• Before & Laughter

  • By: Jimmy Carr
  • Narrated by: Jimmy Carr
  • Length: 6 hrs and 45 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (525 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Before & Laughter  By  cover art

Before & Laughter

By: Jimmy Carr
Narrated by: Jimmy Carr
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $25.08

Buy for $25.08

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Cheaper than Scientology, quicker than therapy and much less boring than church - this is the hugely funny and insightful book about happiness by top comedian Jimmy Carr, and anyone feeling stuck in a rut should devour it.

In his mid-20s, Jimmy was bored, boring, unfulfilled and underachieving. He wasn't exactly depressed, but he was very sad. Think of a baby owl whose mum has recently died in a windmill accident. He was that sad. This audiobook tells the story of how Jimmy turned it around and got happy, through the redemptive power of dick jokes.

Written to take advantage of the brief window between the end of lockdown and Jimmy getting cancelled for saying something unforgivable to Lorraine Kelly, this book is as timely as it is unnecessary.

Because you might be interested in Jimmy's life but he's damn sure you're a lot more interested in your own, Before & Laughter is about both of you. But mainly him. It tells the story of Jimmy's life - the transformation from white-collar corporate drone to fake-toothed donkey-laugh plastic-haired comedy mannequin - while also explaining how to turn your own life around and become the you you've always dreamt of being.

Before & Laughter contains the answers to all the big questions in life, questions like:

  • What's the secret to happiness?
  • Is Jimmy wearing a wig?
  • What happened with that tax thing?
  • What's the meaning of life?
  • Is Jimmy's laugh real?
  • Can those teeth bite through vibranium?

And for listeners in the West Country: yes, there are pictures (actually, sorry, there are no pictures, but there's a book about a hungry caterpillar you'll love).

Because it's Jimmy Carr - recently scientifically proved to be the funniest comedian in the UK - there are jokes, jokes and more jokes throughout. If laughter really was the best medicine, the NHS would be handing out this book in Nightingale Hospitals.

Fascinating, thoughtful and insightful - are all words that appear in the audiobook.

©2021 Jimmy Carr (P)2021 Quercus Editions Limited

Critic reviews

"Very, very funny - a great read." (Gary Davies, The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show)

"Riveting." (Daily Mail)

"An utterly sincere guide for people to achieve bigger things in life." (Guardian)

What listeners say about Before & Laughter

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    448
  • 4 Stars
    50
  • 3 Stars
    20
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    4
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    434
  • 4 Stars
    24
  • 3 Stars
    5
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    2
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    386
  • 4 Stars
    54
  • 3 Stars
    17
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    4

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great life advice from a funny man!

I really enjoyed this book. the advice, the quotes, the presentation and the thoughtful yet humourous way of presenting information and advice.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I bought a book by Jimmy Carr

I did not know that this was a self-help book. I bought a book because Jimmy Carr is a great comedian and i wanted to laugh. And I did! I also learned a few things and damn if it didn’t help me with a couple of things I’m dealing with right now. Mr. Carr, please write more books.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Such a Delight

It's like sex but better, theres no disappointment after.

Well done Jimmy, big fan! -Jason K.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great life advice amidst a comedy menagerie

Definitely helps to have the audio version of this book and to have already been a fan of Jimmy Carr from watching YouTube clips of his stand-up and BBC shows, like “8 out of 10 Cats does Countdown”.

And, although it’s a bit hard to recall or implement all of the life advice/lessons, they’re definitely jammed packed and told in ways that are relatable, inspiring, and “sticky”…

Well done.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Inspiring

I recommend this book to any comedy fans especially those who are needing a push to take more initiative in their lives. Some quotes are profound others are insensitive all are in jest. Go in with an open mind and heart.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fun. insightful. Interesting.

Jimmy Carr gives a fun glimpse into his mindset. He uses his wit to bring insights to the reader. Like many comics, he even more interesting than he appears on stage.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Insiteful and really funny!

I'm more into comedy than self-help, but found this book incredibly valuable and funny.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great book!

I have enjoyed Jimmy’s comedy for a few years. His book is a great combination of life lessons and personal narrative.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wow.

Suprisingly helpful, thanks Jimmy. nice, good, great, humbling, sweet, funny, sincere, real, dope, witty, cunty.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great viewpoint on the world

Some amazing insight into the requirements to build something of yourself. Comedy or not, some great life lessons that can be applied in everyday life.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!