Before & Laughter
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Before & Laughter
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Narrated by:
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Jimmy Carr
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By:
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Jimmy Carr
About this listen
Self-help meets memoir in this deeply insightful, fascinating and entertaining audiobook about happiness by one of the country's most treasured comedians.
A memoir and self-help manual by one of the country's most treasured comedians - for anyone who feels stuck in a rut but doesn't have the tools or self-belief to shake things up
In his mid-20s, Jimmy was bored, boring, unfulfilled and underachieving. He wasn't exactly depressed, but he was very sad. Think of a baby owl whose mum has recently died in a windmill accident. He was that sad. This book tells the story of how Jimmy turned it around and got happy, through the redemptive power of dick jokes.
Written to take advantage of the brief window between the end of lockdown and Jimmy getting cancelled for saying something unforgivable to Lorraine Kelly, this book is as timely as it is unnecessary.
Because you might be interested in Jimmy's life but he's damn sure you're a lot more interested in your own, Before & Laughter is about both of you. But mainly him. It tells the story of Jimmy's life - the transformation from white-collar corporate drone to fake-toothed, donkey-laugh, plastic-haired comedy mannequin - while also explaining how to turn your own life around and become the you you've always dreamt of being.
Before & Laughter contains the answers to all the big questions in life, questions like:
- What's the secret to happiness?
- Is Jimmy wearing a wig?
- What happened with that tax thing?
- What's the meaning of life?
- Is Jimmy's laugh real?
- Can those teeth bite through vibranium?
And for listeners in the West Country: yes, there are pictures (actually, sorry, there are no pictures, but there's a book about a hungry caterpillar you'll love).
Because it's Jimmy Carr - recently scientifically proved to be the funniest comedian in the UK - there are jokes, jokes and more jokes throughout. If laughter really was the best medicine, the NHS would be handing out this book in Nightingale Hospitals.
Fascinating, thoughtful and insightful - are all words that appear in the book.
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What listeners say about Before & Laughter
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sarah Cowden
- 10-08-21
This is one I'll come back to time and time again.
Jimmy Carr's stand-up and subsequent TV shows has helped me out of some dark places with a good ol ugly laugh.. I love this book.
I think this was exceptional, especially as it was read by Jimmy himself.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Simon Wood
- 01-15-25
Great insights. Easily explained
Very thoughtful book about how to tackle life. Not preachy. Just practical and honest. Thanks Jimmy
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 08-10-22
Really Enjoy This
This is a surprisingly thought provoking book. Filled with interesting insights and opinions on life. Loved the little jokes here and there and the upbeat but straight manner of delivery. Jimmys comedy is not for everyone but this book could be read by all. Really enjoyed this…but not as much as your mum.
Thanks Jimmy!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- EmiDubai
- 01-15-24
Exceptionally honest & funny at the same time
Best life advice book I’ve listened to
Jimmy gives honest & direct steps to living a better fulfilled life while making the book so funny
Loved it
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Barbara
- 11-09-21
I was not expecting this!
So Jimmy Carr wrote a book. I love Jimmy Carr! He is so funny. I expected his book to be a 6 hr stand up show. What I didn't expect is an amazingly insightful, clever, HELPFUL, touching, emotional self-help book that hits all the right marks. This book is way more than I expected - and it is still laugh out loud funny. I can't recommend this book enough!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Thorgeir Olafsson
- 01-11-22
Delightful
Fun and insightful. Full of great tips for life and quite motivational. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys Jimmy Carr
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Nighteyes
- 05-25-23
carr is carr
this is a fun 7 hours where you get to learn a bit about the man behind the ridiculous laugh, I enjoyed it, but if you are here for self-help, he himself condenses this entire book to "Prioritise later"
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Frank Turley
- 12-17-21
Just a great book, great story and quotes
this book for me was great story, with some great quotes. I made a lot of notes. The book also had to get a five star go entertainment. Thanks Jimmy
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 10-16-22
Don't listen to Jimmy dont speed it up
An extremely easy listen, well researched but basically a self reflecting book. Jimmy has changed but his that same funny. very enjoyable but he races through the read so wouldn't suggest you speed it up as it will be impossible to absorb what his saying. Definitely something you would want to share or listen to again.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Matt
- 12-13-21
Fantastic book for any stage in Life
Full of great anecdotes, advice and wisdom. A self help book in the true sense of the word and from a very unique, humerus and brutal angle. No excuses to not listen to this one!
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