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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
David Mitchell’s one of my favorite TV comedians stemming from his That Mitchell and Webb Look days, followed by his dry wit and occasional rants on Would I Lie To You? and QI.
Web searches confusingly lump him together with the other author of the same name. Normally you can distinguish them because every book description of the non-comedian Mitchell begins with “By the New York Times bestselling author of Cloud Atlas.” David Mitchell the comedian did not write the Cloud Atlas, so there’s your clue.
Unruly combined a lot of historical facts about the English monarchy with humor. I was surprised that Mitchell produced such an interesting and well-researched book. I came for the jokes and left having learned a few things. You know it’s a well-written book when you’re drawn in by a topic that you originally didn’t give two hoots about.
I assume that Mitchell got his facts right. Perhaps this is naive of me, since he is a comedian and not a historian, but everything he said sounded plausible to me. If he didn’t, then I think it’s a good approximation and leaves room for more discussion. For example, he argued that the very fact of inept kingly rule caused the invention of the Magna Carta and Parliament, whereas the competent monarchs who left no clear successor led to greater instability. Good fodder for thinking about the topic, and there probably have been lots of books written on that very topic with much more nuance and far fewer irreverent jokes thrown in. Perhaps if I were better informed, I’d be more annoyed or overjoyed, depending on how factual Mitchell got it all. As an American ignorant of most English history, I think it was a fun and enjoyable dabble into the matter.
By the end I found myself wishing that he’d carry on the book to present day, mostly because I have no idea how the present-day monarchy came to power. (Something involving two hyphens in the surname that sounded German?) However, as Mitchell explains in the final chapter, he has good reasons to end his book where he did, in Shakespeare’s capable hands. As England’s kings and queens become less truly powerful in the convening years, telling England’s history through their lives becomes antiquated and would devolve into anecdotes about golfing and hunting trips. Leaving at the high water mark of history’s greatest playwright seemed as good a place as any.
Web searches confusingly lump him together with the other author of the same name. Normally you can distinguish them because every book description of the non-comedian Mitchell begins with “By the New York Times bestselling author of Cloud Atlas.” David Mitchell the comedian did not write the Cloud Atlas, so there’s your clue.
Unruly combined a lot of historical facts about the English monarchy with humor. I was surprised that Mitchell produced such an interesting and well-researched book. I came for the jokes and left having learned a few things. You know it’s a well-written book when you’re drawn in by a topic that you originally didn’t give two hoots about.
I assume that Mitchell got his facts right. Perhaps this is naive of me, since he is a comedian and not a historian, but everything he said sounded plausible to me. If he didn’t, then I think it’s a good approximation and leaves room for more discussion. For example, he argued that the very fact of inept kingly rule caused the invention of the Magna Carta and Parliament, whereas the competent monarchs who left no clear successor led to greater instability. Good fodder for thinking about the topic, and there probably have been lots of books written on that very topic with much more nuance and far fewer irreverent jokes thrown in. Perhaps if I were better informed, I’d be more annoyed or overjoyed, depending on how factual Mitchell got it all. As an American ignorant of most English history, I think it was a fun and enjoyable dabble into the matter.
By the end I found myself wishing that he’d carry on the book to present day, mostly because I have no idea how the present-day monarchy came to power. (Something involving two hyphens in the surname that sounded German?) However, as Mitchell explains in the final chapter, he has good reasons to end his book where he did, in Shakespeare’s capable hands. As England’s kings and queens become less truly powerful in the convening years, telling England’s history through their lives becomes antiquated and would devolve into anecdotes about golfing and hunting trips. Leaving at the high water mark of history’s greatest playwright seemed as good a place as any.
funny
informative
medium-paced
This book was very funny but too long for me.
funny
informative
slow-paced
4 stars
Very high level but entertaining read - highly recommend the audiobook
Very high level but entertaining read - highly recommend the audiobook
funny
informative
fast-paced
funny
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
Funny I like david Mitchell telling me things
funny
informative
medium-paced
Classic sarcastic British humour. You get what it says on the tin- David Mitchell hilariously explaining England’s royal history. This was also my first audio book, 10/10 to listen to David Mitchell actually narrating this, really added to it.