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Tickling the English | 
 enlarge | Author: Dara O Briain
Publisher: Michael Joseph
Category: Book
List Price: £18.99
Buy Used: £5.25
New (11) Used (9) Collectible (3) from £5.25
Rating:  reviews
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 320
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.3
Dimensions (in): 9.2 x 6.1 x 1.3
ISBN: 0718154371
EAN: 9780718154370
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 One of the best reads in a long while .. March 12, 2010
A. J. Sudworth (UK)
This book is Dara's attempt to answer the question about why although we are about 5th as a nation in practically every thing that can be measured, on late night chat shows we are a miserable bunch ..
The way he does it is to describe the gigs he does around the country on his last tour and just show the eccentricity of English life - he is poking fun , but its done so well you just have to laugh
The conclusion he reaches is
a) we are happiest when we are miserable
b) we won't be told .. (the Daily Mail sausage story is a case in point)
c) if fact we have a lot to be pleased about and we could celebrate ourseleves a lot more
He does have some serious points to make like on the demonisation of kids and drinking but shows that in history we have ALWAYS worried about kids and the effects of drinking - we just didn't have the Daily Mail to scream at us all the time.
I laughed at so much of this book and its conclusions. As a nation we have a lot of pragmatists that just get on with enjoying life, but we have a lot of romantics who yearn after the rosy tinted 50's (teddy boys anyone ..?) and they get way too much air time ..
Read this and you'll get a gentle rebuke about whats good for you and a lot of laughs along the way
Highly Recommended March 9, 2010
Mr. Stephen Freeman
Not much more I can add to what's already been said- intelligent, articulate and laugh-out-loud funny. His use of the language is amazing. Best Christmas pressie for ages!
 Interesting Travelogue March 5, 2010
King Eric (Manchester, England)
I am fan of Dara's and really enjoyed his 3 men documentaries with Rory McGrath/his stand up shows on TV. This book was written on a recent tour of his through England. I had bought the book expecting it to be his observations on the places visited but really its a review of the nights stand up show at each town/ what gags worked and life on the road as a comedian. There are a couple of witty observations on the English from an irishman's perspective - more of this and i think the book would have been a much better read.
Tickling the English!!!!!!!! February 24, 2010
G. Ince (Romford)
Never havung met Dara O'Briain,I can only base my feelings towards him on his public professional persona, including this book. On this basis he is clearly an amiable and likeable guy, and a gifted and highly individual comedian. I enjoyed the book, and will happily read, watch and listen to him again. This is not an autobiography which excuses so much missing detail in regard to his personal life, but he appears to be a well educated and well read person. His writing does not rate highly as an example of well written English literature, but is nonetheless fluent and entertaining, and humerous. However this is not a 'laugh out loud' book. We do learn a good deal about the life of an entertainer on a punishing road tour, told in a very readable and humerous manner.
It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that he suffers from the persecution complex so often sadly prevalent in the Irish, coupled with a certain amount of prejudice towards some English stereotypes. These attitudes are somewhat covert and more worrying because of that, being further reflected in the annoying habit of implying #rather than out rightly dismissing certain English attitudes, as being allegedly homophobic/ethnically hostile/religiously intolerant. Perhaps not so much implying and dismissing, as hiding behind his own range of quasi liberal received wisdom. Unfortunately time and space preclude specific examples. However, in case you think I'm being unfair,or out of context, remember that Dara chooses his own terms of reference here, and the book might have been equally well written without his more extreme excursions into philosophy, politics,economics and religion.
Let us not take away the fact, however, that Dara is a most welcome, talented, and entertaining, visitor to our shores.The U.K is a richer place from his presence, and the best, I think, is yet to come.
A stand-up comic's view from the stage February 19, 2010
Bad Bear (England)
At first I thought this was a going to be another travelogue in which the author wanders from place to place watching those eccentric English at play - perhaps a bit of morris dancing here, rolling a giant cheese down a hillside there. The only reason I picked the book up at all is because it's written by Dara O'Briain, a well respected (and very funny) Irish stand-up comedian.
Actually, what we do is follow Dara from theatre to theatre on his recent tour. His act involves considerable interaction with the audience, and we hear, through him, what makes them tick. It's a great behind-the-scenes look at the life of a stand up comic, and I highly recommend it.
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