Read more about the condition New: A new, unread, unused book in perfect condition with no missing or damaged pages. The second 'half' of the book moves away from the detail of the man's personal life somewhat and refers more and more to his professional achievements. His upbringing was not ideal, but his willingness to grew in understanding of those who mistreated him shows him to be compassionate.

He says he wrote it by dictating it and that really comes across, and also is the best medium for him to spin his yarns. Due to his debilitating illness, the poor old bloke is so obviously struggling to read and articulate his thoughts, it is simply too sad for me to listen to. I have seen him a couple of times in concert at Hammersmith, London and have watched most of his TV work but only a few of the films he has been in. There is a water stain to the top corner on the reverse side of the dustwrapper and a corresponding stain to the boards (not affecting the content). Not entirely unaided, though, for he acknowledges the camaraderie of camping mates and biker gangs where he discovered three things: he could make others laugh, be funny without jokes and the west of Scotland cultural experience was valid subject matter.However, and at the risk of sounding morbid, this is essentially Connolly’s final written testament: the ultimate account of his extraordinary life, recorded for posterity.

As with many people of a certain age, the pandemic provided the opportunity for reflection and the time to sit down and think about their lives. Pamela's writing combines the very personal with a frank objectivity that makes for a compelling, moving and hugely entertaining biography. In 2007 and again in 2010, he was voted the greatest stand-up comic on Channel 4's 100 Greatest Stand-Ups. Young Billy, possessed of “a face that would get you a scone at every door”, was forced to wear wool swimming trunks. I highly recommend listening to the audio version, especially since Billy has retired from stand up - it feels like a treat to be able to spend nearly 9 hours in his company listening to his stories again.Unfortunately Billy's clip from "Retying the Knot" on youTube clip has been removed so I can't share it with you.

He discovers he has a gift for making people laugh through his storytelling, a skill he gets to practice on stage before and in between gigs as a banjo and guitar player. His comedy is about real-life situations that we've all been through or things our relatives, particularly our mums and dads have said to us when we were young. A little bit of the Psychology from Pam about why Billy is who he is, but still, if you are a fan, a must in the reading cannon. Not a bad bio, not much in the laughs department, considering the subject, but some interesting facts that I didn't know from all the interviews etc. Like Billy, I really only need one book that I can read every month and it will be like reading a new book each time as my information retention is pretty useless.In his first full-length memoir, the best-loved actor and comedian regales tales from his tragic childhood, alongside upbeat anecdotes about everything from his time on the Glaswegian shipyards to his comedy routines, Born On A Rainy Day series, and battles with cancer and Parkinson's Disease . The darling, hilarious, flamboyant Billy Connolly, first seen by me as the "new teacher" on Head of the Class, later giving life to favorites like King Fergus of Dunbroch, John Brown, and of course Billy Bones- the only person to die in a Muppet movie!

I read this book in just two days (and could have possibly completed it in one), it was so enjoyable and engrossing I didn’t want to put it down. Without this psychic armour, Billy might never have made it out of the gloomy Glasgow tenement flat he’d grown up in and which he describes so well in the early chapters of the book. It’s an attitude of mind that runs throughout the book, fueling his success first as a musician (a career I knew nothing about) and then as often outrageous and daring stand-up comic. There is a lot of swearing – and while that can jar somewhat when seen on paper, it fits so perfectly with Billy Connolly’s personality, and his Glaswegian upbringing. In a 1999 interview with “The Sunday Herald” Connolly condemned the SNP as “racist” and the new Scottish parliament as a “joke”.I have to admit that the constant allusion to famous people, the casual remarks about having dinner with so and so etc. You'll be laughing on the other side of your face in a minute" or "If you fall off that wall and break your legs, don't come running to me"). What set him apart however was his comedic talent - his ability to hold an audience, tell jokes and stories that set him on the path to fame and fortune. He also tells hilarious bits from his comedy shows, behind the scene info on movies, and is generally just someone you would love to sit down with and talk to- and that's what this book feels like.