Alanatomy

The Inside Story

By: Alan Carr

Narrated by: Alan Carr

Brought to you by Penguin.

If you loved Alan's first memoir - Look Who It Is! - then his follow-up, Alanatomy, will take you further into the hilarious and bizarre world of the country's favourite chatty man.

It must seem strange to you that I've called a book Alanatomy . . .

For anyone who has taken the time to see my stand-up performances or watched my chat show, 'Chattyman', knows that my body has hardly been kind to me - in fact there've been times when we've actually stopped talking to each other. Balding, myopic, often flaky with psoriasis, back fat that hangs suspended like a cape, a voice that could strip varnish, an increasingly dodgy hip and even dodgier teeth. Why would you draw attention to it? you must ask. Couldn't you just call the book something else? Do you think the Great British Public is ready to pore over your body?

Well, as I turn forty and take stock of my showbiz life over the last ten years or so, I have learnt to embrace my flaws and face my shortcomings. In fact, strange as it might seem, the things I hate about myself have become my trademark and I am slowly, begrudgingly learning to, if not love them, to at least live with them. I am ready now to take a long hard look at myself and that's what Alanatomy is. It's the story of my rise to fame: the joys, the traumas, the parties, the disappointments. Hopefully you will find it witty, fun, heartwarming, but more importantly honest, and that it will keep you entertained every time you pick it up.

Alanatomy is the chance for you to get beneath my skin and see the real me because, and to continue the anatomical theme if I may, this showbiz existence can sometimes feel like an autopsy - picked at, probed and scrutinized with every inch of your body held up for analysis, but unlike an actual autopsy, you are very much alive.

So I give you Alanatomy: The Inside Story. I am laying myself out on the slab for your entertainment; naked, stripped bare. Grab your scalpel, peel back the skin and go deep, have a good old probe around at my life so far. Yes, you are going to find guts, a fair bit of cheek, maybe even a little bit of gristle, but hopefully, you'll find a whole lot of heart.

'As laugh out loud as his TV shows' Daily Mirror

© Alan Carr 2016 (P) Penguin Audio 2016

Critic reviews

If you loved Alan's first memoir - Look Who It Is! - then this follow-up, Alanatomy, will take you further into the hilarious and bizarre world of the country's favourite chatty man.

It's as winning as you'd expect from the chatty, heart-on-sleeve Carr

As laugh out loud as his TV shows

Praise for Look Who It Is! by Alan Carr

Joyous stuff that most of us can relate to without it sounding clichéd, and it is delivered effortlessly by a comedian who owns the space he is working in so much, he could put up a flag

Carr's comic timing works every bit as well on the page as it does on stage, making this easily the funniest book of the year.

Sharp, sassy material with pitch perfect comic timing

Bellyachingly funny

I love Alan

From Canada, some of the jokes in the book are hard to understand but the warmth and humour shines through. A wonderful man and a laugh out loud funny book. My favourite part was Prince and Jeremy Clarkson in A&E, though I will admit I don't know who Jeremy Clarkson is.

Great book, hilariously delivered

Loved this sometimes really emotional,mostly hilarious, always name dropping book.

Even better than his first book!

Loved it!

In true Alan fashion, this is well written and presented. I enjoyed his first book and this is a great follow-up. Great insight, story, and behind the scenes tid-bits. I recommend this book!

Behind the curtain

Enjoyable. Alan Carr takes us on a journey through his life so far. Some steps are easy and funny, and some steps are poignant or uncomfortable. As expected. Alan is a great storyteller, though, so buckle in.