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Easily Distracted
Steve Coogan was born and raised in Manchester in the 1960s, the fourth of six children. From an early age he entertained his family with impressions and was often told he should 'be on the telly'. Failing to get into any of the London-based drama schools, he accepted a place at Manchester Polytechnic School of Theatre and before graduating had been given his first break as a voice artist on the satirical puppet show Spitting Image. The late eighties and early nineties saw Coogan developing characters he could perform on the comedy circuit, from Ernest Moss to Paul Calf, and in 1992 he won a Perrier award with John Thomson. It was around the same time, while working with Armando Iannucci and Patrick Marber on On The Hour and The Day Today, that Alan Partridge emerged, almost fully formed. Coogan, once a tabloid fixture, is now a respected film actor, writer and producer. He runs his own production company, Baby Cow, has a raft of films to his name (from 24 Hour Party People to Alpha Papa, the critically-acclaimed Partridge film), six Baftas and seven Comedy Awards. He has found huge success in recent years with both The Trip and Philomena, the latter bringing him two Oscar nominations, for producing and co-writing.In Easily Distracted he lifts the lid on the real Steve Coogan, writing with distinctive humour and an unexpected candour about a noisy childhood surrounded by foster kids, his attention-seeking teenage years and his emergence as a household name with the birth of Alan Partridge.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 8, 2015
95 people are currently reading
432 people want to read
About the author
Steve Coogan
35 books51 followersStephen John "Steve" Coogan is a BAFTA-winning English actor, comedian, writer, impressionist and producer. Born in Middleton, Greater Manchester, he began his career as a stand-up comedian and impressionist, working as a voice artist throughout the 1980s on satirical puppet show Spitting Image. In the early 1990s, Coogan began creating original comic characters which he presented in stage shows, this led to him winning the 1992 Perrier Award at the Edinburgh Fringe, for his show with long-time collaborator John Thomson. The most prominent characters he developed at this time were Paul Calf, a stereotypical lower class Mancunian and his sister the promiscuous Pauline (played by Coogan in drag).
Working with Chris Morris, Patrick Marber and Armando Iannucci for On the Hour and The Day Today,
Coogan developed his most popular and most developed character; Alan Partridge, a socially awkward and politically incorrect regional media personality, who developed to feature in his own eponymous television series, Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge and I'm Alan Partridge, which were well received and were nominated for five BAFTAs in total.
Working with Chris Morris, Patrick Marber and Armando Iannucci for On the Hour and The Day Today,
Coogan developed his most popular and most developed character; Alan Partridge, a socially awkward and politically incorrect regional media personality, who developed to feature in his own eponymous television series, Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge and I'm Alan Partridge, which were well received and were nominated for five BAFTAs in total.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
May 7, 2016
Bought for me as a present, this was more engaging than expected - I do like Steve Coogan's work, but didn't previously have a particular opinion of the man himself. This however read as one of the better 'comedian's autobiography' books I have read - Coogan's style is understated, charming, witty and self-aware. Quite a lot about his childhood and early professional life (which is as I like it - too much 'post success' content often comes over in an autobiography as name-droppy) and a sensible and honest sense of introspection about his lower-middle class Catholic upbringing and life too. The choice not to format the book in a strict chronological manner was also an added plus - it hence didn't feel weighed down by inevitability or 'fade out' towards the current day either IMHO. An enjoyable read.
December 10, 2019
Firstly, I adore Alan Partridge and The Trip. But it transpires that I don’t adore Steve Coogan. For the most part, he comes across as an arrogant fool of a man, occasionally trying to expose his shortcomings in such controlled ways as to not appear as a shortcoming at all. For instance, there’s an anecdote about God that only serves to tell the reader he owns two classic Aston Martins.
Alcohol, drugs, women. Barely covered. Yet there’s sufficient reference and detail to get the picture he’s got a much deeper relationship than he goes into here. Any more detail and the reader may be at risk of really disliking him I feel.
