15. Boy by Roald Dahl

Dahl, Roald. Boy: Tales of Childhood, London : Jonathan Cape, 1984

Now we end with a beginning. This book was the first autobiography I ever read. Not as out-and-out funny as many of the other titles on this list. This is a book for children of all ages, and despite its humour being quite warm and gentle it is nonetheless recognisable to readers of Dahl’s more macabre stories. Roald Dahl tells the stories of his formative years, from his earliest memories to his first job at the Shell company. He also points out the origins of his most beloved books, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as well as Matilda.

Later, his first job sent him on a posting to Africa, a tale that is told in his second volume of memoirs Going Solo. That book then goes on to detail Dahl’s exploits as a fighter pilot in the Second World War. That book is as highly recommended as this one.

Sources:

• http://www.roalddahlfans.com/books/boy.php
• http://childrensbookshop.com/images/bookimages/74/74560.jpg
• http://www.penguin.com.au/products/9780141322773/boy-and-going-solo

14. Radio Days by Woody Allen

Allen, Woody. Radio Days, New York, N.Y. : 1987.

This 1987 film is Allen’s paean to his youth, and to the long-gone days of listening to the radio dramas. The film is set in the early 40s, when every family depended on a radio set for the evening’s entertainment. Around this theme, several intertwining stories are told. A young boy (a surrogate character for Allen, and played by a young Seth Green) is a huge fan of all the radio series and would like nothing more than to spend his free time by the radio, he is often thwarted by the various eccentricities of his family members. Meanwhile, the stars of those radio shows are not the glamorous figures that their smooth voices would suggest, and life for them is no picnic, either.






















Sources:

• http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2277095424/tt0093818?ref_=tt_ov_i
• http://www.amazon.co.uk/Radio-Days-DVD-Mia-Farrow/dp/B00005V8VR/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383393964&sr=8-1&keywords=radio+days
• http://news.moviefone.com/2012/01/27/radio-days-woody-allen/

13. Comedy Rules by Jonathan Lynn

Lynn, Jonathan. Comedy Rules: From the Cambridge Footlights to Yes Prime Minister, London : Faber and Faber, 2011.

Jonathan Lynn is probably best known for co-creating the classic comedy sitcom Yes Minister, as well as directing many movies and stage productions. His whole professional life has been spent in the field of comedy, via one medium or another. In this book he tells his life story in the form of 150 rules for an aspiring comedy writer. Rule #1: There are exceptions to every rule in this book. Except this one, of course.

Sources:

• http://www.faber.co.uk/catalog/comedy-rules/9780571277957
• http://anthonycamber.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/comedy-rules-cover.jpg
• http://www.jonathanlynn.com/books/Comedy_Rules/comedy_rules.htm

12. How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big by Scott Adams

Adams, Scott. How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big, London : Penguin, 2013.

The latest book by American cartoonist Scott Adams, best known as the creator of Dilbert. This one differs for his previous works in that it is mostly text, with only occasional comics sprinkled throughout. It’s his attempt to pass on the important lessons and methods he has learned in trying to find success. To do this he tells countless self-effacing stories of his many varied failures, and the lessons that he learned from every one of them. The book was only published last month.

Sources:

• http://dilbert.com/blog/entry/how_to_fail_at_almost_everything_and_still_win_big_kind_of_the_story_of_my_life/
• http://www.npr.org/2013/10/21/236207605/scott-adams-explains-how-to-fail-at-almost-everything-except-dilbert
• http://www.us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9781591846918,00.html

11. Moab is my Washpot by Stephen Fry

Fry, Stephen. Moab is my Washpot, London : Hutchinson, 1997.

The first volume of memoirs by the actor and comedian Stephen Fry. Renowned these days for having a ‘brain the size of Kent’, Fry had an extremely troubled youth, being expelled from several schools for various offences including repeated lying and theft. Eventually, this behaviour landed him in prison at the age of 18, for credit card fraud. At the end of this punishment and with his entry to Cambridge University that this book ends. By the way, don’t worry about what the title means. I don’t know either.

Sources:

• http://leavesandpages.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/moab-is-my-washpot-steven-fry.jpg
• http://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/stephen-fry/moab-is-my-washpot-9780099457046.aspx
• http://www.booklore.co.uk/PastReviews/FryStephen/MoabIsMyWashpot/MoabIsMyWashpotReview.htm

10. The Liar by Stephen Fry

Fry, Stephen. The Liar. London : Arrow, 1992.

Before Stephen Fry wrote his first memoir, he wrote several novels (as well as  TV shows, sketches, newspaper columns and a play). His first, The Liar, was first published in 1992, five years before he wrote Moab is My Washpot. It’s an engaging and amusing read (and downright hilarious in parts). It’s the tale of Adrian Healey, and his life from his later years of high school to his later years in university. He may or may not get caught up in an international conspiracy along the way, I won’t spoil anything.

Despite the exciting plot hint I just dropped, the main character isn’t quite as original as the readers in 1992 may have suspected. Adrian Healey is a bisexual, lying, self-hating, extremely intelligent, witty young man. All of which could be applied to his creator, as was later admitted in the memoir.

For those who are familiar with Fry’s subsequently-told life story, many aspects of this novel make for interesting and even uncomfortable reading. I include both books as an fascinating contrast between two styles for telling one’s life story.

Sources: 

• http://www.randomhouse.com.au/content/titles/9780099457053.jpg
• http://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/stephen-fry/the-liar-9780099457053.aspx
• http://www.nytimes.com/1999/06/11/books/books-of-the-times-a-rebellious-young-weed-and-how-he-grew.html

9. I, Partridge by Alan Partridge

Coogan, Steve, et al. I, Partridge: We Need to Talk About Alan, London: HarperCollinsPublishers, 2011.

Now for something a bit different. This book is the autobiography of a fictional character, Alan Partridge, and was written by a team of writers. The character has been well known in the UK for the last two decades, appearing on both radio and TV. With his career originating in sports broadcasting, he is a spoof of the worst aspects of celebrity. Since the outset he has been portrayed by the comedian Steve Coogan, who was one of the writers on the book, read the audiobook edition, and most recently portrayed him in the new film Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa. This book, released in 2011, is intended as a mockery of the worst kinds of celebrity memoir.

Sources:

• http://i1.cdnds.net/11/34/618w_alan_partridge_bio_cover.jpg
• http://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/nov/23/i-partridge-alan-partridge-review
• http://www.harpercollins.com.au/books/Partridge-We-Need-Talk-About-Alan-Alan-Partridge/?isbn=9780007449200