Always Look on the Bright Side of Life by Eric Idle

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life

by Eric Idle

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

'Funny, wicked, naughty, eye-popping and compulsively, joyously brilliant'
STEPHEN FRY

From the ingenious comic performer, founding member of Monty Python, and creator of Spamalot, comes an absurdly funny memoir of unparalleled wit and heartfelt candour.

Best known for his unforgettable roles in Monty Python, from the Flying Circus to The Meaning of Life, Eric Idle reflects on the meaning of his own life in this brilliantly entertaining memoir that takes us on an unforgettable journey from his childhood in an austere boarding school through his successful career in comedy, television, theatre and film.

2019 marks the 50th anniversary of The Pythons, and this laugh-out-loud memoir is the perfect celebration, chock-full of behind-the-scenes stories from a high-flying life that features everyone from Princess Leia to the Queen. With anecdotes sprinkled throughout that involve close friends and luminaries such as Mick Jagger, George Harrison, Steve Martin, Paul Simon and David Bowie - let alone the Pythons themselves - Eric captures a time of tremendous creative output with equal hilarity and heart.

Named after the song he wrote for Life of Brian that has since become the number-one song played at funerals in the UK, Always Look on the Bright Side of Life reflects on the highlights of his life and career with the off-beat humour that has delighted audiences for decades.

Reviewed by Melanie on

5 of 5 stars

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Review originally posted at BooksOfMyHeart.net.

I was in a weird mood last week and didn’t want to listen to any of the books I had on my iPod. I started looking through my Audible wishlist and found this book by Eric Idle. I’ve been a fan of Monty Python movies for a long time now. My love started out with Monty Python and the Holy Grail (which has some of the best one-liners in any movie). Then I watched The Life of Brian (which to this day is still my favorite of all the Python movies).

This book starts off with Idle growing up as a poor boy in Britain during World War II. Then quickly moves on to his becoming a comedian and how he met the other Pythons. I really liked hearing about how Python came to exist.

I learned so much about Monty Python and about the many other celebrities they met and hung out with. Come to find out, Elvis was a huge Python fan and used to stay up nights reciting skits in bed. He also talks about how he made Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles laugh historically. How he became friends with all of the Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Robin Williams and George Harrison (who funded the entirety of The Life of Brian because he wanted to see the movie).

There were some really great parts about the making of Spamalot (I’m still mad at my husband for not taking me to see it when it was here last month). He also talked about winning the Tony for best musical.

There’s also a very touching tribute to George Harrison. He talks about a vicious attack on Harrison and his wife that almost killed the two of them and that Idle thinks it made Harrison die faster. There’s also a very touching tribute to Robin Williams.

He ends the book talking about what his last words would be and what his obituary would be. He even believes he will be forced to sing “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” (which is the most requested song at British funerals, also became a war song and at several different sports venues) at his own funeral.

This is a must listen to any fan of Monty Python.

Narration
This book is narrated by Eric Idle himself. I love listening to memoirs narrated by the author. You really feel like they are telling you their life story as if you’re sitting in a living room. No one else could’ve narrated this because Idle voice several of the characters that he played in movies and in Flying Circus.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 7 December, 2018: Finished reading
  • 7 December, 2018: Reviewed