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Broken Biscuits

And other male failures

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Broken Biscuits

By: Adam Farrer
Narrated by: Adam Farrer
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Witty, tender and daring essays from the British David Sedaris

'A lovely writer: supple, stylish and almost effortlessly witty.' Daily Mail

'Made me laugh out loud and then properly cry.’ Jennie Godfrey

When it comes to the challenge of being a man, Adam Farrer always seems to find a way to fall short…

Broken Biscuits vividly recounts Adam’s struggles to live up to masculine expectations, real or imagined. From the calamity of his first serious relationship to an obsession with Prince that sees everyone questioning his sexuality, and from the repercussions of his adult circumcision to his doubts about his ability to survive the apocalypse, this candid and personal collection of essays is astonishingly far-reaching and riotously funny.

Holding up a mirror to Adam’s own body image, his relationship with his family, his sense of self-worth and the mortifying experience of arriving at a teenage party wearing strawberry-patterned short shorts, this book is about growing up and trying to define yourself as a man but somehow always missing the mark.

©2025 Adam Farrer (P)2025 HarperCollins Publishers Essays Gender Studies Social Sciences Funny Witty Nonfiction
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Critic reviews

'A splendid book, to be cherished by anyone with a funny bone. I loved it.' Daily Mail
‘I love everything about these essays, from Adam's willingness to be open about life, love, family and his nether regions, to his innate ability as a storyteller. Broken Biscuits made me laugh out loud and then properly cry.’ Jennie Godfrey
‘Adam writes like he knows me, the tiniest things he recalls uncover huge truths that resonate even now. I loved it.’ Justin Moorhouse
'A bold new voice in nonfiction writing.' Jenn Ashworth
‘Writing with such intimacy and ease, Farrer has crafted a brilliant collection of essays, by turns tender, disarmingly honest and achingly funny.’ Tawseef Khan
‘It will make you cry with laughter.’ Miranda France
‘Farrer's distinctive voice is once again on display in this entertaining collection of autobiographical essays.’ Bookseller Editor’s Choice
‘Brilliant, funny, occasionally wince-inducing, and incredibly moving. I loved Adam’s honesty and generosity.’ Sarah Brooks
‘Adam’s eye for the absurd is a delight, his candour about his own struggles utterly endearing. Threaded with his customary blend of melancholy and self-deprecating humour, these essays are a deep and courageous dive into what it feels like to be a man.’ Karen Powell
‘Adam is a fantastic writer and you're going to want to get this book.’ Steven Kedie
‘A touching, searching, and warm memoir … funny and generous.' The Manchester Review
'A genuinely fabulous, funny and real account of Adam's life, and I highly recommend it.’ Jules Swain
Praise for Adam Farrer's work…
‘A nuanced, well-structured and memorable memoir; it deservedly won the Northbound Book Award.’ Times Literary Supplement
‘A truly wonderful and ingenious writer … funny, warm.’ Emma Jane Unsworth
‘Witty and introspective … Echoing the canny writing of David Sedaris, Farrer has a knack for wringing hilarity from life’s grim moments.’ Publishers Weekly
All stars
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The complete joy of finding published work from a friend you knew at school is awesome. Add to that the natural way Adam takes us through happy and sad times of his life and brings humour to it, as well as asking the listener to have an opinion which is personal. I cried more than once through joy and empathy. I'll be listening to this again very soon. It's going to be on repeat, and will grow each time.

Captivating and brutally honest. Adam explains the human condition from a very personal perspective.

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Even though I'd already bought a hard copy of Broken Biscuits, I was always going to listen to it on audio because Adam has such a wonderfully calming voice and he tells his own stories brilliantly.

Adam is a naturally funny and witty guy. Whilst Broken Biscuits is at times laugh out loud funny, it also deals with some serious subjects, including assault, addiction and suicide. As I was out walking, I found myself switching from snorting out loud to feeling emotional at some of Adam's stories, which were told with such great sensitivity.

Although the sub-title of this book "And other male failures" hints at a man who thinks that at times he may not have been good enough, it's clear that Adam Farrer is a good man. Adam's honesty and openness in Broken Biscuits is commendable and, from a female point of view, I don't think you could go far wrong with a man like Adam in your life.

A genuinely fabulous, funny and real account of Adam's life, and I highly recommend it on audio.

Fabulous, funny & real!

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another brilliant book! thank you...
on a side note, I did google the plural of penis, now I need to clear my cookies

Adam... death, sex, penises, and family

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