Walking in on Mum and Dad: Adventures in Embarrassment

by Brian King

Shortly before Charles de Gaulle's retirement, his wife was asked by Harold Macmillan's wife Dorothy what she most looked forward to in the coming years. 'A penis', she declared. Coming to his wife's rescue, the former president 'My dear, I think the English pronounce it "'appiness ..."'. "Walking in on Mum and Dad" relives many sorry tales of embarrassment, from author Bill Bryson snoring and dribbling in public to actor Patrick Stewart caught watching re-runs of Star Trek. There are tales of sex and seduction, of indecent exposure, of ill-advised emails, of own-goals and of infidelity revealed - by a parrot. Brian King searches for the antidote to embarrassment in science and psychology and by looking at his own experiences, as well as hundreds of mortifying misadventures suffered by others.

192 pages, Paperback

First published April 30, 2004

Reviews

[Peter Geyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

For some reason, my copy of this book starts at page 25, possibly a reason why it cost me a handful of dollars. The absence of the opening pages doesn't really detract from my reason for reading it, though as I wanted something that was a breezy read with the occasional astute comment and this is what I got.

Embarrassment is an interesting topic, actually and there were a few laughs and reflections on personal experience. Kihg also has a few comments to make that are worthwhile and also puts himself in the mix with some recollections. He apparently has a number of texts out there, and I'd consider buying them at the right ptice, for the same purpose.

[Lisa Wosik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny book