A disappointing release., 02 Sep 2008
Yet another biography of Cliff's life to coincide with his 50 years in showbusiness, but by just another of the long line of authors who wrote about Cliff Richard.

I had high expectations of this release, but it consists of bulk of text information which has been said before but is up to date in this release. The BIG disappointment is a SMALL selected pages of obscure pictures segmented in between the bulk of text. Absolutely no memorabilia photos, album covers, film photos to journal his 50 years in showbusiness etc. There's a wealth of photos the author could have delved into.

I've seen other artists books that are treasured with pictures covering all aspects of their career and also a terrific written bigraphical account. But not in this new Cliff Richard book!

You are better off seeking Steve Turner's 'Bachelor Boy' Cliff book released a short while ago. Now this book is completely stuff with fabulous pictures throughout every page.



Amusing and informative , 30 Aug 2008
amusing and personal anecdotes by the man himself that he has never told before on his career as well as personal life, feat. quite a number of previously unreleased photos - good read, absolutely enjoyable, well worth the money.

A disappointing release., 02 Sep 2008
Yet another biography of Cliff's life to coincide with his 50 years in showbusiness, but by just another of the long line of authors who wrote about Cliff Richard.

I had high expectations of this release, but it consists of bulk of text information which has been said before but is up to date in this release. The BIG disappointment is a SMALL selected pages of obscure pictures segmented in between the bulk of text. Absolutely no memorabilia photos, album covers, film photos to journal his 50 years in showbusiness etc. There's a wealth of photos the author could have delved into.

I've seen other artists books that are treasured with pictures covering all aspects of their career and also a terrific written bigraphical account. But not in this new Cliff Richard book!

You are better off seeking Steve Turner's 'Bachelor Boy' Cliff book released a short while ago. Now this book is completely stuff with fabulous pictures throughout every page.



Amusing and informative , 30 Aug 2008
amusing and personal anecdotes by the man himself that he has never told before on his career as well as personal life, feat. quite a number of previously unreleased photos - good read, absolutely enjoyable, well worth the money.


Yes! No... Maybe..., 24 Aug 2008
I'm not a great reader of biography, but I was looking forward to this book as I admire Rick Wakeman both as an amazing musician and as a quirky character. This book is OK, and has a number of of interesting and amusing recollections from Rick Wakeman's career but it is rather rambling and self indulgent. Whilst it gives a sense of some of the bizarre and whacky things that have happened to him in the course of his musical career I was hoping for something a bit more interesting than in depth details of his drinking habits which seemed to feature on every other page... Having said that some of the recollections were so funny that I did laugh out loud and have to read them to my husband. So, if you're a complete Rick Wakeman fan you may enjoy this enough to make forking out the cash worthwhile, but be warned, it is only a collection of stories and not a decent biography.

A disappointing release., 02 Sep 2008
Yet another biography of Cliff's life to coincide with his 50 years in showbusiness, but by just another of the long line of authors who wrote about Cliff Richard.

I had high expectations of this release, but it consists of bulk of text information which has been said before but is up to date in this release. The BIG disappointment is a SMALL selected pages of obscure pictures segmented in between the bulk of text. Absolutely no memorabilia photos, album covers, film photos to journal his 50 years in showbusiness etc. There's a wealth of photos the author could have delved into.

I've seen other artists books that are treasured with pictures covering all aspects of their career and also a terrific written bigraphical account. But not in this new Cliff Richard book!

You are better off seeking Steve Turner's 'Bachelor Boy' Cliff book released a short while ago. Now this book is completely stuff with fabulous pictures throughout every page.



Amusing and informative , 30 Aug 2008
amusing and personal anecdotes by the man himself that he has never told before on his career as well as personal life, feat. quite a number of previously unreleased photos - good read, absolutely enjoyable, well worth the money.


Yes! No... Maybe..., 24 Aug 2008
I'm not a great reader of biography, but I was looking forward to this book as I admire Rick Wakeman both as an amazing musician and as a quirky character. This book is OK, and has a number of of interesting and amusing recollections from Rick Wakeman's career but it is rather rambling and self indulgent. Whilst it gives a sense of some of the bizarre and whacky things that have happened to him in the course of his musical career I was hoping for something a bit more interesting than in depth details of his drinking habits which seemed to feature on every other page... Having said that some of the recollections were so funny that I did laugh out loud and have to read them to my husband. So, if you're a complete Rick Wakeman fan you may enjoy this enough to make forking out the cash worthwhile, but be warned, it is only a collection of stories and not a decent biography.

paul o'grady, the biography, neil simpson, 03 Aug 2008
i thought it was a good read, in fact i read it in fewer than 48 hours. however i thought that most of it was more descriptive than factual.
i think it lacks some of the details that i have read before.
at the same time, i could recognise and had already read a lot of the book's content elsewhere. as i have been to several shows, i think i have seen a different side to paul, than the one which is portrayed in the book.

an interesting insight into the creation of Lily Savage, 29 Jun 2008
The book provides a lot of unknown information showing Pauls' childhood,teenage years and adulthood.Producing a daughter at sixteen,living aroung the world and losing his Parents tragically are all explained in the book.It's interesting to read how Lily was created and the wealth that this caricature made for Paul.However,though Paul has many facets to his stage presence,he will always be known for Lily.I would recommend this book to fans but it lacks appeal for a wider audience.

Paul o grady autobiography, 05 May 2008


I was very impressed with his life story it was a good read

A special Man, 04 May 2008
This is the story of someone very special indeed. His childhood and his later years are vividly described and many times made me laugh out loud. There is heartbreak here too and ill health which has dogged Paul. He has not allowed this to stop him and the book flows like a river carrying the reader through the many ups and downs of his life so far. A book that is well worth reading with it's depth of feeling.

Britain's got talent, 27 Apr 2008
What's the connection between the grandfatherly paul o grady on his chat show today and the mad old lilly savage from the 80's? It's the amazing characters Paul knew when he was a boy, his need to escape from reality when he got to london and his simple love of talented variety performers. Lily was a means to and end. The real Paul O Grady is the one we see on TV today and he's a surprisingly more thoughtful and quieter individual than I had expected. There's a lot of sadness in his life, and in this book. But it's made me an even bigger fan. My only question - why isn't he a judge on Britain's Got Talent - he'd be brilliant!

A disappointing release., 02 Sep 2008
Yet another biography of Cliff's life to coincide with his 50 years in showbusiness, but by just another of the long line of authors who wrote about Cliff Richard.

I had high expectations of this release, but it consists of bulk of text information which has been said before but is up to date in this release. The BIG disappointment is a SMALL selected pages of obscure pictures segmented in between the bulk of text. Absolutely no memorabilia photos, album covers, film photos to journal his 50 years in showbusiness etc. There's a wealth of photos the author could have delved into.

I've seen other artists books that are treasured with pictures covering all aspects of their career and also a terrific written bigraphical account. But not in this new Cliff Richard book!

You are better off seeking Steve Turner's 'Bachelor Boy' Cliff book released a short while ago. Now this book is completely stuff with fabulous pictures throughout every page.



Amusing and informative , 30 Aug 2008
amusing and personal anecdotes by the man himself that he has never told before on his career as well as personal life, feat. quite a number of previously unreleased photos - good read, absolutely enjoyable, well worth the money.


Yes! No... Maybe..., 24 Aug 2008
I'm not a great reader of biography, but I was looking forward to this book as I admire Rick Wakeman both as an amazing musician and as a quirky character. This book is OK, and has a number of of interesting and amusing recollections from Rick Wakeman's career but it is rather rambling and self indulgent. Whilst it gives a sense of some of the bizarre and whacky things that have happened to him in the course of his musical career I was hoping for something a bit more interesting than in depth details of his drinking habits which seemed to feature on every other page... Having said that some of the recollections were so funny that I did laugh out loud and have to read them to my husband. So, if you're a complete Rick Wakeman fan you may enjoy this enough to make forking out the cash worthwhile, but be warned, it is only a collection of stories and not a decent biography.

paul o'grady, the biography, neil simpson, 03 Aug 2008
i thought it was a good read, in fact i read it in fewer than 48 hours. however i thought that most of it was more descriptive than factual.
i think it lacks some of the details that i have read before.
at the same time, i could recognise and had already read a lot of the book's content elsewhere. as i have been to several shows, i think i have seen a different side to paul, than the one which is portrayed in the book.

an interesting insight into the creation of Lily Savage, 29 Jun 2008
The book provides a lot of unknown information showing Pauls' childhood,teenage years and adulthood.Producing a daughter at sixteen,living aroung the world and losing his Parents tragically are all explained in the book.It's interesting to read how Lily was created and the wealth that this caricature made for Paul.However,though Paul has many facets to his stage presence,he will always be known for Lily.I would recommend this book to fans but it lacks appeal for a wider audience.

Paul o grady autobiography, 05 May 2008


I was very impressed with his life story it was a good read

A special Man, 04 May 2008
This is the story of someone very special indeed. His childhood and his later years are vividly described and many times made me laugh out loud. There is heartbreak here too and ill health which has dogged Paul. He has not allowed this to stop him and the book flows like a river carrying the reader through the many ups and downs of his life so far. A book that is well worth reading with it's depth of feeling.

Britain's got talent, 27 Apr 2008
What's the connection between the grandfatherly paul o grady on his chat show today and the mad old lilly savage from the 80's? It's the amazing characters Paul knew when he was a boy, his need to escape from reality when he got to london and his simple love of talented variety performers. Lily was a means to and end. The real Paul O Grady is the one we see on TV today and he's a surprisingly more thoughtful and quieter individual than I had expected. There's a lot of sadness in his life, and in this book. But it's made me an even bigger fan. My only question - why isn't he a judge on Britain's Got Talent - he'd be brilliant!

In Pursuit of Perfection, 21 Jun 2008
Having read Hell's Kitchen I now feel that I understand Gordon Ramsay's personality a little better. His fanatical pursuit of perfection seems to be as a result of his difficult childhood. However I wonder if his constant use of the f word is entirely necessary as all it really shows is lack of vocabulary. This makes me feel that maybe nowadays he continues to use it for effect in print and on the small screen.
He is obviously very passionate about his restaurants and the meals they produce. He admits that the UK is still a long way behind the rest of Europe in terms of decent places to eat outside the big cities, a depressing but true fact. He hopes that things will improve slowly and that he has a part to play in improving the future eating habits of the British.
An enlightening read if you are interested in learning about how Gordon Ramsey came to be the man he is today, a successful chef and businessman.


A very much straight to the point story, 18 Jun 2008
This book was bought as a Fathers Day gift, it was a complete surprise and not a book I would have bought for myself. Wow what a surprise, many aspects of Gordon Ramsey's life really have been quite harrowing, but his drive and motivation is what really did it for me. The amount of training he put himself through starting again and again from the bottom and working his way up, if anyone deserves to be where they are today then he does. A good read.

what a refreshing change!, 11 Jun 2008
This is a brilliant book! Ramsay writes from the heart! His genuineness makes a refreshing change. How wonderful for an englishman to show his feelings. If you think that you're not interested in the life of a celebrity chef then think again! I don't think it would have mattered what profession ramsey went into he was driven and still is. He's been bullied by his father, marco pierre White and others who are named in the book, but his drive and sheer hard work have got him through.He's also sarcastic and witty and says exactly what he thinks of people, and why not i say?! To hell with political correctness, he's written an honest account about his life and his feelings good or bad. There are some sad bits in the book about his feelings towards his father and his brothers drug addiction, so you do see a sensitive side too. He's an extremely emotional guy and it clearly manifests itself in his loose tongue, but underneath he's a really human, caring guy. A wonderful book that inspires.

Loved it!, 10 Jun 2008
Wow! I'm not usually a fast reader, but once I started this book I really couldn't put it down and ended up reading it all in one day. I've always admired Gordon Ramsay, his obvious commitment and dedication, but I think I can now appreciate how hard he has worked in order to get where he is.

`Humble Pie' goes into some detail about his childhood and relationship with his Father; his short career in football; his relationship with his brother, who is a heroin addict; his early days as a commi in France and in Marco Pierre White's kitchen and how he has developed his current restaurants and nurtured the careers of other young chefs.

This was a great book and (if it was written by a ghost writer) it really captures his distinctive voice, i.e. expect swearing. I can't recommend this highly enough and the bits of the book where Marco Pierre White appears, a bit like a pantomime villain are especially good.
Review. Done. Enjoy


What a corker of a book!, 24 Apr 2008
What a brilliant book, I was sad when it came to an end, I just wanted to keep on reading. I really liked Gordon Ramsey before I read the book, now I love him. He is a man with passion and standards, yes he has a firey way of putting this across but it gets the job done and I say full respect to him and the things he has achieved. He could have let his childhood experiences ruin his life but he didn't used it as his driving force and you have to respect him for that. A must read for anyone and a big good on you Gordon.........

A disappointing release., 02 Sep 2008
Yet another biography of Cliff's life to coincide with his 50 years in showbusiness, but by just another of the long line of authors who wrote about Cliff Richard.

I had high expectations of this release, but it consists of bulk of text information which has been said before but is up to date in this release. The BIG disappointment is a SMALL selected pages of obscure pictures segmented in between the bulk of text. Absolutely no memorabilia photos, album covers, film photos to journal his 50 years in showbusiness etc. There's a wealth of photos the author could have delved into.

I've seen other artists books that are treasured with pictures covering all aspects of their career and also a terrific written bigraphical account. But not in this new Cliff Richard book!

You are better off seeking Steve Turner's 'Bachelor Boy' Cliff book released a short while ago. Now this book is completely stuff with fabulous pictures throughout every page.



Amusing and informative , 30 Aug 2008
amusing and personal anecdotes by the man himself that he has never told before on his career as well as personal life, feat. quite a number of previously unreleased photos - good read, absolutely enjoyable, well worth the money.


Yes! No... Maybe..., 24 Aug 2008
I'm not a great reader of biography, but I was looking forward to this book as I admire Rick Wakeman both as an amazing musician and as a quirky character. This book is OK, and has a number of of interesting and amusing recollections from Rick Wakeman's career but it is rather rambling and self indulgent. Whilst it gives a sense of some of the bizarre and whacky things that have happened to him in the course of his musical career I was hoping for something a bit more interesting than in depth details of his drinking habits which seemed to feature on every other page... Having said that some of the recollections were so funny that I did laugh out loud and have to read them to my husband. So, if you're a complete Rick Wakeman fan you may enjoy this enough to make forking out the cash worthwhile, but be warned, it is only a collection of stories and not a decent biography.

paul o'grady, the biography, neil simpson, 03 Aug 2008
i thought it was a good read, in fact i read it in fewer than 48 hours. however i thought that most of it was more descriptive than factual.
i think it lacks some of the details that i have read before.
at the same time, i could recognise and had already read a lot of the book's content elsewhere. as i have been to several shows, i think i have seen a different side to paul, than the one which is portrayed in the book.

an interesting insight into the creation of Lily Savage, 29 Jun 2008
The book provides a lot of unknown information showing Pauls' childhood,teenage years and adulthood.Producing a daughter at sixteen,living aroung the world and losing his Parents tragically are all explained in the book.It's interesting to read how Lily was created and the wealth that this caricature made for Paul.However,though Paul has many facets to his stage presence,he will always be known for Lily.I would recommend this book to fans but it lacks appeal for a wider audience.

Paul o grady autobiography, 05 May 2008


I was very impressed with his life story it was a good read

A special Man, 04 May 2008
This is the story of someone very special indeed. His childhood and his later years are vividly described and many times made me laugh out loud. There is heartbreak here too and ill health which has dogged Paul. He has not allowed this to stop him and the book flows like a river carrying the reader through the many ups and downs of his life so far. A book that is well worth reading with it's depth of feeling.

Britain's got talent, 27 Apr 2008
What's the connection between the grandfatherly paul o grady on his chat show today and the mad old lilly savage from the 80's? It's the amazing characters Paul knew when he was a boy, his need to escape from reality when he got to london and his simple love of talented variety performers. Lily was a means to and end. The real Paul O Grady is the one we see on TV today and he's a surprisingly more thoughtful and quieter individual than I had expected. There's a lot of sadness in his life, and in this book. But it's made me an even bigger fan. My only question - why isn't he a judge on Britain's Got Talent - he'd be brilliant!

In Pursuit of Perfection, 21 Jun 2008
Having read Hell's Kitchen I now feel that I understand Gordon Ramsay's personality a little better. His fanatical pursuit of perfection seems to be as a result of his difficult childhood. However I wonder if his constant use of the f word is entirely necessary as all it really shows is lack of vocabulary. This makes me feel that maybe nowadays he continues to use it for effect in print and on the small screen.
He is obviously very passionate about his restaurants and the meals they produce. He admits that the UK is still a long way behind the rest of Europe in terms of decent places to eat outside the big cities, a depressing but true fact. He hopes that things will improve slowly and that he has a part to play in improving the future eating habits of the British.
An enlightening read if you are interested in learning about how Gordon Ramsey came to be the man he is today, a successful chef and businessman.


A very much straight to the point story, 18 Jun 2008
This book was bought as a Fathers Day gift, it was a complete surprise and not a book I would have bought for myself. Wow what a surprise, many aspects of Gordon Ramsey's life really have been quite harrowing, but his drive and motivation is what really did it for me. The amount of training he put himself through starting again and again from the bottom and working his way up, if anyone deserves to be where they are today then he does. A good read.

what a refreshing change!, 11 Jun 2008
This is a brilliant book! Ramsay writes from the heart! His genuineness makes a refreshing change. How wonderful for an englishman to show his feelings. If you think that you're not interested in the life of a celebrity chef then think again! I don't think it would have mattered what profession ramsey went into he was driven and still is. He's been bullied by his father, marco pierre White and others who are named in the book, but his drive and sheer hard work have got him through.He's also sarcastic and witty and says exactly what he thinks of people, and why not i say?! To hell with political correctness, he's written an honest account about his life and his feelings good or bad. There are some sad bits in the book about his feelings towards his father and his brothers drug addiction, so you do see a sensitive side too. He's an extremely emotional guy and it clearly manifests itself in his loose tongue, but underneath he's a really human, caring guy. A wonderful book that inspires.

Loved it!, 10 Jun 2008
Wow! I'm not usually a fast reader, but once I started this book I really couldn't put it down and ended up reading it all in one day. I've always admired Gordon Ramsay, his obvious commitment and dedication, but I think I can now appreciate how hard he has worked in order to get where he is.

`Humble Pie' goes into some detail about his childhood and relationship with his Father; his short career in football; his relationship with his brother, who is a heroin addict; his early days as a commi in France and in Marco Pierre White's kitchen and how he has developed his current restaurants and nurtured the careers of other young chefs.

This was a great book and (if it was written by a ghost writer) it really captures his distinctive voice, i.e. expect swearing. I can't recommend this highly enough and the bits of the book where Marco Pierre White appears, a bit like a pantomime villain are especially good.
Review. Done. Enjoy


What a corker of a book!, 24 Apr 2008
What a brilliant book, I was sad when it came to an end, I just wanted to keep on reading. I really liked Gordon Ramsey before I read the book, now I love him. He is a man with passion and standards, yes he has a firey way of putting this across but it gets the job done and I say full respect to him and the things he has achieved. He could have let his childhood experiences ruin his life but he didn't used it as his driving force and you have to respect him for that. A must read for anyone and a big good on you Gordon.........

undemanding read, nice touches, , 21 Aug 2008
Language wise this is an undemanding, non-technical book, by which I mean you wont learn to be a brain surgeon or rocket car scientist by reading it.

You will learn how one couple coped with and travelled through a terrible thing happening to one of them.

That the 'physically injured party' is well known make this a little like watching a film where you know the ending (think Apollo 13) but are interested to know how you get there - and when you do get to the end you realise you didn't know more than the basic, I don't think I'm spoiling anything to say 'he lived & went back to work' but it is good to know how he feels about that.

It's also good to read Mindy Hammonds' point of view - I particularly liked touches where they remembered things differently, he remembers a green car outside, she a blue one...I enjoyed that side of things very much.

The only thing is I would have liked two things, a bit more detail about the type of brain injury Richard suffered and also a bit more of the going back to work, getting into life again stuff. The end was a little rushed.

Enjoy.

Fantastic. A riveting read for all ages, 21 Aug 2008
Now I'm 12 years old, but no, I'm not writing a review for the authored..kids..adapted thing. I'm sure you've gathered I prefer the real deal. This book truly is magnificently written. From cover to cover I was 'on the edge' (I wonder if this is where the book got it's name?) of my seat. I know many people say this, but this time it's literal. I couldn't put it down for the life of me.

I was reading this in the garden. I spent 15 or so minutes reading it when a wasp starting buzzing around my head, and yes I'm sure all of you reading this will know how unutterably irritating this is.
So I stood up and started hitting it with a tea-towel, but by the time I could get anywhere near it it had already flown away. And all the time I was doing this, I was still reading the book, so no wonder.
And then I spent 15 minutes standing up reading it, because I had absolutely no idea what I was doing or what was going on around me, so I couldn't sit down........I was inside the book. Weird?! Spooky?! Yeah, I think so too.
When you're reading this book you get a feeling you're there. Especially the parts that Richard's wife, Mindy, wrote.
In the part where she was driving to the hospital where Richard was, I felt like I was there. In the car with her.

This book is a compilation, really, of everything that happened to the Hammonds as a family. As a whole. Everything you could possibly want to know is included in On The Edge.
It's the story of how the family adapted to knowing one of their members had brain damage. What you would tell the kids. As Richard said in his book promo, how he risked his life just to strap himself to the front of a jet-engine for kicks. It's the story of how he crashed a jet powered dragster at 288 miles-per-hour.

If you're looking to read a book in the near future, or have just finished a book (probably one you've just bought from ASDA in a 3 for 2 offer with a "Richard & Judy's Summer Read" sticker on the front cover, let's not deny it), and want a truly riveting read that could keep you entertained, on the edge of your seat for hours on end, then look no further. Richard Hammond: On The Edge is one of the most fantastic accounts I've ever read.

Fan of the Hamster or not, this is unmissable.
5 STAR *****

Remarkable Love Story, 19 Aug 2008
What impressed me about this book was the sheer devotion of Richard and Mindy to each other and their children. Yes this is a book about a man struggling to rehabilitate after a horrific brain injury, and the tale of a man 'off the telly', but it is more than that. It is about courage, hope and resilience in the face of really daunting odds. I was very moved by this story, which is not something I was expecting at all when I first picked it up.

It is simply written and honest about the ups and downs of a horrific time in this family's life. It's not earth shattering literature, but then anyone who was expecting it to be must be slightly deranged themselves.

What really touched me is the effort both Richard and Mindy made to acknowledge the help they have received along the way both professionally and from ordinary people, and the fact that despite the fact that this was a high profile story, they keep coming back to their connection with and understanding of ordinary people who have to go through things like this and worse, with a fraction of the help provided here.

Survival of the Fittest, 17 Jul 2008
Richard Hammond covers the daredevil stunts of his childhood with a humour that he obviously took into his adult life. But the book isn't so much about his life as about the aftermath of his horrendous crash in a jet car whilst filming for the Top Gear television programme. The fact that Top Gear pushes the boundaries of acceptable motoring or that at times it can be irresponsible and purely for entertainment is probably not for discussion here. Hammond is part of that set-up and the fact that he drove a jet car could smack of commerciality gone too far.

As we all know he suffered severe brain damage from the crash. This book deals primarily with the build-up to the crash and the aftermath seen both through Hammond's eyes and those of his wife Mindy. Whilst Hammond was trying to pick up the pieces of his life and dealing with the problems of recuperating from brain damage, Mindy was trying to carry the burden of the family whilst giving him a solid base for his recovery. This is an overwhelming story of survival and return to fitness that at one point didn't seem possible. It is about the triumph of the human spirit. It is well written and an enjoyable read although I found the almost pathological need to avoid the Media slightly surprising given that Hammond himself operates within that field.

An excellent read, 24 Jun 2008
What a fantastic book. I really couldn't put it down. It had me laughing and crying, sometimes on the same page. Whovever said they couldn't decide whether it was good or not obviously missed the point completely. Maybe there were too many big words and not enough pictures. A real story about real people and it still has a happy ending. Excellent

A disappointing release., 02 Sep 2008
Yet another biography of Cliff's life to coincide with his 50 years in showbusiness, but by just another of the long line of authors who wrote about Cliff Richard.

