A Life in Questions by Jeremy Paxman

by Unknown Author

The witty, incisive and frank memoirs from the legend of Newsnight and long-standing quiz master of University Challenge. Filled with views, opinions and stories from 4 decades in front of the camera.

Jeremy Paxman is Britain’s bravest, most incisive political interviewer. The no-nonsense star of BBC Newsnight, Paxman is a supreme inquisitor, a master at skewering mammoth egos with his relentless grilling. Few figures in public life have escaped. From John Major to Theresa May, from Tony Blair to Ed Miliband, Paxman had them quaking in their boots.

His working life has been defined by questions. ‘Why is this lying bastard lying to me?’ was at the front of his mind as he conducted every interview. But it wasn’t just politicians. Paxman’s interviews with Dizzee Rascal, David Bowie, Russell Brand, Vivienne Westwood are legendary. He discussed belief with religious leaders and philosophers, economics with CEOs and bankers, books with writers and art and theatre with artists. After 22 years on University Challenge, Paxman is also the longest-serving active quizmaster on British television.

Now, in these long-awaited memoirs, he spills the beans behind four decades in front of the camera. He offers reflections and stories from a career that has taken him as a reporter to many of the world’s war zones and trouble spots – Central America, Beirut, Belfast, to the studios of Tonight, Panorama, Breakfast Time, the Six O’clock News. Filled with candid stories about the great, the good and the rotters that have crossed his path, his memoirs are as magnetic to read as Paxman is to watch.

Candid, uncompromising, compassionate, reflective and astute, he writes of the principles that have governed his professional life, the inner workings of the BBC, the role of journalists in political debate, the scandals and rows he’s been part of, the books he has written and the series he has made. In a book that tells some terrific stories and laughs at much of the silliness in the world, A Life in Questions charts the life of the greatest political interviewer of our time.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Politics, Journalism, Autobiography, Memoir, Audiobook

Paperback

First published October 6, 2016

About the author

Books with known authors are imported from Amazon to this profile. Please do not merge this profile into Unknown.

Reviews

[Tariq Mahmood · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was interesting as it kept me intrigued but failed to captivate because he left far too many questions unanswered. Not only is the book an autobiography but also doubles as BBC's biography. Jeremy manages a very spartan and apologetic view of the BBC, conceding at the same time how much of an effect BBC's unbiased opinions have on its unsuspecting viewership. And this very biased presentation left me with only one deduction, that our noble Mr. Paxman doesn't want to burn any bridges with the lucrative employer like BBC.

The book also assumes that the readers have to know the context of each story, politician or event mentioned. Preferably the reader should have lived in the UK for the past 30 years at least and should have watched BBC news and current affairs from 5-6 nights per week. So if you don't happen to be one of the correct type, you will find it a tough reading experience.

[Diocletian · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining read. Written in a conventional linear style, Paxman's lifestory is more surprising than you'd think. For one, he was quite a rebel in his younger days, even as a fag in public school he often disobeyed his superiors resulting in thrashings. His school years were full of amusing events like being flung into a boxing match, getting decked, then in his stupor connecting punches after the bell. All in all, he did come from humble beginnings and is an example of social mobility, to a certain extent.

Some of the most interesting sections were, when he was talking about his early years of broadcast journalism in Northern Ireland and Yugoslavia. For once, actual valid criticisms of the EU, it supported a doomed Slavic state which was tearing itself apart with civil war, along ethnic boundaries. Insights into the Northern Irish conflict without the lens of British state propaganda.

Paxman touches on a number of themes, such as the unbalanced power distribution of elderly voters who are pandered to by the political parties. He says an idea is to limit votes to tax payers only, which is a novel solution. He talks about the decline in religion and the subsequent rise in celebrity idolatry. We'll always believe in something: be it God or someone who was the runner up to X-factor 7 years ago, it seems...

In terms of the EU referendum Paxman sums it up beautifully, paraphrasing: Cameron thought he could stamp out vociferous eurosceptics, in his own party, by putting one of the most important foreign policy decisions of our lifetimes, into the hands of the British public.

A line I found profound about journalism is thus: It's about putting as many of the editors prejudices into the newspaper without offending the advertisers.

This review can't do it justice, read it yourself, it's well worth it.

[Chris Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really wasn't expecting to like this book as much as I did. In truth I only picked it up off of my bookshelf to tide me over until payday and my next trip to the bookshop (OK, Amazon!).

I had always thought of Jeremy Paxman as a presenter rather than a bone fide journalist.
How wrong I was - it turns out that Mr Paxman has had quite the life!

A Life in Questions is a witty, insightful and compulsively readable review of Paxman's career - from his days as the editor of the student newspaper at Cambridge, through his BBC training at the height of The Troubles in 1970s Belfast, and culminating in his role as the face of BBC's Newsnight.

If you have even a passing interest in Journalism, or, in fact, anything newsworthy that has happened in the UK over the past 25 years, this book has more than enough to keep you thoroughly entertained.

A surprisingly engaging 4 stars out of 5.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book made me laugh out loud in parts. The ending was a let down. I agree that the BBC needs discussing, but as a finale it was a damp aquib. I'd have liked some discussion of wife and kids. Going off to war zones or even during the cut and thrust of newsnight would have been interesting. He affords himself and them more privacy than his interviewees. His treatment into the news night Jimmy Saville enquiry amounted to "ah well" with a shoulder shrug. Left me with a feeling of dishonesty, but I suppose how much is revealed is entirely the authors choice.

[Michael Macdonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming and modest

Surprisingly kind and thoughtful memoir where Paxman records his good luck to have an amusing well paid job and assesses the limited contribution of his generation to the country.

[James A-Trill · Rating 2 out of 5]

Listened to the audio book copy of this over the last few weeks, and was left largely bored by it. Perhaps unsurprisingly considering his persona, he takes quite a detached view from his anecdotes and simply recounts past meetings without much explanation of his inner workings. The most interesting parts were his coverage of the Troubles in Ireland, the BBC and his interview with Brand. Not particularly insightful.

[Keen Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

“At the time I became a journalist, the trade was held in very low esteem, which is probably where it belongs. To judge from the false glamour now sprayed on the media, you’d think that journalists, disc jockeys, reality-show contestants and associated low life performed a useful social function, equivalent in value to the life-saving skills of paramedics or the discoveries of Nobel Prize winners. They do not.”

So says Paxman, and you don’t spend forty odd years at the BBC without learning a thing or two about the media/journalism game. Whether he’s grilling politicians or scaring under graduates on a TV quiz show, I have always been a big fan of the man. The fact that at least two of the 21st Century’s prime ministers have said they didn’t like him and went to some lengths not to be interviewed by him, is clearly a huge compliment to him.

I thought this actually started off a little slow and was a tad dry in the opening stages, his time at preparatory school sounds truly awful, at one point, as he is being prepared for his latest beating he was told, “The purpose of a public school education, Paxman, is to teach you to respect people you don’t respect. Take off your dressing gown and bend over the chair.” Which may or may not explain a lot about the British establishment.

When he leaves university and starts to work for the BBC the quality and depth really starts to show. His experiences of Belfast and the troubles painted a grim and honest portrayal of the horrendous situation at the time. His recollection of his first book signing was pretty funny. He describes sitting all alone at a London University book shop, beside the Beverley Sisters, who were also doing a signing. The queue was out the door for them, and one curious elderly woman asked him what he was doing there? “I’ve written a book.” What’s it about? “Central America.” Sold many copies? “None” Ah, bless, she said. “I’ll take one. I suppose I might find someone I can give it to.”

What really came through here for me was Paxman’s ability to tell things like they are (unlike most of the people he interviews). He delivers his opinions in clear, accessible language, showing that he has a sound understanding of how politics works and where it fails. He never shies away from having a pop at his own profession with statements like, “Those who work in the media are overwhelmingly middle class, and have little first-hand experience of the lives of many of those they report upon. (I plead guilty).” and “The truth is that most news doesn’t matter, and most political controversies are neither controversial nor even, sometimes truly political.”

He enjoys calling out politicians on their shenanigans, “The annual conferences have become commercial ventures at which the parties sell space for lobbyists, companies and pressure groups, who set up stands in the anterooms-effectively buying access to those who make, or want to make, policy.” But he is also happy enough to praise them in other areas, seemingly quite impressed by Clinton’s various talents and Blair’s ability to think on his feet etc, but we don’t have to look too far to find another compelling quote, like,

“Britain’s mainstream media devote most of their energy to reporting upon mainstream issues as seen by mainstream institutions-like reports by committees of MPs on how the government has handled the country’s housing shortage. They do not see how immensely remote MPs and the government are from the lives of great numbers of people, and that affordable housing is unfindable in many areas of the country. Those who report upon politics and those who practise politics inhabit the same social world. It is not the world lived in by most voters.”

This was a damn good read with some genuinely compelling insights into the dubious world of media, politics and the news with some surprising and colourful results along the way. Paxman is excellent company, he isn’t afraid to laugh at himself and his, at times, blunt honesty is wonderfully refreshing in a world of increasing PC madness.

[Sid Nuncius · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I don't read many autobiographies or memoirs because, frankly, so many of them are so dreadful, but I found this very readable, absorbing, witty and insightful.

The opening is OK, if not hugely inspiring, being a well written but fairly standard recitation of Paxman's early life and education. Things begin to get really good as he almost falls into journalism, and especially his time in Northern Ireland during the "Troubles." He is incisive and fair-minded – and scathing about some of the political cynicism and incompetence, but also generous to others whom he saw attempting to do their best in tough times. This is true throughout the book; Paxman dishes very little dirt in the way of revelation about individuals but he leaves the reader in no doubt about his opinion of some people and groups of people, nor of his contempt for management bull-excreta. The book is peppered with pithy phrases like "…[they] talked about a 'mission to explain,' which was apparently something far more important than telling people what had happened that day," or "those shuffling oxymorons, media academics." But he isn't waspish for the sake of it and is almost equally often generous about people, too, describing Min Campbell as "the nicest man in politics," for example. It is plain that, at bottom, he likes most people who behave acceptably, which gives the book an engaging underpinning of humanity.

It's beautifully written, and I found it a pleasure to read. Part of this is the overriding sense that, while Paxman takes many of the things he talks about very seriously indeed, he has a healthy scepticism about journalists taking them selves too seriously and an excellent line in self deprecation and mockery. Very unusually, it is worth reading the bit on the dustjacket headed Praise For Jeremy Paxman, for example, which includes "Stay well away from me, you sanctimonious, spineless little toad" – Piers Morgan.

I found this as entertaining, interesting and absorbing as a good novel. I enjoyed it far more than I expected to and I can recommend it very warmly.

[Jeff Howells · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jeremy Paxman wrote the rule book on modern day political interviewing. A snarling, attack dog with the cynicism turned up to 11. He’s also that generation of newsmen (Jon Snow & John Simpson most notably of his near contemporary) who have moved between the studio & the field, reporting the news often in dangerous places.
Although the sense of world weariness permeates this memoir, its dialled down a lot. It’s certainly not the snarky caricature that dominated his later years on Newsnight.
If anything this memoir is too short. You never get the sense that he telling us the whole story. His childhood is touched upon (and clearly he had to deal with a father who was distant both emotionally & eventually geographically) and his early years as a reporter in Ireland are rattled off quickly, as is his time back at the BBC in London. Reporters employed there at that time seem to be a mixture of rogues, cavaliers & mavericks, who were left to get on with it.
Inevitably the most interesting part is his description of his time on Newsnight. It’s certainly not a rose tinted reminiscence, in fact you wonder how it ever got on air. He really has drawn back the curtains to see how it works behind the scenes. It’s clear that he stayed presenting it longer than he wanted to, mainly because he felt he had to - the Jimmy Saville debacle meant he didn’t want to be seen to be deserting a ship that - for a time - appeared to have been fatally holed below the waterline.
Most surprisingly is that the work he appears to be most proud of is University Challenge.
The thing that strikes me after getting to the end of this book is that I have no idea if he’s married, has kids, what his politics are or any other personal insight you might have expected. You can’t even guess his politics. He admits to (reluctantly) voting Remain in the EU referendum (yet disliking the bureaucracy of Brussels). I’m left with the impression that he’s loner who prefers to plough his own furrow, although this might be far from the truth. He’s still largely an enigma but perhaps a slightly more likeable one than he appears to be on TV...

[Nicholas Whyte · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/a-life-in-questions-by-jeremy-paxman/

It’s an entertaining book, as you would expect from his public persona. Paxman was from gently decaying middle-class roots, but he got to Cambridge and, equipped with his M.A. Cantab, became the face of both Newsnight and University Challenge. He cut his journalistic teeth in Northern Ireland in the mid-1970s, and paints a striking picture of the awfulness of official government policy, and the BBC’s difficulties in reporting on the situation properly – there were two striking incidents where he himself was centrally involved in clashes between the broadcaster and the government, but it doesn’t seem to have done his career much harm in the end.

