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Anger Management
Star of BBC's Supersizers and hugely popular Times columnist's works through his anger about everything from dogs to cycle helmets.
243 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 29, 2011
The cliche 'I laughed out loud on the tube' fits this book well. A really enjoyable read that I found my self agreeing with ('McDonalds') and arguing against ('Bullfighting')in equal measure. Have bought a copy for a friend already.
I'll have to challenge myself to use the word 'knob-frotter' at least once a month from now on!
I'll have to challenge myself to use the word 'knob-frotter' at least once a month from now on!
January 24, 2012
I was annoyed when The Times website erected their paywall, cutting off my Coren connection. By no means do I agree with Giles on everything, but I've always found his flair for exaggerated metaphor endlessly entertaining, so, immediately upon publication, this collection found a welcome place in my library. Because, while I may not always have the time to track down and watch a full hour of Giles and Sue Perkins, drunk on small beer and port, scarfing down boiled calf heads and cheese with maggots, I've always got time for "The Maddest Email Ever". No, Giles Coren never changed my life, but I sure wish he'd write my emails.
August 28, 2019
Quite a mixed bag of short pieces, certainly not to be read in one sitting. In fact probably best enjoyed if one piece were read, say, each Sunday on a weekly basis...
Really quite funny and very entertaining to dip into once in a while.
Really quite funny and very entertaining to dip into once in a while.
December 29, 2017
I first saw Giles Coren in UK's The F Word with Gordon Ramsay and stumbling upon this book got me curious. I can totally relate to his anger over a minor change in the copy without consulting him first. I read one chapter before going to bed like a bedtime story. Well, I need to touch base with my cynical, sarcastic side from time to time.
I will recommend this book if you have Daria in you. We all have pet peeves and you may find something common with Coren like his hate for dog crap and visible toenails. However, do not try to read this book in one sitting. Take it just like your serving of fruit. An apple a day!
I will recommend this book if you have Daria in you. We all have pet peeves and you may find something common with Coren like his hate for dog crap and visible toenails. However, do not try to read this book in one sitting. Take it just like your serving of fruit. An apple a day!
September 9, 2018
Not particularly enthused about this, I found the ranting and raving a bit tiring, but then I suppose the title should have warned me... The kind of book you read in the toilet, in small doses...
January 22, 2019
Worth getting the audio book for this one. Giles Coren's reading of this book takes it to the next level.
August 26, 2019
I love Giles Coren's honest and savage journalism and this book made me laugh out loud a number of times. A Great holiday read.
December 1, 2020
Just hilarious. Always been a fan of his columns. Laughed out loud on the plane reading this, much to many’s annoyance I’m sure. But a pure belly laugh inducing read.
October 25, 2014
I love Giles Coren. Not because he's one of my favourite journalists, not because I'm a little suck-up who writes overambitious and untrue reviews about writers' books (who I find interesting) just to make their day with my wonderful words, not because I'm deluded, but instead because what Coren writes is scripture. Now I'm not saying I agree with everything he writes (I'm lactose intolerant and it gives me absolute hell that I can't eat ice cream without ejecting barbs from my face like a porcupine), but do Christians agree with everything in the Bible? No, because they would all be even more deluded than they are already by succumbing to the evil of creationism. I don't get up every morning, kissing the photo I have of Giles by my bed, under a pile of used socks, touching his chiseled face with my gloved-hand full of vaseline, singing my praises to ye gods: 'will today be the day I meet my arsehole hero?' Because let's be honest, Giles Coren is a massive arsehole. But that is what makes him so amazing.
His sarcasm and dry-dark humour is so relatable. He finds a way to express our truest, rawest versions of emotions and provocative thoughts on paper. And makes it sound clever. Which, when you've visited Twitter at least once in your life, or 90% of the blogs on the internet, you will find out that such a circumstance is rare in these modern times.
This book I will dub 'The Rant Bible', and although it is basically just a collection of columns, they're Giles' columns, which is what makes the book so successful. There were many laugh out loud (that's LOL for you sophisticated fellows from Eton) moments, where I found myself clutching my groin profusely to try and prevent the life process of urination all over the saucepan I was currently having my mid-morning bath in. The fact that they are columns allows the reader to dip in and out of the book; this is an ideal process for reading on public transport, when you're out and about and have a spare 5-hour shit break and have already wiped your arse with this morning's paper, or even if you're plunging into the luxury of a mid-morning bath in a saucepan.
Whether you're a neek, or a geek, this book is guaranteed to make you laugh at yourself, stick your middle finger up at Giles with grinning complacency, and possibly send an angry email in complaint to whoever you think will actually care. And if you're Polish you may be joining the following Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/82085...
It's still so worth it though, yeah??? Right???
His sarcasm and dry-dark humour is so relatable. He finds a way to express our truest, rawest versions of emotions and provocative thoughts on paper. And makes it sound clever. Which, when you've visited Twitter at least once in your life, or 90% of the blogs on the internet, you will find out that such a circumstance is rare in these modern times.
This book I will dub 'The Rant Bible', and although it is basically just a collection of columns, they're Giles' columns, which is what makes the book so successful. There were many laugh out loud (that's LOL for you sophisticated fellows from Eton) moments, where I found myself clutching my groin profusely to try and prevent the life process of urination all over the saucepan I was currently having my mid-morning bath in. The fact that they are columns allows the reader to dip in and out of the book; this is an ideal process for reading on public transport, when you're out and about and have a spare 5-hour shit break and have already wiped your arse with this morning's paper, or even if you're plunging into the luxury of a mid-morning bath in a saucepan.
Whether you're a neek, or a geek, this book is guaranteed to make you laugh at yourself, stick your middle finger up at Giles with grinning complacency, and possibly send an angry email in complaint to whoever you think will actually care. And if you're Polish you may be joining the following Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/82085...
It's still so worth it though, yeah??? Right???
January 26, 2018
I have reached the conclusion that Giles Coren is an asshat. Granted, he’s a quite handsome and eloquent asshat, but an asshat nonetheless.
As I’ve finished his book Anger Management for Beginners I’ve learnt all those things about Mr. Coren that I really didn’t want to know after enjoying Supersizers as much as I did. Aside from what I already did know - that he’s a columnist for The Times, a food critic and general misanthrope - I’ve gotten to know plenty of other things that just can’t be unlearnt and doesn’t really speak to his benefit.
Anger Management for Beginners is the kind of books that could vent your anger for you. If you wake up one day and feel terribly angry because you absolutely loathe airports, there’s a chapter about that which you can read (chapter 2: 'Travel'), have a laugh and hopefully not murder someone when you get to said airport. I can gladly admit that I giggled like a mad person when reading some of the book (for example chapter 5: 'The Boat Race' is a hoot) but regretfully those few chapters or parts of chapters can’t weigh up to the ones I found truly offensive and sometimes even going against the general public good - like the chapter where Coren explains that a real man doesn’t wear a cycling helmet but would rather die or the chapters in which he explains that he hates fat people to the point where he’s certain that the statement “fat and happy” just can’t be and feels that anorexia is better by far.
Coren’s hate is inexhaustible and seemingly unstoppable and it’s applicable to most things, but to me it just seems like he’s infinitely bitter, in acute need of some self-distance and a calming cup of tea. Also, he should maybe keep to being a food critic and only that. I still love Supersizers.
As I’ve finished his book Anger Management for Beginners I’ve learnt all those things about Mr. Coren that I really didn’t want to know after enjoying Supersizers as much as I did. Aside from what I already did know - that he’s a columnist for The Times, a food critic and general misanthrope - I’ve gotten to know plenty of other things that just can’t be unlearnt and doesn’t really speak to his benefit.
Anger Management for Beginners is the kind of books that could vent your anger for you. If you wake up one day and feel terribly angry because you absolutely loathe airports, there’s a chapter about that which you can read (chapter 2: 'Travel'), have a laugh and hopefully not murder someone when you get to said airport. I can gladly admit that I giggled like a mad person when reading some of the book (for example chapter 5: 'The Boat Race' is a hoot) but regretfully those few chapters or parts of chapters can’t weigh up to the ones I found truly offensive and sometimes even going against the general public good - like the chapter where Coren explains that a real man doesn’t wear a cycling helmet but would rather die or the chapters in which he explains that he hates fat people to the point where he’s certain that the statement “fat and happy” just can’t be and feels that anorexia is better by far.
Coren’s hate is inexhaustible and seemingly unstoppable and it’s applicable to most things, but to me it just seems like he’s infinitely bitter, in acute need of some self-distance and a calming cup of tea. Also, he should maybe keep to being a food critic and only that. I still love Supersizers.
November 5, 2012
It made me laugh more than it made me cringe, and considering that Giles Coren mocks and rants against pretty much everything, including himself, that's a good average. It is simply a collection of columns/rants, so it's good for choppy reading days when you snatch a few pages now and then. A bag book.
July 5, 2010
Like Jeremy Clarkson without pandering to the idiots who think Top Gear is the best television has to offer.
March 30, 2012
The chapter on Feet was so hilarious. I was laughing aloud on the bus reading it and I seriously recommend this book to all. 'Peep toe shoes look like they're vomiting toes.' Best description ever.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews