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Tony Parsons on Life, Death and Breakfast
Praise for On Life, Death and Breakfast: 'a book so enjoyable and thought-provoking you won't want it to end!You'll laugh out loud, agree like mad and maybe even shed a tear or two -- a read not to be missed' The Sun 'Tony Parsons is never short of a topic or two. This collection shows him at his best.' GQ Praise for his novels: 'Funny and touching' Woman and Home 'From the author of Man and Boy comes this honest and funny story of a man whose life is transformed when he's given a 19-year-old's heart' Heat 'Tony Parsons is the master of the bittersweet love story' Red 'Parsons has created a much bigger and more compelling book. It's a major achievement' Mirror 'Funny, serious, tender and honest!Tony Parsons is writing about the genuine dilemmas of modern life' Sunday Express 'He takes as his specialist subject contemporary emotional issues which almost every other male writer has ignored' Guardian 'Memorable and poignant -- nobody squeezes more genuine emotion from a scene than Tony Parsons' Spectator
- GenresNonfiction
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2010
12 people are currently reading
124 people want to read
About the author
Tony Parsons
63 books893 followersThere is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Tony Parsons (born 6 November 1953) is a British journalist broadcaster and author. He began his career as a music journalist on the NME, writing about punk music. Later, he wrote for The Daily Telegraph, before going on to write his current column for the Daily Mirror. Parsons was for a time a regular guest on the BBC Two arts review programme The Late Show, and still appears infrequently on the successor Newsnight Review; he also briefly hosted a series on Channel 4 called Big Mouth.
He is the author of the multi-million selling novel, Man and Boy (1999). Parsons had written a number of novels including The Kids (1976), Platinum Logic (1981) and Limelight Blues (1983), before he found mainstream success by focussing on the tribulations of thirty-something men. Parsons has since published a series of best-selling novels – One For My Baby (2001), Man and Wife (2003), The Family Way (2004), Stories We Could Tell (2006), My Favourite Wife (2007), Starting Over (2009) and Men From the Boys (2010). His novels typically deal with relationship problems, emotional dramas and the traumas of men and women in our time. He describes his writing as 'Men Lit', as opposed to the rising popularity of 'Chick Lit'.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Par...
Tony Parsons (born 6 November 1953) is a British journalist broadcaster and author. He began his career as a music journalist on the NME, writing about punk music. Later, he wrote for The Daily Telegraph, before going on to write his current column for the Daily Mirror. Parsons was for a time a regular guest on the BBC Two arts review programme The Late Show, and still appears infrequently on the successor Newsnight Review; he also briefly hosted a series on Channel 4 called Big Mouth.
He is the author of the multi-million selling novel, Man and Boy (1999). Parsons had written a number of novels including The Kids (1976), Platinum Logic (1981) and Limelight Blues (1983), before he found mainstream success by focussing on the tribulations of thirty-something men. Parsons has since published a series of best-selling novels – One For My Baby (2001), Man and Wife (2003), The Family Way (2004), Stories We Could Tell (2006), My Favourite Wife (2007), Starting Over (2009) and Men From the Boys (2010). His novels typically deal with relationship problems, emotional dramas and the traumas of men and women in our time. He describes his writing as 'Men Lit', as opposed to the rising popularity of 'Chick Lit'.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Par...
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 20, 2014
I gulped this one in the weekend leading to my last reading week as a NUS undergrad. It was interesting, mainly because it tells the stories and philosophies of life through the eyes of this witty English bloke. With essays about life and manhood aplenty, "On Life, Death and Breakfast" managed to help me see the world in that perspective, even though it may not always agree with my feminist tendencies. Some phrases are tired and overused, like "meat and two veg", a woman who looks like Johnny Vegas (yes, I had to look that up), and the inability of Parsons's forefathers to locate a clitoris ("they know it's down south, but they never bothered" or something to that effect). However, some imageries are genuinely funny, like that one about Lady Gaga being equal to Grace Jones minus Nona Hendrix divided by Peggy Lee plus 0.25 Freddie Mercury (and that's from Vanity Fair), or the one about fake breasts. Parsons's observations are sharp and because of them, the book is a pleasure to read. Not one that I can read again though. Now, the problem is to find some straight guy who will benefit if I gift him this book...
September 23, 2011
….and a lot of other things in between.
Tony Parsons’ new book can be viewed as a collection of personal opinions on various issues with lots of biographical references thrown in. He explores a range of topics, from the mid-life crisis myth to dying, from the feel of fake breasts to getting fit and staying in shape, from dealing with a parent’s death to finding happiness.
Does it sound like one of those self-help books? It really isn’t. This book could be the answer to a (far from simple) question: what ails the modern man? Is it the thought of failure, both career-wise and sexual, is it nostalgia for the long gone experiences of childhood, anger at how things have changed, a feeling of regret for a past marriage? All this and more is talked about and examined and dissected in under 300 pages.
While many of the things may be familiar to the reader, the author manages to combine just the right amount of British humor with sarcasm and some inspirational stories to make the reading of this book an enjoyable experience. And while reading about football and cars and politics isn't exactly my cup of tea, the author’s point of view did not make me want to skip a few pages ahead. Quite the contrary. The book has the ring of an honest and straightforward story of a man who has been through some tough times, survived and learned a few important lessons, a man still trying to make sense of the world around him, just like we all do. Maybe that’s what makes the book so readable and entertaining and fun.
Tony Parsons’ new book can be viewed as a collection of personal opinions on various issues with lots of biographical references thrown in. He explores a range of topics, from the mid-life crisis myth to dying, from the feel of fake breasts to getting fit and staying in shape, from dealing with a parent’s death to finding happiness.
Does it sound like one of those self-help books? It really isn’t. This book could be the answer to a (far from simple) question: what ails the modern man? Is it the thought of failure, both career-wise and sexual, is it nostalgia for the long gone experiences of childhood, anger at how things have changed, a feeling of regret for a past marriage? All this and more is talked about and examined and dissected in under 300 pages.
While many of the things may be familiar to the reader, the author manages to combine just the right amount of British humor with sarcasm and some inspirational stories to make the reading of this book an enjoyable experience. And while reading about football and cars and politics isn't exactly my cup of tea, the author’s point of view did not make me want to skip a few pages ahead. Quite the contrary. The book has the ring of an honest and straightforward story of a man who has been through some tough times, survived and learned a few important lessons, a man still trying to make sense of the world around him, just like we all do. Maybe that’s what makes the book so readable and entertaining and fun.
May 15, 2011
Again, I am so hooked to Tony Parson's wit and British humour. I found this book on the autobiography section at my local library, but it turns out to be far more interesting than the typical autography. It is a sharing of his personal experiences through lessons learnt in life. Those lessons are typical lessons that you hear everyday that happen to the life of every typical man - of happiness, of loss, of reject, of failure, of fighting back and be ordinary. Hence, I, who have gone through some of the similar situations, find it easy to be drawn into the book. I feel like quoting some of the sentences here, but it seems like I might be quoting probably half of the book, therefore have a read of the book yourself!
August 16, 2021
I read /Tony Parsons on Life, Death and Breakfast/, by Tony Parsons.
The publisher says, "The bestselling author of MAN AND BOY turns his acute eye and pen to the biggest personal issues that face us - as well as the annoying grit in the eye of everyday life. Humour and honesty are combined in these wonderfully observed pieces on romance, sex, marriage, fake breasts, performance anxiety, car envy, airport security and more. Why are fake breasts always a bad idea? Why did football become rubbish? When did your partner's orgasm become more important than your own? When should a man settle down? What is the capital of Peru? Parsons answers all these questions - apart from the one about Peru - in his own inimitable style."
Tony Parsons was a British music journalist (think young Neil Strauss or early Chuck Klosterman, before they became authors and branched out into other subjects), who then wrote a column on relationships and commitment, and then, like Strauss and Klosterman, branched out and became an author.
His book is fairly original in subject matter, occasionally offensive, and pretty funny in parts. Way more funny than Colin Jost's latest book (/A Very Punchable Face/, but then again, Colin just married Scarlett Johansson, so must be doing something right.
Parsons writes on relationships, sex, mid-life crises, marriage, facials (not that sort), in his dry British humor way.
The book's title comes from explaining a mongoose eating a lizard in the Caribbean to his 7-year old daughter, beginning with the life and death cycle of nature, and ending with "The mongoose can't order from room service."
Charles John Klosterman
The publisher says, "The bestselling author of MAN AND BOY turns his acute eye and pen to the biggest personal issues that face us - as well as the annoying grit in the eye of everyday life. Humour and honesty are combined in these wonderfully observed pieces on romance, sex, marriage, fake breasts, performance anxiety, car envy, airport security and more. Why are fake breasts always a bad idea? Why did football become rubbish? When did your partner's orgasm become more important than your own? When should a man settle down? What is the capital of Peru? Parsons answers all these questions - apart from the one about Peru - in his own inimitable style."
Tony Parsons was a British music journalist (think young Neil Strauss or early Chuck Klosterman, before they became authors and branched out into other subjects), who then wrote a column on relationships and commitment, and then, like Strauss and Klosterman, branched out and became an author.
His book is fairly original in subject matter, occasionally offensive, and pretty funny in parts. Way more funny than Colin Jost's latest book (/A Very Punchable Face/, but then again, Colin just married Scarlett Johansson, so must be doing something right.
Parsons writes on relationships, sex, mid-life crises, marriage, facials (not that sort), in his dry British humor way.
The book's title comes from explaining a mongoose eating a lizard in the Caribbean to his 7-year old daughter, beginning with the life and death cycle of nature, and ending with "The mongoose can't order from room service."
Charles John Klosterman
January 27, 2021
Tony is a man of his age, With a father that killed Nazis. Angry at impoliteness and bad language. A grumpy man who thinks the world should work, Entirely based on his own personal experience.
Uncomfortably there's two whole chapters, On why women shouldn't get breast implants. (Two of the longest!) Even so there's enough wit and honesty, Circling around the plug hole. It's edgy but probably not always in the way he thinks it is.
Uncomfortably there's two whole chapters, On why women shouldn't get breast implants. (Two of the longest!) Even so there's enough wit and honesty, Circling around the plug hole. It's edgy but probably not always in the way he thinks it is.
May 2, 2023
This collection of magazine articles mainly from the noughties has Parsons reflecting on one of his favourite subjects - what it’s like to be a man. Apart from an excellent final article on ‘educational apartheid’ which was a staunch argument for grammar schools, the rest seemed outdated and repetitive. I can understand why Parsons has turned his back on this empty soul searching and focuses on suspense fiction now.
October 1, 2017
A collection of the author's magazine pieces on various subjects relevant to modern men (whether "new" or otherwise). As a 50-something child-free woman I'm far from being the target audience, but I did find things in here to like. Funny, thoughtful, and perceptive in places, though sometimes slightly repetitive and frequently too bloke-y for my tastes.
September 4, 2020
Interesting writing about life and contemporary living. I enjoyed every moment of reading it, part about parents especally. I just like his writing style.
December 7, 2023
Apart from the article on Bobby Moore (which was fair to middling), this was awful. Only the second book ever I have abandoned reading.
July 26, 2012
His humour never fail to entertain me!
July 8, 2012
In his usual observant manner of human nature, he's done it again: given us all a swift kick in the behind to remind us of what's important in life.
December 30, 2012
One of those books you read while riding on a bus. Nothing much to it, just bunch of individual points. Some pretty good ones actually, but most of them pretty subjective.
August 27, 2013
I gave 4 stars to the book. For the genre it belongs to, it's great, but it still isn't a masterpiece.
Parsons is witty, funny and smart, so the book was a light pleasure.
Parsons is witty, funny and smart, so the book was a light pleasure.
February 23, 2014
The best RM8 I have ever spent, funny, entertaining and full of wisdom.
July 29, 2014
One of the best humorous book i have ever read, Humorous Yet it makes sense. Never laughed so much while reading a book. This book made my journey from Lucknow to Delhi, India very easy.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews