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Life & Laughing: My Story
Michael McIntyre has become Britain’s biggest comedy star. His debut stand-up DVD was the fastest selling of all time, only to be eclipsed by his second that sold over 1.4 million copies and was the 2009 Christmas number one. He hosts his own BAFTA nominated BBC1 series, Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow, and won the British Comedy Award for Best Live Stand-up in 2009 following his record breaking fifty-four date Arena tour.
But how did he get there?
Michael reveals all in his remarkably honest and hilarious autobiography Life and Laughing. His showbiz roots, his appalling attempts to attract the opposite sex, his fish-out-of-water move from public to state school and his astonishing journey from selling just one ticket at the Edinburgh Festival to selling half a million tickets on his last tour. Michael’s story is riveting, poignant, romantic and above all very, very funny.
But how did he get there?
Michael reveals all in his remarkably honest and hilarious autobiography Life and Laughing. His showbiz roots, his appalling attempts to attract the opposite sex, his fish-out-of-water move from public to state school and his astonishing journey from selling just one ticket at the Edinburgh Festival to selling half a million tickets on his last tour. Michael’s story is riveting, poignant, romantic and above all very, very funny.
294 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
292 people are currently reading
3021 people want to read
About the author
Michael McIntyre
30 books66 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 760 reviews
February 7, 2017
I have always given autobiographies a wide birth. With no real interest in the personal lives of the rich and famous, I assumed they would be dry and boring. Well I flicked this open when shelving at the library, found a chuckle on the first page, and then discovered it was hard to put down. In some ways it read like a work of fiction and was very entertaining, often making me laugh out loud.
So, it transpires that the first autobiography I've ever read was a hit. Maybe, more than likely, it was a hit because the writer is a great comedian. I recommend it if you like funny anecdotes, whether you like autobiographies or not. Incidentally, I did quite enjoy learning a little about the McIntyre's career path too.
So, it transpires that the first autobiography I've ever read was a hit. Maybe, more than likely, it was a hit because the writer is a great comedian. I recommend it if you like funny anecdotes, whether you like autobiographies or not. Incidentally, I did quite enjoy learning a little about the McIntyre's career path too.
May 20, 2015
A real rags to riches story concerning one of our most popular comedians – Michael McIntyre. Bombastic, gauche, upper-class-twittery, sweet, charming Michael. He is almost as good on paper as he is in the flesh.
He comes from a very eccentric family, and that in itself makes entertaining reading. Add a sprinkling of Michael’s humour and you are guffawing regularly throughout the book.
I was struck by how much of his humour seems based on his real life. So many comedians tell outrageous stories about their experiences, but in Michael’s instance they appear to be true. Life as a series of comedy sketches. He and his family radiate a peculiar mix of diffidence, kindness, laxity and showing-off-ness which I found endearing, odd and sometimes distasteful. For instance his mother used to clear her car by just throwing rubbish like magazines out of the window as she drove along. His grandmother was just plain wicked – horribly unkind. But there are also warm and loving figures in his life; his wonderfully supportive sister Lucy, his kind and generous dad and step-dad, and his loving and incredibly stoic wife Kitty.
His attitude to money is wantonly cavalier. Luckily he became very rich, and thus his spendthrift ways did not prove his downfall. In this respect he was amazingly lucky.
What else? The biggest turn around in Michael’s life was when he changed agents. Danny Julian and Addison Cresswell of the “Off the Kerb” agency revolutionized his life. From doing a series of boring, mundane, small time comedy gigs, he was catapulted into the big time. I always naively thought that one agent was much the same as another. They seem sort of background shadowy figures, just shovelling around a bit of routine admin. But this book set me straight. A good agent can make a life or death difference to your career......and Cresswell and Julian rocketed Michael’s career into big time success. Obviously he had the talent in the first place - but it took the machinations of a first class agency to bring in the good times. A Royal Variety performance, various television shows, and a four night gig at London's O2 Arena (holding 16,000 people each night), well, that is success.
So, all’s well that ends well, and Michael is going to live happily ever after. Anyway I hope so. He seems a nice guy.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
PS (Grumpy old lady rant...)
The last three library books I have read were all blighted with underlinings, marginalia or just plain hooligan alterations. This book was in the last category. Someone reading it had obviously taken umbrage to Kenny Everett, who was mentioned a lot throughout the book, (Michael's father was co-writer of his television shows) and every time his name cropped up in the book it was altered, or things that were said about him were changed.
This really disrupts the flow of the reading process - as do all book doodlings. I usually read with an eraser to remove them as I go along, *insert halo here* but obviously if it's in biro this isn't possible. I find it hard to believe that nitwits use libraries - they don't seem nitwit-attracting institutions - but obviously they do. Bah!
(Doodling in your own books is a completely different activity. It's when you know they are going to to be read by other people that it becomes boorish.)
He comes from a very eccentric family, and that in itself makes entertaining reading. Add a sprinkling of Michael’s humour and you are guffawing regularly throughout the book.
I was struck by how much of his humour seems based on his real life. So many comedians tell outrageous stories about their experiences, but in Michael’s instance they appear to be true. Life as a series of comedy sketches. He and his family radiate a peculiar mix of diffidence, kindness, laxity and showing-off-ness which I found endearing, odd and sometimes distasteful. For instance his mother used to clear her car by just throwing rubbish like magazines out of the window as she drove along. His grandmother was just plain wicked – horribly unkind. But there are also warm and loving figures in his life; his wonderfully supportive sister Lucy, his kind and generous dad and step-dad, and his loving and incredibly stoic wife Kitty.
His attitude to money is wantonly cavalier. Luckily he became very rich, and thus his spendthrift ways did not prove his downfall. In this respect he was amazingly lucky.
What else? The biggest turn around in Michael’s life was when he changed agents. Danny Julian and Addison Cresswell of the “Off the Kerb” agency revolutionized his life. From doing a series of boring, mundane, small time comedy gigs, he was catapulted into the big time. I always naively thought that one agent was much the same as another. They seem sort of background shadowy figures, just shovelling around a bit of routine admin. But this book set me straight. A good agent can make a life or death difference to your career......and Cresswell and Julian rocketed Michael’s career into big time success. Obviously he had the talent in the first place - but it took the machinations of a first class agency to bring in the good times. A Royal Variety performance, various television shows, and a four night gig at London's O2 Arena (holding 16,000 people each night), well, that is success.
So, all’s well that ends well, and Michael is going to live happily ever after. Anyway I hope so. He seems a nice guy.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
PS (Grumpy old lady rant...)
The last three library books I have read were all blighted with underlinings, marginalia or just plain hooligan alterations. This book was in the last category. Someone reading it had obviously taken umbrage to Kenny Everett, who was mentioned a lot throughout the book, (Michael's father was co-writer of his television shows) and every time his name cropped up in the book it was altered, or things that were said about him were changed.
This really disrupts the flow of the reading process - as do all book doodlings. I usually read with an eraser to remove them as I go along, *insert halo here* but obviously if it's in biro this isn't possible. I find it hard to believe that nitwits use libraries - they don't seem nitwit-attracting institutions - but obviously they do. Bah!
(Doodling in your own books is a completely different activity. It's when you know they are going to to be read by other people that it becomes boorish.)
May 27, 2011
Michael never ceases to amaze me on stage and in his book he is exactly the same! His funny attitude and character really shines through even in the difficult parts of his life. I would give this book to anyone I knew because McIntyre just makes you smile with every page turn!
May 28, 2020
Up there with the best comedy autobiographies, with McIntyre recounting in detail with much honesty and hilarity his childhood, student life and seven hard years graft he took to become a well paid comedian. Great read, funny book… very funny book. 8 out of 12
July 26, 2024
Funniest book I’ve read
October 21, 2012
AUDIO BOOK REVIEW
Michael McIntyre is a British comedian that I love watching on TV and he has been actively performing stand-up since approximately 2006. This is his story.
This is the first AudioBook that I have ever fully listened to and I thoroughly enjoyed it! The book is read by Michael himself and I'm glad he did it, it helped me understand the story better and definitely enhance the experience for me. "Life and Laughing" is Michael's autobiography and it tells his life story from the first experience of life that he remembers to the very point to which he decided to write this book.
Listening to Michael tell his story made me both laugh out loud and feel extremely sorrowful for some things he had to go through growing up. There were definitely moments that I rewinded and listened to over and over again because I found them that funny, I just had to control my laughter - I was listening to this in school, imagine how crazy I looked! Michael tells of his relationships with various family members, how he coped with his parents' divorce and the loss of particular family members.
There isn't much else I can say about this book, if you're aware of who Michael is and you enjoy his comedy, I highly recommend you pick up this book and give it a go. Although, I feel like I wouldn't have enjoyed the book as much had I read a physical copy in comparison to the AudioBook, the way Michael reads his story is fantastic and really does enhance the story a huge amount.
Michael McIntyre is a British comedian that I love watching on TV and he has been actively performing stand-up since approximately 2006. This is his story.
This is the first AudioBook that I have ever fully listened to and I thoroughly enjoyed it! The book is read by Michael himself and I'm glad he did it, it helped me understand the story better and definitely enhance the experience for me. "Life and Laughing" is Michael's autobiography and it tells his life story from the first experience of life that he remembers to the very point to which he decided to write this book.
Listening to Michael tell his story made me both laugh out loud and feel extremely sorrowful for some things he had to go through growing up. There were definitely moments that I rewinded and listened to over and over again because I found them that funny, I just had to control my laughter - I was listening to this in school, imagine how crazy I looked! Michael tells of his relationships with various family members, how he coped with his parents' divorce and the loss of particular family members.
There isn't much else I can say about this book, if you're aware of who Michael is and you enjoy his comedy, I highly recommend you pick up this book and give it a go. Although, I feel like I wouldn't have enjoyed the book as much had I read a physical copy in comparison to the AudioBook, the way Michael reads his story is fantastic and really does enhance the story a huge amount.
October 19, 2017
Brilliant. Honest. Funny. I love MM! I’m going to see him in Hong Hong next month :)
October 16, 2020
Just wonderful ! This book had me laughing out loud (several times) and through his words and through his story, I really feel like I’ve gotten to know Michael ! Would highly recommend !
January 26, 2024
um i would say £4.99 well spent but halfway through I realised, not only do I already own a hardback of this book, I have already read it
January 4, 2011
I like Michael McIntyre. I think he's one of the best comics around at the moment. And this book is extremely well written and put together. The beginning and end link very well. And it's actually quite fascinating to see how quickly he became so incredibly successful. A very interesting book about the life of a comic and how much they can struggle.
However, I was a bit disappointed. I will admit there are some great laughs in this book.
But the first quarter is basically about his parents when he was growing up. It's just not that interesting - and a lot of it seems to be based on people recollecting his own childhood back to him, which comes across as a bit stilted. Roger Moore's childhood was a lot more enjoyably recounted. Although Rog' didn't have as many issues as this chap seems to have needed to work through.
I think I'm being a bit harsh with the 2 stars because i was expecting a laugh a minute. Although his father lead an unusual life, it doesn't make up for the fact that the book isn't that interesting a read. He was basically a posh kid from an extremely privileged background who had problems at school and getting girls. The first bit seems genuinely like him trying to work through some of his family issues. The humour, where it does appear, stands out as a bit uncomfortable in the midst of his parents' odd relationship. The book gets much better when he realises that he's funny and starts going on about his life from about the age of 12 or so. The humour works much more sublimely - whether or not the tales are entirely true - and reading about his struggles are made extremely funny. Similarly, the funniest tales come from his time briefly at college in Edinburgh particularly when he's trying to buy drugs.
And then the book gets all romantic when he goes on about wooing his wife over two years. This drags a fierce amount.
I'm not sure what i was expecting, but it wasn't this. I guess the clue was in the fact it was an autobiography. Overall, he's an extremely lucky man and deserves the success he's had.
Best joke - while shopping in Ikea and looking at a bed, the sales assistant asks himself and his wife if they'd like to buy it - "i'll need to sleep on it."
However, I was a bit disappointed. I will admit there are some great laughs in this book.
But the first quarter is basically about his parents when he was growing up. It's just not that interesting - and a lot of it seems to be based on people recollecting his own childhood back to him, which comes across as a bit stilted. Roger Moore's childhood was a lot more enjoyably recounted. Although Rog' didn't have as many issues as this chap seems to have needed to work through.
I think I'm being a bit harsh with the 2 stars because i was expecting a laugh a minute. Although his father lead an unusual life, it doesn't make up for the fact that the book isn't that interesting a read. He was basically a posh kid from an extremely privileged background who had problems at school and getting girls. The first bit seems genuinely like him trying to work through some of his family issues. The humour, where it does appear, stands out as a bit uncomfortable in the midst of his parents' odd relationship. The book gets much better when he realises that he's funny and starts going on about his life from about the age of 12 or so. The humour works much more sublimely - whether or not the tales are entirely true - and reading about his struggles are made extremely funny. Similarly, the funniest tales come from his time briefly at college in Edinburgh particularly when he's trying to buy drugs.
And then the book gets all romantic when he goes on about wooing his wife over two years. This drags a fierce amount.
I'm not sure what i was expecting, but it wasn't this. I guess the clue was in the fact it was an autobiography. Overall, he's an extremely lucky man and deserves the success he's had.
Best joke - while shopping in Ikea and looking at a bed, the sales assistant asks himself and his wife if they'd like to buy it - "i'll need to sleep on it."
April 30, 2023
I love Michael McIntyre and his comedy and I would love to see him in Portugal one day. So, I decided to buy the audiobook of his book and know him a little better. And I’ll be honest: for the first half of the book I was like “Why am I hearing about the ENTIRE life of Michael? Can’t we speed this along a bit? I mean by chapter 7 he was still in school!”. But no, you can’t speed this book along. It is definitely a journey and not a perfect one. A journey of preservation and working hard for many, many years so you can achieve your dreams.
And that’s how this book leaves you: with the sense you can do anything if you work hard. It took Michael seven years, so why do we expect that it’ll take us less time?
Brilliant!!
And that’s how this book leaves you: with the sense you can do anything if you work hard. It took Michael seven years, so why do we expect that it’ll take us less time?
Brilliant!!
November 25, 2025
Utterly brilliant! I was admittedly late to the party on this book as it’s 15 years old now. It was the best audiobook I’ve listened to, and I howled with the laughter the whole way through. The perseverance he required to achieve his success was unbelievable and it is an inspiring story!
December 20, 2021
Like his stand-up, Life & Laughing was entertaining, silly collection of anecdotes from Michael McIntyre's life.
If you enjoy his stand-up, I'd definitely say that this is worth a read!
If you enjoy his stand-up, I'd definitely say that this is worth a read!
April 16, 2020
For reasons I don't quite understand, I have two copies of this book. Must've really enjoyed it when I read it when I was 14.
December 28, 2012
Overall this was a nice easy read. I was actually quite surprised to find out about McIntyre's family life, it would have made a great sitcom I'm sure!I assumed from his squeaky clean demeanour that he came from a perfect family life so I was taken aback by how eccentric and dysfunctional his family are. The book managed to be both funny and heart-warming in parts and if you are a fan of his then you are sure to enjoy reading "Life and Laughing". I loved the way he spoke about his parents, his father in particular, there is something special about showbiz stories from the era his father worked in television.I think having such a talented father foreshadowed his success,certain families seem to have a knack for being entertainers and I think it must certainly be one that runs in his family.
My favourite bit of the book was possibly when he went to buy weed in a council estate in Edinburgh and asked someone with a tattoo of Scotland on their face if he could pay using a bankers cheque, I laughed outloud reading this scene, McIntyre is an endearing protagonist and antics like this made him even more likeable.
The only thing that stopped me fully sympathising with McIntyre as he struggled to become a comedian was how privileged he was, he claims he was surviving on tesco value food and driving a broken car yet spent £10,000 on his honeymoon and acted like not having a main course at the wedding was a real hardship... has the guy not heard of buffets and package holidays to Spain? I mean he was in a lot of debt but rather than living within his means wracked up even more and then wanted my sympathy. I am glad his career turned out well and he managed to pay off his loans for his sake!
My favourite bit of the book was possibly when he went to buy weed in a council estate in Edinburgh and asked someone with a tattoo of Scotland on their face if he could pay using a bankers cheque, I laughed outloud reading this scene, McIntyre is an endearing protagonist and antics like this made him even more likeable.
The only thing that stopped me fully sympathising with McIntyre as he struggled to become a comedian was how privileged he was, he claims he was surviving on tesco value food and driving a broken car yet spent £10,000 on his honeymoon and acted like not having a main course at the wedding was a real hardship... has the guy not heard of buffets and package holidays to Spain? I mean he was in a lot of debt but rather than living within his means wracked up even more and then wanted my sympathy. I am glad his career turned out well and he managed to pay off his loans for his sake!
October 28, 2020
Michael McIntyre is a poor comedian and, it turns out, a poor author too. If you don't like comedy and you don't like interesting stories, you might like this dirge.
The only good part of his story is his failed hosepipe-and-exhaust suicide attempt, and that's not even in this book because it didn't happen: I wrote it as a kind of anti-fanfic wish fulfilment and stapled it into my own copy. It's about three pages long and is mostly Michael's inner voice telling him how awful and talentless he is whilst he sobs on the toilet. At one point his wife and children shout up the stairs that they're leaving him because he's not very funny and has a stupid voice, but he doesn't try to stop them: he knows they're right.
The only good part of his story is his failed hosepipe-and-exhaust suicide attempt, and that's not even in this book because it didn't happen: I wrote it as a kind of anti-fanfic wish fulfilment and stapled it into my own copy. It's about three pages long and is mostly Michael's inner voice telling him how awful and talentless he is whilst he sobs on the toilet. At one point his wife and children shout up the stairs that they're leaving him because he's not very funny and has a stupid voice, but he doesn't try to stop them: he knows they're right.
November 20, 2020
Actual Rating 2.5*
I feel so gutted to be rating a book by one of my favourite comedians so low. This book just didn't feel like it was written by Michael Mcintyre, it had a few of his comedic elements there but apart from that it wasn't like him at all.
It had a large portion of the book focused on sex and masturbation which I just felt was unescesary. Also I struggle to be able to piece things together as the story was told by jumping forward, then back, forward, then back, in time. It's such a shame as I love Michael's comedy work so was absolutely thrilled when I got my hands in this but I came out the other end disappointed.
I feel so gutted to be rating a book by one of my favourite comedians so low. This book just didn't feel like it was written by Michael Mcintyre, it had a few of his comedic elements there but apart from that it wasn't like him at all.
It had a large portion of the book focused on sex and masturbation which I just felt was unescesary. Also I struggle to be able to piece things together as the story was told by jumping forward, then back, forward, then back, in time. It's such a shame as I love Michael's comedy work so was absolutely thrilled when I got my hands in this but I came out the other end disappointed.
August 16, 2011
ABSOLUTELY EXCELLENT.
I dont know what my favourite parts are because there are so many hilarious and wonderful moments!
It's just brilliant, witty, very interesting, written perfectly.
I recommend it to everyone (Except young children).
Wonderful read!
The pictures are brilliant and captions hilarious as expected.
I dont know what my favourite parts are because there are so many hilarious and wonderful moments!
It's just brilliant, witty, very interesting, written perfectly.
I recommend it to everyone (Except young children).
Wonderful read!
The pictures are brilliant and captions hilarious as expected.
December 2, 2012
A very entertaining light read, It gives an interesting insight into the life of Michael McIntyre. Yes it is very funny in parts as you would expect but it is so much more.
April 21, 2014
amazing, I laughed I cried Just a great book x
January 13, 2017
Great autobiography. If you love Michael McIntyre, you'll love this book.
December 6, 2021
Funny but kinda boring
September 8, 2015
Made me laugh out loud whilst negotiating the M25.
November 15, 2019
I abandoned this book half way through but it's not a dnf as it was a reread and I only stopped because I began to remember so much from the first read, including the jokes so nothing was fresh and the jokes weren't funny any more. In the name of fairness I'll review it with perspectives of both reads.
I love Michael McIntyre, he seems like a genuine fun loving, nice, sweet guy and that definitely comes out in his book. He paints a lot of colour into his childhood so you get a strong sense of his family and their business as well as his. And while he didn't have any truly wild things happening in his youth it's not boring or typical and there are plenty of funny anecdotes and observations. For example the recollections of his grandmother were hilarious.
Some jokes in this book weren't that great. They would work if this was his stand up material but this is meant to be an autobiography, so when he very obviously embellishes a memory or scene for comic effect it feels forced and personally I would rather he stuck to what really happened, as I kinda felt I couldn't trust him to be honest about other details and one of the main things I love about autobiographies is getting to know the person writing it. So this was a big sticking point for me.
