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My Turn
This is a rags to riches saga of the man Charlie Chaplin said would take his mantle and who went on to make millions laugh around the world for over five decades.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2002
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102 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
April 1, 2023
Abandoned as a child by his mother, to be left with an uncaring very violent father, then a genuine homeless street urchin, errand boy, cabin boy (!), in the army, a boxer, a singer, a performing comedian, a film and TV star, a father and husband, an OBE and a knighthood, and not too mention one of the most popular people in Albania! ..the weird, sad, enlightening, funny, coincidence-ridden memoirs of Sir Norma Wisdom OBE. Great read. This was the age when 'celebrities' worked really hard to become such. 7 out of 12, Three Star read :)
2012 read
2012 read
August 27, 2013
I read this book in one day, being only 224 pages long. Funny story actually, I'm currently reading the fourth Game of Thrones book "A Feast of Crows", but I do enjoy a good non-fiction. After visiting a friend that had been away for six months working on the cruise ships I got a taxi home. We got talking about books, as you so often do... and he recommended this book to me once I told him of my previous reads. Now, for someone who had never heard of Norman Wisdom before that date, it was pretty lucky that I actually really liked it! A superb read and a real eye opener. Five stars all the way!
Norman was born just before World War One. I was shocked to hear some of his childhood stories. A broken home, having to stealing from the fruit market for food or starve, trying to get small jobs here and there to get by while his father is either working or drunk. I was quite shocked to hear how far he actually walked just to try something new with a friend! 100 odd miles.
I really sympathised with Norman from the first in this book, his life started to hard and had such a bleak outlook. However, after entering the army his life took a real turn for the better and I think it did him the world of good! He found his talent not only for music but for comedy too!
This book includes how he rose to fame, not only in England, but across the globe. It really makes you think; it doesn't matter where or how you were born, you can rise high so long as you believe in yourself.
After reading this book I went straight onto YouTube to search for some videos, any videos of Norman Wisdom. This great man who had snuck into the hearts of so many people. I have to say, I wasn't disappointed. I loved it!
This is such a great read, I found it personal, funny, and touching all at the same time. If ever there were a story of success - this is it!
If you would like to read more of my reviews, please visit: http://a-novel-start.blogspot.com
Norman was born just before World War One. I was shocked to hear some of his childhood stories. A broken home, having to stealing from the fruit market for food or starve, trying to get small jobs here and there to get by while his father is either working or drunk. I was quite shocked to hear how far he actually walked just to try something new with a friend! 100 odd miles.
I really sympathised with Norman from the first in this book, his life started to hard and had such a bleak outlook. However, after entering the army his life took a real turn for the better and I think it did him the world of good! He found his talent not only for music but for comedy too!
This book includes how he rose to fame, not only in England, but across the globe. It really makes you think; it doesn't matter where or how you were born, you can rise high so long as you believe in yourself.
After reading this book I went straight onto YouTube to search for some videos, any videos of Norman Wisdom. This great man who had snuck into the hearts of so many people. I have to say, I wasn't disappointed. I loved it!
This is such a great read, I found it personal, funny, and touching all at the same time. If ever there were a story of success - this is it!
If you would like to read more of my reviews, please visit: http://a-novel-start.blogspot.com
February 7, 2015
A very interesting read from Norman's earliest memories of life at home, then living rough, joining the merchant navy then the army (twice) before embarking on his long showbiz career. I really enjoyed this book and was prompted to read it after seeing a TV program about him recently.
It's sad the way he ended his years abandonded by his family in a care home after all he had already been through.
It's sad the way he ended his years abandonded by his family in a care home after all he had already been through.
July 28, 2011
Wonderful story of a British Gentleman, that makes me proud to be British. I actually read this a few years ago now, and I was so proud of this man, his humour, his commitment to his work and yet at the same time his family, that I wrote to him tell him so, and he returned with a signed photograph for me. Ill treasure it always.
November 25, 2012
I loved Wisdoms films but not so much this book. Very funny and amazing at the beginning I got fed up when all he did was moan about the way people are today yet had said what a scamp he was in his past. Quite 2 faced
October 13, 2012
Seeing I can't stand his humour I was amazed with this book. It is so insightful of why he is like he is and why he does what he does. His life was hard indeed.
August 11, 2019
I have to say that until reading this book I had no interest whatsoever in Norman Wisdom. I used to see his films regularly on television as a child but I have to say, I have never found him funny and his slapstick gormless antics have always left me unmoved.
Liz picked this book up for me at a church charity sale and I had a quick look at it one day relaxing in the garden. It sounded pretty interesting and I do love showbiz life stories so I popped it into my holiday book bag and finished it off on holiday.
Norman tells us the story of his early life in which his parents were clearly not happy together. His father was violent and eventually his mother left and divorced her husband. This being the 1930s when divorce was not so prevalent as in the present day she was unable to take her children with her and they were sadly neglected by their father.
He left them alone for long periods and their education and welfare suffered. At one point Norman remembered going to school in bare feet, something not so uncommon he says at the time. His father put Norman and his brother in various foster homes and at one point they even found themselves living on the streets. Norman himself was saved by the army. He joined as a child as a band boy and credits the army and the army way of life as the making of him. After leaving the army he finds his father has remarried and goes to see him hoping to be taken in. He knocks on the door and a lady answers. Norman tells her who he is and she asks him to wait.
Later his father returns and without a thought for his son and his situation, throws him out. He is never mentioned again. It’s amazing that someone who has suffered so much in this way should go on to a career of making people laugh. I did wonder whether Norman living in a lovely home in the Isle of Man, surrounded by a collection of exclusive motor cars, ever once thought about his father, who incidentally was a chauffeur.
Later he is reunited with his mother and brother and he is supported by his mum and her new husband as he makes his way into the world of comedy.
The first part of the book is truly sad and at the same time refreshing to see how Norman copes with all this and yet still goes on to fame and fortune. The later part of the book is not so interesting more of a list of his numerous successes but one anecdote was rather funny.
Norman gets invited to Spain for a film festival where apparently his films are very popular. His visual comedy transcending the language barriers. At the festival he is the star attraction and due to go on last but Hollywood star James Mason thinks he should go on last as he is the bigger star. Norman agrees and goes on before Mason. He then wows his audience with a short speech in Spanish, leaves to a standing ovation and poor James Mason walks on to only a trickle of applause!
Liz picked this book up for me at a church charity sale and I had a quick look at it one day relaxing in the garden. It sounded pretty interesting and I do love showbiz life stories so I popped it into my holiday book bag and finished it off on holiday.
Norman tells us the story of his early life in which his parents were clearly not happy together. His father was violent and eventually his mother left and divorced her husband. This being the 1930s when divorce was not so prevalent as in the present day she was unable to take her children with her and they were sadly neglected by their father.
He left them alone for long periods and their education and welfare suffered. At one point Norman remembered going to school in bare feet, something not so uncommon he says at the time. His father put Norman and his brother in various foster homes and at one point they even found themselves living on the streets. Norman himself was saved by the army. He joined as a child as a band boy and credits the army and the army way of life as the making of him. After leaving the army he finds his father has remarried and goes to see him hoping to be taken in. He knocks on the door and a lady answers. Norman tells her who he is and she asks him to wait.
Later his father returns and without a thought for his son and his situation, throws him out. He is never mentioned again. It’s amazing that someone who has suffered so much in this way should go on to a career of making people laugh. I did wonder whether Norman living in a lovely home in the Isle of Man, surrounded by a collection of exclusive motor cars, ever once thought about his father, who incidentally was a chauffeur.
Later he is reunited with his mother and brother and he is supported by his mum and her new husband as he makes his way into the world of comedy.
The first part of the book is truly sad and at the same time refreshing to see how Norman copes with all this and yet still goes on to fame and fortune. The later part of the book is not so interesting more of a list of his numerous successes but one anecdote was rather funny.
Norman gets invited to Spain for a film festival where apparently his films are very popular. His visual comedy transcending the language barriers. At the festival he is the star attraction and due to go on last but Hollywood star James Mason thinks he should go on last as he is the bigger star. Norman agrees and goes on before Mason. He then wows his audience with a short speech in Spanish, leaves to a standing ovation and poor James Mason walks on to only a trickle of applause!
April 19, 2018
The first 120 pages are a remarkable rags to riches story and would be enjoyable for anyone, regardless of whether you were a fan of Norman or not. His upbringing and young life were horrible and filled with violence and poverty. Nevertheless Norman persisted and you cannot help but feel happy for him when he achieves fame.
The latter half of the book is inevitably less interesting and is often repetitive as it describes Norman's gradual rise through the world of comedy - from warm up comedian in variety evenings to worldwide film star.
As I said, because of Norman's harsh upbringing, it is easy to side with him as a reader when things become good. Another endearing thing about the memoirs is that - unlike many modern autobiographies - there is no criticism of other famous people that he has encountered. He is ready to acknowledge other people's talents and abilities and this means that he maintains the image of just a really nice, humble little man who did exceptionally well in life.
The latter half of the book is inevitably less interesting and is often repetitive as it describes Norman's gradual rise through the world of comedy - from warm up comedian in variety evenings to worldwide film star.
As I said, because of Norman's harsh upbringing, it is easy to side with him as a reader when things become good. Another endearing thing about the memoirs is that - unlike many modern autobiographies - there is no criticism of other famous people that he has encountered. He is ready to acknowledge other people's talents and abilities and this means that he maintains the image of just a really nice, humble little man who did exceptionally well in life.
January 24, 2024
This is a very entertaining, funny, heartbreaking life story written by a very talented man. Everything he put his hand to he did well. Music, acting and comedy. He started in the gutter and turned his life completely around. An awesome read.
March 14, 2021
Comedy Legend!
August 2, 2023
What a brilliant book! I was genuinely laughing, smiling and sometimes reading through a lump in my throat. Norman is as funny on paper as he is/ was on film
October 12, 2025
what a long, wonderful life Norman had
January 19, 2018
For someone with such poor and difficult beginnings, Norman Wisdom had a high opinion of himself, and this autobiography is filled with his successes, how he triumphed if only he was allowed to do things his way, how he got the better of other performers with big egos, etc. I don't suppose that Norman Wisdom was exceptionally swollen-headed. I imagine all performers must have an inflated self-image, otherwise they wouldn't be able to do what they do. But throughout, his spirit shines through and reveals a genuinely nice chap enjoying his successes, despite his start in life. Norman Wisdom was a favourite of my parents and my childhood, and this book stirred memories of many performers whose names I'd forgotten. It was a surprisingly good read.
March 10, 2016
If there is a textbook definition of the hackneyed, well-worn phrase "rags-to-riches" then this memoir is it.
Wisdom started from the absolute bottom, a street urchin with a loving mother and an abusive father. From this unpromising position Norman worked and cajoled his way to the very top. Yes, there is some luck involved but if anything shines through it is his irrepressible nature and his no-nonsense approach to hard graft.
It is easy to forget how phenomenally popular he was in his 50s-60s heyday. He was brushing shoulders with much more fondly recalled Hollywood stars like Laurel & Hardy, Bob Hope and Marilyn Munroe as well as British stars like Bruce Forsyth, Gracie Fields and Vera Lynn. He was a huge star of stage (touring the British Isles constantly and also on Broadway) and screen both small (with shows like Saturday Night at The Palladium) and of course in dozens of movies.
I am a fan of Wisdom (although I am the first to admit that some of his movies do not hold up well today. Compare the simple charms of One Good Turn with the idiotic Man of the Moment) and I thoroughly enjoyed this incredible tale.
As with all memoirs there is the nagging doubt as one reads. The doubt of truth, I guess. The whole point of these books is to leave your warm memory of the subject enhanced and this one is no different. I have no reason to doubt these tales but there is nothing in here that shows Wisdom in a bad light at all. Except perhaps, his touring of apartheid-era South Africa.
It would be nice to have some shade to contrast the light but that does not detract from what is a wonderful, inspiring read. My children both harbour hopes of a career on stage and I have urged them to read this, containing as it does, much good advice for aspiring entertainers.
The real interest does lie in the first half of the book, detailing Norm's deprived childhood and his careers in the merchant navy and the army. His incredible role in the war is a revelation (I won't spoil it but I will say Churchill is involved...).
If you are a fan it will leave you wishing he was still around, if you were not a fan you will still be taken aback by just how much he achieved in his life after such an inauspicious start. Recommended.
Wisdom started from the absolute bottom, a street urchin with a loving mother and an abusive father. From this unpromising position Norman worked and cajoled his way to the very top. Yes, there is some luck involved but if anything shines through it is his irrepressible nature and his no-nonsense approach to hard graft.
It is easy to forget how phenomenally popular he was in his 50s-60s heyday. He was brushing shoulders with much more fondly recalled Hollywood stars like Laurel & Hardy, Bob Hope and Marilyn Munroe as well as British stars like Bruce Forsyth, Gracie Fields and Vera Lynn. He was a huge star of stage (touring the British Isles constantly and also on Broadway) and screen both small (with shows like Saturday Night at The Palladium) and of course in dozens of movies.
I am a fan of Wisdom (although I am the first to admit that some of his movies do not hold up well today. Compare the simple charms of One Good Turn with the idiotic Man of the Moment) and I thoroughly enjoyed this incredible tale.
As with all memoirs there is the nagging doubt as one reads. The doubt of truth, I guess. The whole point of these books is to leave your warm memory of the subject enhanced and this one is no different. I have no reason to doubt these tales but there is nothing in here that shows Wisdom in a bad light at all. Except perhaps, his touring of apartheid-era South Africa.
It would be nice to have some shade to contrast the light but that does not detract from what is a wonderful, inspiring read. My children both harbour hopes of a career on stage and I have urged them to read this, containing as it does, much good advice for aspiring entertainers.
The real interest does lie in the first half of the book, detailing Norm's deprived childhood and his careers in the merchant navy and the army. His incredible role in the war is a revelation (I won't spoil it but I will say Churchill is involved...).
If you are a fan it will leave you wishing he was still around, if you were not a fan you will still be taken aback by just how much he achieved in his life after such an inauspicious start. Recommended.
Currently reading
May 23, 2011I can't believe how long we have had this book and not got round to reading it, embarrassingly it's four years almost to the day since I first picked it up. I say 'we', as Mr Jazz is just as guilty, and has promised to make it the next book he reads. He's away this week, so I've got a few days to get it read and keep ahead of the game...!
This is a BookCrossing book, if you would like to have it next just let me know:
www.bookcrossing.com/journal/5037377
This is a BookCrossing book, if you would like to have it next just let me know:
www.bookcrossing.com/journal/5037377
September 28, 2014
I grew up watching Norman Wisdom films and after watching a television program of his life decided I wanted to read more about his life story. The book is full of the usual name dropping anecdotes but it also tells the story of a troubled life and an unbelievable desire to succeed. A quick read that I read in one sitting and found it to be fascinating.
May 14, 2015
I grew up watching my mum laugh at norman, and have carried on that tradition. for such a funny man he had a hard life, I suppose it's in the comic genes.
but I read this through, and had to force my self to pace so I could lengthen the enjoyment.
brilliant book.
brilliant man.
but I read this through, and had to force my self to pace so I could lengthen the enjoyment.
brilliant book.
brilliant man.
February 21, 2010
really enjoyed this book
July 29, 2011
this is a rag to riches story by the best and most love british comedian ever, it fantastic and well worth the a read
January 17, 2012
I'm biased because I always liked Norman Wisdom.
August 5, 2012
Makes you laugh,makes you cry!..a very good read from the king of comedy!...a book I found hard to put down.
January 29, 2013
This made me laugh and cry love this guy since I was a kid so to read about his life was wonderful
August 27, 2013
Always loved his movies, not so much the book.
October 29, 2015
I really enjoyed this book, a great comedian that still makes everyone laugh, every time they show his work on TV.
August 15, 2016
Such a great story , He had some hardships but he definitely came through them.
June 17, 2024
Really interesting read. Norman faced so much hardship as a youngster but overcame it all to become a star
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews