Al Murray: The Pub Landlord's Book of British Common Sense

by Al Murray

We live in an age of waffle, mumbo-jumbo and bad thinking. We're forever being fed dodgy information by so-called experts, scientists, opinion-makers, politicians, journalists and jumped-up little graduates. Their combined bad thinking * the idea that no one should win in running races at school, in case the losers get upset * the idea that owning a house in France (France!) is a decent way to spend your money * the idea that we should all talk about our feelings and that would make things better * speed cameras * mineral water * hummus * and the fact that everyone reckons they've got asthma. Get a grip! Why do we believe this nonsense? Because, as a nation we've forgotten the basic elements of common sense. Thank God then for Al Murray. He's here to put good old fashioned British common sense back where it belongs. This book brings together the wit and wisdom of the Pub Landlord, and the collective thoughts of the locals at Al's pub. Together they speak for generations of down-to-earth, normal, hard working, honest, sensible, normal, law abiding, tax paying (ish), normal, hard working, honourable, decent, reasonable people. British people

Genres: Humor, Comedy, Nonfiction

256 pages, Hardcover

First published July 25, 2005

About the author

Alastair James Hay "Al" Murray is an English comedian and TV personality well known for his stand-up persona and quick repartee.

His best-known character is "The Pub Landlord", a mock-xenophobic but stereotypical publican.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Murray

Reviews

[[ J o ] · Rating 3 out of 5]

Back when Al Murray's alter-ego The Pub Landlord was all over the TV ("Big Bob, Big Bob, Big Bob Big Bob Big Bob") I bought these books and yes, found them entertaining. He takes the piss out of the racist, sexist, 70's ideological pub-going English(men) who make Nigel Farage look slightly left-wing.

It is very amusing, but I think it's also of it's time. It was pre-UKIP (in media coverage, anyway) and it was about a mythical beast that only existed during opening hours of their local. Harmless, funny, good to laugh at, but these days The Pub Landlord is quite a scary beast who might actually have more power than any of us realise.

The book itself is well-written, very British and quite amusing if a little over the top at times. It is probably best as a dip-in-and-out-of book, or what I believe is called a Coffee Table book but who the hell has a designated table just for coffee-oh you do? Well I don't think this book is for you.

[Raluca · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got this as a gift. And by "gift" I mean the friend who owned it threatened to chuck it before he moves out and saddled me with it.
I'm wondering whether I'm the only person who really sat down and read it, rather than flicking through it with a vaguely amused snicker.
So it's supposed to be a parody of what the regular pub-going Brit thinks of everything around him, from religion, work and football to which James Bond is the best Bond (Sean Connery) and which Doctor Who is the best Doctor (Sean Connery is still the best Bond). It includes a 5-part checklist for determining whether your local pub turned into a wine bar and a handy pub quiz guide on football teams' nicknames and ABBA top hits. It's also visually interesting - clearly a bit of work went into that bit of the book.
Did it make me laugh? Not really. It made me smile every now and then, more through the accumulation of decent points than through one good joke. But it's really the kind of book you'd get for a friend you only ever-so-slightly know (i.e. you know he's from the UK and that's about it). Not worth your time.

[Ian Wood · Rating 1 out of 5]

As well as ‘joy to all’ Christmas also heralds so many less welcome events into our homes such as ‘the Christmas jumper’, ‘socks/ties adorned by cartoon characters’ and most disturbingly ‘hilarious Christmas books’. Conceived as a sort of Annual for Adults these brightly coloured and lavishly tooled eyesores come gift wrapped from people whom have absolutely no idea what to buy us.

Once a year every fairly well known comedian/comic actor has his stage act stretched into a series of awful features by a crack team of hacks whom don’t worry too much about whether it still works on being robbed of it’s original setting as very few people actually read Christmas books as they are obviously rubbish.

The Pub Landlord works as a stage act because although what he says is reactionary and right wing bilge on the main, it is addressed in a suitable detached manner so that we know Al Murray is not in fact the Pub Landlord, whom is intended to be a deliberately grotesque character. Unfortunately this isn’t apparent in reading it straight.

Some of the pieces are very good. I would recommend the get rich scheme outlining how to write an Alan Bennett play. I was so disappointed when it was finished I could only console myself with a cup of PG Tips and an After Eight Mint, even though it was only a quarter past seven.

On balance however I think I’d rather have got a book token. Still there’s always next year.

[George Foord · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just a collection of random facts put together. No way you could read this book through enjoyably.

[Dayo Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some funny bits

[Maddy Ellis Wilson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dunno why I listened to this at work lol
Shite

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite the fact I normally don't like Al Murray's stand-up 'act' (if you can even call it that), I actually did laugh in places whilst reading this book. It first came to my attention at work (I work in a charity shop and we'd just started selling books at the time). Somebody bought it (it was a paperback version) but then I found the hardback version in another shop a few weeks later. It seemed interesting so I thought I'd give it a go and, weirdly, it didn't let me down!

(I still don't particularly like Al Murray, though...)

[Duncan · Rating 3 out of 5]

if you like al murray's "pub landlord" act then you'll love this book. a humorous take on the typical "fact" books that you get at christmas time.
full of classic observations form the landlord himself its easy to see al murrays intelligence shine through some segments and his observations are extremley witty. probaly to both those that get the joke and those that don't.
great fun and a brilliant gift.

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Completely inane but often very amusing. I know nothing of Al Murray, I've lived in NZ for several years but I'm back here in England on holiday, so reading this devotion to Britain is most enjoyable, especially during the jubilee period, and with Europe having a shocker politically. Great to read in short burts; e.g. on the tube.

[Brad Medd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this one up purely out of curiosity, gave it a read, found myself in stitches during some parts. It's full of witty observations which are very true to life and it's generally amusing throughout. It's not what I'd typically go for so I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Now with that said,I'm off t' pub.

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

brilliant

[Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most politically correct book of the year! :)

[Niels · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great for a little laugh. Dont read it in one go - leave it somewhere where you can read 5-10 minutes at the time....

[Conor O'mahony · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first saw his act 10 years ago. This book is just that EXACT same act written down. A shame his act has not moved on since then

[Louise · Rating 2 out of 5]

An ok book, that got slightly boring by the end but as a light quick read.

[Richard Hurst · Rating 4 out of 5]

The audio version... I smiled throught