Always Look on the Bright Side of Life: A Sortabiography

Yes, getting five stars from me, and not just because I'm a fan of Monty Python. It's also because Eric Idle is a very good writer (as one would expect) and he puts his childhood out there as well as his fame. And the famous people he became close friends with who were as famous as he without setting out to be icons: George Harrison, Keith Moon, Ron Wood are a few among many.

He is unstinting on his father's ironic post-War accidental death and his years in boarding school that were pretty darn traumatic. He's also brutally honest about his first marriage and relationship with his son, Carey. But then he got better, in no small thanks to his fellow Pythons and the comedic art they made.

And he dishes on their work sessions, his show more contributions of music to the troupe, the cold and wet that was Scotland during the filming of "Holy Grail" and how much George Harrison contributed to making sure that "Life of Brian" got made. There are also hilarious tales of their tours, including "Live at the Hollywood Bowl" and late plane arrivals and zig-zagging across Canada because they did not realize when they booked the tour how vast things are on the other side of the pond.

In short, a great read, insightful and honest and a glimpse into a life that was forever impacted by his work as a young man. And "Always look on the bright side of life" is the most requested song at British funerals, so that's gotta be something. show less

From extremely humble origins in small-town northern England … enduring a childhood marked by misfortune … toughened by years of hard knocks at public school where irreverence, a cheeky attitude and an ability to make people laugh ensured his survival … then on to Cambridge University, where he discovered his love of preformance and a genius for comedy, and where he made contacts that would change the course of his life … The unlikely story that unfolds in Eric Idle’s genial “sortabiography,” Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, is bracingly candid, often self-effacing, reassuringly humane and always entertaining. Many people reading the book will, of course, be on the hunt for naughty gossip about Monty Python’s show more Flying Circus and inner-circle revelations regarding the creation of the group’s surreal and audacious brand of sketch comedy. Eric Idle doesn’t disappoint but he also doesn’t devote disproportionate space to the five years of the series’ run, though certainly the outlandish success of Python made everything that followed possible. What we discover in these pages is that there is much more to Eric Idle than Monty Python. We discover a man who is truly grateful for the success that, against the odds, has come his way, one who acknowledges that he has often been absurdly lucky, and someone for whom friendship is a sustaining force on a par with food and drink. Idle writes eloquently and with compassion about his many creative partners and all the other people, some of them famous, whose support and encouragement helped steer him through the bleak times. We finish the book with the impression of a supremely gifted, highly intelligent, multi-faceted performer who after fifty years in show business still possesses the resolve to make things happen and the energy to get the job done. Covering everything from WWII to a meeting of the surviving Pythons in 2017, Always Look on the Bright Side of Life is as inspiring as it is enjoyable. show less

This was an entertaining, touching and warm memoir of Eric Idle’s life and career. It was chock-a-block with photos (I love photos) and plenty of great stories. It was interesting to hear about how he honed his craft as a screenwriter and playwright, adapting Spamalot for the stage, and about his more recent work such as The Entire Universe in One Hour. Glimpses into his composing technique are interesting too, such as how he came up with “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life”. And I always, always love hearing about his friendship with George, even if reading about the funeral and the memorial service makes me cry every single time. There are also lovely moments about Robin Williams, and Eric’s recent collaborations with John show more Cleese where they renewed and strengthened their friendship.

Some reviews expressed irritation or fatigue with the name-dropping; I was OK with the name-dropping, because if you know a lot of famous people, that’s going to come with the territory. I became exhausted reading about all the epic parties they went to! For someone whose idea of a wild Friday night is staying up reading until 11 instead of going to bed at 10, going to a masked ball in Venice or partying till dawn with the Rolling Stones is the sort of thing that I prefer to read about from the comfort of my own sofa rather than actually experiencing.

This is good fun to read if you’re a fan of Eric Idle. But if all you want is Python, there are plenty of more in-depth books on that subject: this book is about all of Eric’s life. show less

Great fun for any Python fan. I listened to the audio, which was read by Idle himself, and hearing him do the voices from his own bits added tons to the enjoyment. Who cares if he glossed over some parts of his life's story or colored in other parts to make himself look better. If you take this book at face value, he spent his entire life surrounded by Beatles and Stones and Bowie and many other rock celebrities. He name drops so many people in here, that he actually makes a joke about how he name drops. Personally, I would have said he was my second or third favorite Python going into this book. Coming out of it, he's my first or second favorite. Not sure if that means anything, but the praise I can give this book is included in there show more somewhere. show less

I grew up watching Flying Circus, and loved it, even though I was really too young to understand or decipher the accents (“Spam” notwithstanding). I’ve passed my love of Monty Python onto my kids, even visiting Doune castle to buy coconuts and recreate Holy Grail (with my daughter playing Terry Gilliam, I as Graham Chapman), like thousands of other daft tourists.

Your face will ache from smiling while reading this, and it’s chock full of name-dropping, which, TBH, is everyone’s secret shameful reason for reading a celebrity memoir (AmIRightAmIRight – NudgeNudge!) And there are lots of photos, which I appreciated. This book made me laugh out loud while I was sneak-reading at my kid’s Open House at his elementary school. show more Whoops.

I loved all the anecdotes of Eric hanging out with famous people, and the backstory of how many sketches came to be. I even learned about some projects of his that I was unaware of, having been unfortunately born too late (stupid 1975) and in the wrong country (stupid Yank) to encounter many of them on the BBC. I paused many times while reading to get on YouTube and catch up.

Eric’s kind heart is obvious, as shown through his endearing friendships with George Harrison and Robin Williams, not to mention all the Pythons. He’s had a rich life full of love and good friends. Laughter really does bring people together. I’d love to hang out with him sometime. I’ll even supply the booze.

If you love Python, or saw the title of this book and began to whistle, or just know him as the guy from the Figment ride at DisneyWorld, you can’t go wrong with this one. It’s entertaining, hilarious, and insightful. Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Penguin First to Read for the advance copy in exchange for my review. show less

Eric Idle makes it clear that the purpose of a celebrity memoir is to drop the names of all the famous people one ever knew and the trouble one got into with them. At least he tells it in an entertaining way, especially since he narrates the audiobook.

Eric Idle delivers a informative and entertaining look at his own life and his involvement in comedy, music, and film across 70 plus years. If you are a fan of Eric's from his work in Monty Python, or any of his many other works, then you will be delighted as Eric recounts his own story. From his earliest days in a boarding school for orphaned boys, to college and starting out in comedy skits, to his time with Monty Python and the many years afterwards, you are given a detailed and fun look into Eric's life. I liked learning about his work as a comedian, and his time spent with the other Pythons, but I really enjoyed his recounting of his friendships with people such as George Harrison, Robin Williams, and others. Eric may be best know show more as a member of Monty Python, and his song Bright Side (first sung at the end of Life of Brian) has become an international sensation sung at football (soccer) matches and even at funerals, but learning about Eric's work after Flying Circus and the Python movies really made this book stand out. While still coming back to their seminal work from Flying Circus in reunion tours and special events, Eric shows you how varied and different the rest of his career has been.

I highly recommend Eric's "sortabiography" for anybody who is a fan of Monty Python, or who has a love for comedy and entertainment. You will be entertained, and maybe learn a few things. I listened to the audiobook, which was narrated by Eric, and if you have a chance I recommend you read this book in that format. Having Eric narrate, sing, and do the various voices added a new level of entertainment to his story. show less