Always Look on the Bright Side of Life

A Sortabiography

By: Eric Idle

Narrated by: Eric Idle

From the ingenious comic performer, founding member of Monty Python, and creator of Spamalot comes an absurdly funny memoir of unparalleled wit and heartfelt candor

We know him best for his unforgettable roles on Monty Python - from the Flying Circus to The Meaning of Life. Now, Eric Idle reflects on the meaning of his own life in this entertaining memoir that takes us on an unforgettable journey from his childhood in an austere boarding school through his successful career in comedy, television, theater, and film.

Coming of age as a writer and comedian during the '60s and '70s, Eric stumbled into the crossroads of the cultural revolution and found himself rubbing shoulders with the likes of George Harrison, David Bowie, and Robin Williams, all of whom became dear lifelong friends. With anecdotes sprinkled throughout involving other close friends and luminaries such as Mike Nichols, Mick Jagger, Steve Martin, Paul Simon, Lorne Michaels, and many more, as well as the Pythons themselves, Eric captures a time of tremendous creative output with equal parts hilarity and heart. In Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, named for the song he wrote for Life of Brian (the film he originally gave the irreverent title Jesus Christ: Lust for Glory) and that has since become the number-one song played at funerals in the UK, he shares the highlights of his life and career with the kind of offbeat humor that has delighted audiences for five decades.

The year 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the Pythons, and Eric is marking the occasion with this hilarious memoir chock-full of behind-the-scenes stories from a high-flying life featuring everyone from Princess Leia to Queen Elizabeth.

©2018 Eric Idle (P)2018 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"A hilarious, charming, book by this incredible, i̶n̶s̶u̶f̶f̶e̶r̶a̶b̶l̶e̶ genius.” (Steve Martin)

"A gentle, sane man has lived a turbulent, crazy life and he's written a gorgeous book about it. Eric Idle joyously recounts his existence in these pages. Did I say 'joyfully'? I meant 'ruefully.'" (Patton Oswalt)

"On the last day, when the last human beings look out at the blackened cinders of their world, I can only hope that one of them will sing, 'Some things in life are bad, they can really make you mad,' and 'Always Look on the Bright Side of Life' will ring out as humanity's final words. I loved this biography of a song and the man who made it, and the picture he paints of his life, his friends, his passions, five Pythons, and a Beatle." (Neil Gaiman)

It's better than Spam!

No... really! It is! What!? You don't think so?? Well, f**k off!!
And then enjoy the book

idle hands and all that

What hasn’t Eric Idle done? There was Monty Python, of course. But he also wrote movies, made music, appeared in operas, hung out with celebrities, made a rock mockumentary, has managed to stay married to the same woman since the 1970s, and was BFFs with a Beatle. And there is no better way to hear all about his adventures than by listening to his Sortabiography, Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.

From his early school days through his early comedy and television work, through the Monty Python years, and on through everything else he’s done, Idle’s memoir tells so many wonderful, funny, and moving stories about the chances he’s taken, the friendships he’s built, the adventures he’s gone on, the jokes he’s told, and the times he’s gotten to sung his signature song, “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” for fans around the world.

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life is a must-listen for fans of Python, anyone who loves a good celebrity memoir (especially about comedians), and everyone who loves to hear a really good impression of George Harrison. But know that while you listen laughing and amazed through most of the book, there is heartbreak also. Listening to Idle talk about the funeral of Graham Chapman, the attack on George and Olivia Harrison, and the loss of Robin Williams brought tears to my eyes (and my cheeks). Still, worth every single minute and every single penny. So highly recommended I almost want to buy everyone a copy and deliver them myself. Listen to this book!!

Galleys for Always Look on the Bright Side of Life were provided by Penguin Random House’s First To Read program, with many thanks, but there was no way I wasn’t going to buy the audiobook of this one on my own, thanks to Audible.

Wonderful to hear

Eric Idle is a wonderful storyteller who has fantastic stories to tell. Loved it all.

It's PYTHON, MAN!

I loved this. I usually devour anything related to Monty Python, and this was great as Idle has SO MANY stories to tell outside the Python days. The fact that he narrates it himself is tremendous. Eric Idle is a treasure, so talented and funny; this was a treat to listen to! So much fun hearing this and it's one of those rare audiobooks I'll likely listen to again. Highly recommended!

A bright story

How can you go wrong with Eric Idle reading his book!?
I thoroughly enjoyed this new autobiography and look at the incredibly funny, creative and interesting life of Idle. Lots of personal stories of his life, his process and of course the Pythons. His reading of it is its own work of art.

Always look

If you want to laugh until you cry this THE book for you! I have never enjoyed anything as much as this

Amazing story

Highly recommend this audiobook. I had read the written version already but listening to Eric Idle telling his own story brings it to life.
It’s an amazing journey of a hugely talented man who has rubbed shoulders with a great cast of characters. The chapter on George Harrison is both heartbreaking and inspirational.

Loved it!

I’m not a big Python fan or even a big Idle fan but I loved this book & his reading of it. He sings, he jokes, he talks seriously, he owns it all. And just when you think he’s name dropping, he happily admits to it. I can’t recommend this more highly!

Surprisingly Brilliant

I was not prepared for how much I would love this story given the mixed nature of a lot of these celebrity biographies. But this book, especially as an audio experience, really works and is probably a great example of the sort of biographical pieces that I enjoy more.

You see, when you get down to it, a celebrity biography isn't just about their private lives or the stuff we don't know. Instead, there's still a need to rehash all the stuff that we already know about them, which tends to tie to their public lives. What makes it different from what had been heard before is their incidental sharing of their feelings about this or that event but mostly it's stuff we know.

This book is the greatest hits list for Eric Idle that spans beyond the core Monty Python years. He also nicely leveraged the title song "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" as a recurring theme throughout the book as its legacy has followed him around for most of his career. And it's a brilliant thing.

It's definitely more of a feel-good book and not one with a lot of controversy or things like that so don't go looking for that here. Just smile and let the Mr. Idle take you on a little trip.

It's not Name Dropping, it's Context.

I was a little leery of getting this after reading reviews that complained that it was just a lot of name dropping, but I decided to risk it and am delighted that I did. I am the same generation as Eric, being just three years younger than him, so I can relate personally to some of his experiences. Not of course to the celebrity ones! For me, the references to the people that he was friends with and worked with, were vital to an appreciation of what his life was like. Omitting them would have left just a skeleton. Having lived through the same eras, the names all had relevance to me and brought with them memories that fleshed out the times he was living through.
Eric's performance got better and better as the story progressed from his slightly stilted opening to the later chapters which no one else could have given the life and humor that he did.
Eric's life story is so much richer than I could possibly have imagined. Funny, sad and thought provoking, a great book brought to life in the audio book in a way that the printed version never could.