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Impractical Jokes
'A diabolical ping-pong game of prank and counter-prank across the generations. Hilarious and warm-hearted, Impractical Jokes is both a comic evocation of the Australian larrikin spirit and an ode to a loving father. Don't just read the jacket blurb - buy it!' - Shaun MicallefIn 1986, Charlie Pickering's dad, Ron, was pushed into a pool by his best friend, Richard. What followed was an all-out water pistol ambush in a five-star restaurant and then ten years of tit-for-tat payback and near fatal hijinx that eventually involved the State Emergency Service. When maturity is the first casualty of war, things tend to escalate.Impractical Jokes is the true story of two seemingly responsible, middle-aged men who opted out of having a mid-life crisis and instead gave themselves permission to be silly. It is also the tale of how Charlie finally learnt something from his dad - that being grown-up shouldn't mean losing your sense of humour - a lesson he lives to the full as one of Australia's leading comedians.About Charlie PickeringCharlie Pickering is a comedian, writer and presenter. After throwing away his career as a lawyer, Charlie toured the world performing stand-up from London to Bahrain, earning a nomination for the prestigious Perrier Award for best newcomer at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Upon his return to Australia, Charlie and fellow comedian Michael Chamberlin created and starred in The Mansion on The Comedy Channel, before going on to host Toast, a weekend breakfast show on Triple M and rocketing to national popularity on Network Ten's The 7pm Project and Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation. He now lives in Melbourne in a small house with a West Highland Terrier named Waldon and a Scottish Terrier named Kennedy.'Charming company and a natural raconteur' - The Scotsman'Australia's best' - The Adelaide Advertiser'More than witty - side-shakingly funny' - The Age
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
January 20, 2015
This book is fantastic it had me fits of laughter :) I highly recommend it :)
August 23, 2020
A very funny family history!
June 13, 2012
Stand up comedian and television host Charlie Pickering recounts the hilarious protracted war of practical jokes and oneupmanship between his father and his best friend, Richard, in the light and funny memoir. It began with a playful nudge that saw Charlie's dad, Ronald, land fully dressed in the backyard swimming pool. Revenge was carefully plotted until the opportunity presented itself to soak Richard in a restaurant using water guns. The two grown men, one a respected pharmacist, the other a respected business man, both with an inflated sense of mischief continue the game for over twenty years with Charlie an amused witness or willing assistant.
Impractical Jokes is laugh out loud funny at times as the pranks escalate, occasionally backfiring. Each joke is planned in elaborate detail, often involving a cast of willing co-conspirators, and hoarded until just the right time for maximum impact.
This book is also about the love Charlie has for his family, and his admiration in particular for his father who supported Charlie, even when he threw in his law career to become a stand up comedian. His father, as Charlie writes, is "the guy who gave me most what I needed to make it in the world".
Impractical Jokes is a quick and easy read, funny, warm and widely appealing. It would make a great father's day gift - particularly if your father is prone to wearing loud ties and telling bad Dad jokes.
Impractical Jokes is laugh out loud funny at times as the pranks escalate, occasionally backfiring. Each joke is planned in elaborate detail, often involving a cast of willing co-conspirators, and hoarded until just the right time for maximum impact.
This book is also about the love Charlie has for his family, and his admiration in particular for his father who supported Charlie, even when he threw in his law career to become a stand up comedian. His father, as Charlie writes, is "the guy who gave me most what I needed to make it in the world".
Impractical Jokes is a quick and easy read, funny, warm and widely appealing. It would make a great father's day gift - particularly if your father is prone to wearing loud ties and telling bad Dad jokes.
May 15, 2011
This book surprised me as it was much more heartfelt than I anticipated. Laugh out loud funny at times, it's the story of a war raged between two friends as they try to top their jokes upon one another - proving that age and maturity do not have to go hand in hand. In the end, though, it is a story about a family that is shaped by, and bonded through, humour. The final page also gives a touching account of the bond between Pickering and his father. It may be bordering on cynicism to suggest that it feels like it could be turned into an Aussie film along the lines of The Castle, but I think that's more a testament to how funny it actually is and how universal the aspect of the family unit is to anyone who reads it.
