Always Look on the Bright Side of Life- A Sortabiography by Eric Idle Narrator: Eric Idle
Published by Random House Audio on October 2, 2018
Length: 8 hours and 12 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Purchased
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From the brilliant comedian, 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 Sixties and Seventies, 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 which 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 fiftieth 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.
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.
About Eric Idle
Eric Idle is an English comedian, actor, author, singer, playwright, director and songwriter. Co-creator of Monty Python on TV, stage and five films, including The Life of Brian and The Holy Grail, which latter he adapted for the stage with John Du Prez as Monty Python’s Spamalot, winning the Tony Award for Best Musical in 2005, a Grammy, a Drama Desk Award, and playing for almost five years on Broadway. They also wrote the comic oratorio Not The Messiah, He’s a Very Naughty Boy, in 2007, which played round the world and at The Hollywood Bowl and was filmed live at The Royal Albert Hall, and a musical play What About Dick? available soon on I Tunes. He created and directed the first mockumentary The Rutles for NBC, starred as Ko-Ko in the English National Opera version of The Mikado, in London and Houston, and appeared last year in The Pirates of Penzance in Central Park and in Not The Messiah at Carnegie Hall. He is also one of the conceiver’s of the musical Seussical. In 2012 he appeared live in front of a billion people worldwide singing his song Always Look On the Bright Side of Life at the Closing Ceremony of the London Olympics. Last year he created, directed and appeared in the sold out final Monty Python reunion show One Down Five To Go at London’s O2 Arena for ten nights, whose final performance was broadcast live round the world.
He has also acted in several movies, such as Nuns On the Run, Splitting Heirs, Casper, Shrek The Third, and The Adventures of Baron Munchhausen and written two novels, The Greedy Bastard Diary and Pass The Butler a West End play.
– IMDb Mini Biography By: PythonProfessor
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I started listening to audiobooks when a new book in a series was coming out and I wanted to get a refresher, but didn’t have time to read all the books (I think it was Anita Blake). I fell in love. I stayed with strictly re-reading books that I’d already read for a long time. I eventually tried an audiobook for something that I hadn’t read first and was hooked there too. Now, I listen to audio for both re-reads and first time. I have some series that I’ve given up reading and only listen. I try to get any many books/audiobooks from the library to help save on my budget. Books on CD and the newer digital downloads from the library really allow me to listen more. I then purchase my favorites (because who can wait in line for your favorite book??) and less mainstream books from Audible or some other online retailer.
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Great review! I loved the movies too and still quote from them. This sounds like a fascinating read.
You should really check this out if you like the movies. You will learn so much about them. Plus, Eric Idle’s life was pretty interesting too.
Melanie @ Hot Listens & Books of My Heart
Oh cool! I wouldn’t consider myself a great fan, but I do enjoy the Monty Python movies. Neat that he put out this story and got into the history of the group.
It was so much fun listening to it.
Melanie @ Hot Listens & Books of My Heart
i got stuck at the nr 1 song at funerals! Who knew
Right?? It’s a great song.
Melanie @ Hot Listens & Books of My Heart
I saw two of his movies and remember liking them, but it’s been a really long time so my memory of them is vague. It’s fun to love something for years and then something comes along that just adds to your love. I’m glad you really enjoyed this Melanie.
I listened to the making of The Princess Bride too. It was great, too.
Melanie @ Hot Listens & Books of My Heart
I really didn’t know he was responsible for Spamalot! I saw that on Broadway when it opened with David Hyde-Pierce and it was great.
Your review is fantastic!
Thanks. I’m still mad at myself for not pushing my husband more to go see it when it was here in November.
Melanie @ Hot Listens & Books of My Heart
Love it when you switch gears and something really works for you. Great review Melanie.
I’ve read a few memoirs. Cary Elwes one on The Princess Bride is a great one too.
Melanie @ Hot Listens & Books of My Heart
I went through a Python phase as a teenager when my Mum got me a video boxset of the entire Flying Circus TV show. I think I would love listening to this autobiography 🙂
I can’t recommend it enough for Python fans. I wasn’t a huge fan of the TV show (though there are some really great skits that I love), I was mostly a movie fan.
Melanie @ Hot Listens & Books of My Heart
I don’t think that I have actually seen an entire Monty Python film but it sounds like I might be missing out. It sounds like Eric Idle has led a fascinating life. Glad you enjoyed this one!
British humor is a weird thing. I don’t like most of it, but I love Monty Python (the movies at least, I’m not a huge fan of skit shows, though there are some skits that I really liked).
Melanie @ Hot Listens & Books of My Heart