One Sinha Lifetime: Comedy, disaster and one man’s quest for happiness

by Paul Sinha

'That night, I'd survived my life flashing before me, with my dignity intact.Yes, this chaotic life has always been a gamble....But what a gamble .'Paul Sinha is an award-winning comedian, a quizzing mastermind and a happily-married husband. But it hasn't always been this way.As a boy, Paul struggled to find his place in a world where he didn't quite fit. Who was he? A smart young man with the world's knowledge at his fingertips? A traditional Bengali son, destined for a career in medicine that he didn't want? A gay man who couldn't quite come out? A man on a self-destruct mission?Amid life's chaos, it was general knowledge - the security of clear questions with correct, if not always simple, answers - that kept Paul sane, even as he struggled into a new life as a stand-up comedian. And it was an unexpected introduction to a pub quiz team that took things even further, introducing him to a new life, a new identity, and, eventually, new love...A hilarious and moving coming-of-age memoir of one man's search for meaning, One Sinha Lifetime is an unforgettable story of love, family, and the joy of general knowledge.

Genres: Nonfiction, Comedy, Biography, Memoir

342 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 20, 2024

Reviews

[Simon J Alvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hymn to chance, love, opportunity and family that breezes through a life of different opportunities and interests in a very entertaining way, that makes this an exceptionally easy and enjoyable read. But let's be honest the reason I blasted through this is that it is probably the only book that will feature my primary hobby so heavily and feature walk on parts from so many people I've quizzed with and against. It is a celebration of this odd hobby that is so important to me and for that in particular, I loved it.

[Rachel Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

!!! New Zealand mentioned!!!! 🇳🇿🇳🇿🇳🇿🇳🇿🇳🇿 no fr we love The Chase tho and I love that Paul’s humour on the show also translates to this memoir. Hilarious but also humble and poignant at times, great read

[Coral · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely read

[Amy Fall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully warm and funny with tantalising cultural references that make you feel more connected to the worlds that he loves.

[Josh Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paul Sinha talks about his life in such an entertaining way. He goes over the pressure he felt from his successful Bengali parents. Paul covers all of his pursuits in medical, comedic, and quizzing fields. He also discusses how he has navigated life as a gay man. Additionally, he talks about battling his health issues.

The way he covers everything with all his highs and lows was amazing. At points it was heartfelt and at others it was hilarious.

A beautiful memoir you should definitely experience.

📝Favourite Quote📝
“Yes, this life has always been a gamble… but what a gamble”

[Ms D Daniels · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honest and touching

A heartfelt journey and insight into Paul's life, his inner struggles and his strength of character in facing personal challenges

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like Sinha and attending one of his gigs was essentially the last thing I did prior to covid. However I have found many comedians' books disappointing so I was pleasantly surprised that I really enjoyed this one, which was essentially a standard autobiography rather than being tied to any particular theme, although his health was touched on throughout.

Owing to his later fame from The Chase, his professional life had three stages of doctor, club comic and minor quiz celebrity, and each perspective offered insights as well as sources of comedy. The humour was added deftly and often in quite a dry style, which appealed to me anyway but didn't get in the way of telling his life story with hackneyed setups. Even allowing for poetic license his method for staying in medical school was dispiriting, but mercifully the word count devoted to his childhood was quite low, so this was generally about his life as an adult.

The book was paced well and didn't dwell too long on particular incidents, and nor did events provide a topic for a soapbox. This was just a funny account of a minor celebrity who became well-known relatively late compared to most, apparently very well-known in New Zealand. I would never have guessed he was on the pilot of A League of Their Own and I was unaware of how much of a drawer the Chasers are for tabloid stories. His withering comments about CJ De Mooi were satisfying to read, especially when claiming to have read an autobiography of the Rosetta Stone, but Sinha also had a lot of positive words for quizzing rivals or comedians' talent.

With Chasers such a content generator for the red tops it is a shame that so few people appear to have read this based on Goodreads numbers - they are missing out. Perhaps Sinha would have been financially better off writing for a reading age of 9, but I'm glad he didn't as this was interesting, illuminating and funny at different points.

[Denis Dwyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A scintillating autobiography. Paul Sinha holds little back, it seems, revealing his roller coaster of emotions navigating his public-school days, a career in medicine, his gayness, his relationship with his parents, and his forays into being a stand-up comedian and a quizzer. The chronological approach, short, snappy paragraphs, much dialogue, and straightforward language make it an easy, relaxed read. It is a book you could sweep through in a long sitting or pick up and put down, pondering the dilemmas he faced throughout his life and how he did or didn't deal with them. His varied experiences make one think what a rich store of material he has to draw on when he takes to the stage. I would have liked to read more about the medical segment of his life, but I did enjoy everything he included.

