Yardsticks For Failure: Adventures in Friendship and Fluster

by Ivo Graham

After coming last by quite such a distance on Taskmaster Series 15, and seeing his emotional frailties laid bare in a series of memes of him with his head in his hands, Ivo Graham is adapting to an increasingly irreversible reputation as a man better known for his chaos than his comedy.

Yardsticks For Failure is an exquisite map of the brain behind the breakdowns; a deep dive into the various facepalms of Ivo's recent past, and a live diary of his unravelling present, where his solution to the general bedlam of his life has been to pile his plate higher than ever before. Longer-term resolutions of rest and relaxation can wait; in the meantime he's trying to host the greatest club night of all time, run a Sub-3 marathon while pushing a wheelchair, and put his heart on the line in a show unlike anything he's ever done before. Can these dreams become a reality, or will they just become more yardsticks for failure?

A gleeful glimpse behind the grubby curtain of stand-up comedy, via friendship and films, fatherhood and Funkytown, this book is a feast for anyone who's ever been enthralled or appalled by Ivo's cursed politeness, squandered promise, or serial prank-victimhood; for anyone battling to get their own life inbox to zero; for anyone who's ever set fire to a diary, lost their mind over a quiz, or pegged it through a station for the last train home. Yardsticks For Failure is a unique self-examination from one of the most eloquent writers and worriers of his generation. Ivo almost certainly won't achieve everything he sets out to, but it's going to be a hell of a ride.

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

320 pages, Hardcover

Published May 22, 2025

Reviews

[Angharad · Rating 3 out of 5]

You get more content here than in many comedian’s memoirs, but it’s chaotic, indulgent, and incredibly detailed and niche. Luckily I understood most of the references (aside from football) and was there for other bits of it (MS Society stuff), but I reckon you need to be a big fan to enjoy this.

[Maggie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ivo, honey, the chaos was fun on Taskmaster, but squeezing 300 pages out of your inability to take any kind of planning seriously isn’t a good look or an entertaining memoir.

[Nimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to see Ivo discuss this book during its launch night in Swindon and get a copy. This book is a truly lovely tribute to his friend Tom (who is clearly the person at the center of it all) and a look at how Ivo prepares (or not!) for shows, mainly by throwing himself into chaotic situations and hoping for the best!
I also absolutely loved the illustrations marking each chapter and the comments beneath each one.

[Kirsten · Rating 2 out of 5]

So….

Obviously this was a mixed emotions bag and had some great insight, there were also some funny bits

But the stress of someone day in day out struggling in lots of different aspects in life and one thing that could fix it is be on time is kinda crazy and while his friends are nurturing and clearly give him the benefit of the doubt he just seems careless?

[Sarina Jesudason · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Ivo but found this a slog. The ending was lovely though, very heartfelt.

[Matt Simpson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Taskmaster beginning I found v dull given I had watched the series and not sure a fairly trivial tv show warrants being rewritten in prose. Ivo’s narration on the audiobook was also way too much in the early stages. Got much better when talking about the weightier issues in his life and he toned down his narration accordingly.

[Lindsey Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book.
It was my first ever audio book and I’m so glad I listened to it first, as I felt Ivo‘s delivery really brought it to life. There was a sense of theatre or poetry to some of it. I do intend to purchase a hard copy however, so I can see the visuals I missed out on.
I loved the dedication to detail, the cataloguing, the stories which evoked all the panic and rush and desperate optimism that must have been felt at the time, but mostly I loved reading an unrestrained tribute to friendship and grief which made me laugh and cry so many times.

[Rachael Hutchings · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Ivo as a comedian and have seen his stand-up several times, I am also a Taskmaster fan - but I must be honest, the initial chapter about the Taskmaster tasks is a massive slog and I felt a bit worried about the direction the book was going.

From then on, it improved massively and was extremely tender, emotional and fun. The Fringe anecdotes and stories about his beloved Tom are relatable and massive highlights.

Deffo worth it if you enjoy Ivo’s work. I liked listening to it on audiobook as he is a wicked storyteller.

[Ben Swanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely glorious

[Kateisreading · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook which was probably the best way to access this. I’m not sure reading the book would have been as fun and it’s certainly not a book for anyone not already a fan of Ivo.

I enjoyed the chapters about Taskmaster and his Fringe shows a lot - especially when he talks about the shambolic shows I’d been in the audience for! - but this book is first and foremost a tribute (a lovely one!) to friends and family and I think that they are probably the target and best audience. References are niche and descriptions can be long.

All that said, I enjoyed my time listening to this but it’s definitely one to listen to whilst getting on with something else.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming!

[Esther Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been mislabelled as an autobiography when it should be a thriller. I have never felt more STRESSED reading a book. What do you MEAN you were late to an event you had been preparing for/basing your entire self worth on for months?! That being said it also made me have a big cry at several different points, especially the ending & genuinely taught me some helpful things about grief.

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

funny once it got going but way too much time spent basically retelling his taskmaster series.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I fell for Ivo’s charms from his many appearances on tv and consolidated from Taskmaster. I listened via audiobook and his turns of phrase and narration were the best part. Sadly, I found the content somewhat lacking. The book does give the reader a deeper insight into the comic we’ve come to adore but through a few highly specific recent events. He accomplished depth but at the expense of breadth and I would have appreciated a wider history (not having seen any of his stand up shows).