Alan Partridge? Barely covered to be honest. He may get the last word, but there’s hardly anything on the making of his shows and funny behind the scenes anecdotes as you’d expect. Knowing me Knowing You and The Day Today get the most page time.
The book is also all over the show chronologically. The disjointed first half a mix of interesting back story on Philomena and just gibberish quite frankly. The second half does pick up momentum where he discusses his uni, house shares, Edinburgh and Spitting Image and Radio 4 days. But it’s not enough to salvage a very poor book.
Alcohol, drugs, women. Barely covered. Yet there’s sufficient reference and detail to get the picture he’s got a much deeper relationship than he goes into here. Any more detail and the reader may be at risk of really disliking him I feel.
Alan Partridge? Barely covered to be honest. He may get the last word, but there’s hardly anything on the making of his shows and funny behind the scenes anecdotes as you’d expect. Knowing me Knowing You and The Day Today get the most page time.
The book is also all over the show chronologically. The disjointed first half a mix of interesting back story on Philomena and just gibberish quite frankly. The second half does pick up momentum where he discusses his uni, house shares, Edinburgh and Spitting Image and Radio 4 days. But it’s not enough to salvage a very poor book.
June 8, 2016
Having had a lifelong admiration for the writings and the intellect of Mr Coogan, I had high hopes for his autobiography. Clearly a man of great intelligence and wit I would have assumed this would be the makings of a well written and humourous autobiography, like that of Tina Fey.
I watched a program once about the making of Father Ted where Graham Linehan and Steve Coogan touched on when Ted and Alan Partridge were being created in the same building at the same time and had hoped that anecdotes like this would come of Steve Coogan's autobiography. Wrong.
What you actually get is a lot from Steve's past, a rather indulgent few chapters about Philomena (a project that he is clearly extremely proud of), talk of Alpha Papa (i.e what it could have been, how well it faired, an amusing story about how hard it was to dress Alan in a fashion that wasn't cool amongst hipsters), musings about The Trip, and then some poly filler stories in between. Just as Steve gets to mentioning Alan Partridge you realise that you're now holding a slender part of the book, that turns out to be a couple of pages and then the "Steve Coogan Index". Perhaps I was being naive in thinking he wouldn't save this for a second book or maybe it was Steve having the last laugh when he denies readers what they've ultimately been reading for but I have to say I was a little disappointed. Oh, he also manages to cram in a brief chapter about his drug use into this slender end of the book as well, in case you thought you were going to get any tales about that either, you'll just be left flicking back through wondering if you accidentally skipped any pages.
If and when Steve Coogan does release his second book, it will be with a heavy heart that I hand over my money at the counter. Firstly, because I dread a whole few chapters on, let's say, his cameo in Tropic Thunder (anything to delay talking about Partridge) and secondly, because I had bought the first one with such enthusiasm to be let down by a deliberate ploy.
Side note: Yes, you can by I, Partridge if you like reading about Alan Partridge but there are those who are also interested in the creative process - although agreed: it is an amazingly funny book.
I watched a program once about the making of Father Ted where Graham Linehan and Steve Coogan touched on when Ted and Alan Partridge were being created in the same building at the same time and had hoped that anecdotes like this would come of Steve Coogan's autobiography. Wrong.
What you actually get is a lot from Steve's past, a rather indulgent few chapters about Philomena (a project that he is clearly extremely proud of), talk of Alpha Papa (i.e what it could have been, how well it faired, an amusing story about how hard it was to dress Alan in a fashion that wasn't cool amongst hipsters), musings about The Trip, and then some poly filler stories in between. Just as Steve gets to mentioning Alan Partridge you realise that you're now holding a slender part of the book, that turns out to be a couple of pages and then the "Steve Coogan Index". Perhaps I was being naive in thinking he wouldn't save this for a second book or maybe it was Steve having the last laugh when he denies readers what they've ultimately been reading for but I have to say I was a little disappointed. Oh, he also manages to cram in a brief chapter about his drug use into this slender end of the book as well, in case you thought you were going to get any tales about that either, you'll just be left flicking back through wondering if you accidentally skipped any pages.
If and when Steve Coogan does release his second book, it will be with a heavy heart that I hand over my money at the counter. Firstly, because I dread a whole few chapters on, let's say, his cameo in Tropic Thunder (anything to delay talking about Partridge) and secondly, because I had bought the first one with such enthusiasm to be let down by a deliberate ploy.
Side note: Yes, you can by I, Partridge if you like reading about Alan Partridge but there are those who are also interested in the creative process - although agreed: it is an amazingly funny book.
March 27, 2024
I love everything this man does, could listen to him talk forever.
It's a really interesting approach to an autobiography particularly when he is most known for Partridge, he doesn't actually discuss Partridge much until the end.
The initial part is Coogan's more recent work and you can evidently tell how proud of Philomena he is (rightly so) and much like his character in The Trip he wants to be more than just Alan Partridge.
He then reverts back to his childhood and his lower middle class Catholic upbringing, it felt very familiar and almost like I was listening to my Dad tell stories of a similar time.
It's a really interesting approach to an autobiography particularly when he is most known for Partridge, he doesn't actually discuss Partridge much until the end.
The initial part is Coogan's more recent work and you can evidently tell how proud of Philomena he is (rightly so) and much like his character in The Trip he wants to be more than just Alan Partridge.
He then reverts back to his childhood and his lower middle class Catholic upbringing, it felt very familiar and almost like I was listening to my Dad tell stories of a similar time.
March 11, 2016
A bizarrely structured book that really comes to life when describing his pre-fame years, the exact opposite of what I was expecting. Has any other autobiography ever mentioned Richard Herring and Saturday Zoo as much?
January 12, 2016
Just what you'd expect. Straight talking, bit arrogant in a loveable way. Funny. Nice bloke, great read.
June 6, 2016
Everybody has a comedic touchstone - a stand-up or a sitcom they can go back to time and again and know just how easily it will tickle them and engage fond memories. Steve Coogan and his comic creations have seen me through my adolescence, my uni days, and my working life so far. Alan Partridge is - as for many Coogan fans - my ultimate comfort comedy; the one I can recite backwards. I can still laugh at his frantic and futile attempts to placate enraged farmers despite a thousand previous viewings.
Perhaps part of the challenge in appreciating Easily Distracted is in remembering that this is the autobiography of Steve Coogan and not one of his creations. Indeed, after I read it and put it on my bookshelf, my wife asked me to fetch it so she could have a read and - unconsciously - I picked up I, Partridge, instead. I could imagine Steve shaking a mock-angry fist at me for doing so, and at those who claim there is too much similarity between him and his comic characters (and between some of those creations). But this only strengthens a point Coogan tries to get across in telling his story - that there is a bit of Alan Partridge, Paul Calf, Gareth Cheeseman, Duncan Thickett and co in Steven Coogan and vice versa. It's not a secret, it's a fact - one he is happy to acknowledge and embrace. In Easily Distracted, Coogan does not try to paint a whiter-than-white image of himself; rather, he accepts himself for what he is, vices and virtues. He talks of his youthful, idealistic visions of his future self - unflappable, engaging and witty - but acknowledges the man he has become: a man who at times can exhibit all of these qualities and at other times none of them. It's quite a rational and balanced stance and one that is not hard to empathise with; it certainly helped me as a reader to understand a little bit more about the man behind the comic mask.
The book - slightly unconventionally for an autobiography - starts with the here and now, the recent times of the Coogan we think we know: the darkness of the Leveson inquiry, the exhausting realities behind the Partridge movie and his pride at the BAFTA-winning Philomena (an excellent demonstration of his abilities as a straight actor). It then settles into a more typical chronological account of his life, delivered in an enjoyably raconteurial rhetoric: from his sepia-tinted memories of boyhood holidays in Ireland (I challenge any child of the 50s, 60s or 70s to read this without drifting off to memories of their own holidays of this ilk) and life in his somewhat eccentric family home, to his struggles to break into comedy and acting, then on to the stellar rise that followed... and the well-documented baggage that came with it. It's an engaging and fulfilling journey, though I suspect - and respect - that Steve hasn't given us absolutely everything (who would?)
Being such a fan of his comedy, there was a big part of me looking for in-gags in each paragraph, but that's not what this book is about. It does have gags and it did have me chuckling away, But he makes it clear that straight comedy doesn't quite cut it for him any more. That said, there are a few Easter eggs in there, such as page 201 when he refers to that excellent James Bond movie 'To Russia With Love' (To Russia? Stop getting Bond wrong!).
Easily Distracted works well in doing what I think it set out to achieve: presenting Steve Coogan, as he is, without apology. An entertaining, at times gritty and at times warm, and consistently thought-provoking read.
Originally posted on: http://www.gordondoherty.co.uk/review...
Perhaps part of the challenge in appreciating Easily Distracted is in remembering that this is the autobiography of Steve Coogan and not one of his creations. Indeed, after I read it and put it on my bookshelf, my wife asked me to fetch it so she could have a read and - unconsciously - I picked up I, Partridge, instead. I could imagine Steve shaking a mock-angry fist at me for doing so, and at those who claim there is too much similarity between him and his comic characters (and between some of those creations). But this only strengthens a point Coogan tries to get across in telling his story - that there is a bit of Alan Partridge, Paul Calf, Gareth Cheeseman, Duncan Thickett and co in Steven Coogan and vice versa. It's not a secret, it's a fact - one he is happy to acknowledge and embrace. In Easily Distracted, Coogan does not try to paint a whiter-than-white image of himself; rather, he accepts himself for what he is, vices and virtues. He talks of his youthful, idealistic visions of his future self - unflappable, engaging and witty - but acknowledges the man he has become: a man who at times can exhibit all of these qualities and at other times none of them. It's quite a rational and balanced stance and one that is not hard to empathise with; it certainly helped me as a reader to understand a little bit more about the man behind the comic mask.
The book - slightly unconventionally for an autobiography - starts with the here and now, the recent times of the Coogan we think we know: the darkness of the Leveson inquiry, the exhausting realities behind the Partridge movie and his pride at the BAFTA-winning Philomena (an excellent demonstration of his abilities as a straight actor). It then settles into a more typical chronological account of his life, delivered in an enjoyably raconteurial rhetoric: from his sepia-tinted memories of boyhood holidays in Ireland (I challenge any child of the 50s, 60s or 70s to read this without drifting off to memories of their own holidays of this ilk) and life in his somewhat eccentric family home, to his struggles to break into comedy and acting, then on to the stellar rise that followed... and the well-documented baggage that came with it. It's an engaging and fulfilling journey, though I suspect - and respect - that Steve hasn't given us absolutely everything (who would?)
Being such a fan of his comedy, there was a big part of me looking for in-gags in each paragraph, but that's not what this book is about. It does have gags and it did have me chuckling away, But he makes it clear that straight comedy doesn't quite cut it for him any more. That said, there are a few Easter eggs in there, such as page 201 when he refers to that excellent James Bond movie 'To Russia With Love' (To Russia? Stop getting Bond wrong!).
Easily Distracted works well in doing what I think it set out to achieve: presenting Steve Coogan, as he is, without apology. An entertaining, at times gritty and at times warm, and consistently thought-provoking read.
Originally posted on: http://www.gordondoherty.co.uk/review...
March 4, 2016
2 1/2 stars. I'm still not quite sure how I feel about this book. It started slowly and took a while to get "his voice" and I wonder whether that's the ghostwriter aspect. There's a lot about his family, which I really enjoyed, and lots about his major characters, but the timeline jumped around and I found it difficult to follow at times. It ended quite abruptly. but it seemed there was much more to say. I'm a fan so I did get something out of it, but it wasn't what I expected
November 22, 2015
I was so excited to start this (Coogan reads Coogan, how could it fail!) but it's probably the worst introduction I could've had to audiobooks. An aimless, plodding wank of an autobiography read entirely in monotone. Hugely disappointing.
April 30, 2017
I was easily distracted reading this
October 31, 2024
While I can totally understand the temptation to frame this around the triumvirate of Philomena, Alpha Papa and The Trip, which were his most recent successes at the time of writing, it’s interesting that reading nearly a decade later, how little these have defined him. It’s interesting that Coogan relays an anecdote which bolstered him in the aftermath of Philomena not winning any Oscars it had been nominated for — which I paraphrase here — suggesting that some buzzy Oscar films disappear into obscurity despite the garlands, with the implication being that Coogan’s film was not one destined for that fate. Only — again, from a standpoint a decade hence — despite it being a good film, it kind of isn’t really one that is much talked about or whose legacy has grown. Like I said, I can understand it being on his mind at the time but it’s a shame that in doing so, much else is pushed to the side and barely warrants a mention. It focuses only on the successes but barely glances at other things that failed to catch fire. There’s a far greater focus on his personal life as a child than as an adult, which is a fascinating insight into what forged him, but other than the three previously mentioned projects and the phone hacking inquiry, this just reaches his early career before sprinting to a finish. Coogan’s writing is sharp and incisive and there is some probing of his foibles but it’s a bit scattershot and occasionally retreads ground in the sections about his youth. I still found it a successful peer into a career that isn’t constrained by any one thing and personality does shine through, but I’d have liked the passages on the creative process teased out more and wish there had been a bit more constraint in its structure. When it does get to the early career and nascent Partridge, it catches fire and there’s some great reflective stuff.
May 25, 2021
"I had to drag myself from the future and back into the present." pg. 147 (Every day, dude.)
"Equally, I don't have to be as rigid as Richard Dawkins, even though I'm more sympathetic to his views. I don't believe in religious dogma, but I do still have a slight romantic and cultural attachment to Catholicism. It's part of me, it's what formed me." pg. 42
"When I was growing up, I didn't see Dad for hours at a time because he was in the cellar working on one thing or another to improve the house. He couldn't stop fixing things; he still says there aren't enough hours in the day." pg. 153
"I was low-key because I was nervous. I thought it better, as Mark Twain said more eloquently, to keep my mouth shut and be thought an idiot than to open it and remove all doubt." pg. 296
The personal overlap found in this was captivating and strangely delightful. I kept looking over my shoulder thinking, is anyone else seeing these insane similarities?!
"Equally, I don't have to be as rigid as Richard Dawkins, even though I'm more sympathetic to his views. I don't believe in religious dogma, but I do still have a slight romantic and cultural attachment to Catholicism. It's part of me, it's what formed me." pg. 42
"When I was growing up, I didn't see Dad for hours at a time because he was in the cellar working on one thing or another to improve the house. He couldn't stop fixing things; he still says there aren't enough hours in the day." pg. 153
"I was low-key because I was nervous. I thought it better, as Mark Twain said more eloquently, to keep my mouth shut and be thought an idiot than to open it and remove all doubt." pg. 296
The personal overlap found in this was captivating and strangely delightful. I kept looking over my shoulder thinking, is anyone else seeing these insane similarities?!
February 6, 2017
Maybe more like 3.5 stars. It ends just as he's created Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge! I wanted more stories from later Alan.
Liked: memories of his childhood, 90s stuff and anything about Alan.
Dislike: a bit all over the place and not chronological, no mention of how he knew my old co-worker. UPDATE: forgot to say dislike was casual racism and sexism. he'd probably deny it and describe himself as a liberal, but he's a bit old school in his attitudes.
I hope there's a sequel.
Liked: memories of his childhood, 90s stuff and anything about Alan.
Dislike: a bit all over the place and not chronological, no mention of how he knew my old co-worker. UPDATE: forgot to say dislike was casual racism and sexism. he'd probably deny it and describe himself as a liberal, but he's a bit old school in his attitudes.
I hope there's a sequel.
February 22, 2016
So I don't get the bad reviews of this book. I get we're all entitled to an opinion, but you're wrong (sounds better if read as Alan) Seriously though I really enjoyed it. I loved reading about his childhood and the birth of Alan. Yes, he's over confident at times but in fairness that's the appeal to me. If you're looking for an Alan autobiography try I, Partridge (which is the better book!) but if you're wanting to read about Steve, not Alan, this is a great book.
August 21, 2025
Brilliant, brilliant audiobook. It sparkles when Coogan really gets into talking about his craft, and you’ve got plenty of impressions thrown in along the way. It’s perhaps not as revelatory as you might hope - personal turmoil as fame grows is merely hinted at - but you can really tell where his passion lies and what moves him.
December 13, 2015
Awful, just awful. I wrote a full review on my blog here: https://readafinething.wordpress.com/...
February 13, 2022
6/10. Points off for exceeding arrogance
July 10, 2024
He's a bit of a dick
January 7, 2022
Have had this on my shelf for a long time and eventually read. really like Steve Coogan's work but felt a little disappointed as the book is guarded and you never feel Steve properly opens up. A sprinkling of good insights but could have been so much better.
July 6, 2025
listened to the audiobook. there was a lot of interesting insight into partridge and so on, but feel like it touched in many areas but not in others, and it could have maybe been a bit more insightful in areas such as coogans personal sense of humour, comedic process etc
December 18, 2021
Just terrible, it bored me to tears, I am not sure what I was expecting but it wasn’t this
July 6, 2024
I loved it. Interesting to read about his earlier career. I hate his Alan Partridge character!
May 12, 2025
I don;t think there's much here if you're not a fan of Steve Coogan / Alan Partridge / The Trip. But if you are, it's pretty enjoyable and offers some insight, albeit with a confusing timeline.
July 10, 2025
Turns out I have the same car as Steve Coogan 😅👌
June 26, 2017
Very dull and repetitive.
I did not really enjoy this, which is a pity because I was really looking forward to it. If I had to read once more how 'nuanced" something was, I would have smashed my kindle. Every chapter had a nuance or nuanced in it!!! I felt like this book was a word count, it ended very abruptly, so much so that I thought it was a glitch, but no it really was the end. Have to say I was quite glad.
I did not really enjoy this, which is a pity because I was really looking forward to it. If I had to read once more how 'nuanced" something was, I would have smashed my kindle. Every chapter had a nuance or nuanced in it!!! I felt like this book was a word count, it ended very abruptly, so much so that I thought it was a glitch, but no it really was the end. Have to say I was quite glad.
August 11, 2017
I "read" the audiobook version and I highly recommend it. What makes Steve Coogan such a treasure is his ability to do characters and accents - each one its own unique person. I can't imagine getting even close to the full effect by reading it since every quote and character has a voice of its own in his reading of it. Great story, will listen again soon!
December 17, 2015
This was a tedious read. I expected a candid account of Coogan's creations and well publicised celebrity life. Instead I got a mess of random anecdotes about a fairly standard childhood. The whole book was a boring mess. So disappointing.
June 4, 2016
I enjoyed this book initially but lost interest about a third of the way through. It seems to jump around a lot, i feel it needs sorting out!Shame because I like Steve Coogan but I was disappointed with this.
May 7, 2023
Worth a listen to hear his impressions, beyond that a pretty dull memoir lol as much as I love his work. Also not taking accountability when he treated a lot of women pretty badly was a big no from me
Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews