So, Anyway...

The Autobiography

By: John Cleese

Narrated by: John Cleese

Read by John Cleese with an introduction by Michael Palin. This is the story of how a tall, shy youth from Weston-super-Mare went on to become a self-confessed legend. En route, John Cleese describes his nerve-racking first public appearance, at St Peter’s Preparatory School at the age of eight and five-sixths; his endlessly peripatetic home life with parents who seemed incapable of staying in any house for longer than six months; his first experiences in the world of work as a teacher who knew nothing about the subjects he was expected to teach; his hamster-owning days at Cambridge; and his first encounter with the man who would be his writing partner for over two decades, Graham Chapman. And so on to his dizzying ascent via scriptwriting for Peter Sellers, David Frost, Marty Feldman and others to the heights of Monty Python. Includes archive clips of many of his most famous moments.

Punctuated from time to time with John Cleese’s thoughts on topics as diverse as the nature of comedy, the relative merits of cricket and waterskiing, and the importance of knowing the dates of all the kings and queens of England, this is a masterly performance by a former schoolmaster.

Critic reviews

Vivid, ridiculously entertaining, and, at times, explosively funny... Cleese is a master of crisp comic prose: his elegant syntax and sudden absurdities would have PG Wodehouse raising a martini glass. So, Anyway... glows with fairness, kindness, gentleness and loyalty. (Nicholas Barber)

Told with considerable charm and a refreshing amount of candour, the story is one of a vulnerable soul gradually finding a degree of security from behind a carapace of cutting wit... Remarkably warm and generous. (Graham McCann)

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.

So, Anyway… breaks away from the shallow conventions of the famous person's autobiography... The result is a book that is frequently hilarious, occasionally lyrical and always thoughtful. It is a fine and funny achievement.

Like having a long lunch with an amiable, slightly loony uncle. Who also happens to be John Cleese. (Michael Ian Black)

Left me wiping away tears. (Helen Brown)

This is required reading for his fans.

[Cleese's] unrelenting charm and crisp wit make this the hilarious memoir fans expected. The book might as well be coated in glue, as it proves tricky to put down.

An upfront and hilarious account of the comedy legend's early years.

John was a dear friend of mine for two weeks

I heard it while driving everyday for about two weeks. priceless... John was my dear friend for these weeks and I really felt it hard to let go when the book finished... It was all wonderful. Thank you John, my dear friend.

Very funny and entertaining

Even the intro and outro of the audio book are hilarious. Being born in the 90's, it was enlighning to hear what the 60's were really like and how John became a comedian without starting in hollywood. The bits where he laughts at his own jokes are abselutly contagous. 10/10 will read again.

Stunning

You need this in your life.
An insight into mad genius.
Wonderful in every way.

the humor

I loved everything. It helped me immensely. John Cleese, thank you for dedicating your life by making us laugh.

Excellent narration, interesting look at his early life

Cleese is a next-level narrator. Highly enjoyed the whole book. Definitely recommend it to any fan of his.