Before & Laughter

By: Jimmy Carr

Narrated by: Jimmy Carr

'Stand-up comedy raised me. It taught me all the skills I need for life, except tax accounting.'


'Very, very funny - a great read' Gary Davies, The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show

'Riveting' Daily Mail

'An utterly sincere guide for people to achieve bigger things in life' Guardian

Cheaper than Scientology, quicker than therapy and much less boring than church - this is the hugely funny and insightful book about happiness by top comedian Jimmy Carr, and anyone feeling stuck in a rut should devour it.

In his mid-twenties, Jimmy was bored, boring, unfulfilled and underachieving. He wasn't exactly depressed, but he was very sad. Think of a baby owl whose mum has recently died in a windmill accident. He was that sad. This book tells the story of how Jimmy turned it around and got happy, through the redemptive power of dick jokes.

Written to take advantage of the brief window between the end of lockdown and Jimmy getting cancelled for saying something unforgivable to Lorraine Kelly, this book is as timely as it is unnecessary.

Because you might be interested in Jimmy's life but he's damn sure you're a lot more interested in your own, Before & Laughter is about both of you. But mainly him. It tells the story of Jimmy's life - the transformation from white-collar corporate drone to fake-toothed donkey-laugh plastic-haired comedy mannequin - while also explaining how to turn your own life around and become the you you've always dreamt of being. At just £20, it's cheaper than Scientology, quicker than therapy, and significantly less boring than church.

Before & Laughter contains the answers to all the big questions in life, questions like:
· What's the secret to happiness?
· Is Jimmy wearing a wig?
· What happened with that tax thing?
· What's the meaning of life?
· Is Jimmy's laugh real?
· Can those teeth bite through vibranium?

And for readers in the West Country: yes, there are pictures (actually, sorry, there are no pictures, but there's a book about a hungry caterpillar you'll love).

Because it's Jimmy Carr - recently scientifically proved to be the funniest comedian in the UK - there are jokes, jokes and more jokes throughout. If laughter really was the best medicine, the NHS would be handing out this book in Nightingale Hospitals.

Fascinating, thoughtful and insightful - are all words that appear in the book.

(P)2021 Quercus Editions Limited©2021 Jimmy Carr

Critic reviews

Riveting

An utterly sincere guide for people to achieve bigger things in life

Very funny and very beautiful, packed with jokes and genuinely wise advice

So good. I've loved every second of reading it

A hilarious book that will be adored by Jimmy's fans. Both of them

Made me laugh, made me think, what more do you want from a comedian's memoir?

I was really annoyed at how good this book is and that's the biggest compliment I can give

Very, very funny - a great read

At last, a selfless biography that aims to inspire and does. Also, of course, very, very funny

It's the first life advice book from someone whose life you would actually want

Fun. insightful. Interesting.

Jimmy Carr gives a fun glimpse into his mindset. He uses his wit to bring insights to the reader. Like many comics, he even more interesting than he appears on stage.

Insiteful and really funny!

I'm more into comedy than self-help, but found this book incredibly valuable and funny.

Great book!

I have enjoyed Jimmy’s comedy for a few years. His book is a great combination of life lessons and personal narrative.

Wow.

Suprisingly helpful, thanks Jimmy. nice, good, great, humbling, sweet, funny, sincere, real, dope, witty, cunty.

Great viewpoint on the world

Some amazing insight into the requirements to build something of yourself. Comedy or not, some great life lessons that can be applied in everyday life.