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tfitoby's review against another edition
4.0
10 Fun Memories Involving Me and Chris Evans
10 - Nothing made me late for school more times than The Big Breakfast - I just didn't want to miss a second of that show. It simply wasn't the same when he left.
9 - I spent an unknown quantity of time mimicking his actions on Don't Forget Your Toothbrush, complete with soundtrack.
8 - The last gift my great grandmother ever bought me was the Christmas single from Zig & Zag
7 - Spending Saturdays listening to Rock & Roll Football on Virgin Radio and preferring the interruption of the song with chants of "GOALLLLL!!!!" to the song that they were playing
6 - Being introduced to countless great songs by countless great musicians every Friday on TFI Friday
5 - Seeing Donna Air completely naked hanging from a crane outside Riverside Studios on TFI Friday
4 - The truly memorable The Naked Parade, Freak or Unique, The Riverboat Song, the camera "diving" from the bar to stage, every celebrity entrance as they climb the steps to the bar on TFI Friday
3 - Hearing The Breakfast Show gang talk about this little movie called Swingers which later became one of my all time favourites
2 - The incredibly bizarre Sky TV broadcast of the breakfast radio show long before live webcams made the same surreal experience pssible for all.
1 - My email address (and subsequent usernames) was created out of my love for the TV created by Chris Evans and even if I somehow forget how important this man was to me in my youth that will stay with me for the rest of my life.
It's safe to say that Chris Evans is an entertaining guy and point 1 is no exaggeration; Chris Evans was a major influence on my formative years, whether that was the music I heard (first time I ever saw Slipknot was live on TFI Friday - scary,) the movies I watched and the way that I talked. I still feel that even on his bad days Chris Evans' radio output was better than anything I could listen to.
So this biography was pretty much essential at some point and for once with a celebrity biography I wasn't accutely disappointed. Sure he skipped huge sections of interest to me but what he did write was both interesting and suitably humourous/poignant/entertaining (delete as appropriate) and I literally didn't want to do anything else but read this book from the second I opened it.
Still it was cruising for 3 star mediocrity right up until the magic of Richard Branson rubbed off on his story; this section was the most indepth and the funniest and can only enhance Branson's reputation even further (not that it needed enhancing by an popular entertainer,) everything about the man is golden I swear. The Virgin effect in this instance involves a concorde flight and a GBP90million deal and takes almost a third of the book and is worth the price of admission alone.
Evans fills the tale with so much useful advice on business and life that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the book to many of the same people who will buy business advice books by the arm full and "uplifting little girl lost" tales by the bucketload. It's a feel good story of a working class kid made good, complete with self realisation of the many errors he made along the way.
It's left open for a second part which I'll be looking out for in secondhand shops next time I'm in England; a fact that in it's own way is both infuriating and exciting. An incomplete autobiography is hardly worth reading but cramming a full life in to a mere 350 pages would also be completely unsatisfactory.
10 - Nothing made me late for school more times than The Big Breakfast - I just didn't want to miss a second of that show. It simply wasn't the same when he left.
9 - I spent an unknown quantity of time mimicking his actions on Don't Forget Your Toothbrush, complete with soundtrack.
8 - The last gift my great grandmother ever bought me was the Christmas single from Zig & Zag
7 - Spending Saturdays listening to Rock & Roll Football on Virgin Radio and preferring the interruption of the song with chants of "GOALLLLL!!!!" to the song that they were playing
6 - Being introduced to countless great songs by countless great musicians every Friday on TFI Friday
5 - Seeing Donna Air completely naked hanging from a crane outside Riverside Studios on TFI Friday
4 - The truly memorable The Naked Parade, Freak or Unique, The Riverboat Song, the camera "diving" from the bar to stage, every celebrity entrance as they climb the steps to the bar on TFI Friday
3 - Hearing The Breakfast Show gang talk about this little movie called Swingers which later became one of my all time favourites
2 - The incredibly bizarre Sky TV broadcast of the breakfast radio show long before live webcams made the same surreal experience pssible for all.
1 - My email address (and subsequent usernames) was created out of my love for the TV created by Chris Evans and even if I somehow forget how important this man was to me in my youth that will stay with me for the rest of my life.
It's safe to say that Chris Evans is an entertaining guy and point 1 is no exaggeration; Chris Evans was a major influence on my formative years, whether that was the music I heard (first time I ever saw Slipknot was live on TFI Friday - scary,) the movies I watched and the way that I talked. I still feel that even on his bad days Chris Evans' radio output was better than anything I could listen to.
So this biography was pretty much essential at some point and for once with a celebrity biography I wasn't accutely disappointed. Sure he skipped huge sections of interest to me but what he did write was both interesting and suitably humourous/poignant/entertaining (delete as appropriate) and I literally didn't want to do anything else but read this book from the second I opened it.
Still it was cruising for 3 star mediocrity right up until the magic of Richard Branson rubbed off on his story; this section was the most indepth and the funniest and can only enhance Branson's reputation even further (not that it needed enhancing by an popular entertainer,) everything about the man is golden I swear. The Virgin effect in this instance involves a concorde flight and a GBP90million deal and takes almost a third of the book and is worth the price of admission alone.
Evans fills the tale with so much useful advice on business and life that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the book to many of the same people who will buy business advice books by the arm full and "uplifting little girl lost" tales by the bucketload. It's a feel good story of a working class kid made good, complete with self realisation of the many errors he made along the way.
It's left open for a second part which I'll be looking out for in secondhand shops next time I'm in England; a fact that in it's own way is both infuriating and exciting. An incomplete autobiography is hardly worth reading but cramming a full life in to a mere 350 pages would also be completely unsatisfactory.
martinr71's review against another edition
4.0
A great read. Very funny in places. Interesting to hear the real stories behind some of the headlines. Reminded me of the brilliant breakfast shows, TFI Friday and Don't Forget Your Toothbrush. Worth reading!
louamy999's review against another edition
4.0
I have to admit I'm not a fan of Chris Evans- yet I did enjoy this book alot. It was brilliant read about how he achieved fame, and I found it very enjoyable. I loved the top 10 bits at the beginning of each chapter, and the chapters were short and funny.
andyshute's review against another edition
3.0
I always like Chris Evans, having fond memories of The Big Breakfast, Don't Forget your Toothbrush, the Radio 1 breakfast show and most importantly for me, TFI Friday. That show was a revelation and perfect for my mid-teens britpop years. Down, the line I've fallen out of touch with him, aside from the newspaper headlines a few years back and occasionally catching his Radio 2 show. I have no idea what he's doing currently.
We follow his life as a child in quite a lot of detail, before skipping ahead a bit more up until his acquisition of Virgin radio. He draws on his natural enthusiasm and confidence to create and get the job done, giving hints and tips in running businesses and life. I've always admired his natural talent and drive, despite the self destructive tendencies. He does come across a little melodramatic at times and some of the 'life lessons' are rather obvious, not needing to be said.
There's a strong feeling of leaving a lot out and the further through we go the less detail is given. He's quite open about his sexual conquests and relationships (and how they went wrong) but the background suggestion of a lie falling apart through partying, drinking and possibly more is rather glanced over. You know it's there but it's never explored.
Note: this would have got another star if it weren't for the completely made up and inaccurate medical procedures he mentions - his mum having a cataract operation and him having some bones in his hand reset. Neither of these procedures as he describes them are anything remotely realistic (either now or at the time they would have occurred). Sure, the story about his mum is second hand so maybe either she was telling porkies, or it's become a family story, but still. This make me wonder how many other anecdotes are completely falsified or tainted.
I liked the book though, and the set up for the next one will almost certainly get me reading. I want to find out how it all fell down (hinted at multiple times throughout but never appearing).
We follow his life as a child in quite a lot of detail, before skipping ahead a bit more up until his acquisition of Virgin radio. He draws on his natural enthusiasm and confidence to create and get the job done, giving hints and tips in running businesses and life. I've always admired his natural talent and drive, despite the self destructive tendencies. He does come across a little melodramatic at times and some of the 'life lessons' are rather obvious, not needing to be said.
There's a strong feeling of leaving a lot out and the further through we go the less detail is given. He's quite open about his sexual conquests and relationships (and how they went wrong) but the background suggestion of a lie falling apart through partying, drinking and possibly more is rather glanced over. You know it's there but it's never explored.
Note: this would have got another star if it weren't for the completely made up and inaccurate medical procedures he mentions - his mum having a cataract operation and him having some bones in his hand reset. Neither of these procedures as he describes them are anything remotely realistic (either now or at the time they would have occurred). Sure, the story about his mum is second hand so maybe either she was telling porkies, or it's become a family story, but still. This make me wonder how many other anecdotes are completely falsified or tainted.
I liked the book though, and the set up for the next one will almost certainly get me reading. I want to find out how it all fell down (hinted at multiple times throughout but never appearing).
huntleymc's review against another edition
4.0
I did not know much about the British radio and television host Chris Evans other than what I had read online and with British media that is not always flattering for a celebrity. In the past I've downloaded episodes of his podcast to hear interviews he had conducted with musicians and actors but the podcast never really touched on Chris Evans the man.
It's Not What You Think is the story of Evans before he buys his own radio station. If you've read the autobiographies of Chris Moyles, or for Americans, Howard Stern the story seems very similar. Evans grows up with a love for radio and knows that working in radio is what he wants to do. How he gets to doing his dream job is more luck then following a proven path. He by no means has an easy road to travel and, by all accounts, puts in the time and effort to achieve his goal. He learns at a young age, thirteen, that the harder worker will be rewarded before the person that does just enough to get by.
Evans starts his radio career working behind the scenes and than gets a shot as a character on a popular afternoon show. He works that into his own show until an off handed remark gets him fired. He than is offered a position as a producer for a show broadcasting out of London, but still has the desire to work on air. He is offered the best position in British radio the BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Show. While working in radio Evans takes on television presenting roles and from there starts producing his own shows.
Along with his career achievements and struggles Evans also shares a few of the ups and downs of his personal life. It is nice that he does not use this book to name drop all the celebrities that he knows, instead he would rather discuss the impressive list of cars that he has owned. Believe me it is a very impressive list of mostly Ferraris.
This book was a quick read thanks to Evans sense of humor that pops up often during his story telling. His story is interesting enough to keep the readers attention but realize that It's Not What You Think is only the first book of the Evans journey. Much like Stern had two autobiographies so does Evans. Evans ends the book meeting with Richard Branson to purchase Virgin Radio and the cliff hanger is good enough that it will make the reader to immediately continue on to Evans second book Memoirs of a Fruitcake.
Evans has a top ten list to start each chapter and the number one is always the subject of the next story. Each chapter is a short story focusing on an important point in Evans life. The stories really flow into one another very well keeping the reading focused and interested. Evans radio background helps him to tell a good story in the least amount of words.
It's Not What You Think is the story of Evans before he buys his own radio station. If you've read the autobiographies of Chris Moyles, or for Americans, Howard Stern the story seems very similar. Evans grows up with a love for radio and knows that working in radio is what he wants to do. How he gets to doing his dream job is more luck then following a proven path. He by no means has an easy road to travel and, by all accounts, puts in the time and effort to achieve his goal. He learns at a young age, thirteen, that the harder worker will be rewarded before the person that does just enough to get by.
Evans starts his radio career working behind the scenes and than gets a shot as a character on a popular afternoon show. He works that into his own show until an off handed remark gets him fired. He than is offered a position as a producer for a show broadcasting out of London, but still has the desire to work on air. He is offered the best position in British radio the BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Show. While working in radio Evans takes on television presenting roles and from there starts producing his own shows.
Along with his career achievements and struggles Evans also shares a few of the ups and downs of his personal life. It is nice that he does not use this book to name drop all the celebrities that he knows, instead he would rather discuss the impressive list of cars that he has owned. Believe me it is a very impressive list of mostly Ferraris.
This book was a quick read thanks to Evans sense of humor that pops up often during his story telling. His story is interesting enough to keep the readers attention but realize that It's Not What You Think is only the first book of the Evans journey. Much like Stern had two autobiographies so does Evans. Evans ends the book meeting with Richard Branson to purchase Virgin Radio and the cliff hanger is good enough that it will make the reader to immediately continue on to Evans second book Memoirs of a Fruitcake.
Evans has a top ten list to start each chapter and the number one is always the subject of the next story. Each chapter is a short story focusing on an important point in Evans life. The stories really flow into one another very well keeping the reading focused and interested. Evans radio background helps him to tell a good story in the least amount of words.
annaelizabeth80's review against another edition
5.0
I've never really been a big fan of chris Evans, however this book did change my opinion about him, he seems a really nice bloke, who has done so much with his life!
I can't wait to get the second part as I really want to find out more!
I can't wait to get the second part as I really want to find out more!
cpwood's review against another edition
4.0
I was initially a little embarrassed to find myself wanting to read Chris Evans' autobiography as I'm not a great fan of modern celebrity biographies (see: Cheryl Cole, Jordan, etc).
However this book was a very light but interesting read. Great for bedtime reading too as it's made up of short but snappy chapters.
It's easy to think of celebrities as shallow, but Chris is somebody with surprising depth, determination and insight.
However this book was a very light but interesting read. Great for bedtime reading too as it's made up of short but snappy chapters.
It's easy to think of celebrities as shallow, but Chris is somebody with surprising depth, determination and insight.
rebeccahlm's review
3.0
Good book and interesting to see how his career in radio started. I actualled 'read' this by listening to the audio version, which is read by the author.
Definitely worth a read, better than his second autobiography (Memoirs of a Fruitcake).
Definitely worth a read, better than his second autobiography (Memoirs of a Fruitcake).
sharonleavy's review against another edition
4.0
I bought this because I really enjoyed the recent TFI Friday return, and also because it was £0.99 for Kindle and I hadn't read an autobiography in a while.
My knowledge of Chris Evans extends only to The Big Breakfast and TFI Friday - I barely remember Don't Forget Your Toothbrush and I've never listened to him on the radio because I'm not in the UK. This book covers the period of time between Chris' childhood and his purchase of Virgin Radio from Richard Branson in the early 00s. Each chapter starts with a "Top Ten" list, which was a lot of fun. The Number One in each list is the topic for that chapter - the chapters were short, between 1 and 5 minutes long on Kindle. At the end of the book, some of the people mentioned get a little paragraph or two in which they give their memories of Chris.
Chris comes across as a really down to earth, genuinely nice man. He acknowledges mistakes (and there were a few), he is respectful of his ex wives and partners, and doesn't slate people in the book which is refreshing. He takes full responsibility for any bad behaviour or attitude problems he had at various times, and is not afraid to say that he became too big for his boots at one point. This is the first of a few autobiographies, and I liked his writing style so much that I downloaded the next one after I finished this.
My knowledge of Chris Evans extends only to The Big Breakfast and TFI Friday - I barely remember Don't Forget Your Toothbrush and I've never listened to him on the radio because I'm not in the UK. This book covers the period of time between Chris' childhood and his purchase of Virgin Radio from Richard Branson in the early 00s. Each chapter starts with a "Top Ten" list, which was a lot of fun. The Number One in each list is the topic for that chapter - the chapters were short, between 1 and 5 minutes long on Kindle. At the end of the book, some of the people mentioned get a little paragraph or two in which they give their memories of Chris.
Chris comes across as a really down to earth, genuinely nice man. He acknowledges mistakes (and there were a few), he is respectful of his ex wives and partners, and doesn't slate people in the book which is refreshing. He takes full responsibility for any bad behaviour or attitude problems he had at various times, and is not afraid to say that he became too big for his boots at one point. This is the first of a few autobiographies, and I liked his writing style so much that I downloaded the next one after I finished this.