Should be read alongside The Family Law as a primer in Aussie family comedy.
Should be read alongside The Family Law as a primer in Aussie family comedy.
January 17, 2012
I read this book for an assignment. We were aloud to read any non-fiction book we wanted. I liked the informality of the book. I think that comes from it simply being a stand up act written down, the fact that it's purpose was just to make you laugh not for you to cry, feel like a lesser person, tell you someone amazing survival against the odds or to tell you how easy your life is to someone elses.
This the kind of book that you only get in non-fiction. A string of related stories that you would tell people at a barbecue. No beginning, middle and end, just an increase in how clever and big the pranks are. I mean what fiction author sits down at their computer and goes "I'm going to write a book about the tit for tat prank war between two best mates".
I really enjoyed this book and if anyone has read anything like PLEASE tell me!
This the kind of book that you only get in non-fiction. A string of related stories that you would tell people at a barbecue. No beginning, middle and end, just an increase in how clever and big the pranks are. I mean what fiction author sits down at their computer and goes "I'm going to write a book about the tit for tat prank war between two best mates".
I really enjoyed this book and if anyone has read anything like PLEASE tell me!
August 1, 2011
Author Charlie Pickering describes 10 years of his childhood in which his dad Ron waged a tit-for-tat war of pranks and practical jokes on his best friend, Richard. From a water pistol ambush in a 5-star restaurant, the pranks escalate out of control to a point where they come within a hair’s breadth of blowing up the whole neighbourhood! An hilarious account of Charlie’s childhood and his relationship with his dad, who actively included him in all his shenanigans. In the end, Charlie realises that being an adult doesn’t necessarily mean losing your sense of humour and, the nature of the pranks helped to shape his own sense of the ridiculous enabling him to forge a successful career in comedy in his own adult life. A great read.
October 23, 2010
I'm not sure what I expected from this book, but it certainly surpassed any criteria for humourous reading that I might have had. The love that Charlie has for his family - dad especially - shines throughout this hilarious recount. I can certainly see why. Life in the Pickering household must certainly have been fun with all that comic and unpredictable mad-hattery being concocted behind closed doors. This book is laugh out loud funny so grab some tissues and strap yourself in for a treat. Some of the pranks will leave you dew-eyed with mirth.
June 30, 2014
I was reading this at 2am in the morning, constantly disturbing my sleeping husband by laughing out loud.
EDIT, June 2014
Picked up on reread on a whim four years later and still as brilliant as I remembered. Some of the language/turn of phrase is a bit heavy, maybe dragging on some of the funnier parts, but clearly to draw out the humour in the situation. You can see Pickering performing this on stage in mind's eye, with all the right pauses and emphasis and he transcribes it very well to book form without losing much.
EDIT, June 2014
Picked up on reread on a whim four years later and still as brilliant as I remembered. Some of the language/turn of phrase is a bit heavy, maybe dragging on some of the funnier parts, but clearly to draw out the humour in the situation. You can see Pickering performing this on stage in mind's eye, with all the right pauses and emphasis and he transcribes it very well to book form without losing much.
October 6, 2014
I've no idea when I actually finished this book so I'm going to go back two months and marked it as read...It's within the time frame!
Charlie Pickering has a great way of painting a picture in your head about all the antics his family got up too (and possibly still do). The practical jokes that were played between two families sometimes make you wonder if they are actually really true because most of them are so stupid YET highly amusing! :p
Ron and Richard are at WAR and you get the front row seat...I found it an addictive read (the best sort) and couldn't put it down.
Charlie Pickering has a great way of painting a picture in your head about all the antics his family got up too (and possibly still do). The practical jokes that were played between two families sometimes make you wonder if they are actually really true because most of them are so stupid YET highly amusing! :p
Ron and Richard are at WAR and you get the front row seat...I found it an addictive read (the best sort) and couldn't put it down.