Paxman doesn’t have a lot of self-doubt; this gives us an entertaining take on war reporting, writing books that nobody ever buys or reads, politicians in general and running a quiz show, but the deep reflection is more on the cogs and gears of politics, and why it is important to hold the ruling class to account, than on any deeper sense of society or indeed personal purpose. I enjoyed it a lot but slightly struggle to remember particular incidents, now that I’m writing it up a couple of weeks later.

[Christine Ottaway · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book very interesting, though the ‘long awaited memoirs’ from the blurb is overstating things a bit. Jeremy Paxman writes as he speaks, rather dismissively and certainly he doesn’t suffer fools gladly though he is gracious enough to concede his own mistakes and he does bring some insights into the change of Britain in the post war years. His writing style is full of witty observations and I enjoyed this about Chris Patten who having served as a minister, Chairman of the Conservative Party, last Governor of the Bank of England, European Commissioner and chairman of the BBC ‘finally emptied the dressing up box by becoming Chancellor of Oxford University.’

Jeremy Paxman certainly had an interesting childhood with a rather dysfunctional father and was sent to two more than slightly odd schools. His early career where he chose to travel to many of the world’s trouble spots brought insights into the conflicts of 1970’s and 1980’s as well as life working for BBC.

The section covering his time presenting Newsnight reinforced why I never watched the programme if I could help it. Haranguing politicians and executing the lambs they sometimes sent in their place do not make the kind of viewing I enjoy. Being a fly fisherman, I would have thought he would enjoy tempting politicians and others he interviewed to fall for his ‘fly’ with a few innocent sounding questions before going in for the kill. Some of his interviews with people like Daniel Barenboim or Tim Peake would have been far more interesting if I had not given up on the programme by then.

Finally I found Mr Paxman’s view on Brexit and old age pensioners about whom he has a very low opinion though he has joined the club himself. To Brexit he raised all the questions about EU that made me a firm Brexiteer – undemocratic, wasteful, unaccountable and so and yet he voted to remain. He then blamed the Leave vote on stupid old pensioners who know nothing. I believe he even suggested that in order to make politics more appealing to the younger generation who don’t vote, the vote should only be given to tax payers and therefore disenfranchise those pensioners who know nothing and empower the younger generation to get the politicians and government they want. Unfortunately most pensioners are taxpayers and the one thing they do is vote so I’m not sure that idea will float.

[Andrew Bentley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone who has watched TV in the UK must be familiar with Paxman. I had very fixed opinions about him, many of which were negative, but this autobiography helped me appreciate some of the nuances of the man.
Being Paxman, there is plenty of of opinion and logical thought. I warmed to his ruminations about fly fishing and his descriptions of gillies with an awe equal to his most famous interviewees. I appreciate how unimpressed he is with celebrity culture and simply sees people as people, and his claim to understanding very little about politics, but just asking the questions which everybody is thinking. It certainly explains some of his "rudeness."
Missing were descriptions of his first times - of reporting, being on air or handling important assignments. He obviously is unfazed by such things, but they are necessary in a biography.
A very enjoyable read.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Paxo! He's probably best known these days for University Challenge and Newsnight, and his BBC series on Victorian art a few years ago was just wonderful! This book is autobiographical, although he doesn't really discuss family members beyond childhood, preferring to keep them out of it. His early life and education were interesting, and the remainder of his book covers his long and varied career in journalism and presenting. He can be acerbic at times, but also comes across as witty and likeable. I haven't watched the last few seasons of University Challenge, but came across an episode recently whilst channel hopping and was sad to see that his Parkinson's has affected his speech slightly. I'm glad he's not letting his diagnosis stop him though, and I hope he carries on for as long as he can.

[M Pereira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeremy Paxman is a distinctly unlikeable person.

This book shows he did begin as a reasonable human being and the biography charts his journey from a lower middle class background to the gravy train of the BBC. Some of the stories that are over-told are provided. By the middle of it, I thought he was quite likeable, by the end of it. I thought he was odious.

A really successful journey of how someone has become unlikeable and out of touch in today's broadcast climate. He wasn't always that way.

[Mustafa Hussain · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was initially a slow read. Decided to skim-read couple of middle chapters & then the last two chapters were complete bombshells. Here Paxman clinically analysed the mistrust public have for both the media & politics. Provided some useful insight into Jimmy Savile & how this crisis was mismanaged by the BBC. Puts forward a defence for the licence fee naturally. Overall a pleasant read, no real light-bulb moment or significantly captivating. Just a well written book with some light humour and words of wisdom.

[Julia Churchley · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me ages to get going on this one, and suddenly realised that Paxo doesn't think his early life is of any interest to anyone - and it shows. However the chapters on his years in Belfast and then on Newsnight and University Challenge are all interesting, enlightening and hilarious in parts, especially for myself who has barely missed a Newsnight in decades, which leads to more questions about the BBC. he doesn't hold back on his opinion on it and much else besides, overall, an enjoyable saunter through the ups and downs of news reporting over the past 40 years.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable and entertaining book with some interesting insights into his life, career and the people he has interviewed. I could have done with more on his family but he clearly chose to keep that part of his life private despite the fact that the information is available elsewhere. As you would expect, Paxman has opinions on just about everything. Many of his anecdotes are very amusing and I laughed a lot. Recommended

[James Julien · Rating 5 out of 5]

The biggest book ive ever read lol. A bit of a vocab test for me so i ended up with a 4 page list of words i didnt understand and have yet to google. Such an interesting life hes lived. Really liked the bits peeling back the facade on the news. It hadnt occured to me yet that the people on TV are real people who have to wake up super early in the morning, and that they have to have a very vague understanding of so many niche fields. Read this up in Oughtibridge and on my way to Font

[Morag · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mixed childhood memories of Paxman - was told he was rude yet watching him interview found myself thrilled by his irreverence. My goodness we could do with more of his kind now.
Laughed out loud a couple of times, he seems so very honest. Lost touch with his career later as had moved abroad. Do wish I had read this book when it was initially published.
would be ideal if he would now write an edited version. The world has changed so much in the last 9 years. Would love to read his thoughts.

[Jan Duthie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I kept asking myself why I at times avoided picking up this book and finishing it. The subject, Jeremy Paxman, certainly makes an acerbic commentary on events alongside an autobiography. These are usually elements which have me racing through a book and to be honest I can't put my finger on the exact reason why it didn't happen in this case. A puzzle.

[Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't start out as a fan of 'Paxo', but pretty soon after starting this book I learned to respect his integrity and grit. He's one of the few 'proper' journalists and is not as pompous as you'd expect. Actually very modest and it's a very thoughtful and well composed book that never gets boring on up itself. Not that heavy on politics, either. Recommend to anyone with half a brain.

[Edward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty interesting. I have always liked Paxman, so was probably going to enjoy his book. No great revelations. Refreshingly honest about the position and importance/unimportance of individuals, himself included in the grand scheme of things. not very long. I listened on Audible with his own narration which i enjoyed

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid autobiography of sorts, with a few anecdotes thrown in. Not hugely revelatory, either about himself or those he's interviewed. He comes across as a reasonably nice guy, but then again, he wrote it! A quick read though and worth reading if you've nothing better waiting in the pile.

[Dipra Lahiri · Rating 4 out of 5]

The combative, attack-dog persona is mellowed by this ruminative memoir, in which Paxo recounts his origins, early days and since, with good humour and thoughtful sentences. Most enjoyed the University Challenge chapter (too short).

[Jack Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a fascinating insight into the formation of a multifaceted individual, whose archived a myriad of extraordinary things. As a young man looking at a changing world I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the early life of an individual, whose early life experience mirror mine. This is incredibly motivating. In total, this book is a very good read and it takes you on an interesting journey through the life of an extraordinary man.

[Michael Hastings · Rating 3 out of 5]

An autobiography for a change, well at least JP's account of his education and career and very little else. At times a really interesting read, others a bit boring to be honest. But that is one thing I believe the author is, honest. Which isn't necessarily the case with a memoir

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Patchy, some great insights, but he definitely cherry picks what he wants to cover, and is so detached from anything personal (when he bothers to include) he borders on robotic. His comments on Saville left me cold.

[Mark Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant, doesn't hold any back punches but also you see any different softer side appearing very often.

[Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read about an interesting man.
Maybe the man behind the image is different to perception.

[Keerthi Vikas · Rating 3 out of 5]

book review here :- https://keerthivikasmylearinings.word...