I had high expectations of this release, but it consists of bulk of text information which has been said before but is up to date in this release. The BIG disappointment is a SMALL selected pages of obscure pictures segmented in between the bulk of text. Absolutely no memorabilia photos, album covers, film photos to journal his 50 years in showbusiness etc. There's a wealth of photos the author could have delved into.

I've seen other artists books that are treasured with pictures covering all aspects of their career and also a terrific written bigraphical account. But not in this new Cliff Richard book!

You are better off seeking Steve Turner's 'Bachelor Boy' Cliff book released a short while ago. Now this book is completely stuff with fabulous pictures throughout every page.



Amusing and informative , 30 Aug 2008
amusing and personal anecdotes by the man himself that he has never told before on his career as well as personal life, feat. quite a number of previously unreleased photos - good read, absolutely enjoyable, well worth the money.


Yes! No... Maybe..., 24 Aug 2008
I'm not a great reader of biography, but I was looking forward to this book as I admire Rick Wakeman both as an amazing musician and as a quirky character. This book is OK, and has a number of of interesting and amusing recollections from Rick Wakeman's career but it is rather rambling and self indulgent. Whilst it gives a sense of some of the bizarre and whacky things that have happened to him in the course of his musical career I was hoping for something a bit more interesting than in depth details of his drinking habits which seemed to feature on every other page... Having said that some of the recollections were so funny that I did laugh out loud and have to read them to my husband. So, if you're a complete Rick Wakeman fan you may enjoy this enough to make forking out the cash worthwhile, but be warned, it is only a collection of stories and not a decent biography.

paul o'grady, the biography, neil simpson, 03 Aug 2008
i thought it was a good read, in fact i read it in fewer than 48 hours. however i thought that most of it was more descriptive than factual.
i think it lacks some of the details that i have read before.
at the same time, i could recognise and had already read a lot of the book's content elsewhere. as i have been to several shows, i think i have seen a different side to paul, than the one which is portrayed in the book.

an interesting insight into the creation of Lily Savage, 29 Jun 2008
The book provides a lot of unknown information showing Pauls' childhood,teenage years and adulthood.Producing a daughter at sixteen,living aroung the world and losing his Parents tragically are all explained in the book.It's interesting to read how Lily was created and the wealth that this caricature made for Paul.However,though Paul has many facets to his stage presence,he will always be known for Lily.I would recommend this book to fans but it lacks appeal for a wider audience.

Paul o grady autobiography, 05 May 2008


I was very impressed with his life story it was a good read

A special Man, 04 May 2008
This is the story of someone very special indeed. His childhood and his later years are vividly described and many times made me laugh out loud. There is heartbreak here too and ill health which has dogged Paul. He has not allowed this to stop him and the book flows like a river carrying the reader through the many ups and downs of his life so far. A book that is well worth reading with it's depth of feeling.

Britain's got talent, 27 Apr 2008
What's the connection between the grandfatherly paul o grady on his chat show today and the mad old lilly savage from the 80's? It's the amazing characters Paul knew when he was a boy, his need to escape from reality when he got to london and his simple love of talented variety performers. Lily was a means to and end. The real Paul O Grady is the one we see on TV today and he's a surprisingly more thoughtful and quieter individual than I had expected. There's a lot of sadness in his life, and in this book. But it's made me an even bigger fan. My only question - why isn't he a judge on Britain's Got Talent - he'd be brilliant!

In Pursuit of Perfection, 21 Jun 2008
Having read Hell's Kitchen I now feel that I understand Gordon Ramsay's personality a little better. His fanatical pursuit of perfection seems to be as a result of his difficult childhood. However I wonder if his constant use of the f word is entirely necessary as all it really shows is lack of vocabulary. This makes me feel that maybe nowadays he continues to use it for effect in print and on the small screen.
He is obviously very passionate about his restaurants and the meals they produce. He admits that the UK is still a long way behind the rest of Europe in terms of decent places to eat outside the big cities, a depressing but true fact. He hopes that things will improve slowly and that he has a part to play in improving the future eating habits of the British.
An enlightening read if you are interested in learning about how Gordon Ramsey came to be the man he is today, a successful chef and businessman.


A very much straight to the point story, 18 Jun 2008
This book was bought as a Fathers Day gift, it was a complete surprise and not a book I would have bought for myself. Wow what a surprise, many aspects of Gordon Ramsey's life really have been quite harrowing, but his drive and motivation is what really did it for me. The amount of training he put himself through starting again and again from the bottom and working his way up, if anyone deserves to be where they are today then he does. A good read.

what a refreshing change!, 11 Jun 2008
This is a brilliant book! Ramsay writes from the heart! His genuineness makes a refreshing change. How wonderful for an englishman to show his feelings. If you think that you're not interested in the life of a celebrity chef then think again! I don't think it would have mattered what profession ramsey went into he was driven and still is. He's been bullied by his father, marco pierre White and others who are named in the book, but his drive and sheer hard work have got him through.He's also sarcastic and witty and says exactly what he thinks of people, and why not i say?! To hell with political correctness, he's written an honest account about his life and his feelings good or bad. There are some sad bits in the book about his feelings towards his father and his brothers drug addiction, so you do see a sensitive side too. He's an extremely emotional guy and it clearly manifests itself in his loose tongue, but underneath he's a really human, caring guy. A wonderful book that inspires.

Loved it!, 10 Jun 2008
Wow! I'm not usually a fast reader, but once I started this book I really couldn't put it down and ended up reading it all in one day. I've always admired Gordon Ramsay, his obvious commitment and dedication, but I think I can now appreciate how hard he has worked in order to get where he is.

`Humble Pie' goes into some detail about his childhood and relationship with his Father; his short career in football; his relationship with his brother, who is a heroin addict; his early days as a commi in France and in Marco Pierre White's kitchen and how he has developed his current restaurants and nurtured the careers of other young chefs.

This was a great book and (if it was written by a ghost writer) it really captures his distinctive voice, i.e. expect swearing. I can't recommend this highly enough and the bits of the book where Marco Pierre White appears, a bit like a pantomime villain are especially good.
Review. Done. Enjoy


What a corker of a book!, 24 Apr 2008
What a brilliant book, I was sad when it came to an end, I just wanted to keep on reading. I really liked Gordon Ramsey before I read the book, now I love him. He is a man with passion and standards, yes he has a firey way of putting this across but it gets the job done and I say full respect to him and the things he has achieved. He could have let his childhood experiences ruin his life but he didn't used it as his driving force and you have to respect him for that. A must read for anyone and a big good on you Gordon.........

undemanding read, nice touches, , 21 Aug 2008
Language wise this is an undemanding, non-technical book, by which I mean you wont learn to be a brain surgeon or rocket car scientist by reading it.

You will learn how one couple coped with and travelled through a terrible thing happening to one of them.

That the 'physically injured party' is well known make this a little like watching a film where you know the ending (think Apollo 13) but are interested to know how you get there - and when you do get to the end you realise you didn't know more than the basic, I don't think I'm spoiling anything to say 'he lived & went back to work' but it is good to know how he feels about that.

It's also good to read Mindy Hammonds' point of view - I particularly liked touches where they remembered things differently, he remembers a green car outside, she a blue one...I enjoyed that side of things very much.

The only thing is I would have liked two things, a bit more detail about the type of brain injury Richard suffered and also a bit more of the going back to work, getting into life again stuff. The end was a little rushed.

Enjoy.

Fantastic. A riveting read for all ages, 21 Aug 2008
Now I'm 12 years old, but no, I'm not writing a review for the authored..kids..adapted thing. I'm sure you've gathered I prefer the real deal. This book truly is magnificently written. From cover to cover I was 'on the edge' (I wonder if this is where the book got it's name?) of my seat. I know many people say this, but this time it's literal. I couldn't put it down for the life of me.

I was reading this in the garden. I spent 15 or so minutes reading it when a wasp starting buzzing around my head, and yes I'm sure all of you reading this will know how unutterably irritating this is.
So I stood up and started hitting it with a tea-towel, but by the time I could get anywhere near it it had already flown away. And all the time I was doing this, I was still reading the book, so no wonder.
And then I spent 15 minutes standing up reading it, because I had absolutely no idea what I was doing or what was going on around me, so I couldn't sit down........I was inside the book. Weird?! Spooky?! Yeah, I think so too.
When you're reading this book you get a feeling you're there. Especially the parts that Richard's wife, Mindy, wrote.
In the part where she was driving to the hospital where Richard was, I felt like I was there. In the car with her.

This book is a compilation, really, of everything that happened to the Hammonds as a family. As a whole. Everything you could possibly want to know is included in On The Edge.
It's the story of how the family adapted to knowing one of their members had brain damage. What you would tell the kids. As Richard said in his book promo, how he risked his life just to strap himself to the front of a jet-engine for kicks. It's the story of how he crashed a jet powered dragster at 288 miles-per-hour.

If you're looking to read a book in the near future, or have just finished a book (probably one you've just bought from ASDA in a 3 for 2 offer with a "Richard & Judy's Summer Read" sticker on the front cover, let's not deny it), and want a truly riveting read that could keep you entertained, on the edge of your seat for hours on end, then look no further. Richard Hammond: On The Edge is one of the most fantastic accounts I've ever read.

Fan of the Hamster or not, this is unmissable.
5 STAR *****

Remarkable Love Story, 19 Aug 2008
What impressed me about this book was the sheer devotion of Richard and Mindy to each other and their children. Yes this is a book about a man struggling to rehabilitate after a horrific brain injury, and the tale of a man 'off the telly', but it is more than that. It is about courage, hope and resilience in the face of really daunting odds. I was very moved by this story, which is not something I was expecting at all when I first picked it up.

It is simply written and honest about the ups and downs of a horrific time in this family's life. It's not earth shattering literature, but then anyone who was expecting it to be must be slightly deranged themselves.

What really touched me is the effort both Richard and Mindy made to acknowledge the help they have received along the way both professionally and from ordinary people, and the fact that despite the fact that this was a high profile story, they keep coming back to their connection with and understanding of ordinary people who have to go through things like this and worse, with a fraction of the help provided here.

Survival of the Fittest, 17 Jul 2008
Richard Hammond covers the daredevil stunts of his childhood with a humour that he obviously took into his adult life. But the book isn't so much about his life as about the aftermath of his horrendous crash in a jet car whilst filming for the Top Gear television programme. The fact that Top Gear pushes the boundaries of acceptable motoring or that at times it can be irresponsible and purely for entertainment is probably not for discussion here. Hammond is part of that set-up and the fact that he drove a jet car could smack of commerciality gone too far.

As we all know he suffered severe brain damage from the crash. This book deals primarily with the build-up to the crash and the aftermath seen both through Hammond's eyes and those of his wife Mindy. Whilst Hammond was trying to pick up the pieces of his life and dealing with the problems of recuperating from brain damage, Mindy was trying to carry the burden of the family whilst giving him a solid base for his recovery. This is an overwhelming story of survival and return to fitness that at one point didn't seem possible. It is about the triumph of the human spirit. It is well written and an enjoyable read although I found the almost pathological need to avoid the Media slightly surprising given that Hammond himself operates within that field.

An excellent read, 24 Jun 2008
What a fantastic book. I really couldn't put it down. It had me laughing and crying, sometimes on the same page. Whovever said they couldn't decide whether it was good or not obviously missed the point completely. Maybe there were too many big words and not enough pictures. A real story about real people and it still has a happy ending. Excellent

Such a shame!!, 05 Aug 2008
I'd been looking forward to reading this for a while, I'm a big fan of Blur, and always thought AJ was a good guy - having read this I came away hating him! His writing style is hard work to get through, as well as slightly pretentious and bordering on the twee.

He gives very little insight into the workings of Blur and what it was like to be part of the biggest band of the 90's and instead tends to tell contrived anecdotes about his 'mis-adventures', which are actually quite boring.

Its a shame because you could have got a really good behind the scenes tale, but instead it missed the mark. Sorry...

Fantastically entertaining, 28 Jul 2008
I too am surprised by some of the negative reviews - this is my book of the year so far, fantastically entertaining and incredibly well written. Maybe it helps that I was never a huge Blur fan - I just love the way it portrays Alex James' rise to fame and the nature of celebrity. Funny, honest and an absolute joy to read. And I now have a bit of a crush on Alex...

Highly entertaining, 23 Jul 2008
I am surprised that so many people seem to be down on this book because it isn't a definitive story about Blur the band. As I see it, why would it be? This is a book that is about Alex James. As it is written by Alex James this makes it the definitive book about Alex James, and it's really rather good.

He is amusing, self-deprecating in many ways, honest and funny. He writes well and is full of enthusiasm, which spills out of the book at every page. It is the story of one man's life, loves and enthusiasms being filtered through the experience of being in one of the world's most successful bands.

I loved it and just hope he writes a lot more. A book about farming, a book about cheese, I don't care really. Just more of a very talented writer soon please. Thankyou.

If you want a detailed account of Blur, get 3862 Days, 07 Jun 2008
As this is the autobiography of Alex James. Which he makes very clear. If you want an insiders memories of the band, Albarn or Coxons autobio is the one to wait for (probably Albarns if you want stuff about Think Tank).
There is very little focus on the band in the 2nd half of the book, whereas about half of the first involves aspects of the band. There isn't really a need for him to detail the band, there are 2 books already that do that, The Last Party (or Britpop, depending on which edition you get) and 3862 Days. The latter does go into far more detail as it's purely about the band, although it was published in 1999, so it does need an updated re-issue.
This is the book about HIS life, not the bands, and for what it is, it's very good. From the lifestyle he seems to have lead, he really must have written this down before hand, as events would be hard to remember after his nights.
Overall, a very funny book that shows the downsides of rock and roll hedonism, and how you can turn your life around. As he said, "It's horrid being in a rut, no matter how nice the rut looks from the outside."

Amazing band not an amazing autobiography, 01 Jun 2008
I read this book thinking it would bring back memories of the time and give me an insight into the amazing band that was Blur, although as it developed it was clearly only going to be about the strange small world around Alex James. He was a very selfish man going through an unusual experience and, in my view, took a very arrogant view of the whole period in his life.
There are some very interesting sound bites - "if you know why someone likes you then they are not a friend but a fan" and "when you get what you want you lose what you had" - which give a hint of future promise if he continues to write.
Overall the book was a bit disjointed and it felt like he was trying too hard.

A disappointing release., 02 Sep 2008
Yet another biography of Cliff's life to coincide with his 50 years in showbusiness, but by just another of the long line of authors who wrote about Cliff Richard.

I had high expectations of this release, but it consists of bulk of text information which has been said before but is up to date in this release. The BIG disappointment is a SMALL selected pages of obscure pictures segmented in between the bulk of text. Absolutely no memorabilia photos, album covers, film photos to journal his 50 years in showbusiness etc. There's a wealth of photos the author could have delved into.

I've seen other artists books that are treasured with pictures covering all aspects of their career and also a terrific written bigraphical account. But not in this new Cliff Richard book!

You are better off seeking Steve Turner's 'Bachelor Boy' Cliff book released a short while ago. Now this book is completely stuff with fabulous pictures throughout every page.



Amusing and informative , 30 Aug 2008
amusing and personal anecdotes by the man himself that he has never told before on his career as well as personal life, feat. quite a number of previously unreleased photos - good read, absolutely enjoyable, well worth the money.


Yes! No... Maybe..., 24 Aug 2008
I'm not a great reader of biography, but I was looking forward to this book as I admire Rick Wakeman both as an amazing musician and as a quirky character. This book is OK, and has a number of of interesting and amusing recollections from Rick Wakeman's career but it is rather rambling and self indulgent. Whilst it gives a sense of some of the bizarre and whacky things that have happened to him in the course of his musical career I was hoping for something a bit more interesting than in depth details of his drinking habits which seemed to feature on every other page... Having said that some of the recollections were so funny that I did laugh out loud and have to read them to my husband. So, if you're a complete Rick Wakeman fan you may enjoy this enough to make forking out the cash worthwhile, but be warned, it is only a collection of stories and not a decent biography.

paul o'grady, the biography, neil simpson, 03 Aug 2008
i thought it was a good read, in fact i read it in fewer than 48 hours. however i thought that most of it was more descriptive than factual.
i think it lacks some of the details that i have read before.
at the same time, i could recognise and had already read a lot of the book's content elsewhere. as i have been to several shows, i think i have seen a different side to paul, than the one which is portrayed in the book.

an interesting insight into the creation of Lily Savage, 29 Jun 2008
The book provides a lot of unknown information showing Pauls' childhood,teenage years and adulthood.Producing a daughter at sixteen,living aroung the world and losing his Parents tragically are all explained in the book.It's interesting to read how Lily was created and the wealth that this caricature made for Paul.However,though Paul has many facets to his stage presence,he will always be known for Lily.I would recommend this book to fans but it lacks appeal for a wider audience.

Paul o grady autobiography, 05 May 2008


I was very impressed with his life story it was a good read

A special Man, 04 May 2008
This is the story of someone very special indeed. His childhood and his later years are vividly described and many times made me laugh out loud. There is heartbreak here too and ill health which has dogged Paul. He has not allowed this to stop him and the book flows like a river carrying the reader through the many ups and downs of his life so far. A book that is well worth reading with it's depth of feeling.

Britain's got talent, 27 Apr 2008
What's the connection between the grandfatherly paul o grady on his chat show today and the mad old lilly savage from the 80's? It's the amazing characters Paul knew when he was a boy, his need to escape from reality when he got to london and his simple love of talented variety performers. Lily was a means to and end. The real Paul O Grady is the one we see on TV today and he's a surprisingly more thoughtful and quieter individual than I had expected. There's a lot of sadness in his life, and in this book. But it's made me an even bigger fan. My only question - why isn't he a judge on Britain's Got Talent - he'd be brilliant!

In Pursuit of Perfection, 21 Jun 2008
Having read Hell's Kitchen I now feel that I understand Gordon Ramsay's personality a little better. His fanatical pursuit of perfection seems to be as a result of his difficult childhood. However I wonder if his constant use of the f word is entirely necessary as all it really shows is lack of vocabulary. This makes me feel that maybe nowadays he continues to use it for effect in print and on the small screen.
He is obviously very passionate about his restaurants and the meals they produce. He admits that the UK is still a long way behind the rest of Europe in terms of decent places to eat outside the big cities, a depressing but true fact. He hopes that things will improve slowly and that he has a part to play in improving the future eating habits of the British.
An enlightening read if you are interested in learning about how Gordon Ramsey came to be the man he is today, a successful chef and businessman.


A very much straight to the point story, 18 Jun 2008
This book was bought as a Fathers Day gift, it was a complete surprise and not a book I would have bought for myself. Wow what a surprise, many aspects of Gordon Ramsey's life really have been quite harrowing, but his drive and motivation is what really did it for me. The amount of training he put himself through starting again and again from the bottom and working his way up, if anyone deserves to be where they are today then he does. A good read.

what a refreshing change!, 11 Jun 2008
This is a brilliant book! Ramsay writes from the heart! His genuineness makes a refreshing change. How wonderful for an englishman to show his feelings. If you think that you're not interested in the life of a celebrity chef then think again! I don't think it would have mattered what profession ramsey went into he was driven and still is. He's been bullied by his father, marco pierre White and others who are named in the book, but his drive and sheer hard work have got him through.He's also sarcastic and witty and says exactly what he thinks of people, and why not i say?! To hell with political correctness, he's written an honest account about his life and his feelings good or bad. There are some sad bits in the book about his feelings towards his father and his brothers drug addiction, so you do see a sensitive side too. He's an extremely emotional guy and it clearly manifests itself in his loose tongue, but underneath he's a really human, caring guy. A wonderful book that inspires.

Loved it!, 10 Jun 2008
Wow! I'm not usually a fast reader, but once I started this book I really couldn't put it down and ended up reading it all in one day. I've always admired Gordon Ramsay, his obvious commitment and dedication, but I think I can now appreciate how hard he has worked in order to get where he is.

`Humble Pie' goes into some detail about his childhood and relationship with his Father; his short career in football; his relationship with his brother, who is a heroin addict; his early days as a commi in France and in Marco Pierre White's kitchen and how he has developed his current restaurants and nurtured the careers of other young chefs.

This was a great book and (if it was written by a ghost writer) it really captures his distinctive voice, i.e. expect swearing. I can't recommend this highly enough and the bits of the book where Marco Pierre White appears, a bit like a pantomime villain are especially good.
Review. Done. Enjoy


What a corker of a book!, 24 Apr 2008
What a brilliant book, I was sad when it came to an end, I just wanted to keep on reading. I really liked Gordon Ramsey before I read the book, now I love him. He is a man with passion and standards, yes he has a firey way of putting this across but it gets the job done and I say full respect to him and the things he has achieved. He could have let his childhood experiences ruin his life but he didn't used it as his driving force and you have to respect him for that. A must read for anyone and a big good on you Gordon.........

undemanding read, nice touches, , 21 Aug 2008
Language wise this is an undemanding, non-technical book, by which I mean you wont learn to be a brain surgeon or rocket car scientist by reading it.

You will learn how one couple coped with and travelled through a terrible thing happening to one of them.

That the 'physically injured party' is well known make this a little like watching a film where you know the ending (think Apollo 13) but are interested to know how you get there - and when you do get to the end you realise you didn't know more than the basic, I don't think I'm spoiling anything to say 'he lived & went back to work' but it is good to know how he feels about that.

It's also good to read Mindy Hammonds' point of view - I particularly liked touches where they remembered things differently, he remembers a green car outside, she a blue one...I enjoyed that side of things very much.

The only thing is I would have liked two things, a bit more detail about the type of brain injury Richard suffered and also a bit more of the going back to work, getting into life again stuff. The end was a little rushed.

Enjoy.

Fantastic. A riveting read for all ages, 21 Aug 2008
Now I'm 12 years old, but no, I'm not writing a review for the authored..kids..adapted thing. I'm sure you've gathered I prefer the real deal. This book truly is magnificently written. From cover to cover I was 'on the edge' (I wonder if this is where the book got it's name?) of my seat. I know many people say this, but this time it's literal. I couldn't put it down for the life of me.

I was reading this in the garden. I spent 15 or so minutes reading it when a wasp starting buzzing around my head, and yes I'm sure all of you reading this will know how unutterably irritating this is.
So I stood up and started hitting it with a tea-towel, but by the time I could get anywhere near it it had already flown away. And all the time I was doing this, I was still reading the book, so no wonder.
And then I spent 15 minutes standing up reading it, because I had absolutely no idea what I was doing or what was going on around me, so I couldn't sit down........I was inside the book. Weird?! Spooky?! Yeah, I think so too.
When you're reading this book you get a feeling you're there. Especially the parts that Richard's wife, Mindy, wrote.
In the part where she was driving to the hospital where Richard was, I felt like I was there. In the car with her.

This book is a compilation, really, of everything that happened to the Hammonds as a family. As a whole. Everything you could possibly want to know is included in On The Edge.
It's the story of how the family adapted to knowing one of their members had brain damage. What you would tell the kids. As Richard said in his book promo, how he risked his life just to strap himself to the front of a jet-engine for kicks. It's the story of how he crashed a jet powered dragster at 288 miles-per-hour.

If you're looking to read a book in the near future, or have just finished a book (probably one you've just bought from ASDA in a 3 for 2 offer with a "Richard & Judy's Summer Read" sticker on the front cover, let's not deny it), and want a truly riveting read that could keep you entertained, on the edge of your seat for hours on end, then look no further. Richard Hammond: On The Edge is one of the most fantastic accounts I've ever read.

Fan of the Hamster or not, this is unmissable.
5 STAR *****

Remarkable Love Story, 19 Aug 2008
What impressed me about this book was the sheer devotion of Richard and Mindy to each other and their children. Yes this is a book about a man struggling to rehabilitate after a horrific brain injury, and the tale of a man 'off the telly', but it is more than that. It is about courage, hope and resilience in the face of really daunting odds. I was very moved by this story, which is not something I was expecting at all when I first picked it up.

It is simply written and honest about the ups and downs of a horrific time in this family's life. It's not earth shattering literature, but then anyone who was expecting it to be must be slightly deranged themselves.

What really touched me is the effort both Richard and Mindy made to acknowledge the help they have received along the way both professionally and from ordinary people, and the fact that despite the fact that this was a high profile story, they keep coming back to their connection with and understanding of ordinary people who have to go through things like this and worse, with a fraction of the help provided here.

Survival of the Fittest, 17 Jul 2008
Richard Hammond covers the daredevil stunts of his childhood with a humour that he obviously took into his adult life. But the book isn't so much about his life as about the aftermath of his horrendous crash in a jet car whilst filming for the Top Gear television programme. The fact that Top Gear pushes the boundaries of acceptable motoring or that at times it can be irresponsible and purely for entertainment is probably not for discussion here. Hammond is part of that set-up and the fact that he drove a jet car could smack of commerciality gone too far.

As we all know he suffered severe brain damage from the crash. This book deals primarily with the build-up to the crash and the aftermath seen both through Hammond's eyes and those of his wife Mindy. Whilst Hammond was trying to pick up the pieces of his life and dealing with the problems of recuperating from brain damage, Mindy was trying to carry the burden of the family whilst giving him a solid base for his recovery. This is an overwhelming story of survival and return to fitness that at one point didn't seem possible. It is about the triumph of the human spirit. It is well written and an enjoyable read although I found the almost pathological need to avoid the Media slightly surprising given that Hammond himself operates within that field.

An excellent read, 24 Jun 2008
What a fantastic book. I really couldn't put it down. It had me laughing and crying, sometimes on the same page. Whovever said they couldn't decide whether it was good or not obviously missed the point completely. Maybe there were too many big words and not enough pictures. A real story about real people and it still has a happy ending. Excellent

Such a shame!!, 05 Aug 2008
I'd been looking forward to reading this for a while, I'm a big fan of Blur, and always thought AJ was a good guy - having read this I came away hating him! His writing style is hard work to get through, as well as slightly pretentious and bordering on the twee.

He gives very little insight into the workings of Blur and what it was like to be part of the biggest band of the 90's and instead tends to tell contrived anecdotes about his 'mis-adventures', which are actually quite boring.

Its a shame because you could have got a really good behind the scenes tale, but instead it missed the mark. Sorry...

Fantastically entertaining, 28 Jul 2008
I too am surprised by some of the negative reviews - this is my book of the year so far, fantastically entertaining and incredibly well written. Maybe it helps that I was never a huge Blur fan - I just love the way it portrays Alex James' rise to fame and the nature of celebrity. Funny, honest and an absolute joy to read. And I now have a bit of a crush on Alex...

Highly entertaining, 23 Jul 2008
I am surprised that so many people seem to be down on this book because it isn't a definitive story about Blur the band. As I see it, why would it be? This is a book that is about Alex James. As it is written by Alex James this makes it the definitive book about Alex James, and it's really rather good.

He is amusing, self-deprecating in many ways, honest and funny. He writes well and is full of enthusiasm, which spills out of the book at every page. It is the story of one man's life, loves and enthusiasms being filtered through the experience of being in one of the world's most successful bands.

I loved it and just hope he writes a lot more. A book about farming, a book about cheese, I don't care really. Just more of a very talented writer soon please. Thankyou.

If you want a detailed account of Blur, get 3862 Days, 07 Jun 2008
As this is the autobiography of Alex James. Which he makes very clear. If you want an insiders memories of the band, Albarn or Coxons autobio is the one to wait for (probably Albarns if you want stuff about Think Tank).
There is very little focus on the band in the 2nd half of the book, whereas about half of the first involves aspects of the band. There isn't really a need for him to detail the band, there are 2 books already that do that, The Last Party (or Britpop, depending on which edition you get) and 3862 Days. The latter does go into far more detail as it's purely about the band, although it was published in 1999, so it does need an updated re-issue.
This is the book about HIS life, not the bands, and for what it is, it's very good. From the lifestyle he seems to have lead, he really must have written this down before hand, as events would be hard to remember after his nights.
Overall, a very funny book that shows the downsides of rock and roll hedonism, and how you can turn your life around. As he said, "It's horrid being in a rut, no matter how nice the rut looks from the outside."

Amazing band not an amazing autobiography, 01 Jun 2008
I read this book thinking it would bring back memories of the time and give me an insight into the amazing band that was Blur, although as it developed it was clearly only going to be about the strange small world around Alex James. He was a very selfish man going through an unusual experience and, in my view, took a very arrogant view of the whole period in his life.
There are some very interesting sound bites - "if you know why someone likes you then they are not a friend but a fan" and "when you get what you want you lose what you had" - which give a hint of future promise if he continues to write.
Overall the book was a bit disjointed and it felt like he was trying too hard.

Perfect gentle humour, 29 Aug 2008
Buy this for everyone you know - it's a perfect Christmas present and its gentle humour will appeal to all. Get the audio version for the authenticity of the author's lovely voice. You can listen to it a hundred times and not get tired of it - buy it for yourself and have a wallow in the past. Thoroughly recommend it.

I remember a childhood like this!, 10 Aug 2008
I first heard these stories when they were broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland a few years back, and prayed that the day would come when they would appear in book form. While I was a "country boy", the spirit, adventure & inventiveness of Bills' childhood in the city resonates with me for its many similaritiesto my own. Some of the stories are "smile and nod" in recognition, and others "laugh out loud" funny, all combining to make this the best Glasgow autobiography in many years, and a future classic of Scottish writing.

I was struck by the warmth of the telling in Bill Patersons' voice on radio, and would, because of that, recommend the audio book version as well. You won't need to be Scottish, or Glaswegian to enjoy these stories, just to have had a childhood in the 50's & 60's

A disappointing release., 02 Sep 2008
Yet another biography of Cliff's life to coincide with his 50 years in showbusiness, but by just another of the long line of authors who wrote about Cliff Richard.

I had high expectations of this release, but it consists of bulk of text information which has been said before but is up to date in this release. The BIG disappointment is a SMALL selected pages of obscure pictures segmented in between the bulk of text. Absolutely no memorabilia photos, album covers, film photos to journal his 50 years in showbusiness etc. There's a wealth of photos the author could have delved into.

I've seen other artists books that are treasured with pictures covering all aspects of their career and also a terrific written bigraphical account. But not in this new Cliff Richard book!

You are better off seeking Steve Turner's 'Bachelor Boy' Cliff book released a short while ago. Now this book is completely stuff with fabulous pictures throughout every page.



Amusing and informative , 30 Aug 2008
amusing and personal anecdotes by the man himself that he has never told before on his career as well as personal life, feat. quite a number of previously unreleased photos - good read, absolutely enjoyable, well worth the money.


Yes! No... Maybe..., 24 Aug 2008
I'm not a great reader of biography, but I was looking forward to this book as I admire Rick Wakeman both as an amazing musician and as a quirky character. This book is OK, and has a number of of interesting and amusing recollections from Rick Wakeman's career but it is rather rambling and self indulgent. Whilst it gives a sense of some of the bizarre and whacky things that have happened to him in the course of his musical career I was hoping for something a bit more interesting than in depth details of his drinking habits which seemed to feature on every other page... Having said that some of the recollections were so funny that I did laugh out loud and have to read them to my husband. So, if you're a complete Rick Wakeman fan you may enjoy this enough to make forking out the cash worthwhile, but be warned, it is only a collection of stories and not a decent biography.

paul o'grady, the biography, neil simpson, 03 Aug 2008
i thought it was a good read, in fact i read it in fewer than 48 hours. however i thought that most of it was more descriptive than factual.
i think it lacks some of the details that i have read before.
at the same time, i could recognise and had already read a lot of the book's content elsewhere. as i have been to several shows, i think i have seen a different side to paul, than the one which is portrayed in the book.

an interesting insight into the creation of Lily Savage, 29 Jun 2008
The book provides a lot of unknown information showing Pauls' childhood,teenage years and adulthood.Producing a daughter at sixteen,living aroung the world and losing his Parents tragically are all explained in the book.It's interesting to read how Lily was created and the wealth that this caricature made for Paul.However,though Paul has many facets to his stage presence,he will always be known for Lily.I would recommend this book to fans but it lacks appeal for a wider audience.

Paul o grady autobiography, 05 May 2008


I was very impressed with his life story it was a good read

A special Man, 04 May 2008
This is the story of someone very special indeed. His childhood and his later years are vividly described and many times made me laugh out loud. There is heartbreak here too and ill health which has dogged Paul. He has not allowed this to stop him and the book flows like a river carrying the reader through the many ups and downs of his life so far. A book that is well worth reading with it's depth of feeling.

Britain's got talent, 27 Apr 2008
What's the connection between the grandfatherly paul o grady on his chat show today and the mad old lilly savage from the 80's? It's the amazing characters Paul knew when he was a boy, his need to escape from reality when he got to london and his simple love of talented variety performers. Lily was a means to and end. The real Paul O Grady is the one we see on TV today and he's a surprisingly more thoughtful and quieter individual than I had expected. There's a lot of sadness in his life, and in this book. But it's made me an even bigger fan. My only question - why isn't he a judge on Britain's Got Talent - he'd be brilliant!

In Pursuit of Perfection, 21 Jun 2008
Having read Hell's Kitchen I now feel that I understand Gordon Ramsay's personality a little better. His fanatical pursuit of perfection seems to be as a result of his difficult childhood. However I wonder if his constant use of the f word is entirely necessary as all it really shows is lack of vocabulary. This makes me feel that maybe nowadays he continues to use it for effect in print and on the small screen.
He is obviously very passionate about his restaurants and the meals they produce. He admits that the UK is still a long way behind the rest of Europe in terms of decent places to eat outside the big cities, a depressing but true fact. He hopes that things will improve slowly and that he has a part to play in improving the future eating habits of the British.
An enlightening read if you are interested in learning about how Gordon Ramsey came to be the man he is today, a successful chef and businessman.


A very much straight to the point story, 18 Jun 2008
This book was bought as a Fathers Day gift, it was a complete surprise and not a book I would have bought for myself. Wow what a surprise, many aspects of Gordon Ramsey's life really have been quite harrowing, but his drive and motivation is what really did it for me. The amount of training he put himself through starting again and again from the bottom and working his way up, if anyone deserves to be where they are today then he does. A good read.

what a refreshing change!, 11 Jun 2008
This is a brilliant book! Ramsay writes from the heart! His genuineness makes a refreshing change. How wonderful for an englishman to show his feelings. If you think that you're not interested in the life of a celebrity chef then think again! I don't think it would have mattered what profession ramsey went into he was driven and still is. He's been bullied by his father, marco pierre White and others who are named in the book, but his drive and sheer hard work have got him through.He's also sarcastic and witty and says exactly what he thinks of people, and why not i say?! To hell with political correctness, he's written an honest account about his life and his feelings good or bad. There are some sad bits in the book about his feelings towards his father and his brothers drug addiction, so you do see a sensitive side too. He's an extremely emotional guy and it clearly manifests itself in his loose tongue, but underneath he's a really human, caring guy. A wonderful book that inspires.

Loved it!, 10 Jun 2008
Wow! I'm not usually a fast reader, but once I started this book I really couldn't put it down and ended up reading it all in one day. I've always admired Gordon Ramsay, his obvious commitment and dedication, but I think I can now appreciate how hard he has worked in order to get where he is.

`Humble Pie' goes into some detail about his childhood and relationship with his Father; his short career in football; his relationship with his brother, who is a heroin addict; his early days as a commi in France and in Marco Pierre White's kitchen and how he has developed his current restaurants and nurtured the careers of other young chefs.

This was a great book and (if it was written by a ghost writer) it really captures his distinctive voice, i.e. expect swearing. I can't recommend this highly enough and the bits of the book where Marco Pierre White appears, a bit like a pantomime villain are especially good.
Review. Done. Enjoy


What a corker of a book!, 24 Apr 2008
What a brilliant book, I was sad when it came to an end, I just wanted to keep on reading. I really liked Gordon Ramsey before I read the book, now I love him. He is a man with passion and standards, yes he has a firey way of putting this across but it gets the job done and I say full respect to him and the things he has achieved. He could have let his childhood experiences ruin his life but he didn't used it as his driving force and you have to respect him for that. A must read for anyone and a big good on you Gordon.........

undemanding read, nice touches, , 21 Aug 2008
Language wise this is an undemanding, non-technical book, by which I mean you wont learn to be a brain surgeon or rocket car scientist by reading it.

You will learn how one couple coped with and travelled through a terrible thing happening to one of them.

That the 'physically injured party' is well known make this a little like watching a film where you know the ending (think Apollo 13) but are interested to know how you get there - and when you do get to the end you realise you didn't know more than the basic, I don't think I'm spoiling anything to say 'he lived & went back to work' but it is good to know how he feels about that.

It's also good to read Mindy Hammonds' point of view - I particularly liked touches where they remembered things differently, he remembers a green car outside, she a blue one...I enjoyed that side of things very much.

The only thing is I would have liked two things, a bit more detail about the type of brain injury Richard suffered and also a bit more of the going back to work, getting into life again stuff. The end was a little rushed.

Enjoy.

Fantastic. A riveting read for all ages, 21 Aug 2008
Now I'm 12 years old, but no, I'm not writing a review for the authored..kids..adapted thing. I'm sure you've gathered I prefer the real deal. This book truly is magnificently written. From cover to cover I was 'on the edge' (I wonder if this is where the book got it's name?) of my seat. I know many people say this, but this time it's literal. I couldn't put it down for the life of me.

I was reading this in the garden. I spent 15 or so minutes reading it when a wasp starting buzzing around my head, and yes I'm sure all of you reading this will know how unutterably irritating this is.
So I stood up and started hitting it with a tea-towel, but by the time I could get anywhere near it it had already flown away. And all the time I was doing this, I was still reading the book, so no wonder.
And then I spent 15 minutes standing up reading it, because I had absolutely no idea what I was doing or what was going on around me, so I couldn't sit down........I was inside the book. Weird?! Spooky?! Yeah, I think so too.
When you're reading this book you get a feeling you're there. Especially the parts that Richard's wife, Mindy, wrote.
In the part where she was driving to the hospital where Richard was, I felt like I was there. In the car with her.

This book is a compilation, really, of everything that happened to the Hammonds as a family. As a whole. Everything you could possibly want to know is included in On The Edge.
It's the story of how the family adapted to knowing one of their members had brain damage. What you would tell the kids. As Richard said in his book promo, how he risked his life just to strap himself to the front of a jet-engine for kicks. It's the story of how he crashed a jet powered dragster at 288 miles-per-hour.

If you're looking to read a book in the near future, or have just finished a book (probably one you've just bought from ASDA in a 3 for 2 offer with a "Richard & Judy's Summer Read" sticker on the front cover, let's not deny it), and want a truly riveting read that could keep you entertained, on the edge of your seat for hours on end, then look no further. Richard Hammond: On The Edge is one of the most fantastic accounts I've ever read.

Fan of the Hamster or not, this is unmissable.
5 STAR *****

Remarkable Love Story, 19 Aug 2008
What impressed me about this book was the sheer devotion of Richard and Mindy to each other and their children. Yes this is a book about a man struggling to rehabilitate after a horrific brain injury, and the tale of a man 'off the telly', but it is more than that. It is about courage, hope and resilience in the face of really daunting odds. I was very moved by this story, which is not something I was expecting at all when I first picked it up.

It is simply written and honest about the ups and downs of a horrific time in this family's life. It's not earth shattering literature, but then anyone who was expecting it to be must be slightly deranged themselves.

What really touched me is the effort both Richard and Mindy made to acknowledge the help they have received along the way both professionally and from ordinary people, and the fact that despite the fact that this was a high profile story, they keep coming back to their connection with and understanding of ordinary people who have to go through things like this and worse, with a fraction of the help provided here.

Survival of the Fittest, 17 Jul 2008
Richard Hammond covers the daredevil stunts of his childhood with a humour that he obviously took into his adult life. But the book isn't so much about his life as about the aftermath of his horrendous crash in a jet car whilst filming for the Top Gear television programme. The fact that Top Gear pushes the boundaries of acceptable motoring or that at times it can be irresponsible and purely for entertainment is probably not for discussion here. Hammond is part of that set-up and the fact that he drove a jet car could smack of commerciality gone too far.

As we all know he suffered severe brain damage from the crash. This book deals primarily with the build-up to the crash and the aftermath seen both through Hammond's eyes and those of his wife Mindy. Whilst Hammond was trying to pick up the pieces of his life and dealing with the problems of recuperating from brain damage, Mindy was trying to carry the burden of the family whilst giving him a solid base for his recovery. This is an overwhelming story of survival and return to fitn