June 9, 2012
I really enjoyed reading this book. I have seen Charlie Pickering on 'The Project' but not seen a lot of his work as a comedian.
This book was a surprise in that it was more than just a comedian telling stories and actually let you into the Pickering family. Having read about the family I would have loved to have been part of it during my childhood.
Charlie tells the story with humour (at times it is laugh out loud) and also with great feeling. You get to the end and you want it to continue. You just hope that his dad has not stopped with the jokes.
This book was a surprise in that it was more than just a comedian telling stories and actually let you into the Pickering family. Having read about the family I would have loved to have been part of it during my childhood.
Charlie tells the story with humour (at times it is laugh out loud) and also with great feeling. You get to the end and you want it to continue. You just hope that his dad has not stopped with the jokes.
April 22, 2016
A very funny book based mainly on the war of practical jokes between Charlie's father and his father's best friend. I wasn't very happy with the second half of the chapter titled 'Must Have A Sense Of Humour' which involves frogs - both dead and alive - which put a bit of a dampener on the book for me, I like my frogs happily croaking in ponds and creeks, not in laboratories. Other than that it was a thoroughly enjoyable read.
July 22, 2012
Awesomely funny. More like a lot of mini-stories, not really your typical beginning-problem-climax-solution-end kind of book but that doesn't bother you when reading this hilarious book. Its very very funny and enjoyable and you can't help but love the characters and their personalities and the funny situations they find themselves in. A light,easy, very fun read.
January 21, 2014
If the success of a book exploring comedic events is about making you laugh till you cry, then this succeeded admirably. Certainly lightweight but that is some of the charm of the book; a lightness of touch is what makes it so endearing. And the fact that I keep getting a smile, or the giggles when I think about "There's snow business like snow business" adds to the fun.
February 15, 2014
A very quick, hilarious and often familiar read... Especially about the seagrass matting which I was proud to install in a rented house during the 1970's. The addition of several photographs of the key protagonists and their families, which show high levels of happiness and madness in equal measure, allows the reader to visualise the crazy schemes more clearly.
August 8, 2014
Hysterically funny. I really did laugh out loud in public - a lot. That comes from using public transpot. But equally I spent a lot of time gasping and slamming my hand over my mouth in shock. Charlie has the funniest parents ever and they never give it a rest.
Only thing my dad ever did was crawl down the hall to bed - once. I am extremely jealous.
Only thing my dad ever did was crawl down the hall to bed - once. I am extremely jealous.
September 11, 2011
I thought this book was really funny. It would stall on places with long winded explanations on things like guns and grass matting but overall a great read and highly recommend it especially if you like laughing till you cry.
May 16, 2011
I read until I cried, Charlie brings growing up in the 1970's to life and for those of us who grew up in the same era can relate so well to the situations. I have passed this book onto others and we all have our favourite parts but agree on one thing this book puts a smile on your face.
March 16, 2012
What happens when you put two stubborn men together! Heehee. This was a nice easy read. Lots of humour. The pranks got more and more grandiose! I needed to know how it all ended :) Recommend to people who like Charlie Pickering.
May 28, 2017
This book was laugh out loud funny, Charlie Pickering tells the story of an all-out prank war between his father, Ron and his father's friend Richard. It's a story of epic proportions and I loved reading it!
It's not the usual kind of memoir, but if you're looking for a funny read this is it!
It's not the usual kind of memoir, but if you're looking for a funny read this is it!
March 11, 2011
hilariously funny! if you want a laugh...this is the book for you!
April 5, 2011
oh. my. gosh.
All I can say is: don't read this on a bus/in a waiting room/in public places. You will look really silly sitting there laughing like a crazy person.
All I can say is: don't read this on a bus/in a waiting room/in public places. You will look really silly sitting there laughing like a crazy person.
November 4, 2014
Pickering gold.
March 24, 2013
I loved the stories about Charlies' family. I found it a real 'laugh out loud' book - which could be somewhat inconvient at times.
