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How Did All This Happen?
- Narrated by: John Bishop
- Length: 9 hrs and 20 mins
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Summary
If you're a man of a certain age you'll know there comes a point in life when getting a sports car and over-analysing your contribution to society sounds like a really good idea. With a good job in sales and marketing and a nice house in Manchester that he shared with his wife and kids, John Bishop was no different when he turned the dreaded 4-0. But instead of spanking a load of cash on a car that would have made him look like a senior stylist at Vidal Sassoon, he stumbled onto a pathway that ultimately lead him to become one of the nation's best loved comedians.
It was a gamble, but boy, did it pay off. How Did All This Happen? is the story of how a boy who, growing up on a council estate dreaming of ousting Kenny Dalglish from Liverpool FC's starting line-up, suddenly found himself on stage in front of thousands of people nationwide, at an age when he should have known better. In his own inimitable style, John guides us through his life from leaving the estate and travelling the globe on a shoe string, to marriage, kids and the split that led him to being on a stage complaining to strangers one night - the night that changed his life and started his journey to stardom.
Wonderfully entertaining and packed with colourful reminiscences and comical anecdotes, this is a heart-warming, life-affirming and ultimately very, very funny memoir from one of the nation's greatest comedians.
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What listeners say about How Did All This Happen?
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- Laura
- 12-10-13
You really need to know what happened
What did you like most about How Did All This Happen??
Rarely does a book move me to tears and laughter so easily. This is one of the very few. Quite simply, because I don't want to be responsible for spoilers, if you've watched JB live, on TV or wherever and he's struck a chord, you literally need to read or listen to this book. It's beautifully written, emotionally narrated - entertaining, moving and inspirational all at once. It's one of the best autobios I've read/heard for a long time. I'm 10+ years younger than JB but a lot of his memories and desciptions of his earlie life wrought memories long buried. Enjoy.
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10 people found this helpful
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- Sue McW
- 02-11-13
A very unique and interesting life-story
I didn't know much about John Bishop before reading this book - but was keen to read it after watching the TV programme about his Sport Relief challenge (which is covered in the final chapter).
This book is very well written, and keeps you enthralled throughout - what an interesting and unusual life he has had.
His reading style is, in places, a little 'flat' when compared to his live stand-up delivery but that is just a very minor thing - once you have tuned in to his Liverpool accent then this biography will have you gripped right to the end.
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7 people found this helpful
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- Grantojosh
- 05-03-15
Really natural performance
I've like John Bishop as a performer since the very beginning of his TV career. Fascinating to listen to the man talking about himself in such an open, affable way.
Highly recommended!
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5 people found this helpful
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- james
- 15-12-16
brilliant
absolutely loved it. well worth a listen if you want to laugh out loud and be amazed on how indeed he got to where he is today. Highly recommended!!
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4 people found this helpful
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- Chantal
- 17-10-13
Fabulous
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Full of surprises, trials and tribulations and a frankness that will make you laugh and cry.
What other book might you compare How Did All This Happen? to, and why?
None
Which scene did you most enjoy?
All of them
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Yes definitely. Had no idea that the Bish had done so much!
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4 people found this helpful
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- Alex
- 10-10-13
One of the better comedian biographies.
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
If they were interested in stand up or John Bishop, Its emotive and portrays the route to stand up in a detailed fashion.
What did you like best about this story?
When i read a stand ups biography i want to here about there hankering for there craft, first steps to stand up and details of the journey to becoming recognised. This book does that better than most i have read.
Have you listened to any of John Bishop’s other performances? How does this one compare?
no
Any additional comments?
There was a lovely segment at the start where the author and narrator introduces himself and current surroundings, this feels like a cheeky little bonus. It also does as intended and breaks the ice before the book begins.
The book does not fall into the trap of glossing over the route to stand up, instead the second half details this interspersed with how it affected home and work life. Bizzarely this was a bit emotional at times due to the open nature of the writing.
i didnt feel things were being held back and for once i felt i was reading about a standup who truly loved his job and wasnt using it as a stepping stone to tv.
There was the usual born, school, work story which unless your a John Bishop fan may not particularly interest you. This may just be me but im a touch bored with all the samey back stories.
Overall This is a very good biography of a stand up comedian, if you have read and enjoyed the other ones then this will easily fit in to your top five.
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4 people found this helpful
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- Mr R MacNab
- 03-06-17
very funny
just as good as his stand up shows. a very good listen to such an interesting story
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2 people found this helpful
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- Kev d
- 15-02-17
brilliant
what a fantastic book John Bishop is an awesome gut and this book tells all no punches pulled
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2 people found this helpful
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- cs07
- 29-01-16
boring
Enjoy johns autobiography however he should never have read it. It became painful to listen to and a chore
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2 people found this helpful
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- Jodie Stevens
- 23-01-17
Superb
Thoroughly enjoyed this story. A genuinely nice bloke and a very interesting story, read really well.
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1 person found this helpful