by John Cleese
First published 2015
John Cleese opens his memoir by examining his relationship with comedy and satire, which has consumed his entire professional life. Born Cheese, he became known primarily for his roles in Fawlty Towers, A Fish Called Wanda, and his work with the Monty Python collective. Cleese considers himself more of a screenwriter than an actor, despite his famous performances. He begins his story with his first public failure on a school stage, then chronicles how his creative work evolved over the decades. Throughout the book, he quotes extensively from his legendary sketches and includes lesser known scenes, some of which never reached audiences. Cleese approaches his life story with the same sharp intelligence and insight that marked his comedy career. Rather than simply entertaining readers, he enriches them with his observations about the craft of comedy and the experiences that shaped his artistic development.
Genres: biography, autobiography, memoir, comedy
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: memoir, personal-development
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
440 pages · Paperback · Planeta