July 14, 2012
A hilarious and charming book. Very short and sweet. I was laughing out loud. I think it would appeal to fans of the movie The Castle.
August 9, 2012
Lightweight but warm and very funny description of author's family, through the medium of his father's practical-joke 'war' with a good friend. A lovely short read.
January 14, 2013
I loved this book and I loved Charlie Pickering, I normally don't read books like this but I found this one very funny and something I would definitely read again.
August 23, 2013
Funny as hell. Loved it.
July 13, 2024
What happens when two men one-up each other with practical jokes (3 stars)
Written by Australian comedian Charlie Pickering, this book originated as a stand-up comedy act. Pickering gives a hilarious account about how his father Ron and his best buddy Richard engaged in a series of escalating practical jokes on each other throughout the late 1980s and 1990s.
The prank war begins in 1986 when Richard pushes Ron into a swimming pool. The initial revenge consists of a water pistol hold-up in a five star restaurant, and the stakes continue to get raised from there. There are wonderful moments of carefully-plotted and unforgettable mayhem, guaranteed to leave anyone with a sense of humour and a love for practical jokes filled with admiration and laughter. Pickering is a good story teller, and generally does an excellent job of entertaining us with the unending one-upmanship of his dad and his mate.
As a book this is somewhat uneven, and at times long-winded. Clearly some creative license was needed to turn a stage act into a full-sized book, and Pickering had to squeeze in some of his other childhood memories to serve as filler material. At times it's also hard to know what liberties he has taken with the facts in order to tell a good story, although one can hardly fault him for some exaggeration, and the inclusion of some photos does add authenticity.
More problematic for me is the fact that while the two heroes of the story are a respected middle-aged pharmacist and businessman, there are times where both abandon all self-control and descend into heavy drinking and stupid drunkenness. I also didn't appreciate the frequent vulgar language.
But the level of mischief the two pranksters unleash on each other at times reaches heights of greatness, and there are some truly laugh-out loud moments. It's just too bad that the high quality isn't consistent throughout, and that the good stuff is blemished with some gutter humour.
Written by Australian comedian Charlie Pickering, this book originated as a stand-up comedy act. Pickering gives a hilarious account about how his father Ron and his best buddy Richard engaged in a series of escalating practical jokes on each other throughout the late 1980s and 1990s.
The prank war begins in 1986 when Richard pushes Ron into a swimming pool. The initial revenge consists of a water pistol hold-up in a five star restaurant, and the stakes continue to get raised from there. There are wonderful moments of carefully-plotted and unforgettable mayhem, guaranteed to leave anyone with a sense of humour and a love for practical jokes filled with admiration and laughter. Pickering is a good story teller, and generally does an excellent job of entertaining us with the unending one-upmanship of his dad and his mate.
As a book this is somewhat uneven, and at times long-winded. Clearly some creative license was needed to turn a stage act into a full-sized book, and Pickering had to squeeze in some of his other childhood memories to serve as filler material. At times it's also hard to know what liberties he has taken with the facts in order to tell a good story, although one can hardly fault him for some exaggeration, and the inclusion of some photos does add authenticity.
More problematic for me is the fact that while the two heroes of the story are a respected middle-aged pharmacist and businessman, there are times where both abandon all self-control and descend into heavy drinking and stupid drunkenness. I also didn't appreciate the frequent vulgar language.
But the level of mischief the two pranksters unleash on each other at times reaches heights of greatness, and there are some truly laugh-out loud moments. It's just too bad that the high quality isn't consistent throughout, and that the good stuff is blemished with some gutter humour.
October 1, 2023
I just picked this book up in a secondhand book store. Talk about laugh out loud. It did remind me of two male friends which added to my amusement.
Even though this book was written years ago, well done to Charlie Pickering
Even though this book was written years ago, well done to Charlie Pickering
February 7, 2020
It had no impractical jokers in it. :(
That's why this book is todays biggest loser.
That's why this book is todays biggest loser.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews