Just awesome political satire, 29 Oct 2000
Whether they are summing up our feelings about politics, racism, banking, Europe or the post-office, Bird and Fortune are just hilarious. Every sketch is a marvellous combination of planning and improv and has me in fits of laughter every time I play it.

Just awesome political satire, 29 Oct 2000
Whether they are summing up our feelings about politics, racism, banking, Europe or the post-office, Bird and Fortune are just hilarious. Every sketch is a marvellous combination of planning and improv and has me in fits of laughter every time I play it.

Hilarious satirical interviews, 19 Nov 1999
This is a very funny tape of Bird and Fortune interviews from the Rory Bremner programme. It is a very good selection, including 'The Post Office' and 'Lady Pamela Parr' which are some of my best ones.

Just awesome political satire, 29 Oct 2000
Whether they are summing up our feelings about politics, racism, banking, Europe or the post-office, Bird and Fortune are just hilarious. Every sketch is a marvellous combination of planning and improv and has me in fits of laughter every time I play it.

Just awesome political satire, 29 Oct 2000
Whether they are summing up our feelings about politics, racism, banking, Europe or the post-office, Bird and Fortune are just hilarious. Every sketch is a marvellous combination of planning and improv and has me in fits of laughter every time I play it.

Hilarious satirical interviews, 19 Nov 1999
This is a very funny tape of Bird and Fortune interviews from the Rory Bremner programme. It is a very good selection, including 'The Post Office' and 'Lady Pamela Parr' which are some of my best ones.

Fascinating and very witty, 20 Jan 2008
What a fascinating character!

One of those books that I was reluctant to finish as the last page drew nearer.

Prior to reading this book I only knew Peter Ustinov as the delightful character Hercule Poirot in Agatha Christie films. But I learned that he had a very long career in the theatre and that his talents seemed to include almost all areas in it.

His background alone makes for interesting reading. He is the child of Russian immigrants who settled in England but his (very talented) ancestors came from far and wide and included countries such as Ethiopia and Israel.

Parts of the book is written in the style of a soul searching dialogue between Peter Ustinov and himself, hence the title. He makes some insightful comments about life and the world. In general throughout the book I was struck by what appears to be the extreme intelligence of someone who oddly enough did not do well in school.

Many parts of the book are pure entertainment. I laughed aloud in many places. His descriptions of his eccentric relatives, his experiences in the army, how he dealt with rebellious students at Durham university are all very funny.

I can recommend this book. It is highly entertaining and amusing. But it also contains some insightful observations by a highly intelligent, observant and unique personality.


good car talk, 17 Apr 2003
Why i bought this i dont know.I put it in the car and the trip flew in.He has the sort of voice that relaxes you and makes time fly.

Just awesome political satire, 29 Oct 2000
Whether they are summing up our feelings about politics, racism, banking, Europe or the post-office, Bird and Fortune are just hilarious. Every sketch is a marvellous combination of planning and improv and has me in fits of laughter every time I play it.

Just awesome political satire, 29 Oct 2000
Whether they are summing up our feelings about politics, racism, banking, Europe or the post-office, Bird and Fortune are just hilarious. Every sketch is a marvellous combination of planning and improv and has me in fits of laughter every time I play it.

Hilarious satirical interviews, 19 Nov 1999
This is a very funny tape of Bird and Fortune interviews from the Rory Bremner programme. It is a very good selection, including 'The Post Office' and 'Lady Pamela Parr' which are some of my best ones.

Fascinating and very witty, 20 Jan 2008
What a fascinating character!

One of those books that I was reluctant to finish as the last page drew nearer.

Prior to reading this book I only knew Peter Ustinov as the delightful character Hercule Poirot in Agatha Christie films. But I learned that he had a very long career in the theatre and that his talents seemed to include almost all areas in it.

His background alone makes for interesting reading. He is the child of Russian immigrants who settled in England but his (very talented) ancestors came from far and wide and included countries such as Ethiopia and Israel.

Parts of the book is written in the style of a soul searching dialogue between Peter Ustinov and himself, hence the title. He makes some insightful comments about life and the world. In general throughout the book I was struck by what appears to be the extreme intelligence of someone who oddly enough did not do well in school.

Many parts of the book are pure entertainment. I laughed aloud in many places. His descriptions of his eccentric relatives, his experiences in the army, how he dealt with rebellious students at Durham university are all very funny.

I can recommend this book. It is highly entertaining and amusing. But it also contains some insightful observations by a highly intelligent, observant and unique personality.


good car talk, 17 Apr 2003
Why i bought this i dont know.I put it in the car and the trip flew in.He has the sort of voice that relaxes you and makes time fly.

Just awesome political satire, 29 Oct 2000
Whether they are summing up our feelings about politics, racism, banking, Europe or the post-office, Bird and Fortune are just hilarious. Every sketch is a marvellous combination of planning and improv and has me in fits of laughter every time I play it.

Just awesome political satire, 29 Oct 2000
Whether they are summing up our feelings about politics, racism, banking, Europe or the post-office, Bird and Fortune are just hilarious. Every sketch is a marvellous combination of planning and improv and has me in fits of laughter every time I play it.

Hilarious satirical interviews, 19 Nov 1999
This is a very funny tape of Bird and Fortune interviews from the Rory Bremner programme. It is a very good selection, including 'The Post Office' and 'Lady Pamela Parr' which are some of my best ones.

"Here's a fact for you. According to the latest "Abstract of the United States", every year more than 400,00 Americans suffer injuries involving beds, mattresses or pillows...That is more people than live in greater Coventry. That is almost 2,000 bed, mattress or pillow injuries a day. In the time it takes you to read this article, four Americans will somehow manage to be wounded by their bedding."

Fans of Bill Bryson will know by now that this is the kind of completely useless information that gets him excited. In fact, you are unlikely to read anyone else who derives quite so much pleasure from meaningless statistics. If those statistics are about the USA (Bryson's homeland) or his adopted England--or even better, comparing one to the other--then he is in heaven. And it is not only the uselessness of the information that interests him, but also the fact that Americans spend millions of dollars and hours each year collecting such data together.

Though not a match for his earlier success of Notes from a Small Island, Notes from a Big Country takes a good second place. It collects together more than 18 months worth of Mail on Sunday columns which Bryson wrote between October 1996 and May 1998 after he and his English wife and children returned to the US and settled in New England. The only thing that outshines his amazement--and sometimes, outright dismay--at the way American society has changed while he's been away, is his English-born family's instant embracing of transatlantic culture.

A word of warning: reading Bill Bryson is not a spectator sport...you are invited-- in fact, compelled--to marvel at how the nation that "has the largest economy, the most comfortably off people, the best research facilities, many of the finest universities and think-tanks, and more Nobel Prize winners than the rest of the world put together" could be the same nation where "13 per cent of women...cannot say whether they wear their tights under their knickers or over them. That's something like 12 million women walking around in a state of chronic foundation garment uncertainty." This is Bryson at his best, and though not every column inch hits the heady heights of underwear distribution, there are enough laugh-out-loud moments to keep you satisfied.

Detractors of Bryson's work complain all his books are the same, yet dedicated followers cite that very uniformity of style and subject as the reason they return, book after book. Anyone disappointed by A Walk in the Woods (Bryson's account of hiking the Appalachian Trail and not his best book) will have their faith restored by Notes from a Big Country-- here Bryson returns to his favourite subject and the simple, journalistic prose that makes his wacky facts and observations instantly accessible.

