The Gospel According To John Cleese

Best known, of course, for his appearances in the recent AA commercials, it will no doubt come as a surprise to many that John Cleese was previously involved in comedy within a little-known troupe of comedians known as Monty Python, and also wrote and starred in a completely unknown sitcom named Fawlty Towers. Having now reached the dizzy heights of television advertising, Cleese has become a face recognisable across the world and a much-quoted, often controversial figure within the media. This book brings together some of the funniest and most interesting quotes from The Comic Messiah himself.

____________________________ We can all be more creative. John Cleese shows us how. Creativity is usually regarded as a mysterious, rare gift that only a few possess. John Cleese begs to differ, and in this short, immensely practical and often very amusing guide he shows it's a skill that anyone can acquire. Drawing on his lifelong experience as a writer, he shares his insights into the nature of the creative process, and offers advice on how to get your own inventive juices flowing. ____________________________ 'Humorous and practical ... Whether you're hoping to write a novel or paint a masterpiece, you're sure to feel inspired' OK Magazine 'His candor is endearing ... An upbeat guide to the creative process' Kirkus 'A jovial romp ... Cleese fans will enjoy, and writers and other artists will breeze through, picking up a few nuggets of wisdom along the way' The Festival Review 'A sincere and thoughtful guide to creativity, and a very useful book' Graham Norton 'Wise words on the serious business of being silly' Sunday Business Post

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “John Cleese’s memoir is just about everything one would expect of its author—smart, thoughtful, provocative and above all funny. . . . A picture, if you will, of the artist as a young man.”—The Washington Post The legendary writer and performer of Monty Python and Fawlty Towers fame takes readers on a grand tour of his ascent in the entertainment world John Cleese’s huge comedic influence has stretched across generations; his sharp irreverent eye and the unique brand of physical comedy he perfected now seem written into comedy’s DNA. In this rollicking memoir, Cleese recalls his humble beginnings in a sleepy English town, his early comedic days at Cambridge University (with future Python partner Graham Chapman), and the founding of the landmark comedy troupe that would propel him to worldwide renown. Cleese was just days away from graduating Cambridge and setting off on a law career when he was visited by two BBC executives, who offered him a job writing comedy for radio. That fateful moment—and a near-simultaneous offer to take his university humor revue to London’s famed West End—propelled him down a different path, cutting his teeth writing for stars like David Frost and Peter Sellers, and eventually joining the five other Pythons to pioneer a new kind of comedy that prized invention, silliness, and absurdity. Along the way, he found his first true love with the actress Connie Booth and transformed himself from a reluctant performer to a world class actor and back again. Twisting and turning through surprising stories and hilarious digressions—with some brief pauses along the way that comprise a fascinating primer on what’s funny and why—this story of a young man’s journey to the pinnacle of comedy is a masterly performance by a master performer.

Best known, of course, for his appearances in the recent AA commercials, it will no doubt come as a surprise to many that John Cleese was previously involved in comedy within a little-known troupe of comedians known as Monty Python, and also wrote and starred in a completely unknown sitcom named Fawlty Towers. Having now reached the dizzy heights of television advertising, Cleese has become a face recognisable across the world and a much-quoted, often controversial figure within the media. This book brings together some of the funniest and most interesting quotes from The Comic Messiah himself.

Best known, of course, for his appearances in the recent AA commercials, it will no doubt come as a surprise to many that John Cleese was previously involved in comedy within a little-known troupe of comedians known as Monty Python, and also wrote and starred in a completely unknown sitcom named Fawlty Towers. Having now reached the dizzy heights of television advertising, Cleese has become a face recognisable across the world and a much-quoted, often controversial figure within the media. This book brings together some of the funniest and most interesting quotes from The Comic Messiah himself.

"Comedian and actor John Cleese in the role of Ivy League professor at Cornell University, where he is currently professor-at-large. This book includes a selection of talks, essays, and lectures and provides a unique view of Cleese's endless pursuit of intellectual discovery across a range of topics"--

'It achieves what it set out to do- explaining in ordinary language to ordinary people just how relationships work.' -Sun

The complete and unexpurgated scripts of 'Fawlty Towers' - the most celebrated television sit-com of all time. (From back cover).

English professor and mother Carolyn Weber tells how her desire to control the events of her life came into contact with God's desire to give her each day as a gift from himself. Join her on a winding path through literature, history and daily life—leading finally to the still, quiet place of the present moment.

(Applause Books). Complete screenplay from this outrageous comedy. " Wanda defies gravity, in both senses of the word, and redefines a great comic tradition." Time "The meanest, most consistently hysterical film in ages ... the writing is sharply pointed and delightfully irreverent." Gannett Newspapers