David Mitchell: Back Story

By: David Mitchell

Narrated by: David Mitchell

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

Never a dull moment, a barrel of laughs

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

It's an extremely funny read and very easy to read!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me laugh out loud!

Honest and very funny

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

Hearing David Mitchell tell his own life story is a real bonus. He's wry, modest, occasionally ranty, and hilarious.

Who was your favorite character and why?

David Mitchell!

What does David Mitchell bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

It's good to hear the voice of the person who has written a memoir.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

"A memoir, a map, a weight loss manual."

As funny as you’d expect and a bit more touching and heartfelt than you’d think. But in the best sort of way

Mitchell’s television appearances and persona don’t necessarily preclude an ability to be heartfelt and sincere in a book but it’s not necessarily what you might bargain for when picking up the book. It’s got the perfect amount of amusing anecdotes about behind the scenes and the amusing struggle of being broke and trying to break into television. But it’s equally rife with the struggles of being genuinely poor, self-doubt in the dream career, honest jealousy at the success of loved ones, and so on. It’s an excellent story, delightfully well told, and makes me want to get another book. 11/10 if that were a fraction available for review

Wonderful!

David Mitchell is one of my favorite comedians. It was really cool to learn more about him in his own words. His love story with Victoria is both sweet and inspiring. And of course the entire book is packed with laugh out loud moments.

Building character through playing characters

A lovely romp through the trial and tribulations that have built David Mitchell. With the wry wit of man who wants to be "normal", David explains his history that has twisted his humor. For me it was a fun find brought on by surfing YouTube and seeing David on panel shows. When I found the book on Audible I was intrigued to learn how this seemingly upper crust fellow found his way into the hearts of a nations entertainment. A lovely listen.

After the book was over, I missed him.

Any additional comments?

I did not expect to like this book as much as I did. I suppose since I have watched all over Peep show, and loved watching him on "panel shows" such as Would I lie to you" and QI, it felt as if I was sitting down with him and listening to all the "back stories". At times I listened when I was walking. Today I walked with out listening...and actually missed him as if he had been walking along with me chatting.

surprisingly brilliant! Average guy, amazing life :-)

David Michel's folks should be proud, he's a decent man telling an amazing story. With all his fun, sometimes biting rants there's always an element of kindness👣

Very Comforting - Sounds Like My Own Inner Voice

Delightful, quirky, and exceptionally intelligent, David has a keen way of sounding exactly like my own inner voice. It's very comforting to know there's someone out there - and a successful someone at that - who thinks the way I do. It's like having a conversation with a close friend who thinks exactly the way I do. I thought I was just weird. ...Well, I probably am still weird, but at least I'm not the only one subscribing to this particular form of oddity.

consistent onservations, excellent vocabulary

fantastic effort by Mitchell, an enjoyable read and insightful to the career of David and Rob.

One of the Funniest, Clever Brits around

I admit, I already went into this book a little prejudiced in its favour, as I became somewhat addicted to watching David Mitchell on various British Panel Shows. This book did not disappoint. I prefer my comedians to be clever, with witty remarks about interesting subjects, current events etc. I am not really a fan of the Jim Carrey, Robin Williams, Adam Sandler style of humour and this is so far off that style as to be in a different category altogether.
Mitchell is just so likeable, currently being one of the most popular comedians in Britain. Even when being critical of whatever subject he is currently on a rant about, that you can't help but chuckle, whether you agree or not with his views. I also love his self-mocking admissions of what he sells as his faults, vulnerabilities and weaknesses. He plays up the whole nerd, or dysfunctional loser persona, but in actuality he really isn't at all. He also sometimes pretends to be an arrogant know-it-all, and yet he can't maintain that with a straight face for long, so you know it's all just a funny act. He is such a gentleman, even if he does drop the odd "F" bomb, it comes across more as charming, rather than crass, but even so, you won't find that sort of thing in this book.

If you are undecided on whether his style would suit your taste, check him out on Youtube with some episodes of "Would I Lie to You" or "QI" and that will give you a good idea of the humour in this audiobook. Or check out his podcasts "David Mitchell's Soapbox." He also has a couple of other series, The Mitchell And Webb show, which is a comedy variety type show and another series called Peep Show, which while funny, is a little darker, with ruder language and situations. Those two shows are a little less indicative of the style of this book and might not be to everyone's taste.

This book is a mix of biography and just his ramblings on all manner of subjects, told in a very different style, as we are taken on a walk with him around his neighbourhood. It's narrated as though you are out for a walk and a chat with him.
My only problem with this audiobok was that the few times I listened to it in public on my iphone and headphones, I couldn't help grinning like an idiot, or even laughing out loud, which did cause a few strange looks my way.