When he's funny at the right time though he's very very funny. Obviously it wasn't the case the second time around but I remember the first time laughing uncontrollably at some points. It's well written too, keeps to a good structure and pace, doesn't linger too long over one point and progresses smoothly.
It does seem a bit bland sometimes though and unlike every other comedian's autobiography I've listened to this wasn't given anything extra by hearing him narrate it himself.
Worth reading for sure but nothing special.
I love Michael McIntyre, he seems like a genuine fun loving, nice, sweet guy and that definitely comes out in his book. He paints a lot of colour into his childhood so you get a strong sense of his family and their business as well as his. And while he didn't have any truly wild things happening in his youth it's not boring or typical and there are plenty of funny anecdotes and observations. For example the recollections of his grandmother were hilarious.
Some jokes in this book weren't that great. They would work if this was his stand up material but this is meant to be an autobiography, so when he very obviously embellishes a memory or scene for comic effect it feels forced and personally I would rather he stuck to what really happened, as I kinda felt I couldn't trust him to be honest about other details and one of the main things I love about autobiographies is getting to know the person writing it. So this was a big sticking point for me.
When he's funny at the right time though he's very very funny. Obviously it wasn't the case the second time around but I remember the first time laughing uncontrollably at some points. It's well written too, keeps to a good structure and pace, doesn't linger too long over one point and progresses smoothly.
It does seem a bit bland sometimes though and unlike every other comedian's autobiography I've listened to this wasn't given anything extra by hearing him narrate it himself.
Worth reading for sure but nothing special.
August 14, 2024
Michael McIntyre is easily one of my favourite comedians and his autobiography has been on my ‘to read’ list for a a long while. It definitely didn’t disappoint. The way McIntyre writes about his life is incredibly honest, humorous and surprisingly emotional in places, especially when talking about family members. He has a wonderful spirit and character that just shines through in this book. There were a lot of very interesting sections of the book (especially during his childhood) that were very unique and personal to him. I do wish the book went a little more in depth regarding his standup career as it was easily the most engaging section for me. Reading about a now incredibly successful man in his field struggle endlessly and fail over and over again was actually incredibly motivational. However, his career takes up around a quarter of the book, with the first three quarters more focussed on him growing up. I also don’t know if the book could stand on its own two feet if you aren’t familiar with McIntyre previous to reading it. I think you’d like it fine but I feel like more enjoyment would be gained if you know you enjoy his standup before picking this one up. Overall, however, a really great read. Really funny and lighthearted. If you are a fan of McIntyre’s standup, I would definitely recommend this.
January 14, 2018
This amazing book is the first I've finished in 2018..and what a great start..
The book is an autobiography of a comedian.. Doesn't sound very appealing but once you begin and read the funny fine writing style and how he jokes about his own life you become immediately hooked to the book..
And then you find the amazing rising career of this person.. A very touching story about how this man overcame his career struggles , financial struggles and personal life struggles, a story that is so inspiring that we can all relate to.. Written in the funniest way possible..
also the use of real picture from his life helped a lot to dive into his story.
I have very much enjoyed this book and finally the following quote pretty much sums it all up
"I had achieved nothing in comedy and Nothing with kitty(the girl he loves) and I doubted whether I could get close to either.
Now the reality of my life was something I wouldn't have dared to dream of.
Sixteen thousand people standing and cheering my name and kitty among them rushing backstage and into my arms. My wife, the love of my life and mother of my children"
The book is an autobiography of a comedian.. Doesn't sound very appealing but once you begin and read the funny fine writing style and how he jokes about his own life you become immediately hooked to the book..
And then you find the amazing rising career of this person.. A very touching story about how this man overcame his career struggles , financial struggles and personal life struggles, a story that is so inspiring that we can all relate to.. Written in the funniest way possible..
also the use of real picture from his life helped a lot to dive into his story.
I have very much enjoyed this book and finally the following quote pretty much sums it all up
"I had achieved nothing in comedy and Nothing with kitty(the girl he loves) and I doubted whether I could get close to either.
Now the reality of my life was something I wouldn't have dared to dream of.
Sixteen thousand people standing and cheering my name and kitty among them rushing backstage and into my arms. My wife, the love of my life and mother of my children"
March 10, 2021
I'm not usually a fan of biogs but I read Susan Calman's and really enjoyed it, so I found a new genre!
