Nerd Do Well: A Small Boy's Journey to Becoming a Big Kid

by Simon Pegg

The unique life story of one of the most talented and inventive comedians, star of Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Paul, Spaced, and Star Trek.

Zombies in North London, death cults in the West Country, the engineering deck of the Enterprise -- actor, comedian, writer, and supergeek Simon Pegg has been ploughing some bizarre furrows. Having landed on the U.S. movie scene in the surprise cult hit Shaun of the Dead , his enduring appeal and rise to movie stardom has been mercurial, meteoric, megatronic, but mostly just plain great. From his childhood (and subsequently adult) obsession with science fiction, his enduring friendship with Nick Frost, and his forays into stand-up comedy, which began with his regular Monday-morning slot in front of his twelve-year-old classmates, Simon has always had a severe and dangerous case of the funnies. Whether recounting his experience working as a lifeguard at the city pool, going to Comic-Con for the first time and confessing to Carrie Fisher that he used to kiss her picture every night before he went to sleep, or meeting and working with heroes that include Peter Jackson, Kevin Smith, and Quentin Tarantino, Pegg offers a hilarious look at the journey to becoming an international superstar.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Humor, Memoir, Autobiography, Audiobook, Comedy

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Simon Pegg is an English actor, comedian, writer, film producer and director. He is best known for his starring roles in Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, the comedy series Spaced and his portrayal of Montgomery "Scotty" Scott in the 2009 Star Trek film.

Reviews

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nerd Do Well is Simon Pegg's life story interspersed with the tale of a fictional alter ego, Pegg, a James Bond figure with a robotic sidekick. His coming of age stories and fictional bits are hilarious but once Pegg gets into his movie making period, the book loses it's momentum.

I preferred the nostalgia of the first time he saw Star Wars to the actuality of meeting his hero, George Lucas and finding him stand-offish. There's something heart breaking about seeing childhood hero worship crumble in the face of cold hard reality.

Pegg's education in film appreciation and critique make for truly fascinating observations about pop culture films. I took his thoughts about how the Anakin/Frankenstein scene in the third Star Wars movie could have been made into a memorable and fitting theatrical moment instead of the joke that it was (pg 328-329) to my husband, who is the most ardent Star Wars fan that I know. Husband said in response, "His way would have made it much better." You'll have to trust me when I say that that's very high praise.

Another of my favorite parts in Nerd Do Well was Pegg's explanation for American readers about why the pub occupies a prominent place at the center of British social life. I'd never really understood what the attraction was until he painted the scene.

I mean, in my hometown, we have all sorts of dive-bars lining main street where, any night of the week, I could roll in there and meet up with the prematurely aged classmates of mine who will never get out of that place. But, who wants to do that. The bar is the epitome of failure rather than community.

With his homemade quizzes, neighborhood regulars, and music, Pegg's pub seems to be somewhere warm and inviting where I would actually enjoy hanging out. It makes much more sense to me now why Shaun of the Dead was based around a pub and also why most DnD campaigns begin in taverns.

If you enjoyed Nerd Do Well, you may want to read My Booky Wook (less Star Wars, more drugs, fairly funny) or Just a Geek: Unflinchingly honest tales of the search for life, love, and fulfillment beyond the Starship Enterprise (more Star Trek, more angst-filled than funny).

[Jason Koivu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simon Pegg wrote a book?! He narrates an audio version of it! I just piddled my pants!

Dear review readers, please realize you are looking at a five star rating of the most gratuitous kind. Because I don't have the womb capacity to physically bear Simon Pegg's babies, giving his book an extra star or two is the only way for me to proclaim my love. Perhaps you do not feel as deeply about him --NEY!-- Since you definitely don't feel as deeply about him as I do, consider Pegg's autobiography to be somewhere closer to the high threes, maybe a four starrer.

