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A review by hernamewaslily
Gotta Get Theroux This: My Life and Strange Times in Television by Louis Theroux
3.0
‘Gotta Get Theroux This’ is a memoir by national treasure and documentarian Louis Theroux. It charts his unexpected career in television and goes into behind-the-scenes detail on some of his most (in)famous documentaries, such as those involving the disgraced Jimmy Saville, to whom Theroux worked and had a sort of friendship with. It was interesting to find out how Theroux began his career, which seemingly occurred on accident with Theroux initially wanting to be a sitcom writer rather than the affable host we now know him as. There is a lot of behind-the-scenes commentary on how certain shows got made (or didn’t), as well as justifications for the subjects covered (or, not covered) which were compelling.
Whilst the book goes into great detail about Theroux’s career, there is very little about the man himself, and when he does divulge personal information, he often comes across as the bad guy. For example, his discussions about his first marriage suggest someone who is neglectful and self-centred. Likewise, similar issues arise in his second marriage, which become more pronounced when he has children. (Clearly, he is the common denominator). On the one hand, I think Theroux’s honesty in owning up to his shortcomings as a husband does highlight his ability to self-reflect, which is arguably the most evident when he discusses Louis Theroux ‘the character’ - the one you see on screen, bemused and naive as he interviews Neo-nazis and religious zealots - and the one he is off-screen - neurotic and anxious, but also incredibly intelligent and inquisitive. Yet on the other, it doesn’t do much to warm the reader to him, which would perhaps be off-putting to someone who doesn’t already have some kind of connection to him.
I was already a fan of Theroux’s going into the book and reading it hasn’t changed my feeling about him; I’ll still tune in to his shows. An overall entertaining book.
Whilst the book goes into great detail about Theroux’s career, there is very little about the man himself, and when he does divulge personal information, he often comes across as the bad guy. For example, his discussions about his first marriage suggest someone who is neglectful and self-centred. Likewise, similar issues arise in his second marriage, which become more pronounced when he has children. (Clearly, he is the common denominator). On the one hand, I think Theroux’s honesty in owning up to his shortcomings as a husband does highlight his ability to self-reflect, which is arguably the most evident when he discusses Louis Theroux ‘the character’ - the one you see on screen, bemused and naive as he interviews Neo-nazis and religious zealots - and the one he is off-screen - neurotic and anxious, but also incredibly intelligent and inquisitive. Yet on the other, it doesn’t do much to warm the reader to him, which would perhaps be off-putting to someone who doesn’t already have some kind of connection to him.
I was already a fan of Theroux’s going into the book and reading it hasn’t changed my feeling about him; I’ll still tune in to his shows. An overall entertaining book.