Things Ain't What They Used To Be

by Philip Glenister

Were the 70s and 80s all they were cracked up to be? Or have we never had it so good? Philip Glenister—one of our best-loved actors—takes a swig of Babycham, jumps on his space hopper, and heads off down memory lane to find out. Which Bond was better—Roger Moore or Daniel Craig? Was life better when we were served lashings of gravy, instead of a "drizzle of jus"? And—most important of all—have Curly Wurlys really got smaller, or have we all just got bigger? Philip Glenister's Things Ain’t What They Used to Be is a hilarious and affectionate look at the good, the bad, and the ugly from three very different decades, that will have you laughing (and cringing) with recognition. If you're going on a nostalgia trip, you couldn’t ask for a better guide.

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, Biography

237 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have so much love and respect for Philip Glenister. I grew up watching Life on Mars (definitely too young to watch it) and fell in love with him straight away. This book gave me a wee bit more insight into the Gene Genie and the 70’s and 80’s nostalgia trip - despite some parts being dated, even 12 years since this was published!!

[Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who was barely alive in the 90s I found myself Googling my way through. I have learned a lot, including the word avuncular.

There were parts that even invoked my own childhood memories, and my own rant about people who still (in 2024!) buy (do they still have to buy them, or are they just free now?) those awful ringtones of TV catchphrases "sha-tiiing!"... Why? I thought those had stopped being a thing in 2004?!

Now I need to go and watch all of the James Bond movies and finish my 1:24 scale Audi Quattro...

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A 70s/80s nostalgia fest, written (along with Philip Dodd) by the Gene-genie himself, this has the novel hook of taking each mini-essay from an iconic date from the decades in question (eg, 27th December 1977 - “Star Wars” opens in the UK). This welcome, different approach is useful from a trivia point of view (knowing dates in never a bad thing) and it also provides plenty of excuses for much pleasant tangent taking. It’s also funny, smart and warmly nostalgic, revelling in shared memories without a hint of sarcasm (though with quite cutting observations at times). This is good fun, it made me smile a lot and managed to dredge up a few memories of my own, which is never a bad thing in my opinion. Well worth a look.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice trip down memory lane for anyone who grew up in the 60's and 70's. Not a comprehensive study of old fads or crazes, but has some nice comparisons with modern day equivelants. A very light read, with the longest chapter only 5 pages long. It is slightly let down by having any comments being ranted in the style of Gene Hunt which can get annoying. That said though. It is still reasonably well written, and every page has an I remember this or that moment.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Philip Glenister aka Gene Hunt of Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes takes us on a trip down memory lane to revisit the 1970s and 80s.Not exactly a literary masterpiece but still amusing enough to keep a person entertained.

[Becky Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cracking little book with some properly funny lines. It may be based on the 70s and 80s, but most of the nostalgia works just as well for the decade or two that followed, as well.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining trip down memory lane, and I knew I was right about curly-wurlys being bigger when I was a kid.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actor Philip Glenister barrels through the 1970s and 1980s in a lightly funny and often sentimental stream of consciousness. Enjoyable, if short.

[Gavin Millar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny and a good look back at the 70s/80s era. Sadly, I was born too late to appreciate the 70s and 80s and therefore this book was a fun and interesting way to learn a bit more about the past.

[Tamsin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laughed out loud, lots of memories and the author's dry wit. A great read.

[Tim Alborough · Rating 3 out of 5]

Every chapter had an I remember that moment , the chapters are short which makes it a pick up and put down book , a book to read in an advert break unless you are watching the BBC.