Brilliant

I love stand up comedy, but have never felt that comedians translate very well to other media. This proved me wrong. Watson is laugh out loud funny in many places, while also being searingly honest about his numerous mistakes. Very relatable . i have just listened to this while isolating with my son and it really helped me get through.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

not great

I started it twice, didn't finish it (or if I do, I don't remember)..

I love Mark Watson's stayed up. the book wasn't funny for me. a it dull, so much so that I'd forgotten that I'd even started it/possibly finished it.

no great revelations. disappointing.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Honest & delightful

Brilliant book about the reality of a world I’m not familiar with. Really interesting, open, and honest. Well worth listening to!

I’m downloading more of Mark’s work now as I enjoyed this book so much.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

A superb, enlightening and funny look at life’s trickier times

Neither a memoir per se, nor a self-help guide, comedian and writer Mark Watson discusses his own battles against failing self-esteem and placing self-worth in the hands of others, using the medium of discussing symbolic deaths - a death on stage at an early stand-up show, the death of innocent childhood dream careers and all leading up to facing the ultimate death, the end of life.

On paper (audio), this likely sounds like it is a sad and depressing listen, but it is anything but - the real purpose of the book is not for Mark seeking pity, but rather to discuss how he’s come to terms with some of the sudden turns and disappointments, and that as he’s gotten older, more settled and happier in his personal life, how he’s become more accepting of himself and of how life has to be lived now, rather than always looking at what’s ahead and comparing yourself against your peers. He’s at pains to point out it is not a self-help guide, nor is he trying to say he has all the answers… however, it is a thrilling listen, to hear someone who we look at as being a success being so honest about how difficult things have been at times.

But it is also uplifting - Mark’s humorous writing style and personable warm delivery draws you in, and will leave you with the message that dark times, whilst inevitable for us all, can be survived and that we can be more than those traumas and not feel that the need to succeed at all costs is the only way to happiness. Given the strange times we live in, with social media causing us to place a dangerous amount of our self-worth on the number of likes our photos have or the number of friends we have, this book is a must listen - it offers a perspective on life and that the concept of “winning”, that happiness equals beating others or being the best, is ultimately in fact the opposite… a route to insecurity, doubt and unhappiness when things inevitably don’t go your way. We should enjoy the ride and the various twists and turns it throws at us, accepting that there’ll be good and bad to come and that ultimately, we can’t control it through sheer will, talent or trampling over others - we just have to try to cope with it, crest the waves and ultimately enjoy the ride.

An absolute essential listen - download it now!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

15 people found this helpful

This is about all of us

This is not a self help book, it is more useful than that.
A funny, honest and thought provoking memoir.

We can all resonate with the 8 deaths in some form but the most important part is the parentheses.
We dust ourselves off, learn and move on. Life can be fiddly but it turns out a lot of things are actually going pretty well, when you think about it.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

11 people found this helpful

Honest and interesting

really enjoyed listening to this (i think) honest autobiographical reflection. Thanks for sharing your darker times.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

More helpful than any 'self-help' book.

Mark says this isn't a "self help" book, yet i find it hugely helpful, and reassuring to hear that someone as brilliant and successful as Mark also really struggles with the day to day problems we all do.

I've been a fan of Mark for a very long time, and it's difficult to listen to someone you like, describing the terrible things that have happened to them but there is still the usual humour and delivery that I love about him.

To 'feel seen' is massively helpful when dealing with one's own Fiddly Brain, to know I'm not on my own, navigating through each day. It just gives me a little more strength than I thought I had.

X

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

an absolute gem

I loved this so much I listened to the full thing in one day and have every intention of listening again.
Mark's narration is lovely and friendly. He tells his story in his uniquely funny, endearing, way and every so often he manages to catch you off guard and have a real tug on your heartstrings. You find yourself so invested in all his highs and lows and he has crafted it so that his life can very easily be related to your own. I laughed, I cried, and some of the things Mark said will really stay with me. I can't recommend this enough, to anyone really, but particularly those who are struggling with the pressures of life; it might help you see it from a different perspective.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

23 people found this helpful

Great Author

I've loved Marks previous fiction books, and this was a really heartfelt account of who Mark is. great book

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Excellent - really enjoyed this book.

This is a book about Mark's experience of dealing with disappointment, expectations, his mental health and him sharing what he's learnt in his life from those experienes. The content is excellent! Mark delivers some really important messages in an engaging and meaningful way and all with his very good humour. I really liked that it is a bit of a self-help book but without the preachy nonsense or unrelatable academic jargon - it really worked for me. I'd definitely recommend this book.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!