Afterthoughts: Wisdom for the Unreflective

by Richard Ayoade

Genres: Humor, British Literature

160 pages, Hardcover

Published October 28, 2025

About the author

Richard Ellef Ayoade is a British comedian, film director, screenwriter, television presenter, actor, and author best known for his role as the socially awkward IT technician Maurice Moss in Channel 4 sitcom The IT Crowd, for which he won the 2014 BAFTA for Best Male Comedy Performance.

Reviews

[Enfys Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Clapping is basically just hitting yourself. That’s how much we dislike the success of others.”

[Kiera · Rating 3 out of 5]

pretty funny and classic ayoade humour

[João Pereira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quintessentially Ayoade, ‘Afterthoughts: or Some Pistachios Won’t Open’ is an endless parade of the fragmented thoughts of comedian / writer / actor / director Richard Ayoade. A quick, short read that is as irreverently funny as all his other writings. It just leaves you wanting more.

[Tee · Rating 3 out of 5]

"love is more than a word, but we can only say how it's more than a word by using more words, so what's your plan now, captain clever?"

essentially an ayoade-flavoured book of puns and wordplay

[Darran Mclaughlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

An amusing little book in Ayoade's trademark deadpan style, inspired by the likes of Montaigne, Pascal and La Rochefoucauld.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable collection of funny thoughts for fans of Ayoade. Could easily be read in one sitting but I think it’s better a little at a time.