Nerd Do Well is Pegg's reluctant agreement with his publisher to put out a "tell-all" instead of the comicy, action-filled sci-fi book he would've rather have done. The compromise will confuse and maybe even annoy some, for Pegg's non-fiction life details are interspersed with a fictional and funny-as-fuck tale of his own penning, in which he casts himself as a futuristic James Bond character.

Though Pegg says he doesn't wish to divulge personal details, he does actually get more personal than one would expect. Being that his nerd persona is based on his childhood love of the sci-fi and horror genres, lots of time is spent discussing Pegg as a youth. Since boys are almost always also interested in sex, the reader is made privy to some of his more private triumphs and failures. It's nothing too graphic...well okay, some "bad language" is used...but he doesn't go overboard. I didn't tally it up, but I'll bet there's more sexual innuendo in the fictional tale than in the real-life section.

All that silly smut is balanced out by a large helping of insight into his acting career. He begins at the beginning and marches it right through to the release of the movie Paul. If you're familiar with his career you'll enjoy the tales of how he met friends like Nick Frost and how shows such as Spaced and Big Train came about. A fan such as myself might beg for more behind the scenes details of these seminal steps in his showbiz career, but all in all, this tightly packed autobiography does what it should: satiate satisfyingly without saturating.

[Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars for Nerd Do Well: A Small Boy’s Journey to become a Big Kid (audiobook) by Simon Pegg read by the author.

It was fun listening to Simon Pegg talk about his life. His autobiography is a little unconventional in style but I really enjoyed his journey through school and making movies. And the fictional story that he sprinkled in throughout the book was great too.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yeah... so, this was pretty much awesome.

I really love Simon Pegg's brand of humor, and I spent a pretty large portion of this book giggling a little too loudly and a little too long. It was actually a little awkward, and there was a moment while listening to this in line at the store (needed kitty litter) that people started to stare. To the other people in line, I was just some crazy lady holding a 30lb bag of cat litter in her arms and giggling maniacally. They had no way of knowing that I was listening to Simon being punked by Canterbury about his obvious and shameful lack of Shawshank Redemption knowledge, despite his claims to the contrary. I mean "Who the fuck is Red?" is fucking genius, and yeah, pet store line people, I'm gonna laugh at that. I'm sorry if it creeps you out because you can't see that I have headphones in... But I'm sorrier that you weren't listening to this geniusness, too.

There's just something about the way that Pegg relates his memories that just tickles me funny-bone, but it's the "fictional" part of this book that really had me cracking up. The interplay between Super Suave Sex Genius Simon Pegg and his sidekick android Canterbury was fantastic. Comedic brilliance.

I really enjoyed learning about the events in Simon's life that led him to be where he is today, and I admit to a little jealousy at all of the adolescent wishes that he has been able to fulfill. Meeting Leia? Acting in a favorite movie franchise? Working with some of the greatest directors in the world? Being able to work doing something that he clearly loves and is amazing at, and with his best friends beside him? Yeah, I'm a little jealous. But truly I'm happy for him, because his good luck (or excellent subconscious choices) has led to many, many people being able to share in his brilliance and awesomeness.

I love the philosophical concept Simon calls the "Laws of Quantum Attraction", which seems to be the driving force behind the myriad ways that his life has progressed along the path that led him to where he is now. This, in particular, really stood out for me:

"We might not know we are seeking out the people who best enrich our lives, but somewhere on a deep, subconscious level we absolutely are. Whether that bond is temporary or permanent, whether it succeeds or fails, fate is simply a conflagration of choices that combine with others to shape the relationships that surround us. We cannot choose our family but we can choose our friends, and we do, sometimes before we have even met them."

Just brilliant. This truly resonates with me, given certain events that have shaped my life and led me to where, and who, I am today.

Anyway, this is a great book. If you have any interest in Simon Pegg, or even just humor, I suggest you read this.

And now, I think I'm going to go watch Shaun of the Dead... again.

