bad splurge of words made into a book within the span of a few days!
This book was a nice light read to make to make you chuckle and felt more like a chat with a friend than a sit down with a book. It was funny although crass in places but that was the book, and a very easy read that took me no time at all to breeze through.
I had no idea how the book would go but it was a nice mix of funny accounts throughout the authors life, ordinary everyday life observations and interactions with the reader. Not a bad splurge of words made into a book within the span of a few days!
July 27, 2016
I like how this book grew on me, over time proving to be quite a relaxing read. Yeah, Nick is hung up on this and that but I related to the overall sentiments… the clock-watching, calendar turning reflections, along with that bit on WORK...politics, writing, smoking, marriage, childbirth and seemingly 101 other smaller matters such as that bit on technophobia which I found interesting. How about inconvenience-ophobia? We might be but a keystroke away from ‘back to the stone age.’
It, HOWEVER, wasn’t until roughly 35-thou words into this diverting writing jaunt when I 'unexpectedly' laughed so hard, and for so long that I got to wondering when it was last I read something so hysterical. Ensconcing spoilers it's nothing that can be trimmed around the edges recapping. Potential readers will have to read that part themselves. One Word. RADICAL! A nice mental escape for a few hours!
It, HOWEVER, wasn’t until roughly 35-thou words into this diverting writing jaunt when I 'unexpectedly' laughed so hard, and for so long that I got to wondering when it was last I read something so hysterical. Ensconcing spoilers it's nothing that can be trimmed around the edges recapping. Potential readers will have to read that part themselves. One Word. RADICAL! A nice mental escape for a few hours!
May 14, 2017
This book is complete and utter tosh. Nothing about it is funny, and it was a complete chore to read. Nothing even made me hatch a silent smile, let alone 'laugh out loud'. Save your money. I had high hopes having read some of Nick Spalding's previous books, but I think he should stick to the fiction rather than the comedic memoirs as this was quite frankly, dull as dishwater.
May 21, 2013
An interesting experiment in endurance writing, as well as good look around the inside of someone else's head. Definitely worth a read; not too heavy going, with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments along the way. I'll certainly be keeping an eye out for other books by Nick Spalding.
January 4, 2020
found this book very boring, shame because I was really starting to like this author.
July 8, 2020
As it says in the stars, I liked it. Nick's other books are a lot better.
P.S. No relation to Nick but I also write humorous books, must be something in the Spalding genes!
P.S. No relation to Nick but I also write humorous books, must be something in the Spalding genes!
September 20, 2018
i could get into this book, gave up after 30 pages
October 15, 2020
A witty quick read..... From sponges to paintball mistakes...... The Author goes deep then light making the read interesting and easy.... Not a great deal of substance.... But the author never promises that either.....
August 18, 2011
I laughed out loud at some passages.. I don't do that very often when reading! The book is the musings of a man writing the whole book in one sitting, through the night and the whole of the next day. That's stamina for you! If there were any sections where Nick 'dropped off' and left llllllllllllllllllllllll as he slumped over the keys, they have been edited out!
The book goes into great detail about Nick's personal life and I was beginning to think 'too much information!' occasionally. Nevertheless, some sections are very funny indeed and the idea of a whole book written in one go works well.
I managed to read the book in two sittings, I thought afterwards that I perhaps should have tried to read it in one, as an acknowledgement of the discomfort of the writer, but I'm afraid sleep would have taken over, not because I was bored, just that I need a lot of sleep.
I'll definitely be reading more by this author.
The book goes into great detail about Nick's personal life and I was beginning to think 'too much information!' occasionally. Nevertheless, some sections are very funny indeed and the idea of a whole book written in one go works well.
I managed to read the book in two sittings, I thought afterwards that I perhaps should have tried to read it in one, as an acknowledgement of the discomfort of the writer, but I'm afraid sleep would have taken over, not because I was bored, just that I need a lot of sleep.
I'll definitely be reading more by this author.
October 5, 2018
Brilliantly hilarious.
I actually came across this by accident, having devoured 2 of his previous books in 3 days I downloaded this without even checking the blurb.
And am I glad i Did! The warm narrative had me hooked by the first page, then the anecdote about his uni days had me crying with laughter and I didnt want to stop.
His style of writing is just so perfect,almost like you're chatting with a like minded pal.
Don't be put off by the description,it's like a memoir but it's more of a hilarious story teller who just wants to write a book.
I actually came across this by accident, having devoured 2 of his previous books in 3 days I downloaded this without even checking the blurb.
And am I glad i Did! The warm narrative had me hooked by the first page, then the anecdote about his uni days had me crying with laughter and I didnt want to stop.
His style of writing is just so perfect,almost like you're chatting with a like minded pal.
Don't be put off by the description,it's like a memoir but it's more of a hilarious story teller who just wants to write a book.
September 26, 2012
A book written in one sitting with no plot should be a disaster and would be for many but not for Nick. I have loved everything I have read of Mr Spalding's writings and Life....With No Breaks is no exception. He is one of those wonderfully (and if you are in a jealous mind set annoyingly) creative and funny folk that you would just love to spend a night nattering with. I love my Kindle but its books like these that really make me appreciate its value. Nine inches huh? Nice!
June 20, 2017
This book is hilarious! I was dubious when I downloaded it and had seen one of the authors books on my kindle before but this looked great. So I downloaded it and finished it in two days, I couldn't put it down. Nick is right we do love other peoples misery.
This book will make you laugh out loud and feel for the guy. The way its written is refreshing and handy the list of things to do with the book towards the end is brilliant. Would recommend.
This book will make you laugh out loud and feel for the guy. The way its written is refreshing and handy the list of things to do with the book towards the end is brilliant. Would recommend.
April 16, 2019
If you like light hearted real life stories this book is for you!
After a few pages in it felt like a real conversation! Even if it was one side and I was just there to listen. Honest (I think) and fun to read. I’m kinda sad that it ended because now I have to spend money on the next book to continue the conversation. I feel like Nick Spalding could totally be my friend in real life, so relatable!
After a few pages in it felt like a real conversation! Even if it was one side and I was just there to listen. Honest (I think) and fun to read. I’m kinda sad that it ended because now I have to spend money on the next book to continue the conversation. I feel like Nick Spalding could totally be my friend in real life, so relatable!
September 15, 2021
A really funny, entertaining book.
The author goes through his life, telling stories, anecdotes and explaining his point of view on different arguments. Really enjoyed reading this book, quite easy to read.
The idea the author followed: writing a book in 24 hours (turns out it takes a bit more than 24hours to write a book) is funny and catching, keeps you attracted to the book and pushes you into reading without any stops in between.
The author goes through his life, telling stories, anecdotes and explaining his point of view on different arguments. Really enjoyed reading this book, quite easy to read.
The idea the author followed: writing a book in 24 hours (turns out it takes a bit more than 24hours to write a book) is funny and catching, keeps you attracted to the book and pushes you into reading without any stops in between.
August 29, 2016
I may have been generous with giving 2 stars. I have thoroughly enjoyed other books by this author but found this one too boring and long winded. Don't get me wrong, there were some funny parts and some interesting also, but I just couldn't get into the book and found myself pushing myself to finish it so I can move on.
July 4, 2017
Nicks first ever book
I've read a few of Nick Spalding books before and found them very funny. I've only just read this, his first one now, it has funny laugh out loud moments and poignant ones. It's written in a conversational way, which was a nice change. Well written and edited. Definitely worth a read. Part of Kindle Unlimited.
I've read a few of Nick Spalding books before and found them very funny. I've only just read this, his first one now, it has funny laugh out loud moments and poignant ones. It's written in a conversational way, which was a nice change. Well written and edited. Definitely worth a read. Part of Kindle Unlimited.
August 22, 2020
I absolutely felt profiled as a compulsive reader of cereal boxes starting this book.
Still, Nick Spalding did indeed make this much 'fun for me'. Charming, delightful, & shit on the floor funny. Much truth is conveyed best by humor & I believe this author nailed the meaning of life. Destroy clocks. Loved it.
Still, Nick Spalding did indeed make this much 'fun for me'. Charming, delightful, & shit on the floor funny. Much truth is conveyed best by humor & I believe this author nailed the meaning of life. Destroy clocks. Loved it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 7, 2018
I didn’t finish this book. Life is too short to spend time reading something that one isn’t enjoying. When I was younger if I started a book I felt I had to finish it but fortunately I know better now.
October 8, 2019
Love any books by this author, the only one who literally makes me laugh out loud, and I can’t wait to get in bed with my kindle and read. Another witty journey through life, with some poignant moments and excellent advice (love the career pointers).
August 14, 2015
This book, according to it's author, is an autobiography that was written in the course of a night and a day. It's very funny, cute and enlightening. I really enjoyed it.
April 3, 2016
I read this as I was interested in the challenge of writing a book in 24 (or 30) hours. Did he manage it? Yes. Was I interested? Not really.
Droned on about not a great deal.
Droned on about not a great deal.
July 22, 2018
This was so much fun to read and gave me an insight into the life of someone who is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors.
October 1, 2020
'There's nothing worse than reading a book and having your mind wander. Sign of a bad writer... and a worse book'.
'But we're actually hoping for grainy amateur footage of some poor bastard being mauled by an irate twenty footer' (shark talk)🦈.
'Find a job you love and the groan escaping your lips at the crack of dawn will be quieter'.
'Robert Palmer may have waxed lyrical about how great it is to be addicted to love, but you try convincing the poor cow caught dogging in sainsburys car park at 2 in the morning of that'.
'Love doesn't account for the clock, or schedule or calendars. It doesn't care what your doing with your life or what plans you may have'.
'The feeling you've at last met someone who fits in indescribable'.
'You want to be with this person, you feel comfortable around this person, you know that they complete you. True love is mutual. It puts you at ease and gives you the confidence to tackle any problem head on'. @robbiec93
😘❤
'I truly believe that if you can laugh at past mistakes or current difficulties, it can make the shadows they cast in your life just a bit smaller'.
'But we're actually hoping for grainy amateur footage of some poor bastard being mauled by an irate twenty footer' (shark talk)🦈.
'Find a job you love and the groan escaping your lips at the crack of dawn will be quieter'.
'Robert Palmer may have waxed lyrical about how great it is to be addicted to love, but you try convincing the poor cow caught dogging in sainsburys car park at 2 in the morning of that'.
'Love doesn't account for the clock, or schedule or calendars. It doesn't care what your doing with your life or what plans you may have'.
'The feeling you've at last met someone who fits in indescribable'.
'You want to be with this person, you feel comfortable around this person, you know that they complete you. True love is mutual. It puts you at ease and gives you the confidence to tackle any problem head on'. @robbiec93
😘❤
'I truly believe that if you can laugh at past mistakes or current difficulties, it can make the shadows they cast in your life just a bit smaller'.
June 17, 2022
I’ve heard good things about Nick Spalding and I wanted to like this book… but I really couldn’t. At several points I seriously considered abandoning the book all together, but ever the optimist I stuck with it hoping it would get better as it went along and it just … didn’t.
Nicks many varied disparaging references to mentally ill people I found extremely offensive as I am a person with mental health issues and none of what he said in any way represents a mentally ill person accurately but instead uses them as insults! And don’t get me started on his big penis… how old are you?! Newsflash we don’t care how big your penis is… and I really think you could have written this book without mentioning the size of your penis! At the back he lists “Top tips for what to do with Spaldings book when you’ve finished it:” I have one for him. Number 10: consider deleting it completely, but then decide you had better keep it on your kindle so that every time you see it there you’ll remember how much you didn’t like it and you won’t be tempted to repeat the mistake with any of his other books…
Nicks many varied disparaging references to mentally ill people I found extremely offensive as I am a person with mental health issues and none of what he said in any way represents a mentally ill person accurately but instead uses them as insults! And don’t get me started on his big penis… how old are you?! Newsflash we don’t care how big your penis is… and I really think you could have written this book without mentioning the size of your penis! At the back he lists “Top tips for what to do with Spaldings book when you’ve finished it:” I have one for him. Number 10: consider deleting it completely, but then decide you had better keep it on your kindle so that every time you see it there you’ll remember how much you didn’t like it and you won’t be tempted to repeat the mistake with any of his other books…
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2019
Enjoyed this but not his best work
There were some errors which I find irksome in these print your own books that don’t seem to be read through by anyone else before upload. Amusing, the odd laugh out loud, but as I’ve already read a couple of Mr Spalding’s other books, this gave me an insight into the author. Very honest, I loved the style and, as always, Nick writes beautifully. I’d assumed an entitled upbringing given his way with words that his degree could not have given him but no, I was wrong. Just a shame there wasn’t more about his childhood between these pages. Another book maybe?
I’d love to find myself sat next to the author at a dinner party, (though I might disappear to the bathroom and return with a sponge just to show I was a Spaulding disciple 🙃x
P.S. What’s wrong with Coke with lemon? Whereas Cherry flavoured Coke is disgusting!
There were some errors which I find irksome in these print your own books that don’t seem to be read through by anyone else before upload. Amusing, the odd laugh out loud, but as I’ve already read a couple of Mr Spalding’s other books, this gave me an insight into the author. Very honest, I loved the style and, as always, Nick writes beautifully. I’d assumed an entitled upbringing given his way with words that his degree could not have given him but no, I was wrong. Just a shame there wasn’t more about his childhood between these pages. Another book maybe?
I’d love to find myself sat next to the author at a dinner party, (though I might disappear to the bathroom and return with a sponge just to show I was a Spaulding disciple 🙃x
P.S. What’s wrong with Coke with lemon? Whereas Cherry flavoured Coke is disgusting!
August 30, 2020
Amazing
A exercise to write a book in 24 hours. Why has no one else done this and why are all books not written this way. I won't bore you with my thoughts as you can do something similar by reading this book. Plus points it's not long, you can read it in a few hours, which is less than it took to write. It's not pretentious and doesn't try to tell you it is. I feel slightly bad for the 2 stars as it was free and the author was quite clear about being able to delete the e read early on. I chuckled once in the whole read, early on and then like the writer did my best to get to the end. What's the book about. A middle age fella's musing on life using his experience. Is he likeable, not really but you can relate to some extent. Amazing, that he's done so well since. Goes to show, I know nothing.
A exercise to write a book in 24 hours. Why has no one else done this and why are all books not written this way. I won't bore you with my thoughts as you can do something similar by reading this book. Plus points it's not long, you can read it in a few hours, which is less than it took to write. It's not pretentious and doesn't try to tell you it is. I feel slightly bad for the 2 stars as it was free and the author was quite clear about being able to delete the e read early on. I chuckled once in the whole read, early on and then like the writer did my best to get to the end. What's the book about. A middle age fella's musing on life using his experience. Is he likeable, not really but you can relate to some extent. Amazing, that he's done so well since. Goes to show, I know nothing.
October 16, 2021
Reading a book that has been written in one sitting was interesting. I didn't know what to expect of the content, and I wondered what the author would choose to talk about. Some topics were interesting (like how he met his wife), some downright funny (his embarrassing pooping incident), some were jusy okay (his sponge phobia).
I found the time and wordcount markers at the start of each chapter a little off-putting. It made me feel like this was just a chore to the author, to just string enough words together over the period of time, rather than things he actually wanted to portray to the reader.
Overall it was a good, easy read, with some funny moments. I do really like Nick Spaldings books, and it was good to read his first novel.
I found the time and wordcount markers at the start of each chapter a little off-putting. It made me feel like this was just a chore to the author, to just string enough words together over the period of time, rather than things he actually wanted to portray to the reader.
Overall it was a good, easy read, with some funny moments. I do really like Nick Spaldings books, and it was good to read his first novel.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 184 reviews