Category: Biography

culture?

Posted on by Greig

Jews Don’t Count

David Baddiel

I find myself disagreeing with some of Baddiel’s points but I cannot argue with the key central point that while racists and anti-semites still continue to attack Jews people cannot sit back with the comfortable notion that Jews are so normal in every day life that they don’t need to be protected from these attacks.
I do think he spends way too much time criticizing the Left on their handling of real or perceived anti-semitism without equally sticking the boot into the obvious villains on the right who made much political hay while continuing to be quietly racist and anti-semitic.

Rating: B+

babelfish?

Posted on by Greig

Don’t Panic

Neil Gaiman

In this highly entertaining biography (a young) Neil Gaiman profiles the life of Douglas Adams with a particular emphasis on the many versions of The Hitch-Hiker’s Guide To The Galaxy.
Features interviews with Adams himself and many of his collaborators over the years. Also includes unused snippets of TV and radio scripts, the original pitches for Hitch-Hiker’s and more.
Gently aping Adam’s style Gaiman manages to make all of this into a very enjoyable package.
I wouldn’t recommend buying it at anything more than cover price but it’s worth the read.

Rating: B+

perfumed?

Posted on by Greig

Good Night and Good Riddance

David Cavanagh

good night and good riddanceCavanagh is a music writer famed for his extensive research (and how much of it ends up on the page).
I read his authoritative book on Creation records a few years back. That book went into so much depth that it basically covers the entirety of the UK indie music business in the UK from the 70s to the turn of the millenium.
This book is a look at the career of the much missed BBC DJ John Peel. Rather than write a traditional biography Cavanagh has listened to hundreds of Peel shows from across his thirty-odd year UK broadcasting career.
He uses the context of a few shows each year to draw a picture of what was happening in the news, what music Peel was playing and goes into certain aspects of the DJ’s behind the scenes life – both personally and professionally.
It’s a startling piece of work revealing not only Peel’s impact on UK cultural life but also how much has changed (and indeed not changed) in Britain since the late 1960s.
If you’re at all interested in Peel, pop history, pop radio or UK society in general during the time period covered then this is a must-read.
Very highly recommended.

Rating: A

attic?

Posted on by Greig

Dave Gorman Vs the Rest of the World

Dave Gorman

What do you do when you get bored and have time to kill? Dave Gorman asked his followers on twitter if they fancied playing a game.
This book chronicles his travels all over the UK to play strangers, acquaintances and friends at various games from Monopoly to Darts with odd pub and board games thrown in.
Gorman has previous when it comes to taking on insane challenges – see Are You Dave Gorman? and Dave Gorman’s Googlewhack Adventure which are both very funny books (I’ve read them but they escaped being reviewed on the blog).
Gorman has a pleasing style and the book is genuinely funny but there’s just something tired and bored underlying the adventures.
Something screams “I want to stop doing crazy stuff and to settle down!”
Recommended if you liked his earlier books.

Rating: B+

porkpie?

Posted on by Greig

Good Morning Nantwich

Phill Jupitus

I got a cheap ebook of this as I use the 6music breakfast show as my alarm clock and this book is mainly about his time presenting the show.
To be honest it’s not a great book and it’s not that revealing.
It’s a book with limited appeal and not worth the bother unless you really like Phill Jupitus or were a fan of his radio show.

Rating: B