Bryson does not pretend to deliver an intellectual treatise on the state of mankind; instead he offers one man's take on how humanity lurches from one day to another--ironically through the kinds of details he mocks others for collecting. --Lucie Naylor

Just awesome political satire, 29 Oct 2000
Whether they are summing up our feelings about politics, racism, banking, Europe or the post-office, Bird and Fortune are just hilarious. Every sketch is a marvellous combination of planning and improv and has me in fits of laughter every time I play it.

Just awesome political satire, 29 Oct 2000
Whether they are summing up our feelings about politics, racism, banking, Europe or the post-office, Bird and Fortune are just hilarious. Every sketch is a marvellous combination of planning and improv and has me in fits of laughter every time I play it.

Hilarious satirical interviews, 19 Nov 1999
This is a very funny tape of Bird and Fortune interviews from the Rory Bremner programme. It is a very good selection, including 'The Post Office' and 'Lady Pamela Parr' which are some of my best ones.

Fascinating and very witty, 20 Jan 2008
What a fascinating character!

One of those books that I was reluctant to finish as the last page drew nearer.

Prior to reading this book I only knew Peter Ustinov as the delightful character Hercule Poirot in Agatha Christie films. But I learned that he had a very long career in the theatre and that his talents seemed to include almost all areas in it.

His background alone makes for interesting reading. He is the child of Russian immigrants who settled in England but his (very talented) ancestors came from far and wide and included countries such as Ethiopia and Israel.

Parts of the book is written in the style of a soul searching dialogue between Peter Ustinov and himself, hence the title. He makes some insightful comments about life and the world. In general throughout the book I was struck by what appears to be the extreme intelligence of someone who oddly enough did not do well in school.

Many parts of the book are pure entertainment. I laughed aloud in many places. His descriptions of his eccentric relatives, his experiences in the army, how he dealt with rebellious students at Durham university are all very funny.

I can recommend this book. It is highly entertaining and amusing. But it also contains some insightful observations by a highly intelligent, observant and unique personality.


good car talk, 17 Apr 2003
Why i bought this i dont know.I put it in the car and the trip flew in.He has the sort of voice that relaxes you and makes time fly.

Just awesome political satire, 29 Oct 2000
Whether they are summing up our feelings about politics, racism, banking, Europe or the post-office, Bird and Fortune are just hilarious. Every sketch is a marvellous combination of planning and improv and has me in fits of laughter every time I play it.

Just awesome political satire, 29 Oct 2000
Whether they are summing up our feelings about politics, racism, banking, Europe or the post-office, Bird and Fortune are just hilarious. Every sketch is a marvellous combination of planning and improv and has me in fits of laughter every time I play it.

Hilarious satirical interviews, 19 Nov 1999
This is a very funny tape of Bird and Fortune interviews from the Rory Bremner programme. It is a very good selection, including 'The Post Office' and 'Lady Pamela Parr' which are some of my best ones.

Sheer brilliance, 20 Jun 2008
This is guaranteed to put a smile on virtually anyone's face.

Bryson's dry humour & witty observations of life's absurdity coupled with Kerry Shale's excellent delivery make this an easy winner.

The basic material is also very interesting so a wining combination all round.

I had this in the car & found myself sitting listening to it long after I had arrived at my destination - it's that good!

One of our fave honorary Brits goes home for a bit ..., 14 Apr 2008
Another tome of brilliantly sparkling gems from Bill Bryson. What I found funniest was that his wife and family, all born and raised in England, appeared to find American life like being let loose in a toyshop - reveling in becoming optimistic Americans. Whereas our Bill has absorbed so much Britishness in his twenty years here he has become an honorary Brit! This makes his exasperation with queuing, bad shop assistants, and bureaucracy of the US kind even funnier than ever. In some of the columns he tries to be more positive and these, as he admits, are the more sentimental. Would that each of the pieces were double the length though - I got through the pages just too fast.

Great read!, 01 Oct 2007
This title was chosen by my book club as this month's title & I was dreading reading it, as my previous encounter with Mr Bryson was 'A Short History of Nearly Everything' which I hated. I was really surprised how much I enjoyed this book. It has many laugh out loud moments like Bill's hatred of the barbers & love of motels & the US Postal Services' Customer Day. The 4 page chapters are ideal as he get's to cover a wide range of topics. From reading this I will definitely try some of Bryson's other titles. A great read.

A very funny, very clever, very snappy read., 09 Aug 2007
Bill Bryson has a somewhat unique point of view for writing a book on American life, born in America but living a long time in England before returning to America with his English wife and children. The result was a regular series of newspaper articles (unsure what newspaper) which are collected together here.
The articles are observant, witty, and wonderfully funny. Bryson is so normal and easy to relate to that the articles are infectiously funny, his strange obsessions and neuroses are not only hilarious but also quite sweet and infinitely endearing. His unique take on American life is what really drives the book since there's no continuous narrative of any kind due to the episodic structure.
I can't really describe the book in any particular detail except to say that this is something very funny that more than once an article is guaranteed to cripple you with laughter. You should really give this a try, you won't regret it.

Glad i live in Britain., 13 Jun 2007
Bill Bryson is a genius writer and yet again he has delivered entertainment and boredom relief in this book.I read it in a succession of three quarter hour work breaks - and the four page bite size chapters(78 in all)are ideal as you can always finish looking forward to a new chapter the next time you pick the book up.
Each story was originally an weekly article for a newspaper that Bill was roped into writing - but he will refer back to previous chapters as the book progresses.
The hilarious stories are about the frustrations and exasperation's and idiosyncrasies of living in the USA compared to when he lived here in the UK.Bill almost underplays himself making you realize that despite his fame and fortune he is a normal down to earth guy who struggles in life just like you and i.....Fantastic!.I'm gonna read another Bill Bryson book now!....whey hey!.

Just awesome political satire, 29 Oct 2000
Whether they are summing up our feelings about politics, racism, banking, Europe or the post-office, Bird and Fortune are just hilarious. Every sketch is a marvellous combination of planning and improv and has me in fits of laughter every time I play it.

Just awesome political satire, 29 Oct 2000
Whether they are summing up our feelings about politics, racism, banking, Europe or the post-office, Bird and Fortune are just hilarious. Every sketch is a marvellous combination of planning and improv and has me in fits of laughter every time I play it.

Hilarious satirical interviews, 19 Nov 1999
This is a very funny tape of Bird and Fortune interviews from the Rory Bremner programme. It is a very good selection, including 'The Post Office' and 'Lady Pamela Parr' which are some of my best ones.

Fascinating and very witty, 20 Jan 2008
What a fascinating character!

One of those books that I was reluctant to finish as the last page drew nearer.

Prior to reading this book I only knew Peter Ustinov as the delightful character Hercule Poirot in Agatha Christie films. But I learned that he had a very long career in the theatre and that his talents seemed to include almost all areas in it.

His background alone makes for interesting reading. He is the child of Russian immigrants who settled in England but his (very talented) ancestors came from far and wide and included countries such as Ethiopia and Israel.

Parts of the book is written in the style of a soul searching dialogue between Peter Ustinov and himself, hence the title. He makes some insightful comments about life and the world. In general throughout the book I was struck by what appears to be the extreme intelligence of someone who oddly enough did not do well in school.

Many parts of the book are pure entertainment. I laughed aloud in many places. His descriptions of his eccentric relatives, his experiences in the army, how he dealt with rebellious students at Durham university are all very funny.

I can recommend this book. It is highly entertaining and amusing. But it also contains some insightful observations by a highly intelligent, observant and unique personality.


good car talk, 17 Apr 2003
Why i bought this i dont know.I put it in the car and the trip flew in.He has the sort of voice that relaxes you and makes time fly.

Just awesome political satire, 29 Oct 2000
Whether they are summing up our feelings about politics, racism, banking, Europe or the post-office, Bird and Fortune are just hilarious. Every sketch is a marvellous combination of planning and improv and has me in fits of laughter every time I play it.

Just awesome political satire, 29 Oct 2000
Whether they are summing up our feelings about politics, racism, banking, Europe or the post-office, Bird and Fortune are just hilarious. Every sketch is a marvellous combination of planning and improv and has me in fits of laughter every time I play it.

Hilarious satirical interviews, 19 Nov 1999
This is a very funny tape of Bird and Fortune interviews from the Rory Bremner programme. It is a very good selection, including 'The Post Office' and 'Lady Pamela Parr' which are some of my best ones.

Sheer brilliance, 20 Jun 2008
This is guaranteed to put a smile on virtually anyone's face.

Bryson's dry humour & witty observations of life's absurdity coupled with Kerry Shale's excellent delivery make this an easy winner.

The basic material is also very interesting so a wining combination all round.

I had this in the car & found myself sitting listening to it long after I had arrived at my destination - it's that good!

One of our fave honorary Brits goes home for a bit ..., 14 Apr 2008
Another tome of brilliantly sparkling gems from Bill Bryson. What I found funniest was that his wife and family, all born and raised in England, appeared to find American life like being let loose in a toyshop - reveling in becoming optimistic Americans. Whereas our Bill has absorbed so much Britishness in his twenty years here he has become an honorary Brit! This makes his exasperation with queuing, bad shop assistants, and bureaucracy of the US kind even funnier than ever. In some of the columns he tries to be more positive and these, as he admits, are the more sentimental. Would that each of the pieces were double the length though - I got through the pages just too fast.

Great read!, 01 Oct 2007
This title was chosen by my book club as this month's title & I was dreading reading it, as my previous encounter with Mr Bryson was 'A Short History of Nearly Everything' which I hated. I was really surprised how much I enjoyed this book. It has many laugh out loud moments like Bill's hatred of the barbers & love of motels & the US Postal Services' Customer Day. The 4 page chapters are ideal as he get's to cover a wide range of topics. From reading this I will definitely try some of Bryson's other titles. A great read.

A very funny, very clever, very snappy read., 09 Aug 2007
Bill Bryson has a somewhat unique point of view for writing a book on American life, born in America but living a long time in England before returning to America with his English wife and children. The result was a regular series of newspaper articles (unsure what newspaper) which are collected together here.
The articles are observant, witty, and wonderfully funny. Bryson is so normal and easy to relate to that the articles are infectiously funny, his strange obsessions and neuroses are not only hilarious but also quite sweet and infinitely endearing. His unique take on American life is what really drives the book since there's no continuous narrative of any kind due to the episodic structure.
I can't really describe the book in any particular detail except to say that this is something very funny that more than once an article is guaranteed to cripple you with laughter. You should really give this a try, you won't regret it.

Glad i live in Britain., 13 Jun 2007
Bill Bryson is a genius writer and yet again he has delivered entertainment and boredom relief in this book.I read it in a succession of three quarter hour work breaks - and the four page bite size chapters(78 in all)are ideal as you can always finish looking forward to a new chapter the next time you pick the book up.
Each story was originally an weekly article for a newspaper that Bill was roped into writing - but he will refer back to previous chapters as the book progresses.
The hilarious stories are about the frustrations and exasperation's and idiosyncrasies of living in the USA compared to when he lived here in the UK.Bill almost underplays himself making you realize that despite his fame and fortune he is a normal down to earth guy who struggles in life just like you and i.....Fantastic!.I'm gonna read another Bill Bryson book now!....whey hey!.

Just awesome political satire, 29 Oct 2000
Whether they are summing up our feelings about politics, racism, banking, Europe or the post-office, Bird and Fortune are just hilarious. Every sketch is a marvellous combination of planning and improv and has me in fits of laughter every time I play it.

Just awesome political satire, 29 Oct 2000
Whether they are summing up our feelings about politics, racism, banking, Europe or the post-office, Bird and Fortune are just hilarious. Every sketch is a marvellous combination of planning and improv and has me in fits of laughter every time I play it.

Hilarious satirical interviews, 19 Nov 1999
This is a very funny tape of Bird and Fortune interviews from the Rory Bremner programme. It is a very good selection, including 'The Post Office' and 'Lady Pamela Parr' which are some of my best ones.

Just awesome political satire, 29 Oct 2000
Whether they are summing up our feelings about politics, racism, banking, Europe or the post-office, Bird and Fortune are just hilarious. Every sketch is a marvellous combination of planning and improv and has me in fits of laughter every time I play it.

Just awesome political satire, 29 Oct 2000
Whether they are summing up our feelings about politics, racism, banking, Europe or the post-office, Bird and Fortune are just hilarious. Every sketch is a marvellous combination of planning and improv and has me in fits of laughter every time I play it.

Hilarious satirical interviews, 19 Nov 1999
This is a very funny tape of Bird and Fortune interviews from the Rory Bremner programme. It is a very good selection, including 'The Post Office' and 'Lady Pamela Parr' which are some of my best ones.

Fascinating and very witty, 20 Jan 2008
What a fascinating character!

One of those books that I was reluctant to finish as the last page drew nearer.

Prior to reading this book I only knew Peter Ustinov as the delightful character Hercule Poirot in Agatha Christie films. But I learned that he had a very long career in the theatre and that his talents seemed to include almost all areas in it.

His background alone makes for interesting reading. He is the child of Russian immigrants who settled in England but his (very talented) ancestors came from far and wide and included countries such as Ethiopia and Israel.

Parts of the book is written in the style of a soul searching dialogue between Peter Ustinov and himself, hence the title. He makes some insightful comments about life and the world. In general throughout the book I was struck by what appears to be the extreme intelligence of someone who oddly enough did not do well in school.

Many parts of the book are pure entertainment. I laughed aloud in many places. His descriptions of his eccentric relatives, his experiences in the army, how he dealt with rebellious students at Durham university are all very funny.

I can recommend this book. It is highly entertaining and amusing. But it also contains some insightful observations by a highly intelligent, observant and unique personality.


good car talk, 17 Apr 2003
Why i bought this i dont know.I put it in the car and the trip flew in.He has the sort of voice that relaxes you and makes time fly.

Just awesome political satire, 29 Oct 2000
Whether they are summing up our feelings about politics, racism, banking, Europe or the post-office, Bird and Fortune are just hilarious. Every sketch is a marvellous combination of planning and improv and has me in fits of laughter every time I play it.

Just awesome political satire, 29 Oct 2000
Whether they are summing up our feelings about politics, racism, banking, Europe or the post-office, Bird and Fortune are just hilarious. Every sketch is a marvellous combination of planning and improv and has me in fits of laughter every time I play it.

Hilarious satirical interviews, 19 Nov 1999
This is a very funny tape of Bird and Fortune interviews from the Rory Bremner programme. It is a very good selection, including 'The Post Office' and 'Lady Pamela Parr' which are some of my best ones.

Sheer brilliance, 20 Jun 2008
This is guaranteed to put a smile on virtually anyone's face.

Bryson's dry humour & witty observations of life's absurdity coupled with Kerry Shale's excellent delivery make this an easy winner.

The basic material is also very interesting so a wining combination all round.

I had this in the car & found myself sitting listening to it long after I had arrived at my destination - it's that good!

One of our fave honorary Brits goes home for a bit ..., 14 Apr 2008
Another tome of brilliantly sparkling gems from Bill Bryson. What I found funniest was that his wife and family, all born and raised in England, appeared to find American life like being let loose in a toyshop - reveling in becoming optimistic Americans. Whereas our Bill has absorbed so much Britishness in his twenty years here he has become an honorary Brit! This makes his exasperation with queuing, bad shop assistants, and bureaucracy of the US kind even funnier than ever. In some of the columns he tries to be more positive and these, as he admits, are the more sentimental. Would that each of the pieces were double the length though - I got through the pages just too fast.

Great read!, 01 Oct 2007
This title was chosen by my book club as this month's title & I was dreading reading it, as my previous encounter with Mr Bryson was 'A Short History of Nearly Everything' which I hated. I was really surprised how much I enjoyed this book. It has many laugh out loud moments like Bill's hatred of the barbers & love of motels & the US Postal Services' Customer Day. The 4 page chapters are ideal as he get's to cover a wide range of topics. From reading this I will definitely try some of Bryson's other titles. A great read.

A very funny, very clever, very snappy read., 09 Aug 2007
Bill Bryson has a somewhat unique point of view for writing a book on American life, born in America but living a long time in England before returning to America with his English wife and children. The result was a regular series of newspaper articles (unsure what newspaper) which are collected together here.
The articles are observant, witty, and wonderfully funny. Bryson is so normal and easy to relate to that the articles are infectiously funny, his strange obsessions and neuroses are not only hilarious but also quite sweet and infinitely endearing. His unique take on American life is what really drives the book since there's no continuous narrative of any kind due to the episodic structure.
I can't really describe the book in any particular detail except to say that this is something very funny that more than once an article is guaranteed to cripple you with laughter. You should really give this a try, you won't regret it.

Glad i live in Britain., 13 Jun 2007
Bill Bryson is a genius writer and yet again he has delivered entertainment and boredom relief in this book.I read it in a succession of three quarter hour work breaks - and the four page bite size chapters(78 in all)are ideal as you can always finish looking forward to a new chapter the next time you pick the book up.
Each story was originally an weekly article for a newspaper that Bill was roped into writing - but he will refer back to previous chapters as the book progresses.
The hilarious stories are about the frustrations and exasperation's and idiosyncrasies of living in the USA compared to when he lived here in the UK.Bill almost underplays himself making you realize that despite his fame and fortune he is a normal down to earth guy who struggles in life just like you and i.....Fantastic!.I'm gonna read another Bill Bryson book now!....whey hey!.

Just awesome political satire, 29 Oct 2000
Whether they are summing up our feelings about politics, racism, banking, Europe or the post-office, Bird and Fortune are just hilarious. Every sketch is a marvellous combination of planning and improv and has me in fits of laughter every time I play it.

Just awesome political satire, 29 Oct 2000
Whether they are summing up our feelings about politics, racism, banking, Europe or the post-office, Bird and Fortune are just hilarious. Every sketch is a marvellous combination of planning and improv and has me in fits of laughter every time I play it.

Hilarious satirical interviews, 19 Nov 1999
This is a very funny tape of Bird and Fortune interviews from the Rory Bremner programme. It is a very good selection, including 'The Post Office' and 'Lady Pamela Parr' which are some of my best ones.

Better than life, indeedy, 21 Nov 2005
Based on Better Than Life, this is the follow on 12 part series written for BBC Radio. Chris Barrie does a much better job than Grant Naylor has in previous readings, you can tell the latter is an author rather than an actor. Even if you choose the unabridged versions of Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers and Better Than Life, I strongly recommend the Chris Barrie versions after listening to this.

Audio book FINALLY up to scratch, 14 Nov 2004
Okay, okay. So it's not the entire thing. Admitted. But it's still great.
And let's face it, anything narrated by Chris Barrie would be great. But this is the VERY FIRST red dwarf book, argueably the best Red Dwarf book (if not simply the best BOOK full stop) and although the sound effects aren't cinema quality, they're funny and 'Rimmer' makes it even more so.
Great buy, great Audio book - smegging great!

Its still good, 19 Oct 1999
Well, it is most of the first RD book (Infinity welcomes careful drivers) as read by Chris Barrie with some sound effects... I only wish it was the full book!

Just awesome political satire, 29 Oct 2000
Whether they are summing up our feelings about politics, racism, banking, Europe or the post-office, Bird and Fortune are just hilarious. Every sketch is a marvellous combination of planning and improv and has me in fits of laughter every time I play it.

Just awesome political satire, 29 Oct 2000
Whether they are summing up our feelings about politics, racism, banking, Europe or the post-office, Bird and Fortune are just hilarious. Every sketch is a marvellous combination of planning and improv and has me in fits of laughter every time I play it.

Hilarious satirical interviews, 19 Nov 1999
This is a very funny tape of Bird and Fortune interviews from the Rory Bremner programme. It is a very good selection, including 'The Post Office' and 'Lady Pamela Parr' which are some of my best ones.

Fascinating and very witty, 20 Jan 2008
What a fascinating character!

One of those books that I was reluctant to finish as the last page drew nearer.

Prior to reading this book I only knew Peter Ustinov as the delightful character Hercule Poirot in Agatha Christie films. But I learned that he had a very long career in the theatre and that his talents seemed to include almost all areas in it.

His background alone makes for interesting reading. He is the child of Russian immigrants who settled in England but his (very talented) ancestors came from far and wide and included countries such as Ethiopia and Israel.

Parts of the book is written in the style of a soul searching dialogue between Peter Ustinov and himself, hence the title. He makes some insightful comments about life and the world. In general throughout the book I was struck by what appears to be the extreme intelligence of someone who oddly enough did not do well in school.

Many parts of the book are pure entertainment. I laughed aloud in many places. His descriptions of his eccentric relatives, his experiences in the army, how he dealt with rebellious students at Durham university are all very funny.

I can recommend this book. It is highly entertaining and amusing. But it also contains some insightful observations by a highly intelligent, observant and unique personality.


good car talk, 17 Apr 2003
Why i bought this i dont know.I put it in the car and the trip flew in.He has the sort of voice that relaxes you and makes time fly.

Just awesome political satire, 29 Oct 2000
Whether they are summing up our feelings about politics, racism, banking, Europe or the post-office, Bird and Fortune are just hilarious. Every sketch is a marvellous combination of planning and improv and has me in fits of laughter every time I play it.

Just awesome political satire, 29 Oct 2000
Whether they are summing up our feelings about politics, racism, banking, Europe or the post-office, Bird and Fortune are just hilarious. Every sketch is a marvellous combination of planning and improv and has me in fits of laughter every time I play it.

Hilarious satirical interviews, 19 Nov 1999
This is a very funny tape of Bird and Fortune interviews from the Rory Bremner programme. It is a very good selection, including 'The Post Office' and 'Lady Pamela Parr' which are some of my best ones.

Sheer brilliance, 20 Jun 2008
This is guaranteed to put a smile on virtually anyone's face.

Bryson's dry humour & witty observations of life's absurdity coupled with Kerry Shale's excellent delivery make this an easy winner.

The basic material is also very interesting so a wining combination all round.

I had this in the car & found myself sitting listening to it long after I had arrived at my destination - it's that good!

One of our fave honorary Brits goes home for a bit ..., 14 Apr 2008
Another tome of brilliantly sparkling gems from Bill Bryson. What I found funniest was that his wife and family, all born and raised in England, appeared to find American life like being let loose in a toyshop - reveling in becoming optimistic Americans. Whereas our Bill has absorbed so much Britishness in his twenty years here he has become an honorary Brit! This makes his exasperation with queuing, bad shop assistants, and bureaucracy of the US kind even funnier than ever. In some of the columns he tries to be more positive and these, as he admits, are the more sentimental. Would that each of the pieces were double the length though - I got through the pages just too fast.

Great read!, 01 Oct 2007
This title was chosen by my book club as this month's title & I was dreading reading it, as my previous encounter with Mr Bryson was 'A Short History of Nearly Everything' which I hated. I was really surprised how much I enjoyed this book. It has many laugh out loud moments like Bill's hatred of the barbers & love of motels & the US Postal Services' Customer Day. The 4 page chapters are ideal as he get's to cover a wide range of topics. From reading this I will definitely try some of Bryson's other titles. A great read.

A very funny, very clever, very snappy read., 09 Aug 2007
Bill Bryson has a somewhat unique point of view for writing a book on American life, born in America but living a long time in England before returning to America with his English wife and children. The result was a regular series of newspaper articles (unsure what newspaper) which are collected together here.
The articles are observant, witty, and wonderfully funny. Bryson is so normal and easy to relate to that the articles are infectiously funny, his strange obsessions and neuroses are not only hilarious but also quite sweet and infinitely endearing. His unique take on American life is what really drives the book since there's no continuous narrative of any kind due to the episodic structure.
I can't really describe the book in any particular detail except to say that this is something very funny that more than once an article is guaranteed to cripple you with laughter. You should really give this a try, you won't regret it.

Glad i live in Britain., 13 Jun 2007
Bill Bryson is a genius writer and yet again he has delivered entertainment and boredom relief in this book.I read it in a succession of three quarter hour work breaks - and the four page bite size chapters(78 in all)are ideal as you can always finish looking forward to a new chapter the next time you pick the book up.
Each story was originally an weekly article for a newspaper that Bill was roped into writing - but he will refer back to previous chapters as the book progresses.
The hilarious stories are about the frustrations and exasperation's and idiosyncrasies of living in the USA compared to when he lived here in the UK.Bill almost underplays himself making you realize that despite his fame and fortune he is a normal down to earth guy who struggles in life just like you and i.....Fantastic!.I'm gonna read another Bill Bryson book now!....whey hey!.

Just awesome political satire, 29 Oct 2000
Whether they are summing up our feelings about politics, racism, banking, Europe or the post-office, Bird and Fortune are just hilarious. Every sketch is a marvellous combination of planning and improv and has me in fits of laughter every time I play it.

Just awesome political satire, 29 Oct 2000
Whether they are summing up our feelings about politics, racism, banking, Europe or the post-office, Bird and Fortune are just hilarious. Every sketch is a marvellous combination of planning and improv and has me in fits of laughter every time I play it.

Hilarious satirical interviews, 19 Nov 1999
This is a very funny tape of Bird and Fortune interviews from the Rory Bremner programme. It is a very good selection, including 'The Post Office' and 'Lady Pamela Parr' which are some of my best ones.

Better than life, indeedy, 21 Nov 2005
Based on Better Than Life, this is the follow on 12 part series written for BBC Radio. Chris Barrie does a much better job than Grant Naylor has in previous readings, you can tell the latter is an author rather than an actor. Even if you choose the unabridged versions of Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers and Better Than Life, I strongly recommend the Chris Barrie versions after listening to this.

Audio book FINALLY up to scratch, 14 Nov 2004
Okay, okay. So it's not the entire thing. Admitted. But it's still great.
And let's face it, anything narrated by Chris Barrie would be great. But this is the VERY FIRST red dwarf book, argueably the best Red Dwarf book (if not simply the best BOOK full stop) and although the sound effects aren't cinema quality, they're funny and 'Rimmer' makes it even more so.
Great buy, great Audio book - smegging great!

Its still good, 19 Oct 1999
Well, it is most of the first RD book (Infinity welcomes careful drivers) as read by Chris Barrie with some sound effects... I only wish it was the full book!

Better than the tv series, 04 Nov 2000
Spanning about six episodes (which I can recognise) of the TV series, this book is simply a must, You can keep the voice of the ORIGINAL talkie toaster in your head as you read it and not the new thing they got for series 4. The jokes are funnier its better structered, just better genrally...

Very "listenable", 11 Jan 1999
I enjoyed this tape, listening to it after "lights out": I thought Chris Barrie's reproduction of the voices and accents of his co-stars from the TV series was very skilled: it was hard to believe that he was doing it all himself. It is not as zany as the tv series but I found it charmingly imaginative.

There is a lady bountiful quality in Maureen Lipman, her self-assured, fluctuating posh northern intonation suggestive of being a cut above. Even in occasional quandary--getting lost driving out of Guildford on a wet, dark night--the aura of authority is retained.

She proclaims "I seem to spend a great deal of time exchanging witty badinage with people I will never see again or eating suppers I can't taste because afterwards I'm going to have to sing for them", and nostalgically recalls her parents entertaining in Hull. "I know we all have evenings--it's the bit between The Bill and bed... theirs weren't just evenings, they were evenings".

Propensities of family and friends are lucidly and amusingly disclosed, as is--save the odd crudity and matters concerning the cat--talk of dinner parties, hazards of hanging baskets, ostensible attachment for life to a microphone and battery pack by plastic cable ties, wedding presents, underwear, wrinkles and cruises. Maureen Lipman has endured surgery and holistic healing for a tumour, danced with dolphins and thoroughly enjoyed her time playing Aunt Ella in the recent production of Oklahoma, yet there is little palpable warmth in this compendium of memoirs. --Lyn Took (2 cassettes 2hrs 45 mins)

Just awesome political satire, 29 Oct 2000
Whether they are summing up our feelings about politics, racism, banking, Europe or the post-office, Bird and Fortune are just hilarious. Every sketch is a marvellous combination of planning and improv and has me in fits of laughter every time I play it.

Just awesome political satire, 29 Oct 2000
Whether they are summing up our feelings about politics, racism, banking, Europe or the post-office, Bird and Fortune are just hilarious. Every sketch is a marvellous combination of planning and improv and has me in fits of laughter every time I play it.

Hilarious satirical interviews, 19 Nov 1999
This is a very funny tape of Bird and Fortune interviews from the Rory Bremner programme. It is a very good selection, including 'The Post Office' and 'Lady Pamela Parr' which are some of my best ones.

Fascinating and very witty, 20 Jan 2008
What a fascinating character!

One of those books that I was reluctant to finish as the last page drew nearer.

Prior to reading this book I only knew Peter Ustinov as the delightful character Hercule Poirot in Agatha Christie films. But I learned that he had a very long career in the theatre and that his talents seemed to include almost all areas in it.

His background alone makes for interesting reading. He is the child of Russian immigrants who settled in England but his (very talented) ancestors came from far and wide and included countries such as Ethiopia and Israel.

Parts of the book is written in the style of a soul searching dialogue between Peter Ustinov and himself, hence the title. He makes some insightful comments about life and the world. In general throughout the book I was struck by what appears to be the extreme intelligence of someone who oddly enough did not do well in school.

Many parts of the book are pure entertainment. I laughed aloud in many places. His descriptions of his eccentric relatives, his experiences in the army, how he dealt with rebellious students at Durham university are all very funny.

I can recommend this book. It is highly entertaining and amusing. But it also contains some insightful observations by a highly intelligent, observant and unique personality.


good car talk, 17 Apr 2003
Why i bought this i dont know.I put it in the car and the trip flew in.He has the sort of voice that relaxes you and makes time fly.

Just awesome political satire, 29 Oct 2000
Whether they are summing up our feelings about politics, racism, banking, Europe or the post-office, Bird and Fortune are just hilarious. Every sketch is a marvellous combination of planning and improv and has me in fits of laughter every time I play it.

Just awesome political satire, 29 Oct 2000
Whether they are summing up our feelings about politics, racism, banking, Europe or the post-office, Bird and Fortune are just hilarious. Every sketch is a marvellous combination of planning and improv and has me in fits of laughter every time I play it.

Hilarious satirical interviews, 19 Nov 1999
This is a very funny tape of Bird and Fortune interviews from the Rory Bremner programme. It is a very good selection, including 'The Post Office' and 'Lady Pamela Parr' which are some of my best ones.

Sheer brilliance, 20 Jun 2008
This is guaranteed to put a smile on virtually anyone's face.

Bryson's dry humour & witty observations of life's absurdity coupled with Kerry Shale's excellent delivery make this an easy winner.

The basic material is also very interesting so a wining combination all round.

I had this in the car & found myself sitting listening to it long after I had arrived at my destination - it's that good!

One of our fave honorary Brits goes home for a bit ..., 14 Apr 2008
Another tome of brilliantly sparkling gems from Bill Bryson. What I found funniest was that his wife and family, all born and raised in England, appeared to find American life like being let loose in a toyshop - reveling in becoming optimistic Americans. Whereas our Bill has absorbed so much Britishness in his twenty years here he has become an honorary Brit! This makes his exasperation with queuing, bad shop assistants, and bureaucracy of the US kind even funnier than ever. In some of the columns he tries to be more positive and these, as he admits, are the more sentimental. Would that each of the pieces were double the length though - I got through the pages just too fast.

Great read!, 01 Oct 2007
This title was chosen by my book club as this month's title & I was dreading reading it, as my previous encounter with Mr Bryson was 'A Short History of Nearly Everything' which I hated. I was really surprised how much I enjoyed this book. It has many laugh out loud moments like Bill's hatred of the barbers & love of motels & the US Postal Services' Customer Day. The 4 page chapters are ideal as he get's to cover a wide range of topics. From reading this I will definitely try some of Bryson's other titles. A great read.

A very funny, very clever, very snappy read., 09 Aug 2007
Bill Bryson has a somewhat unique point of view for writing a book on American life, born in America but living a long time in England before returning to America with his English wife and children. The result was a regular series of newspaper articles (unsure what newspaper) which are collected together here.
The articles are observant, witty, and wonderfully funny. Bryson is so normal and easy to relate to that the articles are infectiously funny, his strange obsessions and neuroses are not only hilarious but also quite sweet and infinitely endearing. His unique take on American life is what really drives the book since there's no continuous narrative of any kind due to the episodic structure.
I can't really describe the book in any particular detail except to say that this is something very funny that more than once an article is guaranteed to cripple you with laughter. You should really give this a try, you won't regret it.

Glad i live in Britain., 13 Jun 2007
Bill Bryson is a genius writer and yet again he has delivered entertainment and boredom relief in this book.I read it in a succession of three quarter hour work breaks - and the four page bite size chapters(78 in all)are ideal as you can always finish looking forward to a new chapter the next time you pick the book up.
Each story was originally an weekly article for a newspaper that Bill was roped into writing - but he will refer back to previous chapters as the book progresses.
The hilarious stories are about the frustrations and exasperation's and idiosyncrasies of living in the USA compared to when he lived here in the UK.Bill almost underplays himself making you realize that despite his fame and fortune he is a normal down to earth guy who struggles in life just like you and i.....Fantastic!.I'm gonna read another Bill Bryson book now!....whey hey!.

Just awesome political satire, 29 Oct 2000
Whether they are summing up our feelings about politics, racism, banking, Europe or the post-office, Bird and Fortune are just hilarious. Every sketch is a marvellous combination of planning and improv and has me in fits of laughter every time I play it.

Just awesome political satire, 29 Oct 2000
Whether they are summing up our feelings about politics, racism, banking, Europe or the post-office, Bird and Fortune are just hilarious. Every sketch is a marvellous combination of planning and improv and has me in fits of laughter every time I play it.

Hilarious satirical interviews, 19 Nov 1999
This is a very funny tape of Bird and Fortune interviews from the Rory Bremner programme. It is a very good selection, including 'The Post Office' and 'Lady Pamela Parr' which are some of my best ones.

Better than life, indeedy, 21 Nov 2005
Based on Better Than Life, this is the follow on 12 part series written for BBC Radio. Chris Barrie does a much better job than Grant Naylor has in previous readings, you can tell the latter is an author rather than an actor. Even if you choose the unabridged versions of Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers and Better Than Life, I strongly recommend the Chris Barrie versions after listening to this.

Audio book FINALLY up to scratch, 14 Nov 2004
Okay, okay. So it's not the entire thing. Admitted. But it's still great.
And let's face it, anything narrated by Chris Barrie would be great. But this is the VERY FIRST red dwarf book, argueably the best Red Dwarf book (if not simply the best BOOK full stop) and although the sound effects aren't cinema quality, they're funny and 'Rimmer' makes it even more so.
Great buy, great Audio book - smegging great!

Its still good, 19 Oct 1999
Well, it is most of the first RD book (Infinity welcomes careful drivers) as read by Chris Barrie with some sound effects... I only wish it was the full book!

Better than the tv series, 04 Nov 2000
Spanning about six episodes (which I can recognise) of the TV series, this book is simply a must, You can keep the voice of the ORIGINAL talkie toaster in your head as you read it and not the new thing they got for series 4. The jokes are funnier its better structered, just better genrally...

Very "listenable", 11 Jan 1999
I enjoyed this tape, listening to it after "lights out": I thought Chris Barrie's reproduction of the voices and accents of his co-stars from the TV series was very skilled: it was hard to believe that he was doing it all himself. It is not as zany as the tv series but I found it charmingly imaginative.

"Mo" Fun Than Ever!, 26 Feb 2002
Lip Reading is the most recent Lipman autobiography to date and arguably the best, full of ridiculous (but true) anecdotes and observations which demonstrate that not only can she deliver a funny line, she can script one, too. It's a throughly feel-good volume, and I should know...I had suffered from depression for eighteen months when my mother brought home an earlier Lipman book which I read in one (very entertaining) weekend. I was an instant devotee. Two months later, when facing my first vacation since becoming ill, who better to accompany me than self-confessed holiday 'maven' (expert) Ms. Lipman?
I had a great time, partly because of my lovely environment and companion but in large part due to the joy and inspiration provided by Lip Reading, which injected each day with humour and for a supposedly light-hearted read, gave plenty of (non-migraine inducing) food for thought. Never mind 'Chicken Soup for the Soul', this is chicken soup for the psyche.

Laughs come out of my nose!, 22 Aug 2001
Read Maureen Lipman's Lip Reading make me laughs. Also, story about her life like a bit diary of hers. If you're fan of Hugh Jackman, small information include and also two or three photos as well. God, I want to work with Maureen Lipman! She's great humour!

The Highs are high and the lows meet somewhere near, 14 Apr 2001
The latest book is a unique and delightful read.. Well that is how it should start, but infact this book gives us simply more insights into the up and down, back to front mind of the Lipman household. With sadness and lustful thoughts the books gives probably too many pages to her role in "Okelahoma" and not enough to humour. Ms Lipman spends too much time lusting and describing co-stars and looses a little of the humour of her previous works, maybe concentrating too much on her immedaite past. Although as an avid fan it is always nice to catch up on the family news and like the recent return of "crossroads" her work is like the proverbial worn slipper that is worn but comfortable all the same.Good work, not quite the gem but nevertheless a good read at bedtime.

Latter part makes early slog worthwhile., 16 Sep 2000
I was looking forward to this book, and was a bit disappointed with it early on. It is poorly edited and amazingly features repeats of stories told in her earlier books, almost verbatim. The first 1/2 appears to be a collection of short jumbled 'articles' which makes for stop-start reading. However, the latter part of the book is great - better constructed with longer chapters that appear to flow together.

Happily, Ms Lipman's humour and bright writing style shines throughout. And, habitual readers will be delighted to know that Zelma is the star of the show once again!

Lip Reading - Fantastic Reading!, 25 Mar 2000
This is another of Maureen fantastic writing - again we are treated to a peep into the Maureen-World and the results are hilarious. As Hulls famous daughter (I also hail from Hull) she gives us Zelma, everyones favourite mother and a typical Hull mother. So thankyou again Maureen - I'm waiting for the next one already!

Just awesome political satire, 29 Oct 2000
Whether they are summing up our feelings about politics, racism, banking, Europe or the post-office, Bird and Fortune are just hilarious. Every sketch is a marvellous combination of planning and improv and has me in fits of laughter every time I play it.

Just awesome political satire, 29 Oct 2000
Whether they are summing up our feelings about politics, racism, banking, Europe or the post-office, Bird and Fortune are just hilarious. Every sketch is a marvellous combination of planning and improv and has me in fits of laughter every time I play it.

Hilarious satirical interviews, 19 Nov 1999
This is a very funny tape of Bird and Fortune interviews from the Rory Bremner programme. It is a very good selection, including 'The Post Office' and 'Lady Pamela Parr' which are some of my best ones.

Fascinating and very witty, 20 Jan 2008
What a fascinating character!

One of those books that I was reluctant to finish as the last page drew nearer.

Prior to reading this book I only knew Peter Ustinov as the delightful character Hercule Poirot in Agatha Christie films. But I learned that he had a very long career in the theatre and that his talents seemed to include almost all areas in it.

His background alone makes for interesting reading. He is the child of Russian immigrants who settled in England but his (very talented) ancestors came from far and wide and included countries such as Ethiopia and Israel.

Parts of the book is written in the style of a soul searching dialogue between Peter Ustinov and himself, hence the title. He makes some insightful comments about life and the world. In general throughout the book I was struck by what appears to be the extreme intelligence of someone who oddly enough did not do well in school.

Many parts of the book are pure entertainment. I laughed aloud in many places. His descriptions of his eccentric relatives, his experiences in the army, how he dealt with rebellious students at Durham university are all very funny.

I can recommend this book. It is highly entertaining and amusing. But it also contains some insightful observations by a highly intelligent, observant and unique personality.


good car talk, 17 Apr 2003
Why i bought this i dont know.I put it in the car and the trip flew in.He has the sort of voice that relaxes you and makes time fly.

Just awesome political satire, 29 Oct 2000
Whether they are summing up our feelings about politics, racism, banking, Europe or the post-office, Bird and Fortune are just hilarious. Every sketch is a marvellous combination of planning and improv and has me in fits of laughter every time I play it.

Just awesome political satire, 29 Oct 2000
Whether they are summing up our feelings about politics, racism, banking, Europe or the post-office, Bird and Fortune are just hilarious. Every sketch is a marvellous combination of planning and improv and has me in fits of laughter every time I play it.

Hilarious satirical interviews, 19 Nov 1999
This is a very funny tape of Bird and Fortune interviews from the Rory Bremner programme. It is a very good selection, including 'The Post Office' and 'Lady Pamela Parr' which are some of my best ones.

Sheer brilliance, 20 Jun 2008
This is guaranteed to put a smile on virtually anyone's face.

Bryson's dry humour & witty observations of life's absurdity coupled with Kerry Shale's excellent delivery make this an easy winner.

The basic material is also very interesting so a wining combination all round.

I had this in the car & found myself sitting listening to it long after I had arrived at my destination - it's that good!

One of our fave honorary Brits goes home for a bit ..., 14 Apr 2008
Another tome of brilliantly sparkling gems from Bill Bryson. What I found funniest was that his wife and family, all born and raised in England, appeared to find American life like being let loose in a toyshop - reveling in becoming optimistic Americans. Whereas our Bill has absorbed so much Britishness in his twenty years here he has become an honorary Brit! This makes his exasperation with queuing, bad shop assistants, and bureaucracy of the US kind even funnier than ever. In some of the columns he tries to be more positive and these, as he admits, are the more sentimental. Would that each of the pieces were double the length though - I got through the pages just too fast.

Great read!, 01 Oct 2007
This title was chosen by my book club as this month's title & I was dreading reading it, as my previous encounter with Mr Bryson was 'A Short History of Nearly Everything' which I hated. I was really surprised how much I enjoyed this book. It has many laugh out loud moments like Bill's hatred of the barbers & love of motels & the US Postal Services' Customer Day. The 4 page chapters are ideal as he get's to cover a wide range of topics. From reading this I will definitely try some of Bryson's other titles. A great read.

A very funny, very clever, very snappy read., 09 Aug 2007
Bill Bryson has a somewhat unique point of view for writing a book on American life, born in America but living a long time in England before returning to America with his English wife and children. The result was a regular series of newspaper articles (unsure what newspaper) which are collected together here.
The articles are observant, witty, and wonderfully funny. Bryson is so normal and easy to relate to that the articles are infectiously funny, his strange obsessions and neuroses are not only hilarious but also quite sweet and infinitely endearing. His unique take on American life is what really drives the book since there's no continuous narrative of any kind due to the episodic structure.
I can't really describe the book in any particular detail except to say that this is something very funny that more than once an article is guaranteed to cripple you with laughter. You should really give this a try, you won't regret it.

Glad i live in Britain., 13 Jun 2007
Bill Bryson is a genius writer and yet again he has delivered entertainment and boredom relief in this book.I read it in a succession of three quarter hour work breaks - and the four page bite size chapters(78 in all)are ideal as you can always finish looking forward to a new chapter the next time you pick the book up.
Each story was originally an weekly article for a newspaper that Bill was roped into writing - but he will refer back to previous chapters as the book progresses.
The hilarious stories are about the frustrations and exasperation's and idiosyncrasies of living in the USA compared to when he lived here in the UK.Bill almost underplays himself making you realize that despite his fame and fortune he is a normal down to earth guy who struggles in life just like you and i.....Fantastic!.I'm gonna read another Bill Bryson book now!....whey hey!.

Just awesome political satire, 29 Oct 2000
Whether they are summing up our feelings about politics, racism, banking, Europe or the post-office, Bird and Fortune are just hilarious. Every sketch is a marvellous combination of planning and improv and has me in fits of laughter every time I play it.

Just awesome political satire, 29 Oct 2000
Whether they are summing up our feelings about politics, racism, banking, Europe or the post-office, Bird and Fortune are just hilarious. Every sketch is a marvellous combination of planning and improv and has me in fits of laughter every time I play it.

Hilarious satirical interviews, 19 Nov 1999
This is a very funny tape of Bird and Fortune interviews from the Rory Bremner programme. It is a very good selection, including 'The Post Office' and 'Lady Pamela Parr' which are some of my best ones.

Better than life, indeedy, 21 Nov 2005
Based on Better Than Life, this is the follow on 12 part series written for BBC Radio. Chris Barrie does a much better job than Grant Naylor has in previous readings, you can tell the latter is an author rather than an actor. Even if you choose the unabridged versions of Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers and Better Than Life, I strongly recommend the Chris Barrie versions after listening to this.

Audio book FINALLY up to scratch, 14 Nov 2004
Okay, okay. So it's not the entire thing. Admitted. But it's still great.
And let's face it, anything narrated by Chris Barrie would be great. But this is the VERY FIRST red dwarf book, argueably the best Red Dwarf book (if not simply the best BOOK full stop) and although the sound effects aren't cinema quality, they're funny and 'Rimmer' makes it even more so.
Great buy, great Audio book - smegging great!

Its still good, 19 Oct 1999
Well, it is most of the first RD book (Infinity welcomes careful drivers) as read by Chris Barrie with some sound effects... I only wish it was the full book!

Better than the tv series, 04 Nov 2000
Spanning about six episodes (which I can recognise) of the TV series, this book is simply a must, You can keep the voice of the ORIGINAL talkie toaster in your head as you read it and not the new thing they got for series 4. The jokes are funnier its better structered, just better genrally...

Very "listenable", 11 Jan 1999
I enjoyed this tape, listening to it after "lights out": I thought Chris Barrie's reproduction of the voices and accents of his co-stars from the TV series was very skilled: it was hard to believe that he was doing it all himself. It is not as zany as the tv series but I found it charmingly imaginative.

"Mo" Fun Than Ever!, 26 Feb 2002
Lip Reading is the most recent Lipman autobiography to date and arguably the best, full of ridiculous (but true) anecdotes and observations which demonstrate that not only can she deliver a funny line, she can script one, too. It's a throughly feel-good volume, and I should know...I had suffered from depression for eighteen months when my mother brought home an earlier Lipman book which I read in one (very entertaining) weekend. I was an instant devotee. Two months later, when facing my first vacation since becoming ill, who better to accompany me than self-confessed holiday 'maven' (expert) Ms. Lipman?
I had a great time, partly because of my lovely environment and companion but in large part due to the joy and inspiration provided by Lip Reading, which injected each day with humour and for a supposedly light-hearted read, gave plenty of (non-migraine inducing) food for thought. Never mind 'Chicken Soup for the Soul', this is chicken soup for the psyche.

Laughs come out of my nose!, 22 Aug 2001
Read Maureen Lipman's Lip Reading make me laughs. Also, story about her life like a bit diary of hers. If you're fan of Hugh Jackman, small information include and also two or three photos as well. God, I want to work with Maureen Lipman! She's great humour!

The Highs are high and the lows meet somewhere near, 14 Apr 2001
The latest book is a unique and delightful read.. Well that is how it should start, but infact this book gives us simply more insights into the up and down, back to front mind of the Lipman household. With sadness and lustful thoughts the books gives probably too many pages to her role in "Okelahoma" and not enough to humour. Ms Lipman spends too much time lusting and describing co-stars and looses a little of the humour of her previous works, maybe concentrating too much on her immedaite past. Although as an avid fan it is always nice to catch up on the family news and like the recent return of "crossroads" her work is like the proverbial worn slipper that is worn but comfortable all the same.Good work, not quite the gem but nevertheless a good read at bedtime.

Latter part makes early slog worthwhile., 16 Sep 2000
I was looking forward to this book, and was a bit disappointed with it early on. It is poorly edited and amazingly features repeats of stories told in her earlier books, almost verbatim. The first 1/2 appears to be a collection of short jumbled 'articles' which makes for stop-start reading. However, the latter part of the book is great - better constructed with longer chapters that appear to flow together.

Happily, Ms Lipman's humour and bright writing style shines throughout. And, habitual readers will be delighted to know that Zelma is the star of the show once again!

Lip Reading - Fantastic Reading!, 25 Mar 2000
This is another of Maureen fantastic writing - again we are treated to a peep into the Maureen-World and the results are hilarious. As Hulls famous daughter (I also hail from Hull) she gives us Zelma, everyones favourite mother and a typical Hull mother. So thankyou again Maureen - I'm waiting for the next one already!

If you want to hear the dreadful truth about..., 13 Jan 2008
...Dad's Army, or how sweet rationing drove a teacher to steal from his pupils, or what happened when an elephant got loose in the blackout, the full foul facts about life on the home front are laid out before your ears. It's packed with quizzes, sketches and jokes, as well as mini-dramas and real life re-enactments - telling you the kind of foul facts which just aren't available from a classroom education! This book is like most of the other Horrible Histories which have very practical timeline which are terrific! Rating: 7/ 10.

HOT OFF THE PRESS - APRIL 2007 - REPRINTED EDITION with a NEW COVER!, 19 Apr 2007
`The Woeful Second World War gives you the dire details about the worst war ever - from snow-bound cities under siege to fly-infested jungle trenches.

Want to know why wearing white knickers could get you killed in the Second World War?'

Read on!

The usual Deary humour flows through the 136 pages packed with facts, written in a variety of fonts and full of black and white illustrations and cartoons, from Martin Brown.


Split into 7 chapters:-

Terrible timeline
Home horrors
Frightful fighting
Awesome animals
Lousy liars
Chilling for children
The Holocaust

with an introduction and an epilogue.

Read on for curious quizzes, rotten recipes, gruesome games and much more.
History has never been so horrible!'

`23rd August 1939
Shock! Deadly enemies unite! Mr Adolf Hitler of Germany (with a toothbrush moustache) and Mr Josef Stalin of the Soviet Union (with a yard-brush moustache) peacefully agree not to fight one another. No chance. Never trust a man with a moustache.....

1st September 1939
A. Hitler (the liar) had promised not to invade Poland. Today his army invades Poland...... and `peacefully' shares it with the Soviets. No one asked the Poles, of course.
Britain and France say they'll fight for Poland's freedom.
That means war!............'

Amazing, amusing, tragic and poignant all at the same time, 30 Nov 2006
As a 13 year old I can remember having to learn about Franz Ferdinand, The Black Hand Gang, allies and enemies, dates and times and other mundane facts that actually didn't mean much to me.
In contrast, this book would enthuse any Year 7 pupil (and in my case 40+) to do a GCSE in History or just be grateful for our freedom and the fact that we can read a book like this!





Brilliant Way to Learn, and Retain, Historical Knowledge!, 13 Jul 2004
'Dire details about blitzed Britan that affected everyone in the country.'
'Every Governement lies to its people! In Italy, theirs said that they had bombed Britain so bad that they had shot the Loch Ness Monster and killed it!
"That must have been messy!"
"No, it was Nessie!"

Superb wit and wisdom mix to make this one of the best of the audiobooks from the utterly fantastic, Mr Deary!

interesting way to learn about history ., 12 Aug 2000
these books are very good and i recomend them to everyone over 12 years because they are a -bit gory lets just hope terry deary keeps on writing them.

Just awesome political satire, 29 Oct 2000
Whether they are summing up our feelings about politics, racism, banking, Europe or the post-office, Bird and Fortune are just hilarious. Every sketch is a marvellous combination of planning and improv and has me in fits of laughter every time I play it.

Just awesome political satire, 29 Oct 2000
Whether they are summing up our feelings about politics, racism, banking, Europe or the post-office, Bird and Fortune are just hilarious. Every sketch is a marvellous combination of planning and improv and has me in fits of laughter every time I play it.

Hilarious satirical interviews, 19 Nov 1999
This is a very funny tape of Bird and Fortune interviews from the Rory Bremner programme. It is a very good selection, including 'The Post Office' and 'Lady Pamela Parr' which are some of my best ones.

Fascinating and very witty, 20 Jan 2008
What a fascinating character!

One of those books that I was reluctant to finish as the last page drew nearer.

Prior to reading this book I only knew Peter Ustinov as the delightful character Hercule Poirot in Agatha Christie films. But I learned that he had a very long career in the theatre and that his talents seemed to include almost all areas in it.

His background alone makes for interesting reading. He is the child of Russian immigrants who settled in England but his (very talented) ancestors came from far and wide and included countries such as Ethiopia and Israel.

Parts of the book is written in the style of a soul searching dialogue between Peter Ustinov and himself, hence the title. He makes some insightful comments about life and the world. In general throughout the book I was struck by what appears to be the extreme intelligence of someone who oddly enough did not do well in school.

Many parts of the book are pure entertainment. I laug