[Bedbyas Datta · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quizzer who didn't make me shake in my skin. What a person! What a life! I feel better about myself after having reading this even if I am nowhere the quizzer and worker that Sinha is. But as the book makes it clear it doesn't matter. You can relate to anyone through quizzing. And it's a prism through which I appreciated the adage that appears in the book, that of real life mattering more than quizzing. I may not quiz much in the near future but I will keep reading what other quizzers write. That is not something I will shirk from. I am looking forward to Amy Schneider's book along with the handful of books Ken Jennings has written. Writings make sense in a way that quizzing performances don't.

[Herms Townsley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this audiobook and it was perfectly nice, but not something that will stay with me. I enjoyed hearing about how Paul became a comedian and the internal struggle he faced in deciding whether to follow his dreams or bow to the expectations of his family and persist in medicine. I found it hard to connect with much emotion in the latter stages of the book, and would have appreciated a deeper dive into his feelings regarding a toxic relationship and breakup, and his diagnosis of Parkinson's. Of course, he doesn't owe anyone his innermost thoughts on these topics, but it was hard to feel deeply invested when the book remained superficial - and as a very nosy person, my favourite memoirs are the ones that hold nothing back.

[Tom Frost · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't know much about Paul Sinha despite seeing him on The Chase and Taskmaster, until I started following him on BlueSky. I soon learnt there was a lot more to him than I realised and tve waited impatiently for his book to come out in paperback for quite some time.
it's an excellent read. clever and entertaining but also sad and uplifting. Never have I read about someone who in many senses is nothing like me and so often thought he is just like me!
Often I like people less after reading their autobiography but not in this instance. Paul is such an obviously top bloke and the way he acknowledges his shortcomings without celebrating them is refreshingly different.
Lastly, what a great title!!

[Martyn Croft · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite its title, this book seems to make no reference to, or acknowledgement of, Talking Heads (or Eno). It is mostly just Paul Sinha banging on about his life. There are no pictures. He does mention a venue where I once won a pub quiz, which was nice (the reference and the memory). At 341 pages long, it is better value (ppp - price per page) than The Old Man and The Sea, and took me less time to read, so I've given it 5 stars. I hope there are pictures in the sequel.

[Sethi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing read. Paul Sinha has been very open about his past career choices, background and present condition so none of it should have surprised or moved me the way it did.

I’m Asian and live in Croydon I like quiz shows and sport. I think that’s where our similarities end, yet this book really spoke to me about my own experiences, my misplaced emotions, my career choice and worries about health and that of my family.

I think Paul should write more books as he has such a marvellous way with words.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a New Zealander, Paul Sinha ( a chaser on "The Chase" BBC TV Programme) feels like a family friend because he has been in my living room so often.
This book is humbly written and outlines his journey including the struggles. He is a clear and engaging writer and I enjoyed this book.
I would recommend it to other "The Chase" watchers.

[Paul Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well I’m not sure how to actually review this book. It details the life of the Chaser and Quizzer Paul Sinha. At times he funny, other sel-deprecating and others a little bit over the top. But overall a good read into his “coming - out” which seems to take forever, his humour which times is slightly belittleling, his quizzing abilities and finally his Parkinson disease.

[Chris Best · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always loved comedy. I've always loved quiz. And when I first saw him at XS Malarkey in Manchester in the mid 2000’s I loved Paul Sinha, his stand up and his turn of phrase. So obviously I loved this

[Laura Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great behind the scenes on comedy, quizzing & queerness. Such an interesting life and written very matter of factly which meant I was kept hooked and found myself laughing and choked up all in the same chapter.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one's for fans of TV Quiz show "The Chase" - Sinha is of course The Sinnerman, one of the Chasers on this programme. His biography tells how he started out in Stand-Up Comedy. Full of humour, disaster, and his quest for happiness.

[Ravin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Underated 5 Star Comedian - his Perfect Pub Quiz and History Revision podcasts are hilarious and very informative. The book is witty but not as humorous as his stand up and podcasts, but an easy read which has its laughs. 3.5 stars

[Alice Mc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened on audible, very funny and enjoyable. He has had a very interesting life - it covers comedy, quizzing, relationships and illness.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting read. Although paul comes across as smiley on the chase, like a lot of people he has suffered heartache personally and hides it well

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book from start to finish. I've long admired Paul as a quizzer and he's not disappointed

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found Paul Sinha's story interesting. I'm a fan of the Chase and think this was a very honest read. So sorry for his diagnosis, he had so much more to give but admire his attutude.

[Christine Parkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book capturing the life of Paul Sinha. Detailing his childhood, his work in the comedy circuit and TV, his sexuality and his health. Really enjoyed this book, narrated by Paul.

[Lesleyts · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely book with some hilarious moments. Read it by the pool on holiday and had to stifle my giggles several times. Really enjoyed it