I Didn't Get Where I Am Today

by David Nobbs

The magnificent and hilarious autobiography of the man who created Reginald Perrin. A beautifully told tale of a life in writing and comedy, capturing a golden age of British television.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Humor

512 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I began by really liking this autobiography, but I grew cooler to the author as it progressed. There was a troubling element to his psyche that seemed to go unexplored - his blackouts, his failed marriage, his big fall-outs with his best friend. There was an underlying tone of anger or disappointment as the book progressed that just wasn't there as he described his youth at Cambridge or before. The joy of those years seemed to darken as life progressed and success, when it came, wasn't as appreciated as in the hungry years when all Nobbs knew was that he wanted to write. I started out by telling my dad that I'd give him this book as soon as I finished it, but now I won't rush to tell him he must read it straightaway. It's just not that good, I'm afraid.

[Malcolm]

Quite amusing but overall disappointing especially when you get to the end and you realise that he has been writing about this wonderful marriage that he has been consistently cheating on. I hate it when people account for the failure of relationships by saying "We had been drifting apart for some time" - what a miserable excuse. Take some responsibility dammit.

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining enough, but you're better off just sticking with reading/watching Reggie Perrin.

[Val Robson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointing by this book. I was mainly aware of David Nobbs as the screenwriter for Reggie Perrin and also work for The Two Ronnies so I was expecting more interesting anecdotes about working in that environment. Instead it's an endless catalogue of boring incidents involving 'famous' people I've never heard of and didn't care about. Anything personal and about his family is skimmed over which was frustrating as there was clearly a lot to be written about there. I didn't feel like I'd got to know him at all in this book and found the style of writing just irritating and not humorous in the least.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started to read this on a flight back home at the end of a long and stressful working day. I was shaking with laughter, transported by a clever story-teller with a great way with words. The lady sitting beside me asked politely what the book was - she was keen to know what was so funny.

I was sad to finally finish reading it, although I would not recommend it for reading in public. It stood up well for a second reading, too.

[Shauna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was there ever such an appropriate surname for a British comic writer than Nobbs I wonder? This is a gentle, self-effacing autobiography from the creator of Henry Pratt and Reginald Iolanthe Perrin.

[Muaz Jalil · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is an easy read and an honest one at that. He was pretty honest about how he cheated on his wife of 25+ years. The title is from Perrin. He was raped when 14 by an 18 year old! That was shocking. Loved the quote by this Peruvian lady on the death of his friend John, a priest, " comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable"

Lots of name-dropping because he met a lot of big names in showbiz. I feel Nobbs was happy with his success and life, not prideful or hubris, but with humility; kudos to him. Very liberal and Progressive

[Turnip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too long, too many names, some very funny writing. Bit navel-gazey?

[Sally · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know why this book didn't grab me. I love autobiographies and I was a big fan of Reggie Perrin but I felt I was wading through this.

[Colin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read quite a few books by David Nobbs over the years, but had somehow missed this autobiography when it was published in 2003, and only became aware of it when it was mentioned in an obituary, following his recent death. It's an entertaining run through of his life, family, friendships and work, but feels a little lukewarm in parts, and not up to his best fiction or scripts. As I always suspected, Nobbs comes across as a thoroughly likeable and decent man, and he is brutally honest about his failures as well as his successes. There's even a small walk on part in his story for an old friend of mine, which was a very pleasant surprise. David Nobbs brought something special to English comic writing, through his work with most of the greats of TV comedy, and his marvellous novels, and will be very sadly missed.

[Tony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting autobiography of one of the UKs finest comic writers - somewhat forgotten, I think.

I read this in the same period as reading auto-biogs by John Peel, Stephen Fry and Julian Clary - all of whom seem to share the experience of being buggered at school...didn't seem to do any of them any harm, though

:-)

[Bettie · Rating 4 out of 5]

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From Orpington to Cambridge via Marlborough (twice). Reginald Perrin's creator David Nobbs reads from his autobiography.

Broadcast on: BBC Radio 7