
Always Look on the Bright Side of Life
A Sortabiography
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Narrated by:
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Eric Idle
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By:
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Eric Idle
About this listen
From the ingenious comic performer, founding member of Monty Python, and creator of Spamalot comes an absurdly funny memoir of unparalleled wit and heartfelt candor
We know him best for his unforgettable roles on Monty Python - from the Flying Circus to The Meaning of Life. Now, Eric Idle reflects on the meaning of his own life in this entertaining memoir that takes us on an unforgettable journey from his childhood in an austere boarding school through his successful career in comedy, television, theater, and film.
Coming of age as a writer and comedian during the '60s and '70s, Eric stumbled into the crossroads of the cultural revolution and found himself rubbing shoulders with the likes of George Harrison, David Bowie, and Robin Williams, all of whom became dear lifelong friends. With anecdotes sprinkled throughout involving other close friends and luminaries such as Mike Nichols, Mick Jagger, Steve Martin, Paul Simon, Lorne Michaels, and many more, as well as the Pythons themselves, Eric captures a time of tremendous creative output with equal parts hilarity and heart. In Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, named for the song he wrote for Life of Brian (the film he originally gave the irreverent title Jesus Christ: Lust for Glory) and that has since become the number-one song played at funerals in the UK, he shares the highlights of his life and career with the kind of offbeat humor that has delighted audiences for five decades.
The year 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the Pythons, and Eric is marking the occasion with this hilarious memoir chock-full of behind-the-scenes stories from a high-flying life featuring everyone from Princess Leia to Queen Elizabeth.
©2018 Eric Idle (P)2018 Random House AudioListeners also enjoyed...
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Critic reviews
"A hilarious, charming, book by this incredible, i̶n̶s̶u̶f̶f̶e̶r̶a̶b̶l̶e̶ genius.” (Steve Martin)
"A gentle, sane man has lived a turbulent, crazy life and he's written a gorgeous book about it. Eric Idle joyously recounts his existence in these pages. Did I say 'joyfully'? I meant 'ruefully.'" (Patton Oswalt)
"On the last day, when the last human beings look out at the blackened cinders of their world, I can only hope that one of them will sing, 'Some things in life are bad, they can really make you mad,' and 'Always Look on the Bright Side of Life' will ring out as humanity's final words. I loved this biography of a song and the man who made it, and the picture he paints of his life, his friends, his passions, five Pythons, and a Beatle." (Neil Gaiman)
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I never knew he lived so close to me .
- By Jamesh75 on 10-29-24
By: Michael Palin
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Even Dogs Learn How to Swim
- By: Gene Wilder
- Narrated by: Gene Wilder, Joie Lee
- Length: 4 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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Gene Wilder's audiobook is the story of Lonny Serkin, a boy dealing with the curves life throws at him. With just his father and then the love of a new mother to guide him, he does his best to navigate the twin countries of humor and tragedy that he must travel through. Even Dogs Learn How to Swim is a story of growing up, deciding to move forward when all seems lost, and appreciating love when and where you find it.
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Amazing
- By JESS on 01-08-20
By: Gene Wilder
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Great-Uncle Harry
- A Tale of War and Empire
- By: Michael Palin
- Narrated by: Michael Palin
- Length: 7 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
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Some years ago a stash of family records was handed down to Michael Palin, among which were photos of an enigmatic young man in army uniform, as well as photos of the same young man as a teenager looking uncomfortable at family gatherings. This, Michael learned, was his Great-Uncle Harry, born in 1884, died in 1916. He had previously had no idea that he had a Great-Uncle Harry, much less that his life was cut short at the age of 32 when he was killed in the Battle of the Somme. The discovery both shocked him and made him want to know much more.
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A love story.
- By Melissa P. Litwin on 06-23-24
By: Michael Palin
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Creativity
- A Short and Cheerful Guide
- By: John Cleese
- Narrated by: John Cleese
- Length: 59 mins
- Unabridged
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You might think that creativity is some mysterious, rare gift - one that only a few possess. But you’d be wrong. As John Cleese shows in this short, practical, and often amusing guide, it’s a skill that anyone can acquire. Drawing on his lifelong experience as a writer, Cleese shares his insights into the nature of the creative process and offers advice on how to get your own inventive juices flowing. What do you need to do to get yourself in the right frame of mind? When do you know that you’ve come up with an idea that might be worth pursuing?
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I want to give this book a million stars but they won’t let me.
- By scott on 02-18-22
By: John Cleese
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Young Frankenstein: A Mel Brooks Book
- The Story of the Making of the Film
- By: Mel Brooks, Judd Apatow - foreword
- Narrated by: Mel Brooks, Michael Gruskoff, Robert Petkoff, and others
- Length: 1 hr and 54 mins
- Unabridged
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Mel Brooks' own words telling all about the players, the filming, and studio antics during the production of this great comedy classic. The audiobook is alive and teeming with hundreds of photos, original interviews, and hilarious commentary. Young Frankenstein was made with deep respect for the craft and history of cinema-and for the power of a good schwanzstucker joke. This audiobook will also rely on interviews with gifted director of photography Gerald Hirschfeld, Academy Award-winning actress Cloris Leachman, and veteran producer Michael Gruskoff.
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too short
- By William S. Downs on 10-19-16
By: Mel Brooks, and others
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Born Standing Up
- A Comic's Life
- By: Steve Martin
- Narrated by: Steve Martin
- Length: 4 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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In the mid-70s, Steve Martin exploded onto the comedy scene. By 1978 he was the biggest concert draw in the history of stand-up. In 1981 he quit forever. Born Standing Up is, in his own words, the story of "why I did stand-up and why I walked away".
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Fantastic
- By Andrew on 11-30-07
By: Steve Martin
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Beastie Boys Book
- By: Michael Diamond, Adam Horovitz
- Narrated by: Michael Diamond, Adam Horovitz, various
- Length: 12 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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A panoramic experience that tells the story of Beastie Boys, a book as unique as the band itself - by band members ADROCK and Mike D, with contributions from Amy Poehler, Colson Whitehead, Wes Anderson, Luc Sante, and more.
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License to Listen - The Illest Communication
- By J. Combs on 12-12-18
By: Michael Diamond, and others
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Fawlty Towers: The Complete Collection
- Every Soundtrack Episode of the Classic BBC TV Comedy
- By: John Cleese, Connie Booth
- Narrated by: John Cleese, Connie Booth, Prunella Scales, and others
- Length: 6 hrs and 26 mins
- Original Recording
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Welcome to Fawlty Towers, where attentive hotelier Basil Fawlty and his charming wife Sybil will attend to your every need - in your worst nightmare. With hapless waiter Manuel and long-suffering waitress Polly on hand to help, anything could happen during your stay - and probably will. John Cleese’s special introductions to each episode are included in this collection of all 12 TV soundtrack episodes.
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Ruined by Editorial Choices
- By Freya on 10-27-21
By: John Cleese, and others
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Robin
- By: Dave Itzkoff
- Narrated by: Fred Berman
- Length: 16 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
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From his rapid-fire stand-up comedy riffs to his breakout role in Mork & Mindy and his Academy Award-winning performance in Good Will Hunting, Robin Williams was a singularly innovative and beloved entertainer. He often came across as a man possessed, holding forth on culture and politics while mixing in personal revelations - all with mercurial, tongue-twisting intensity as he inhabited and shed one character after another with lightning speed. But as Dave Itzkoff shows in this revelatory biography, Williams’ comic brilliance masked a deep well of conflicting emotions and self-doubt.
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Disappointing but worth a read
- By Joe Moore on 05-18-18
By: Dave Itzkoff
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Joyful Recollections of Trauma
- By: Paul Scheer
- Narrated by: Paul Scheer
- Length: 6 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
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Paul Scheer has entertained countless fans and podcast listeners with stories about the odd, wild, and absurd details of his life. Yet these tales have pointed to deeper, more difficult truths that the actor and comedian has kept to himself. Now, he is finally ready to share those truths for the first time—but, of course, with a healthy dose of humor.
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Paul cheer is funny and deep
- By Gretchen on 06-08-24
By: Paul Scheer
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I Must Say
- My Life as a Humble Comedy Legend
- By: Martin Short
- Narrated by: Martin Short
- Length: 8 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
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Martin Short takes you on a rich, hilarious, and occasionally heartbreaking ride through his life and times, from his early years in Toronto as a member of the fabled improvisational troupe Second City to the all-American comic big time of Saturday Night Live and memorable roles in movies such as ¡Three Amigos! and Father of the Bride.
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This is what audio books were made for!
- By Ty Brady on 11-06-14
By: Martin Short
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Madly, Deeply
- The Diaries of Alan Rickman
- By: Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson - foreword, Rima Horton - afterword
- Narrated by: Alfred Enoch, Bonnie Wright, Rima Horton, and others
- Length: 19 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
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From his breakout role in Die Hard to his outstanding, multifaceted performances in the Harry Potter films, Galaxy Quest, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, and more, Alan Rickman cemented his legacy as a world-class actor. His air of dignity, his sonorous voice, and the knowing wit he brought to each role continue to captivate audiences today. But Rickman’s ability to breathe life into projects wasn't confined to just his performances.
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Save your time and your money
- By sharon elghanayan on 11-12-22
By: Alan Rickman, and others
What listeners say about Always Look on the Bright Side of Life
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- Pennypie
- 10-04-18
It was bloody well time ...
... Idle wrote this book but I will say -quite begrudgingly - that it was entirely worth the wait.
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- Carolyn Tylenda
- 01-19-19
Great Fun!
This audiobook is terrific fun and not just for Python fans. The stories are humorous, poignant and 100% enjoyable. There is a bit of name dropping in the middle that don’t add much to the story but overall this is a super listen. Just get it; Say no more
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- Jan Russ
- 02-12-19
I had a laugh, had a cry & kissed 15 bucks goodbye
I loved it. While I have probably been a bigger fan of John Cleese, his book was a little more factual at not quite as animated. Eric did a wonderful job of narrating as well as including lines from funny songs jokes and speeches.
I was also brought to tears with the touching stories of George Harrison and Robin Williams. especially Harrison. I never realized his attack was so vicious. Eric unfortunately told it in vivid detail and it is etched in my mind. Such a gentle soul would come to such a sad end between the a attack and his cancer.
I saw Spamalot in Las Vegas and his background on that was also very interesting as was the setup to most of the shows through his career. Bravo E.I.
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- Milford Cubicle
- 06-12-19
a little name-droppy but fun
There are some interesting stories in here and I enjoyed the narration but at times it just feels like a long list of interesting people he’s enjoyed mundane activities with.
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- Nicole
- 11-12-18
Wonderful
I loved every minute and Mr. Idle's delivery adds to the story. It's a humorous look into a very interesting life.
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- Penelope
- 11-11-18
A sortabiography
I bought the book, I laughed, I cried. I learned some things I was not aware of. They must have had brilliant lives! #celebrity #witty #funny #clever #pastmeetspresent #tagsgiving #sweepstakes
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- Charles Pooter
- 12-30-18
finally an autobiography with laughs and humility
a the or cat bird with how no why air fire please stop not yet
there...15 words.
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- Robin Sparkles
- 01-19-20
5 out of 5 coconuts! 🥥🥥🥥🥥🥥
Eric Idle will delight you with his many enticing stories from his early life, Monty Python days, his great friendship with Beatle, George Harrison, the broadway hit, Spamalot, and so many great stories and encounters throughout his life.
A MUST READ for any Monty Python fan!
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- JPALJ
- 12-28-19
NEVER KNEW . . .
. . . any of this. Well told, nicely narrated, and interesting. Thanks for sharing.
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- Charles A. Prince, Jr
- 11-13-19
Use Caution When Driving
Being a fan of that British/American comedy troupe and was fortunate to see them play at the Hollywood Bowl, I was enthralled at the wit wisdom and insight that Eric Idle offered in his sortofbiograpy, "Always Look At The Bright Side Of Life". The funny parts are more than funny, it's downright hysterical, hence the title, Use Caution When Driving, love the looks of others drivers looking at someone who is just laughing, heavily laughing at something that they can't hear. The heart of the story is of course is Eric's heart, full of life, humor ,ups ,downs, the mis-steps and the what's all this then? And how he always looks at the bright side of life, even when life looks like a piece of shit. I found most endearing was he recalling the passing's of those he loved and admire. George Harrison and Robin Williams and his summary of life with Joni Mitchell, and that's why I really admire his sortofbeiography, simple, here this is who I am and if you don't like it, well in the matter at the end of the Hollywood Bowl performances, Piss Off. Can this be better, well no, but yeah it could, if and only if, the other Pythons could just read the title of each chapter, it would.
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