I was left amazed by the impact his friend Tom had on the people in his life and the continual efforts friends and family have in remembering him. I was struck by this, and wondered, does Ivo realise (from my experience at least ) how very rare this is? It left me wondering more about the nature of the network Ivo is embedded in that has allowed the brilliant remembering happen.

[maddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

i feel like oft lament when a narrator isn’t doing enough, but this felt like a little too much, like he was reading a story to his daughter maybe?

also am i just a nosy fucker but like i want to know why your long term relationship failed? and maybe a little less self deprecation for a very successful man? and like i think because i yearn for some of the oxford privilege i was a bit disappointed to not learn more of his experiences there.

that’s not to say i didn’t enjoy it, like i love a comedians memoir and the little tidbits as appendices were cute - and i love a footnote to hell and back. the grief was real and poignant and the best part of the book, because there was no facade and the realness of wanting to be involved in things but feeling pulled apart by other commitments.

[Steph Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

Personally, I loved it. Some laugh-out-loud lines blended with really moving accounts of his relationships, especially his friend Tom. He clearly cherishes the people in his life. I found the chaotic nature amusing and highly relatable, and his level of self-awareness refreshing. A very eloquent book with a strong human element. The only thing I will say is there were a few (albeit very minimal) elements of writing that felt a bit formulaic because of the repeated style/wording close together, but I can imagine that’s hard to avoid with writing generally. Overall, I would describe this as a bittersweet treasure of a book.

[Sarah G · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75*. Ivo improvising live on stage is a brilliant thing to experience so I had high hopes for this book, many of which were fulfilled. Excellent writing and storytelling, and lots of laughs, and lots of sad bits too. Ivo’s procrastination does sound utterly infuriating but honestly, fair play to him for giving his readers as much insight as he does. I imagine the reality is probably far, far worse.

There is also a quiet but persistent note of just how damaging boarding school was to him. It’s barbaric - let’s just knock that educational concept on the head once and for all. (Audiobook)

[Rosie Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book with all its side quests and honesty. Ivo Graham is most relatable in his recounting of hubris and procrastination and least in his brief mentions of private school waistcoats and quads. And yet even in his poshest of posh boy moments he is utterly disarming and entirely engaging. Such a moving tribute to his friends and clearly the most devoted dad, if you don’t sob reading this then you are more heartless than Greg Davies giving out prize task points.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rattled through this in a weekend — a skilfully written, hilarious and deeply poignant snapshot of life.

Its duality is perfectly summed up by the children stumbling upon the scene from The Traitors, which made me burst out laughing, and Racing in the Street in the final chapter, which gave me a lump in my throat.

[A.M. Swink · Rating 5 out of 5]

Far more emotional and lovely than the autobiography of an old Etonian comedian and one of Taskmaster’s biggest losers has any right to be. Evocative, reflective, by turns funny and heart-wrenching. A wonderful testament to friendship and enjoying life’s little pleasures with the ones you love most.

[Tom Lovelace · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like Ivo’s standup, you’ll almost certainly like this book. It manages to find humour whilst navigating the heartbreak of losing a friend, the chaos of fatherhood and the pressure of various comedy endeavours throughout. Touching, funny and genuinely interesting to learn about the behind the scenes of a comedian’s life (nb. It’s chaotic).

On occasion he goes to unnecessary lengths to either be self-deprecating or point out his privilege which can be a bit wearing, but all in all a very good book that’s worth a read.

[Bill Boswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ivo tells of his life and the events that defined it from his 'posh' upbringing to stage show/podcasts and Taskmaster disasters and how the death of a friend really affected him and how he has remembered him keeping bonds with the friends closest to him, he also tells how his mum getting MS hit him and the privilege of being a comic to help raise money for charity

a great read

[M E Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to audiobook. Funny in parts. Nice style, easy to listen to, good insight into Ivo’s life. But it felt like almost every chapter came back round to talking about Ivo’s friend that died and how he remembered / honoured him etc. Was all a bit much. Also with listening to the audio version, his over-pronunciation of words started to grate on me a bit by the end.

[Madison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was not enough of a fan to read this. Loved the bits about his friend Tom and grief. He refuses to touch on why his relationship with his daughter's mum ended. Whilst I understand his reasons for this, I don't necessarily agree, and felt the story of his life can't or perhaps shouldn't be told without it. May be seen as parasocial/parasitic of me to want this information but sorry! I do!

[Robert Steadman-Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a book full of failure and loss, this was really enjoyable. I was captivated by Graham’s turn of phrase, detail and self-deprecation. His emotion and love for friends and family feels genuine and heart-felt. And the scatter-gun nature of the story-telling is engrossing. Really, a fab book.

[alan johnson’s beamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never known somebody to so passionately, theatrically and wholeheartedly commit to voicing an audiobook. Of course, that somebody is the inimitable Ivo Graham — no longer the victim of a prank, but a master(mind) in sumptuous storytelling.

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

1) this is a lovely book and such a poignant tribute to friendship
2) I love the poetic sort of way that Ivo writes (and reads - I listened to the audiobook!)

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a gorgeous book! a perfect balance of tender and funny and i think a lovely tribute to his friend tom 🥲

[Josh Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book journeyed though many story’s I had heard about Ivo, but brought Joy into so many of them.

His reflections on friendship and grief made my cry in a way no book has before.

[Thea · Rating 4 out of 5]

v good i have to say, surprisingly moving also. maybe a five. thanks to spotify for having free audiobooks now