David Mitchell: Back Story

By: David Mitchell

Narrated by: David Mitchell

Length: 9 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

David Mitchell, who you may know for his inappropriate anger on every TV panel show except Never Mind the Buzzcocks, his look of permanent discomfort on C4 sex comedy Peep Show, his online commenter-baiting in The Observer or just for wearing a stick-on moustache in That Mitchell and Webb Look, has written a book about his life.

As well as giving a specific account of every single time he's scored some smack, this disgusting memoir also details:

• The singular, pit bull-infested charm of the FRP (‘Flat Roofed Pub’)
• The curious French habit of injecting everyone in the arse rather than the arm
• Why, by the time he got to Cambridge, he really, really needed a drink
• The pain of being denied a childhood birthday party at McDonalds
• The satisfaction of writing jokes about suicide
• How doing quite a lot of walking around London helps with his sciatica
• Trying to pretend he isn’t a total **** at Robert Webb’s wedding
• That he has fallen in love a LOT, but rarely done anything about it
• Why it would be worse to bump into Michael Palin than Hitler on holiday
• That he’s not David Mitchell the novelist, despite what David Miliband might think

©2012 David Mitchell (P)2012 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Critic reviews

‘One of the best celebrity memoirs of last year…his outsider geek personality translates just as well on the page as it does on TV.’ Metro

‘It livened up about half way through with the appearance of me. But enough of David's life. The book is wonderful from beginning to end.’ Robert Webb

'David Mitchell is an extremely funny man on screen, in person, in print and very probably underwater.' Sam Bain, co-writer of Peep Show

‘He can write’ Evening Standard

‘Fluent, discursive, intelligent.’ Evening Standard

‘If you like Mitchell on television, you will like him in this book.’ Shortlist

Charming, witty, and genuinely funny.

What made the experience of listening to David Mitchell: Back Story the most enjoyable?

You may not laugh out loud frequently, but this book will have you chuckling fairly frequently. At the very least, you will be smiling consistently. That being said, the last two chapters are unbearably soppy (and unfortunately, bereft of humor). Still, you won't regret this purchase. Pick it up and enjoy the story of a somewhat awkward, but undeniably humorous, human being.

Wonderful

Excellent book excellently performed! I'm not usually interested in celebrities' private lives, but this book is funny and charming without being overly personal.

One of the best books I've have read all year!

Would you listen to David Mitchell: Back Story again? Why?

Yes, and in fact I have already listened to it twice, it is very enjoyable. I find David Mitchell to be a fascinating and humorous person, and I have greatly enjoyed listening to him tell the story of his life.

What did you like best about this story?

I think he has related the story of his life very well and made it very funny.

Which scene was your favorite?

it's all good

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

where he talks about how he met Victoria and they got together it was very lovely.

Any additional comments?

This book is very funny and enjoyable and I would highly recommend to anyone.

I'm a DM Fan

Funny book from a funny guy. There was also surprising moments of passion and vulnerability.

a good listen

I have been a fan of David Mitchell for a long time. this book was very well written and had some very funny parts. sadly, I found myself tuning out every once and a while. my attention wasn't always captured, but I still found it a very enjoyable story.

fantastic!

funny and entertaining from start to finish. Though now I'm wondering if I may be someone's humourless Canadian cousin...

David as I hoped he would be!

if you love David Mitchell, a listen to this will leave you genuinely liking David Mitchell. The emotions come through to the end, where we are happy for him but still wanting more.

Inspired

The ordinary made truly exraordinary! Heartfelt honesty. David Mitchell shares his story leaving us feeling great about our story however brutal it may be.

A Must-Listen

I've never been a fan of audiobooks. I usually have a hard time following along, worrying about missing details I wouldn't have in a printed book, or just losing focus and zoning out. I usually find the narrators to be monotonous and boring. This book is the first audiobook I've really loved, and felt it was an even better experience than the printed book could be. David Mitchell's hilarious and at times touching narration was captivating, full of laughs, and thought provoking, and I was very sad when I finished the last chapter and realized the book had ended. If you're a fan of David Mitchell or any of his works, you will not regret listening to this - this is Mitchell at his finest.

Effortlessly Entertaining

I wish I could listen to David read for the rest of my life.