I find Michael's observational humour funny and thought I'd give it a go. Having read another of my fave comedians books, and finding I lost interest after discovering they were from such a different world when they started talking about their pony, I was dubious, given Michael seems so posh. However, I was very pleasantly surprised. He had me giggling from the very start, not a surprise, but I found myself fascinated with his struggles to become the famous person his mother was told he would become by a psychic.
His life, and family, story is entertaining, engaging and surprising. Far from coming from a priviledged background its a bit of a rags to riches story that shows his dedication to becoming the succesful comedian he is today. He talks about his family so vividly and they come to life of the page along with the emotions he went through on his journey.
A fantastic read.
I find Michael's observational humour funny and thought I'd give it a go. Having read another of my fave comedians books, and finding I lost interest after discovering they were from such a different world when they started talking about their pony, I was dubious, given Michael seems so posh. However, I was very pleasantly surprised. He had me giggling from the very start, not a surprise, but I found myself fascinated with his struggles to become the famous person his mother was told he would become by a psychic.
His life, and family, story is entertaining, engaging and surprising. Far from coming from a priviledged background its a bit of a rags to riches story that shows his dedication to becoming the succesful comedian he is today. He talks about his family so vividly and they come to life of the page along with the emotions he went through on his journey.
A fantastic read.
May 21, 2020
This was an enjoyable and raw account of Michael's family, his early life and his journey into married life and being a stand-up comedian. Filled with many examples of his type of observational humour this is a funny read, but with a fair share of tragedy - this is real life after all. The high's and lows are told without overplaying the harp strings and wallowing in self-pity or self-indulgence. No family is normal and Michael's is certainly no different.
The book is a little unbalanced with most of his life taking up the first three quarters of the book and his life in comedy and trying to make it in the final quarter. There are some gags in here, but this is first and foremost his story and not a joke book. Each quarter of the book also sports a collection of some glossy photos from his life up to the time of writing with some funny comments.
The book is a little unbalanced with most of his life taking up the first three quarters of the book and his life in comedy and trying to make it in the final quarter. There are some gags in here, but this is first and foremost his story and not a joke book. Each quarter of the book also sports a collection of some glossy photos from his life up to the time of writing with some funny comments.
October 16, 2024
Listened to this as an audiobook which I would recommend as you get to hear his accents and intonations which adds to the humour.
It was a surprisingly emotional read in places and it really provided an incredible context to his big break on the Royal Variety Show in 2006. I absolutely loved all the hilarious anecdotes about his family, they were brilliant and still crack me up.
Something I felt ruined it for me was the excessive profanity and oversharing of aspects of his life which should have remained private. It was a right pain trying to skip these bits in the audiobook and will likely mean I don't recommend it to anyone.
It was a surprisingly emotional read in places and it really provided an incredible context to his big break on the Royal Variety Show in 2006. I absolutely loved all the hilarious anecdotes about his family, they were brilliant and still crack me up.
Something I felt ruined it for me was the excessive profanity and oversharing of aspects of his life which should have remained private. It was a right pain trying to skip these bits in the audiobook and will likely mean I don't recommend it to anyone.
November 16, 2020
I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by Michael.
I’m a fan of Michael McIntyre’s comedy shows and found his book in my Audible library. As I was looking for a lighter read I thought I would give it a go.
This is a really funny memoir of Michael’s life and I laughed out loud so many times. He’s a brilliant narrator and you can just picture some of the scenarios.
It’s not all funny and some parts are really poignant, mainly to do with family.
I also didn’t realise that he had struggled to make it in comedy and wrongly assumed he always lived comfortably and was immediately successful.
If you’re a fan I would really recommend this, especially the audiobook as him narrating it makes it even funnier.
I’m a fan of Michael McIntyre’s comedy shows and found his book in my Audible library. As I was looking for a lighter read I thought I would give it a go.
This is a really funny memoir of Michael’s life and I laughed out loud so many times. He’s a brilliant narrator and you can just picture some of the scenarios.
It’s not all funny and some parts are really poignant, mainly to do with family.
I also didn’t realise that he had struggled to make it in comedy and wrongly assumed he always lived comfortably and was immediately successful.
If you’re a fan I would really recommend this, especially the audiobook as him narrating it makes it even funnier.
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