Born to Be Mild

Adventures for the Anxious

By: Rob Temple

Narrated by: Mathew Baynton

A handful of years ago I moved with my wife to a house on a quiet street in a quiet town and lay quietly in a room for a long time.

I used to love an adventure and I had jobs on magazines (remember magazines?) which provided the opportunity for plenty of them, but when I hit my 30s I started to become increasingly afraid of the world, until I was too frightened to even go outside at all....it was just me, my phone and my social media feeds. Doesn't sound too healthy, does it? It wasn't.

Rob Temple runs a social-media empire from the comfort of his sofa. Living the dream! But what happens when a lack of colleagues, bosses and alarm clocks means that your sofa and the four walls of your very quiet living room become your whole world?

In this hilarious and life-affirming memoir, Rob explores what it will take for him to become a little less Bear (Pooh) and a little bit more Bear (Grylls) and how mild-mannered, anxious rule-followers can get their own share of (gentle) adventure from time to time.

©2020 Rob Temple (P)2020 Hachette Audio UK

Critic reviews

"Temple is a humourist in the classic British mode...he has a genuine comic gift." (Daily Mail)

"A refreshingly unpolished memoir that reads like somebody talking to you with an unfiltered voice."(Sunday Express, S Magazine)

"If you're looking for an inspiring read to ease yourself back into normality after lockdown, Born to be Mild should be top of your reading list." (Mail Online)

This is all around amazing

I found this book because it was mentioned on the Very British Problems Instagram page. I figured it had to be funny because the VBPs always make me laugh but then I saw the narrator was Matthew Baynton (Horrible Histories) and I couldn’t click “buy now with one credit” fast enough. I listened to the entire book in two days. I laughed out loud till the end. Narration is great due to Mr Baynton’s own comic capabilities. There are some very serious issues addressed in the life of the author but they are addressed with humor and a positive approach. I hope Mr Temple is working on a second book right now, because I didn’t want this one to end. Mr Baynton has a perfectly delightful reading voice that suited the content and tone as it changed over the book.

Hilarious and profoundly British

I am an American but lived in the U.K. for many years and have a British husband. It is so accurate that I constantly have to keep stopping the audio because I’m laughing and do not want to miss a line.

Funny & Insightful

Absolutely loved this book. Writing about a very complicated issue in a very funny way

Like a hug for your ears.

A feel good adventure with more emotion and honesty than I expected. Just incredibly lovely.

beautifully written, mild entertaining

I got bored, I wouldn't have finished a written version. excellent wit but rather predictable. But then, I am British..