So, Anyway...

By: John Cleese

Narrated by: John Cleese

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “John Cleese’s memoir is just about everything one would expect of its author—smart, thoughtful, provocative and above all funny. . . . A picture, if you will, of the artist as a young man.”—The Washington Post

The legendary writer and performer of Monty Python and Fawlty Towers fame takes readers on a grand tour of his ascent in the entertainment world

John Cleese’s huge comedic influence has stretched across generations; his sharp irreverent eye and the unique brand of physical comedy he perfected now seem written into comedy’s DNA. In this rollicking memoir, Cleese recalls his humble beginnings in a sleepy English town, his early comedic days at Cambridge University (with future Python partner Graham Chapman), and the founding of the landmark comedy troupe that would propel him to worldwide renown.

Cleese was just days away from graduating Cambridge and setting off on a law career when he was visited by two BBC executives, who offered him a job writing comedy for radio. That fateful moment—and a near-simultaneous offer to take his university humor revue to London’s famed West End—propelled him down a different path, cutting his teeth writing for stars like David Frost and Peter Sellers, and eventually joining the five other Pythons to pioneer a new kind of comedy that prized invention, silliness, and absurdity. Along the way, he found his first true love with the actress Connie Booth and transformed himself from a reluctant performer to a world class actor and back again.

Twisting and turning through surprising stories and hilarious digressions—with some brief pauses along the way that comprise a fascinating primer on what’s funny and why—this story of a young man’s journey to the pinnacle of comedy is a masterly performance by a master performer.

Critic reviews

New York Times Bestseller

“So, Anyway... ambles along in loose fashion, taking its time, stopping to admire the view here and there, dispensing a little social commentary...and otherwise taking the scenic route through a mostly sunny landscape. The effect is a bit like having a long lunch with an amiable, slightly loony uncle. Who also happens to be John Cleese.” —Michael Ian Black, The New York Times Book Review

“John Cleese’s memoir is just about everything one would expect of its author — smart, thoughtful, provocative and above all funny… a picture, if you will, of the artist as a young man.” —Washington Post

“Give John Cleese points for candor...Give him additional points for graceful writing and sly humor..” —Philadelphia Inquirer

“The long-awaited story of the actor’s life, told how he wants to tell it.” —The Guardian

very interesting bravo

gavel smash! I would like to see that again! awsome look into the beginning of an great shows start

fantastic book

the book is fantastic and let's you into the mind of one of comedy's best minds. at one point her even plays a few of the skits near the end of the book that really add a unique way of listening to the book.

laughs

John Cleese (Cheese) making me laugh like he always has. it's a wonderful book going over his life and his growth in the comedy realm we know and love him from so dearly. It was really enjoyable to hear what he had to say about Fawlty towers, which was the first thing I said him in. it was many years later I saw the infamous Monty Python sketches and movies. great addition to any fans library.

The pleasure of his company

Far more than a reading - a Grand Cleese Performance for the ages. Cannot wait for the sequels

Enjoyable, but only covers early career

I’m so glad I listen to this on audiobook. John Cleese‘s narration is fantastic. I liked that for some of the sketches discussed we got the actual tv or radio audio or Cleese doing all the voices. This memoir covers his life up to the Pythons. Their formation is discussed in the very final chapters, but that’s it. His life up to that point is interesting, but some of the detail was a little fine & not super compelling. On the other hand, some of the detail shows how Cleese’s humor developed. Again, this is where the audio version helped immensely. It was like hanging out with Cleese for a few days.