[Stringy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Someone convinced Pegg to write an autobiography, and so he has. But it seems like he's not sure why anyone would read it, or what he should include. As a result, it's a bit like four books jumbled up into one: How I Became A Writer/Actor, My Childhood, Girls Who Gave Me Boners, and A Peggtastic Space Adventure. I enjoyed the first type of story, thought the second type gave a bit of insight into his curent themes, skim-read anything like the third and skipped the fourth type after slogging through a couple.

I'd be pretty happy to read a whole book full of Pegg's opinions on movies. He's an insightful viewer and theorist, which I should have guessed after reading his great article on slow vs fast zombies a few years ago. The list of girls he had crushes on and relationships with was rather boring for me. It seems to be something most male writers want to catalogue, and if other people enjoy it then I don't see why he shouldn't include it. And he drops his sister Kate into the narrative pretty late, when she's a teenager and I'd already assumed he must be an only child.

However, this was a nice light read, pleasant if not exciting or challenging.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I adore Simon Pegg. I happen to be lucky enough to live in one of the only 3 cities that he came to on his U.S. book tour. Therefore, I got to stand in a long line to meet him/get my book signed. He was incredibly nice and gracious, especially when you realize that he was signing around 500 books in a very short amount of time.

I confess to being slightly disappointed in this book. If he weren't such a gracious, kind man, I might give it less stars. I think my biggest problem with the book is that it jumps around a lot. You'll be reading some story about the public pool he went to as a child and the next thing you know you've got a 5-page dissertation on film theory before you get back around to finishing the pool story. It was a bit confusing. Also, he spends a surprisingly large chunk of the book on the very early days of his childhood, which I frankly don't care all that much about, and very little on how he actually broke into the world of TV & movies, or of his experience making his movies, which I would have found more interesting.

However, there was still a lot about this book that I enjoyed. There are many amusing anecdotes - the teacher who "farted his desk into oblivion" comes immediately to mind, and still makes me chuckle as I sit here, for example. It's also strangely gratifying to read about someone who, as the title suggests, managed to turn his "nerddom" into major success. Let's face it, most of us sci-fi and fantasy geeks aren't living the high life off of our nerdy inclinations. I'm glad to know that some of us make it big. And I just love how he talks about Nick Frost. I envy him, that he could have a friend that he loves that much, and that he's not afraid to talk about it or express how he feels. I think that's brilliant. It's truly touching & I think it's some of the better stuff in the book.

One last thing I will say is that I noticed another reviewer said that she would love to read a book of Pegg doing movie reviews. I wholeheartedly agree! His review of the latest Star Wars movies, man, I just laughed and laughed. And he has this re-write of the "Darth Vader" scene in Revenge of the Sith that is a thing of beauty - it's absolutely how that scene should have been. If only Lucas had let him write it!

[Charlotte (Buried in Books) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I knew this was going to be a tough read - given Peggs love of zombies (I DON'T DO ZOMBIES), but I gave it a go, because I also know he loves Star Wars.

His love for both is evident (the original trilogy that is - not the prequels, he treats those with complete disdain).

For a biography it's weird. Scattered through the tales of his childhood is a sci fi superhero story with Pegg as the James Bond/Tony Stark hero complete with Robot sidekick. The most rounded tales are those concerning his childhood and I became increasing frustrated with the book as it went on. In the final pages Simon explains that the book focuses on his growing up as those are the experiences that made him who he is (plus he doesn't want to upset anyone famous that he's worked with that he didn't really like). I can understand that - however, if you've made a big thing about being a Star Trek fan - wouldn't to go into some detail about the awesomeness of being in aStar Trek film (only a photo is included). You can tell stories about how disappointed you where with the Star Wars prequels - but you can't give an indication about what it was like to work with Tom Cruise on Mission Impossible (again, only a photo)?

Bang on for chapters about meeting your zombie zeroes and making Shaun of the Dead, but there's virtually nothing about Hot Fuzz (one of the funniest films I've ever seen at the cinema).

Colour me disappointed. However, it did he did mention Big Train (which was hilarious) and it does make me want to dig out the box set of Spaced I bought years ago and finally sit down and watch it. So, I guess something positive has come out of it.

[Elle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like Simon Pegg, really, so I almost feel bad about giving this such a poor rating. He seems like the kind of guy I could listen to raving about Star Wars and other geekeries for ages (and I'm not even a Star Wars fan). Unfortunately, this book features very little of his passion for nerd fare, or even any of his typical funny, charming personality. It's so stilted as he tries to juggle writing about himself but not actually telling you anything. It's like an awkward first-day-of-class introduction stretched out for 300 pages. He rushes through each anecdote to an ending paragraph where he sums up why a story about some teenage infatuation, for example, is "important." It gets old very fast.

Though he protests that no one wants to read it, I actually really liked the chapter on his academic interpretations of the Star Wars movies. He's insightful and clever while still being funny. If this had centered around him talking about movies he loves, I think this would've been great. It still would've offered plenty of opportunities for those biographical anecdotes, as well. Unfortunately, I got a three page story about him unhooking some girl's bra instead.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best autobiographies I've read. Simon Pegg is a funny, intelligent nerd and his combination of self-mocking fiction with the story of his life is a winning mixture. I would have liked to have read more about his movie career but I believe he is working on a second volume which may cover it. A well-written, interesting book I recommend it to all nerds.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

could have done without the chapters where he was a superhero

[Staci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review courtesy of my son Marc:


A few reasons really come to mind when I'm asked the question why I wished to read the novel Nerd Do Well written by Simon Pegg. The most prominent one is the amazing similarities between us. Simon and I are both extremely smart, witty, handsome and undeniably charming. Our bodies are also hot enough to fry eggs on. All joking aside, I jumped at the chance to read this novel because of the simple fact that Simon Pegg has been one of my all time favorite actors since I caught a clip of the trailer to the cult classic film Shaun of the Dead. All it took were a few scenes and a touching glimpse of matricide to solidify his place in my heart as not only a great comedic actor, but one with control of many of the spectrum's of emotion. After watching other films he stars in such as Hot Fuzz and Run, Fat Boy, Run, I knew that soon more research would be needed. Nerd Do Well is not exactly an easy book to read as the vocabulary is actually quite impressive in this book, but any faithful fan would find it more than entertaining enough to continue reading from chapter to chapter. Along with the serious sections of the book and I use the term serious lightly, there are short stories of Simon as a superhero who is much like his actual self...fantastic. along with his faithful robotic butler and sidekick Canterbury. Simon goes on an adventure that includes references to movies such as The Shawshank Redemption and the entire Star Wars trilogy, which ends in a tragic showdown with the villainous mastermind Lord Black. Simply put, Nerd Do Well is a terrific novel which follows the life of Simon Pegg from his time as the little class clown to the blossoming and booming actor that he now is. The book delivers everything that you could ever ask from a story, evoking laughs, groans, tears and often a peek around to make sure no one sees what perverted line your eyes have just read and re-read. Although I wouldn't advise this book to anyone looking for a light read, I would definitely advise anyone who considers themselves a film buff or in an ideal situation, someone who is a fan of redheaded, cheeky, and otherwise brilliant actors, this book should be added to your reading list. oh, and Mr. Pegg?....hi....just wanted to say hello. Have a great day.

[rené lauren · Rating 1 out of 5]

I understand that Pegg didn't wish to divulge every nitty gritty detail about his life. I respect that since there are elements to every life that are not for all eyes. However, this book was so lacking in information that I feel cheated. I understand that sci-fi and horror had a great impact on his life and, ultimately, the star he is today, but I wanted to learn about Simon Pegg, not about Star Wars or all the other movies and TV shows he discussed.

The biggest frustration was the lack of clarity and direction in his format. He described events out of order, which I understand is often useful to make a larger point or to see the bigger picture, but this was ridiculous. It was incoherent at times because it was like he was just writing what came to mind instead of following some kind of outline of his life.

At the end he wrote that this memoir had become far more personal than he intended. If this is personal, then it makes me think that maybe there isn't much to say, which leads me to think he shouldn't have accepted the offer to write a memoir in the first place.

Sadly, I do not recommend this book.

[Gabrielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simon Pegg is an excellent storyteller: funny, engaging and very good at finding the perfect turn of phrase.

His life story from young to adult nerd (who gets to make a living from said nerd quality) is fascinating in that, in and of itself, it's not out of the ordinary. Like many of us, he fell in love with popular culture at a young age. What is interesting to see is how, through various actions of fate and personal choices on his part and on the part of others, he managed to slowly but surely make his way in this world he's always loved so much.

There is a genuine love for culture in this book and that is what resonates the most with me. I also very much enjoyed his musings on fate, on how much of our future depends on choices we make without knowing their outcome, on the people we meet and don't meet and how we are somehow drawn to people who share our idiosyncrasies. It's a very interesting outlook on life.

[Jess Michaels · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. This geek girl's heart is happy.

[Dr. Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Half autobiography, half hilarious spy-intrigue fantasy, this was very different from the other non-fiction I've read. Overall, it has a similar tone to other memoirs I've read by Anna Kendrick or Jim Gaffigan. But the nerdy self fanfic part made this stand out!

I didn't recognize Simon Pegg by name but I asked my cousin about him and I like kind of know who he is now. Anyway, reading his book was fun and full of laughter. Simon reads this himself and had pretty great voices. My only complaint was that he did read a tad fast.

I like hearing about how various memories shaped his life and future acting career. I'll always be fascinated with how people get to where they are. Even if it isn't a crazy action-adventure story, I always find it fascinating.

[Joel · Rating 2 out of 5]

“It was never my intention to write an autobiography. The very notion made me uneasy. You see them congesting the bookshop shelves at Christmas. Rows of needy smiles, sad clowns and serious eyes, proclaiming faux-modest life stories, with titles such as This is Me, or Why, Me? or Me, Me, Me. I didn’t want to do that. It’s not really me.”

So starts Simon Pegg’s autobiography, Nerd Do Well, and despite his best efforts Pegg never really succeeds in writing something exceptional. Pegg’s writing engages, but to the same extent it engages initially, so also it proves forgettable. (Pegg, for the uninitiated, is the star of such cult classics as Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, and some other things.) Since his entrance into comedy in primary school he has written his own material, and the experience pays off. But as a 40-something cult movie star Pegg has little to offer in the wide range. His book is a collection of anecdotes of two varieties: “Who I Know and How I Met Them” and Adolescent Memories. Either are fine, of course, however much I may cringe at his breathless affection for Quentin Tarantino and Kevin Smith.

Most frustrating is perhaps Pegg’s avoidance of a proper timeline. The reader is left to piece together what happened when. One event might appear prior to another event which happened three years after, with only context clues to determine the linear story.

Pegg’s atheism is annoying but not over the top (comparing belief in God to belief in Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny, or referring to Jesus as a “much loved historical crackpot”); his preoccupation with his own sexuality dominates. His drawn-out comparison between the first time he felt a girl’s breasts and the first time he received fellatio may be an illustrative example of the darkening of the conscience, but not one I’ll ever use when catechizing on the Theology of the Body. Pegg’s reticence to reveal personal information (he speaks of his dog much more than his wife or child, and the only photo of his daughter in the [two] photo sections is from behind) seems lopsided when you read so much about his penis but never quite learn how many brothers or sisters he’s got.

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[[ J o ] · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simon Pegg is one of my all-time favourite comedy actors (and writers) after watching Shaun of the Dead a few years ago and marvelling at him starring in Rik Mayall's and Ade Edmondson's Guest House Paradiso. Now, I'm not a big autobiography fan. If it was written by a comedien or someone comic (with the exception of my alarming obsession for anything Cricket related) then there's every chance that it's going to be funny, and that is what the main point should be.

I'm not a nerd or a geek or a dweeb or whatever term they may use to collectively refer to themselves, although I have my moments, and though this book was full of unending references to things of a Star nature amongst other things, this meant that the book was no less enjoyable. In fact, this only heightened my enjoyment of the book since I can hardly tolerate to learn about the life of someone I've never met. Again, making it funny and turning it into a story that is purposefully funny makes them tolerable. Also having a lack of ego and a great sense of taking-the-piss out of oneself is the best way forward.

[ADignorantium · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't wait to enter into the controversy that surrounds this book, all due to someone's comment on the price.
(Check Amazon's reviews. You'll find an amazing amount of bickering over the price of the ebook.)
I purchase the hard cover print version, as opposed to the digital version, because of all the controversy. I'm glad I did, as there are pictures of Simon taken throughout his life. And I don't know if they'd be available in the digital version.

Shortly into the book, you get the idea that this is an entertaining Love Letter from Simon to all his childhood heroes. His self effacing nature only serves to endear him to you. He's the kind of guy you'd want to have a few drinks with at your local watering hole. He's clever and smart. And he treats his readers as equals. By that, I mean he doesn't dumb things down. He assumes that his American audience is now familiar with British sensibilities (by way of PBS's broadcasting of popular BBC programming here in the States)
I like that he tries to keep his films 'British'. For example, Shaun of the Dead forgoes any attempt to seduce American audiences with Hollywood-style tricks. And because of this, Shaun of the Dead is a better, more original movie.
It's a good and fun read for everybody. And if you've seen his films and TV shows, all the better for you.

Even if you've never seen a Simon Pegg's performances, you'll be entertained by this tale of a young boy who grows up to live his dream. Much to his own surprise!

[Narmeen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've loved Simon Pegg ever since I watched Shaun of the Dead back in 2008, re-watched it countless times and then subsequently moved on to his other work like Hot Fuzz. I owe him for ridding me of my Zombie phobia. In fact now, I go seeking some Zombie adventure willingly even if it isn't intended to be comical.

Don't read this book, listen to it. Simon Pegg does a great Simon Pegg impersonation. It's my favorite memoir of the celebrity lot. For someone like me who majored in Film and TV with an inclination towards the film making business, it was fascinating to listen to him find his place in the industry; how he got to meet his idols and make a name for himself. I loved it. I think he is inspiring and HILARIOUS. He makes me laugh like no other. He is also very sweet, extremely sweet- such heartbreaks.

"Me: I love you Simon Pegg
Simon Pegg: I love you too
Me: I know"

(Who knows maybe someday I'll write a book where I'll talk about the time I got to meet you. I know, I know, it won't happen but one can always dream)

You are to me what Princess Leia was to you, except I did not do all that to you as you did to her or rather her picture.

Thanks for the giggles.

[Caitlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like Simon Pegg. He's got nerd cred and has continued to gain and enhance his geek cred. Geeks love Shaun of the Dead because we all know the zombie apocalypse will be here any day now. All this was solidified when he played the young Scotty from the Engineering deck on Star Trek. Scotty is geeky in the best possible ways with his engineering know-how, risk-taking, and awesome accent.

For me, Nerd Do Well was just okay. The science fiction novel Mr. Pegg weaves throughout the memoir is actually embarrassingly earnest and out of place. I skipped through most of it to read the actual biographical bits and pieces and those were better. Pegg tells stories well and is great at riffing on pop culture, but it's also obvious that he's very private and this makes everything feel a bit distant. I like to get to know someone in a memoir. After reading Nerd Do Well I don't really know anything different about Mr. Pegg than I did when I read it. I'm all for privacy, but not sure it makes sense in the context of a memoir.

[Andy · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's approaching the biography time of the year so I checked out a few from the library. I'm a fan of Simon Pegg, I like Spaced and I enjoy most of his performances so was curious to read this. Unfortunately it's not that good.

Pegg makes it quite clear a few times that he didn't really want to write this (even insinuating that his editor may have written it at one point) and he's not that comfortable detailing his private life. He also doesn't want to tell his 'Hollywood secrets' or anecdotes. So, we're left with a lot of so so tales of his uneventful childhood, a brief media studies style breakdown of Star Wars and some of his other favourite films and a few jokes. We also get a fictional, frankly dull and stupid James Bond-lite 'adventure tale' about him and his robot servant. Pure filler - if you are going to read this you can skip these sections without losing anything.

The childhood tales flow on for almost three quarters of the book and frankly are no different to the usual childhood experiences of school, friendships, unrequited love and stupidity. After one particularly dull tale he even ends saying (paraphrasing), I know it's not that interesting but it's my story and I'm being nostalgic.

He's at his best discussing his love of film and his awe at eventually ending up in franchises he loved or being directed by those people who inspired him as a kid is fantastic. You can tell he really loves and lives it.

Ultimately it's a partial biography of a move fan who worked hard and made it, lacking much in the way of depth or emotion and leaving you with the sense it could have been so much better. So, a misfire which is a shame as he comes across as a nice bloke and he really is better than this. I'll stick to his television work I think.

Avoid unless you're a Pegg completist.

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

"You could argue that the comic is the most impatient and neurotic amid the ranks of the insecure. Not only do they require approval, they require it immediately, that evident and tangible assurance, asserted by an unquestionable reflex of confirmation: laughter. 'You love me! YOU LOVE ME!' internalizes the mad clown, whilst looking confident and a tag smug."

Simon Pegg did not want to write this book. He tells us as much in the opening pages. He believes that autobiographies of famous people are narcissistic and unnecessary. But...he wrote it anyway.

To his credit, "Nerd Do Well" mostly works. It has Pegg's trademark humor throughout. His classic wordplay really comes across on the page. There are some interesting stories about how he met his comedic brother, Nick Frost, and the making of "Spaced" and "Shaun of the Dead." But he inexplicably leaves out any stories about "Hot Fuzz" or "Star Trek."

Rather, Pegg focuses primarily on random stories of his youth and early 20's. He wants to convey the training that go him to were he is but didn't want to discuss what he's been doing for the past 10 years. In fairness, Pegg makes it clear that he's a very private person. He didn't want to discuss his wife or daughter. He feels more comfortable telling us about an uncomfortable sexual exploit from the 80's.

I get that not everyone is an open book but then, you don't have to write the book. Private can't become public if you don't write about it. I think Pegg is hilarious and would have been better off writing something like some of the early works of Woody Allen. Funny, short stories. Personal because they're from him, not because they're about his life.

[Sean Kennedy · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5 / 5)

Simon Pegg is one very talented and funny guy. I felt I could relate to a lot of this book as we're roughly the same age, grew up with the same nerdy interests and seem to view movies as more real than actual reality. This book, however, is a bit of a hodge podge.

Ultimately it remains enjoyable, but there are two things that let it down: the time jumping which makes it hard to figure out the timeline in your head and how it relates to other stories Pegg has been telling, and the fact that throughout the book there is a science-fiction 'novel' that relates to events in Pegg's life and the joke begins wearing flat - quite honestly, I started skimming those chapters in order to get back to Pegg's affable and much more engaging 'real' voice.

Those who are after showbiz gossip will probably be disappointed. This is the story of a nerd, and how he used his love and passion of all things dorky to become the star he is today.

[Farren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this audiobook narrated by Simon Pegg himself and it was very funny. I don't know if I can say it was very informative, since a lot of it was about how handsome he is and his robot butler.. but I really enjoyed it. I did learn some things about him that were cool since I'm a huge fan, all while having a good laugh. My brother even asked if he could borrow it after he heard some of it, and he's one of those "What's a book?!" kind of people.

[TS Chan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A memoir about Simon Pegg, written by Simon Pegg, and narrated by Simon Pegg. Naturally, it had me giggling, snorting, chuckling, laughing out loud, etc. Why do they have to make this an abridged audiobook? I want more!!!

[Andrea Cox · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was looking forward to reading this book ever since I heard about it a couple of years ago, because I really enjoyed Mr. Pegg’s performances in the newest Star Trek movie series as well as the Mission: Impossible movie series. I should have stuck to those sources of entertainment, and I shall from now on.

This book was utterly disappointing. It was filled with sexual content (including crudity and perversion) and bad language (excessive).

The saddest part, though, the portion that made my heart ache the most, was when Mr. Pegg inferred he no longer believes in God, that he believes only children do such a thing. Faith in God might be “childlike,” but Jesus did say in Matthew 18:3 that “unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” Childlike faith is exactly what believing in God is all about.

Content: profanity (excessive, English; a few in French), expletives (excessive), crude sexual terms and situations (graphic and excessive), sexual innuendo (excessive), sexual perversion (excessive), derogatory terms, mislabeled “right-wing” comment, graphic violence, psychic activity mentioned, alcohol, tobacco, drugs

[Nick Davies · Rating 3 out of 5]

I quite like Simon Pegg, or rather, I quite like a lot of the stuff he's created and/or been in (and am predisposed to like him because of that). This autobiography hasn't changed my opinion, though it is far from perfect and on reflection didn't necessarily provide a massive amount of insight or quite as much comedic enjoyment as I (perhaps unfairly) expected.

Pegg does set his stall out early on, to his credit, that he's not particularly comfortable talking about himself and his personal life - and that he'd rather write fiction than autobiography. This probably explains the fact the memoir aspects of this book do at times feel a little shallow, the parts where he talks about his passions in cinema feel a little indulgent, and the chunks where the book is just a silly comic book style sci/spy fi was soon best skipped.

I enjoyed (as is often the case with these books) the sections about growing up in 70s/80s Britain more than the more name-droppy latter chapters about adult success, for all that I don't begrudge Pegg these aspects. It was pretty entertaining (fictional interludes excepted) and there was some of the parts about cinematography and sociology that I found genuinely interesting. However, I felt it lacked some of the depth of some other comedian autobiographies I have read.

[Jenna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I remember borrowing this from the library when it was first published almost 15 years ago. I recall abandoning it fairly early and I should have trusted my instincts the second time round. It was just as boring and even more disappointing that I'm a bigger fan of the actor now. Simon Pegg is a phenomenal actor and I've always had a soft spot for the Scottish. I liked him in the Cornetto trilogy, Star Trek, and his influence on The Boys comic series. I mean Hughie is literally based on his physical countenance! Nerd Do Well mostly focused on his upbringing and his private life. I'll be honest: I never seek out celebrity tell-alls hoping to hear about their childhood, unless it's particularly juicy. Drew Barrymore, I'm looking at you. Unfortunately, Nerd Do Well barely highlighted his professional credits. We got scant glimpses into Shawn of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. There were mere glimpses of his time on the USS Enterprises. There was nary a peep of Wee Hughie and his revenge against the Vought Corporation. At least Nick Frost got a shoutout and his spectacular friendship with Simon that spans decades. I wanted way more and should have left it on the bookshelf. It was only a quarter at the book sale and I don't count it as a major loss. You win some, you lose some!

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

This biography feels very disunited. It is clear (he states so several times) that Simon did not know who to write this book for and it clearly shows. The reader is thrown between interesting parts about Simons childhood, cool nerd-reflections and less catching parts about his movie-career. There are glimpses of his fantastic humor when he writes about his alterego but the thrill is lost when he throws in details about his childhood dreams about women...

[Finn the Human · Rating 5 out of 5]

"And what does 'exacerbate' mean anyway?"