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David Mitchell: Back Story Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

David Mitchell (Author, Narrator), HarperCollins Publishers Limited (Publisher)
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Shortlisted for: Biography/Autobiography of the Year - Specsavers National Book Awards 2012

David Mitchell, who you may know for his inappropriate anger on every TV panel show except Never Mind the Buzzcocks, his look of permanent discomfort on C4 sex comedy Peep Show, his online commenter-baiting in The Observer or just for wearing a stick-on moustache in That Mitchell and Webb Look, has written a book about his life.

As well as giving a specific account of every single time he's scored some smack, this disgusting memoir also details:

  • The singular, pit bull-infested charm of the FRP (‘Flat Roofed Pub’)
  • The curious French habit of injecting everyone in the arse rather than the arm
  • Why, by the time he got to Cambridge, he really, really needed a drink
  • The pain of being denied a childhood birthday party at McDonalds
  • The satisfaction of writing jokes about suicide
  • How doing quite a lot of walking around London helps with his sciatica
  • Trying to pretend he isn’t a total **** at Robert Webb’s wedding
  • That he has fallen in love a LOT, but rarely done anything about it
  • Why it would be worse to bump into Michael Palin than Hitler on holiday
  • That he’s not David Mitchell the novelist, despite what David Miliband might think
Previous slide of product details
  1. Listening Length
    9 hours and 25 minutes
  2. Author
    David Mitchell
  3. Narrator
    David Mitchell
  4. Audible release date
    11 Oct. 2012
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    HarperCollins Publishers Limited
  7. ASIN
    B009P6X08O
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
Next slide of product details

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Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
2,878 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the emotional content touching and well-written. They also describe the book as an enjoyable, laid-back read that does the job. Readers describe the comedy as simlutaneously funny and interesting. They find the content fascinating and honest. However, some find the plot boring and the narrative painstakingly descriptive.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

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ComedyReadabilityWriting styleContentSincerityEmotional contentAudio book narrationPlot
134 customers mention ‘Comedy’128 positive6 negative

Customers find the book hilarious, clever, and intelligent. They also say the story is interesting and the chapter about Victoria is amazing.

"...I thought the book was very well written, laugh-out-loud funny in many places and the chapter devoted to his gorgeous wife is very touching indeed." Read more

"...every page as an intelligent, caring, warm person with a really sly sense of fun coupled with a very real humility...." Read more

"...across in print as he comes across on the telly, which is intelligent, funny and thoughtful...." Read more

"...Outright laughter in places, nods to similar feelings in others. And he comes across as a real nice bloke as well...." Read more

126 customers mention ‘Readability’126 positive0 negative

Customers find the book very enjoyable, good, and worth purchasing for the entertainment value. They also say it's fascinating and works well as they accompany David through London.

"...The book is great. It doesn't have a life lesson or a universal truth to it...." Read more

"...How did he end up stuck with that haircut? It's entertaining reading if you like his comedy or are intrigued by the man himself, but don't get your..." Read more

"...this is a consistently entertaining read, proudly fixated on the trivial - his thoughts on..." Read more

"...Worth purchasing for the entertainment value" Read more

74 customers mention ‘Writing style’65 positive9 negative

Customers find the writing style well-written, wonderful, and warming. They also appreciate the perfectly crafted analogies.

"...I thought the book was very well written, laugh-out-loud funny in many places and the chapter devoted to his gorgeous wife is very touching indeed." Read more

"...Quite sweet actually. It then moves through his life, schooling and experiences whilst growing up, going to university etc...." Read more

"...of his iconoclastic rants (à la Kenneth Williams) but the whole is so well organized that we get an excellent picture of his life, life style,..." Read more

"...One to say how much i liked it. Easy read (mostly) and enjoyable to learn about David's early school days...." Read more

50 customers mention ‘Content’47 positive3 negative

Customers find the book fascinating, moving, and intelligent. They also say the author is insightful and a good bedtime read.

"...The same goes for books, and this book is a great demonstration of the importance of approach. '..." Read more

"...I was actually quite surprised though because it was more revealing than I had anticipated...." Read more

"...Mitchell shines through every page as an intelligent, caring, warm person with a really sly sense of fun coupled with a very real humility...." Read more

"...This book takes a look at poignant moments beginning with his childhood and teens,..." Read more

44 customers mention ‘Sincerity’44 positive0 negative

Customers find the book extremely honest, with a very real humility. They also say the author is insightful and enjoy his recounting of his life. Customers also mention that the book provides a different perspective on the usual memoirs.

"...you laugh in this book, and above all, David Mitchell is an interesting character to share a few pages with...." Read more

"...Indeed, in parts he is candidly honest, with touching results...." Read more

"...warm person with a really sly sense of fun coupled with a very real humility...." Read more

"...but the whole is so well organized that we get an excellent picture of his life, life style, personality, likes and dislikes and of course, what..." Read more

19 customers mention ‘Emotional content’19 positive0 negative

Customers find the emotional content touching, personal, and romantic. They also describe the book as a cozy bedtime read.

"...in many places and the chapter devoted to his gorgeous wife is very touching indeed." Read more

"...His chapter on meeting and falling for Victoria Coren is genuinely touching (pity the other reviewers here who have sneered at this chapter) and..." Read more

"...Ultimately it is surprisingly touching...." Read more

"...he comes across as a likeable chap and his O.C.D tendencies are touching and amusing...." Read more

6 customers mention ‘Audio book narration’6 positive0 negative

Customers find the audio book narration enjoyable, as they say they can hear David Mitchell's voice clearly.

"...One of the most appealing things about this book is how strongly his own voice comes across; the mildly ranty way he explains to the reader in the..." Read more

"Nice book by David, and you can hear his voice in each sentence. Recommended" Read more

"Bought the Audio version, very listen able." Read more

"...I very much enjoyed it. You can hear David Mitchell's voice clearly...." Read more

38 customers mention ‘Plot’0 positive38 negative

Customers find the plot boring, tedious, and without structure. They also mention that the book lacks drama and the main part of the book involves lengthy descriptions.

"...However, while I enjoyed it on the whole, I found it less than completely satisfying in the end...." Read more

"...There is no narrative or linear structure as such - it's more a series of thoughts and rants and recounting stories as he walks around London...." Read more

"...somewhere in the middle it became slow going, name dropping and a little bit boring, maybe it's because David is a normal bloke and no major..." Read more

"Funny and interesting in bits, but wasn't really that engaging or insightful...." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

IAB
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliantly funny and honest
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 May 2024
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Nope,that says it all
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muffin8or
4.0 out of 5 stars David Mitchell the man, not an extension of his work
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 May 2013
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People are approaching this book with a view that it is more David Mitchell humorous content. That it'll be like one massive observer column. Or a seemingly unending soapbox. Or a long peep show monologue. Or a giant written and performed sketch. People are wrong.

The approach to almost all art forms governs a large part of your experience of them. Try to keep second guessing a film and even the greats will bore you. The same goes for books, and this book is a great demonstration of the importance of approach. 'Back Story' is for people interested in David Mitchell the person, not David Mitchell's body of work. That's not to say that if you like Mitchell's work, you won't like his book but rather you need to be interested in him as a person to like the book.
People complain that the book wasn't funny. But looking at the text, you don't see Mitchell trying and failing to be funny. That isn't the point of the book. Where he tried to be funny he was, but on the whole this isn't meant to have you laughing throughout.

The book is great. It doesn't have a life lesson or a universal truth to it. It does have a detailed and interesting story of a funny and intelligent man's life.
3 people found this helpful
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Al
3.0 out of 5 stars Three books in one
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 November 2012
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This book frames David Mitchell's autobiography and his trademark diatribes (some funny, some not) inside a walking tour of London from Kilburn to the BBC. What he sees along the way triggers his musings and reminiscences. But in the first half of the book, this structure does not seem to work - the links to his life story seem forced and his insights on London are often mundane. In one startling revelation he tells how those big white London houses would once have held a single family and their servants, and then makes an awkward link into the story of his childhood. On this evidence, David Mitchell should never work as a straight historical tour guide (not, luckily, that he would ever need to do so outside of Peep Show).

Thankfully, the book gets better as it goes along and the walking tour element is gradually abandoned in favour of a more straightforward autobiography of Footlights and breaking into TV comedy. There is still plenty to make you laugh in this book, and above all, David Mitchell is an interesting character to share a few pages with. Is he really the lonely, awkward pub bore he portrays? How did he end up stuck with that haircut? It's entertaining reading if you like his comedy or are intrigued by the man himself, but don't get your hopes too high.
One person found this helpful
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E. A. Banks
5.0 out of 5 stars I love David Mitchell even more now I've read this
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 November 2013
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I do enjoy an autobiography and this one is right up there with some of the best that I have read. I have been an admirer of David Mitchell for a long time and am probably one of the few people on the planet who was not surprised when he married someone beautiful who appears to be every bit as witty and intelligent as he is. I like a smart funny man and David Mitchell is exactly that, as anyone who has watched his hilarious rants on TV panel shows will know.
One of the most appealing things about this book is how strongly his own voice comes across; the mildly ranty way he explains to the reader in the introduction to the book that he is the David Mitchell off the telly and not the novelist is just like listening to him speak. We take a long slow walk through David's life (and his back pain) and even though parts of his early life are not so remarkable, there is still warmth and wit in the telling of his childhood escapades. He is only a few years younger than me so recollections regarding 70s and 80s television felt very familiar as did some of his social awkwardness.
David Mitchell writes a regular column for The Observer and has written for both radio and television so the fact that his autobiography is an accomplished piece of writing should not be a surprise. I thought the book was very well written, laugh-out-loud funny in many places and the chapter devoted to his gorgeous wife is very touching indeed.
5 people found this helpful
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Mr. Othniel Smith
4.0 out of 5 stars Peculiarly English
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 June 2017
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The autobiography of popular sit-com and panel-show comedian (not the novelist) David Mitchell is suffused with his trademark lowbrow verbosity.

Structured around an imaginary walk around London, designed to help ease his back pain, the narrative sees Mitchell link various landmarks to key moments in a life whose principal focus has been to develop a career in comedy. Those who are familiar with his TV persona will recognise the combination of nerdy erudition and ranting exhibitionism.

Starting with tales of middle-class life in middle England, he takes us via Cambridge University and Footlights, to his celebrated partnership with Robert Webb, and their rise to fame - which might have seemed rapid to the outside observer (they became TV regulars while still in their twenties), but was, from their perspective, painfully slow.

With moments ranging from the hilarious (e.g. young David reluctant to answer his parents doorbell because he was embarrassed about the home-made kingly regalia he was wearing at the time) to the moving (the long yearning for his eventual wife, Victoria Coren), this is a consistently entertaining read, proudly fixated on the trivial - his thoughts on weightier matters can be found elsewhere.

Anyone wishing to gain an insight into the peculiarly English combination of self-deprecation and egotism, awkwardness and loudness, emotional constipation and profound insight, could do much worse than start here.
9 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Pierre F Sigman
5.0 out of 5 stars Good book
Reviewed in Canada on 23 May 2023
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Totally enjoyed, so much so that I’ve ordered another of David’s Books
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars LOVED IT
Reviewed in Japan on 23 July 2018
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Such a talented comedian, writer and actor. His little anecdotes are hilarious, yet in a way extremely relatable. I'm glad I lived in the same era as him.
One person found this helpful
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kez
5.0 out of 5 stars What a walk!
Reviewed in Australia on 5 July 2017
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I found myself reading this at breakneck speed to emulate one of David's erudite explosions on QI or WILTY! Rarely have I read a book which has been written just exactly as the author speaks.
David spoke to me.
And I loved it.
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Annie
5.0 out of 5 stars A great book
Reviewed in Germany on 4 October 2016
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I usually don't like autobiographies, but I really like David Mitchell so I bought this book. And it is wonderful! I truly enjoyed his writing style. He has such a wonderful way with words.
The "tour" in the book was so intriguing that I actually visited a few places that were described in the book when I visited London.
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Shivani
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in India on 13 September 2016
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Hilarious on paper too.
3 people found this helpful
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