Afterthoughts: Wisdom for the Unreflective

by Richard Ayoade

Genres: Comedy, Humor, Nonfiction, 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 3 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

[Selena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bite-sized Ayoade pearls of wisdom, although I did end up reading it in one sitting, and hearing his voice reading it. Some are grouped into themes, others kinda random. My favourite was the story about the tiny eel (mainly for the description of the eel). From the sobering:
"I think the end of racism will come when people dislike each other just for being people." to the more pithy "Nobody. That's what I call my head." Don't expect laugh-out-loud funny, but plenty of wit and a good source of smart comebacks.

[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.

[Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richard Ayoade makes a lot of sense.

[Jayme Piotrowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will never not enjoy the ramblings of Richard Ayoade.

[Riley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh, some got a chuckle out of me

[Chelsea]

The pen’s not your pal