So, Anyway...

By: John Cleese

Narrated by: John Cleese

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

“John Cleese’s memoir is just about everything one would expect of its author—smart, thoughtful, provocative and above all funny. . . . A picture, if you will, of the artist as a young man.”—The Washington Post

The legendary writer and performer of Monty Python and Fawlty Towers fame takes listeners on a grand tour of his ascent in the entertainment world John Cleese’s huge comedic influence has stretched across generations; his sharp irreverent eye and the unique brand of physical comedy he perfected now seem written into comedy’s DNA. In this rollicking memoir, Cleese recalls his humble beginnings in a sleepy English town, his early comedic days at Cambridge University (with future Python partner Graham Chapman), and the founding of the landmark comedy troupe that would propel him to worldwide renown.

Cleese was just days away from graduating Cambridge and setting off on a law career when he was visited by two BBC executives, who offered him a job writing comedy for radio. That fateful moment—and a near-simultaneous offer to take his university humor revue to London’s famed West End—propelled him down a different path, cutting his teeth writing for stars like David Frost and Peter Sellers, and eventually joining the five other Pythons to pioneer a new kind of comedy that prized invention, silliness, and absurdity. Along the way, he found his first true love with the actress Connie Booth and transformed himself from a reluctant performer to a world class actor and back again.

Twisting and turning through surprising stories and hilarious digressions—with some brief pauses along the way that comprise a fascinating primer on what’s funny and why—this story of a young man’s journey to the pinnacle of comedy is a masterly performance by a master performer.

©2016 John Cleese (P)2016 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“So, Anyway... ambles along in loose fashion, taking its time, stopping to admire the view here and there, dispensing a little social commentary...and otherwise taking the scenic route through a mostly sunny landscape. The effect is a bit like having a long lunch with an amiable, slightly loony uncle. Who also happens to be John Cleese.” —Michael Ian Black, The New York Times Book Review

“John Cleese’s memoir is just about everything one would expect of its author — smart, thoughtful, provocative and above all funny… a picture, if you will, of the artist as a young man.” —Washington Post

“Give John Cleese points for candor...Give him additional points for graceful writing and sly humor..” —Philadelphia Inquirer

Missing a few chapters

I would have give the book five stars but he quit just as he gets to Monty Python! This maybe a bit mean but it might be compared to a bad sexual experience where the foreplay is great but the lover quits and leaves just as things really start heating up. I loved everything that was written. If only he'd written a few more chapters! He wrote about the foreplay but said nothing about the sex, so to speak.

John Cleese! Need I Say More?

Loved it so much that I listened to it twice in a row just in case I missed anything. His talent for timing paired with his unique gift of storytelling elevate this memoir of a uniquely British humorist to an absolute must- listen for the connoisseur of absurd Pythonesque comedy.

Brilliant

Wonderful insight from one of the heroes of modern comedy. And to hear it read by the master himself, brilliant!

Make this your next listen

If you like John Cleese, Monty Python and British humor, this is a treasure.
First of all, Cleese has had a fascinating life. He didn't seek a career in show business, he just sort of stepped into it and made an incredible success. Along the way he worked with many of the very best comic minds of his generation... Peter Sellers, David Frost, Marty Feldman... and has wonderful stories about each of them.
Best of all, Cleese is the narrator and he seems to be having a wonderful time reminiscing as he reads.
This is one of the rare books that you'll enjoy listening to much more than you would reading.
Don't miss it. I'm already listening to it a second time.

A must listen for Pythonistas

John Cleese’s autobiography is highly entertaining, frequently hilarious, and wonderfully by the man himself. But be forewarned that the book essentially ends with the formation of the Monty Python group, so there’s very little here about the the Flying Circus TV show or their movies, and almost nothing about Fawlty Towers, A Fish Called Wanda, and anything else later than 1969, except the Python reunion shows on 2014. Nevertheless, I highly recommend this book.

Really enjoyed!

One of the best things about this audiobook is John Cleese’s inflection while he reads. He gives you a real presentation of how he heard the words. It’s a great performance that really puts you there in the moments he describes.

A delight.

Packed with stories from his school days and all the way through his storied career, Cleese's reading of his own work had me laughing out loud. Always self-effacing, he included more poignant stories as well. John Cleese is so much more than his work with the Pythons! Please read!

Wonderful book & reading

I love this book so much. And hearing him actually reading it is a joy. ❤️

Fantastic writer, fantastic narrator!

Yes, Mr. Cleese is supremely British and simply delightful. His book, his story and his narration are quite fascinating as well as hilarious! It was generous of him to share things that were personal and reflective as well as humorous. He is a prolific writer and funny as hell. I especially love his exploitation of the English perspective on matters or situations verses the way Americans view and respond to things. I often laughed out loud. It is a great journey into into a bygone era of BBC television and radio comedy and how he and his cohorts help to change it: both as writers and performers. I simply loved this book. Well done chap!

Thoroughly Enjoyable

It was a great read. My only beef is that 90% of the book was devoted to the pre-Python days. He quickly skimmed the Python years. It was even more brief post 1969, giving nods to movies he had done, Spamalot and others but glossed over some pretty major events like Graham chapman's death etc.

That said, a great and worthwhile read.