John Bishop: How Did All This Happen?

by John Bishop

If you’re a man of a certain age you’ll know there comes a point in life when getting a sports car and over-analysing your contribution to society sounds like a really good idea.

With a good job in sales and marketing and a nice house in Manchester that he shared with his wife and kids, John Bishop was no different when he turned the dreaded 4-0. But instead of spanking a load of cash on a car that would have made him look like a senior stylist at Vidal Sassoon, he stumbled onto a pathway that ultimately lead him to become one of the nation’s best loved comedians. It was a gamble, but boy, did it pay off.

How Did All This Happen? is the story of how a boy who, growing up on a council estate dreaming of ousting Kenny Dalglish from Liverpool FC’s starting line-up, suddenly found himself on stage in front of thousands of people nationwide, at an age when he should have known better.

In his own inimitable style, John guides us through his life from leaving the estate and travelling the globe on a shoe string, to marriage, kids and the split that led him to being on a stage complaining to strangers one night – the night that changed his life and started his journey to stardom.

Wonderfully entertaining and packed with colourful reminiscences and comical anecdotes, this is a heart-warming, life-affirming and ultimately very, very funny memoir from one of the nation’s greatest comedians.

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

352 pages, Hardcover

First published October 10, 2013

Reviews

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh John Bishop.

I wasn't expecting much from this book, and chipping away through the first chapters I thought the jump between past and present life was too jarring which was putting me off. But then John Bishop went on a few adventures that I didn't expect (mostly because I've never seen a full show of his) and all of a sudden the way he wrote his story didn't really matter (but it kind of did). This guy cycled from Australia back home to England this one time, and another time he did a cycling/rowing/running challenge from France to England, and you know, just kinda pursued his dreams when he found himself in a rut staring at a bottle of wine on Monday evenings.

I was pleasantly surprised by what Bishop's achieved, and the way he's battled through problems in life. I maybe had some tears reading through the end of the book, so I guess this one was a reminder to go out there and take a chance (because if you never do you'll always wonder why), and live your best life.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant bought back so many memories of growing up as a latch key kid

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honest, and he comes across as a really nice guy.

[Jules · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a great autobiography and I enjoyed the reading on many levels.

I’ve always enjoyed books with a comedy theme as I nearly made my own trade in this area during my student days in London. Although I persevered, I ultimately found that comedy is one of the hardest professions out there and I didn’t really have the tenacity or the talent to pull it off in this tough and quite masculine environment. It’s interesting at least for me then that Bishop’s career almost happened haphazardly and, without giving away the spoiler, his entry into the comedy world was completely random and fluke-like. I can’t imagine that many comedians enter the profession like this but what an interesting tale and journey all the same!

There does, for me, seem a great devotion to honesty during Bishop’s storytelling and by the end of the book and his covering many themes on background, family, a Scouse identity that is really important to him, dedication to sport (and subsequent charity efforts) and sheer hard work, it doesn’t seem a surprise that he’s made it to the status he has in the UK now. Going back to that issue of tenacity, I can’t think of many successful comedians who have worked so hard. He clearly sets high standards and is only satisfied with a high level of success.

Reading-wise, I was less happy with the first third or so of the book as I found the pace plodded a little. It picked up however with Bishop’s entry to the comedy world and his ultimate decision to take his interest further. The writing is like listening to one of Bishop’s monologues where there is loads of embellished and elaborate storytelling interspersed with pinches of observation, direct sarcasm and many a legendary put-down and story closure. I found myself having a good old chuckle in quite a few spots thanks to his very unique and often subtle 'just below the surface' brand of humour.

Whilst not on the level of War and Peace (and hey, why should it be?), this book provided some perfect summer reading for me at a time when I am between more serious books. Personally, I was in need of a lighter read and a bit of entertainment and this book proved just the job here. I was impressed with Bishop’s stories but, moreover, found myself really impressed with his grit, determination, intelligence and a humanity that isn’t always apparent in the comedy world.

I would recommend this hearty book to any comedy or autobiography fan. It’s perfect summer or beach reading too.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't follow any comedians on the TV or their live shows, but I wanted to read about John Bishop from the 'human' point of view. I wasn't disappointed. I haven't seen John perform either but the story of his life from birth to the present was a laugh out loud (although I do wonder if some of the tales are actually true) great read.

The lad from Liverpool worked hard through his life,raising money for charity on a bike ride that took him months or working his way through University, and on to the world of sales.
At his peak work-wise he was earning £70k, but it wasn't enough for his wife and she, who stayed at home with their 3 young children, left him. The money was good but the life she had with John was not. She decided he worked too hard. John was devastated when she walked out.

He got into the comedy circuit really by accident but flourished with small venues and of course some flops. He was still working at the full time job and doing the comedy when his wife came back to him - go figure! He as working even harder than before and not at home more often than before she left him, but....

Anyways, Happy endings all round!

[Louise Fry · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Bishop: How Did All This Happen ? - My Story is a fantastic and amazing life story of a person who has a very interesting story to tell.
After being born in Liverpool and subsequently moving to a council estate in Winsford and later Runcorn. Watching his friend die at a age under 10, his dad going to prison.
Making the trip and raising money for NSPCC by riding on a bike from Australia and the sport relief challenge.
This man has had a very interesting life and he has portrayed himself and his family very well, with a interesting read that will leave you hooked till the last page and you can't put it down until you read it. It will leave you laughing out loud, shouting out 'Oh No' and also crying with sadness. This book will make you think that you have been on this long and incredible journey with him. I would recommend this book to anyone - young and old as it is incredible.
It is a must read biography for anyone in 2014 !!!!

[Carly · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic book from such an inspiring, enthusiastic & caring bloke !!

This book gave me the same buzzing feeling as seeing John live, I felt so good and inspired reading this book. I also felt like I travelled to different parts of the world without even leaving my home !

John Bishop is a man that doesn't give up on his dreams, I've recently started my own business and this book has inspired me to keep going even when times are tough, as John did.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was expecting to enjoy this book but in the end enjoyed it far more than I thought. He has a great storytelling style which I find interesting and entertaining. The fact that he grew up in the town where I live made the first few chapters very meaningful. I think John's an honest guy with a good heart and that really comes over in this book.

[Sheila Lofthouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very readable, funny and at times moving biography.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like John Bishop you will like his book .....interesting story of Johns life ....funny and an enjoyable read.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one- could hear him reading it out loud in my head. It was an interesting account of his charity work- such a tough challenge.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A down to earth, frank & humerous read. Highly recommended.

[Linsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love John Bishop so this was always going to be a priority on my reading list. Brilliant insight into his life and his route to fame.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was funny and entertaining, just like the man himself :-)

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Bishop (2013) HOW DID ALL THIS HAPPEN?
London. HARPER

🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 4 out of 5 stars

The sleeve reads, "If you’re a man of a certain age you’ll know there comes a point in life when getting a sports car and over-analysing your contribution to society sounds like a really good idea. With a good job in sales and marketing and a nice house in Manchester that he shared with his wife and kids, John Bishop was no different when he turned the dreaded 4-0. But instead of spanking a load of cash on a car that would have made him look like a senior stylist at Vidal Sassoon, he stumbled onto a pathway that ultimately lead him to become one of the nation’s best loved comedians. It was a gamble, but boy, did it pay off. 'How Did All This Happen?' is the story of how a boy who, growing up on a council estate dreaming of ousting Kenny Dalglish from Liverpool FC’s starting line-up, suddenly found himself on stage in front of thousands of people nationwide, at an age when he should have known better."

So John Bishop. From Liverpool. You're hard pushed not to read this in the voice (full on scouse twang) of John Bishop. This is nostalgic. It's a real sense of family. It's first time clapping eyes on your future wives. It's marriage-kids-break-ups-and-make-ups along with stories such as thinking you're gonna die on Compton and cycling from flipping Australia as well as stuff that'll make your chin wobble.

#JohnBishop #HowDidAllThisHappen #JohnBishopHowDidAllThisHappen

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall an interesting book that was funny in parts and more thoughtful in others. A lot of what was written was describing John’s life and whilst this was a very interesting life it was describing, it sometimes lost some of his voice and his thoughts and feelings about situations were not explored very deeply. I also felt that the transition him from becoming an unknown comedian to famous was lacking and felt a little rushed.

In terms of content it was very interesting and I particularly enjoyed the chapters describing his bicycle ride from Australia to England and those telling of how he got into comedy. Annoyingly, there was a lot of times when he was telling a story and would then go off a tangent for several paragraphs about sometime mildly related, before returning to the original story . This disrupted the flow when reading and could have easily been avoided with better editing. He also stated several times how seemingly small or insignificant actions have had a huge effect on his life (like the butterfly effect), and whilst this is obviously trying to link to the title it was too obvious and not needed and ended up feeling a little contrived.

Overall an interesting autobiography about someone who has led a very interesting life but still comes across as a great person, who is very down-to-earth who above all loves his family. A high three stars.

[Isla Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book - there are a number of funny stories explained, in terms of his early comedy work (some shows that weren't greatly successful and the like) and also (if not moreso) in terms of his many varied travels. I found it interesting to read about his time spent in America linked to football, during summers before he was famous, some of the predicaments he ended up in and so on. It was surprisingly diverting - there were one or two not so engrossing parts, mainly as I'm not much interested in sports but then I expected that and actually I think its fair to say I enjoyed it more than I maybe thought I might.

Its an entertaining read and it has some nice photos and I felt it gave me a good insight into his family life. I enjoyed reading it and would recommend it to fans of his comedy work. I don't remember seeing his Sport Relief event from a few years ago but now I'm intrigued to try and find some footage of it - it sounds very hard work, to put it lightly!. I wouldn't say that he's overly braggy or show off-ish, he seems a fairly down to earth kind of a guy and he doesn't shy away from highlighting his mistakes, so there's not much bad I can say about it really.

[Graham Tapper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another very frank personal history. Bishop shares his successes and his failings with you in a way that leaves you wondering what it is about showbiz people that makes them seemingly a nightmare to live with. After Phil Collins' similar bio, I am wondering if there will ever be one that leaves you entirely comfortable with being a fan!

John Bishop came late to stand-up and from already being a very successful businessman, in the pharmaceuticals trade. Having worked for much of my life with salesmen, though in the IT world, I can see how that sort of personality may find the transition to making people laugh might not be as big a step as might be thought. Many of those I have known have found that it is a very infectious attribute and one that lends itself very well to making friends and influencing people, as Dale Carnegie once said.

The story ends several years ago; this is not a new book. He seems to have had less exposure recently, certainly on TV. But, up until that point, there is no doubt that he has had a full and eventful life.

Overall, I found the read interesting rather than enjoyable.

[Katrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I enjoy listening to comedians memoirs on audio as they tend to be a mix of interesting and funny, plus I’ve found they are often narrated by the comedian themselves so any jokes are delivered in their own style. So if you find the comedian funny chances are you will laugh at their book as well as finding out some interesting things about their life. I like John bishops comedy, I’ve even been to see him live, but I felt like the delivery in this audio didn’t quite hit the same way, probably because it was written and he was reading it, at times it flowed more naturally but often i was transported back to school on those days when we had to read aloud and even the best orator sounded like they were reading. That being said he’s had an interesting life, the sporting achievements were particularly interesting to listen to, and I would recommend it for fans of the comedian or anyone who wants to feel nostalgic for their childhood in the 70s or 80s

[Mr Matthew MacLachlan · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to read this book for a bundle of laughs, you may want to look elsewhere. While light-hearted (mostly) and humorous, this isn't primarly the funny life of a professional comic.

That said, it isn't necessarily a criticism. It appears to be quite an honest reflection of a middle-aged professional entertainment, who has done nothing to hide his views and has left in some unguarded comments.

The final section on the Sports Relief challenge was a revelation and gave a glimpse into the determination of John, but I would have liked to have read much more about the transition from employee to stand up, and given that he is a comic, a couple of the jokes would have been interesting to hear.

I definitely recommend as an entertaining read.

[OxoNewbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I became interested in John Bishop after his TV show revisiting Australia and his Sport Relief challenge. Usually for a biography, a substantial part of it is devoted to the formative years in childhood and how that shapes a character and destiny. With this biography, I don't feel childhood was covered in as much detail as in other biographies I have read. John Bishop focuses on his early exposure to death, university years, his experiences working/travelling overseas and the change to comedy. He comes across as a good egg who has acknowledged the role chance has played in his life. Just goes to show it is never too late in life. An easy, enjoyable read.

3 stars.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do like an autobiography and I do like John Bishop, so I knew I would enjoy this book before I even started it. I didn't realise that he was so well-educated or that he only become a comedian at the age of 40. Some of his story is very 'normal'...university, job, marriage, kids, football....while some of it is extraordinary...cycling around the world, 5 day 'week from hell' for Sport Relief... so it was a nice mix of reading something comfortable plus some really crazy adventures. The gig-scene sounds brutal and shows that you really need to be able to get to London and that TV is pivotal to succeeding in this area. He says he doesn't tell jokes, he tells stories and I like that.

[Simone Frost · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve liked John Bishop’s comedy for years and have seen him live. He comes across as a genuine guy, so I was interested to learn more about his life. Although an old book now, I still enjoyed this audiobook. John narrates the book himself and I think this brings a lot to the listening experience. His narration is good, but I did need to speed it up to 1.5x to listen comfortably. 🤭

The book is engaging and held my interest. As you would expect, it’s funny, but poignant in places too. It’s clear how much John loves his family and also his job.

I would recommend this to anyone who likes John Bishop.

3.5 stars rounded to 3.

[Lucinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a start even though this is John’s story it’s not all about him like most celeb biographies are.
He talks a lot about his family and friends and there’s a good few chapters about the charity work he’s done up to the point of writing this book (2013). One thing I loved is that I’m sat reading it as I normally would speak and then one word and your hearing John’s strong scouse accent.

I wouldn’t class this as my top recommendation but it’s a good read if you fancy a change from your usual style.
May even add his newer book to my list now.

[Dean Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is without a doubt the best autobiography I have read. It is funny from start to finish. This could also be read a s a motivational book and if you are on the verge of doing something in life that everybody else thinks is a crazy idea, read this book, John talks about taking these leaps of faith on at least 3 significant occasions.

A must read for anybody that's interested in life stories.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes biographies, not just Bishop, and anyone who is interested in the story of a "Northern working class boy made good". (Though he'd not look quite as fetching in a tutu as Billy Elliott.) I hadn't known much about him previously, but that's the joy of biographies as they offer interesting insights into a life and career that you only usually see from distance.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book because John Bishop is a regular guest on the Graham Norton show and I always find him to be very funny. The book didn’t fully engage me but I read on. Perhaps his physical persona is funnier and appeals to me more than his writing. There were some funny stories but I never laughed out loud, just quietly chuckled.

[Mark Beech · Rating 5 out of 5]

How this all happened was working hard, being humble, taking risks and being an altogether nice guy. For what on face value seems to be a pretty ordinary life turns out to be a little extraordinary. Cycling from Australia as a youth, coaching football in America amongst other things. A really enjoyable read (an Audiobook), recommended very highly.

[Ian moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

No time to spare

Enthralling reading,full of living and working, non stop action in every chapter. Where does he get his energy levels to achieve the outcomes he has written about.
Moving and inciteful many people will recognise the life of Mr Bishop as a close resemblance of their own which endeers him to his readers.
Looking forward to another read by this author.

[Andrew Alvis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A joy to read, John is very frank with his journey yet still brings a smile to your face due to his rewarded success. One part resonates with me very closely concerning his marriage as one of my high points, it's very relatable and given me pause for thought.
His being a father and it's relevant troubles is something I could relate to as well so it's comforting to know that I'm not alone.