Frank Skinner - Frank Skinner

this is a refreshingly honest, very funny and insightful look into arguably one of the finest comedians of recent times. Frank is brutally honest about his upbringing, battles with alcohol and sex addiction. Its this that makes the book so difficult to put down and you'll feel like you're living his highs and lows with him! I'd recommend this for any fans of franks or of stand up comedy in general. Overall a fantastically written book, highly entertaining.

Funny, hilarious, witty and unforgettable. I liked the part where he went out into his back garden when he first knew how to scream. He would go to the end of the garden and shout out load. He did this for many days and the neighbour came over to his house and said to his parents have you heard the noise outside and they said no. When Frank had been caught out he finally stopped. It was hilarious!

Honest and witty. For a modern biography this is actually quite a good effort, in terms of style and reader involvement. The first half of the book is written well and runs around giving snippets of Frank from his childhood, mischievous youth, and finding his feet in the joyous world of the working class. Much of his popularity comes from his natural ballsy charm, daring to say what we find funny but don't have the guts to voice. He embraces cheek, filth and candor, and understands their use in raising a laugh. He merrily lambastes his own shortcomings as he would others, and it's these honest character traits that allow him a place of friendship amongst fans. A typical stand up guy in both senses. Like most beer swilling, football loving, breast fixated men, we tend to group together, and I'm very much part of his target audience on that basis. I enjoyed all the more his personal 'young Frank' stories for the comparisons I could draw, and I enjoyed his failures for the uncaring way your typical bloke deals with most important tasks. This is very much who I thought Frank would be, and the book confirms it. With my curiosity fulfilled, I was very keen to learn about his rags to riches story. Here the book seemed to change, the personal stories often too brief and rather uncomfortable in their telling. His many travels and achievements condensed into so few pages, it felt like he was writing a CV. In between we had pointless pieces of television script, and stories of tabloid tales from his ex girlfriends, which he doesn't talk about, except for cleverly inserting them in his life story. Not falling for that one Frank. I'm not saying it's not news, but I'm sure he did more interesting things than read other peoples garbage. I don't really want to slate the book, it's really very good, but seemed hurried and poorly edited at times. With the book clearly keen to show Frank the person, I just felt it became too trivial when read in full. He also fell short of his claim of not using swear words for the sake of it. Overall he's clearly a very likable and clever man, a good comic and will hopefully stay around for many years. Maybe he could have another go at a book one day, with a bit more commitment it could have been excellent. I definitely recommend this book if you like his persona.

Frank Skinner's biography is probably the funniest, saddest, nicest, sickest and most honest sounding biography I have ever read.

Not wanting to follow the usual protocol of 'my life stories', Frank Skinner simply played mix and match with events throughout his life, and it all came together nicely.

From nearly killing his neighbour, to seedy bets with his teen mates, to family losses, to drunken nights out, to making his name as a comedian, even what is going on in his life as he is writing the book. It is all there, and it is written in such an undiluted way you can practically see, smell and taste everything that he writes.

A real work of art! Nice one Frank.

As a rule I hardly ever read autobiographies. I made an exception for this book and I am glad I did. Well written, shockingly truthful but masterfully written with cleaver humour to dilute his more outrageous revelations. I like Frank Skinner at the end of this book. I liked his honour, especially towards important people in his past, mates and ex's alike. Frank has done himself proud. Frank if you're reading this, I saw your stand up at Warwick Uni a couple of years ago, laughed myself stupid. My mates ribbed me miraculously as being the "woman off the Stoney Stanton Road". I'm not, but I would like to offer the same services as the woman with the lippy on ya car wind screen and bad lounge. Although I am probably too old and not firm enough. Now I will leave it.

Skinner's autobiography is replete with anecdotes ranging from hilarious to heart wrenching. His style is definitely unique, crafted seemingly out of frustration with all the predictable, chronologically structured autobiographies he himself has encountered. It would be fair to assume that an autobiography by a succesful comedian, like Skinner, would be dominateed by gags and humorous experiences. However, Skinner delves deeper that this and offers up a serious, frank (excuse the pun) and often plaintive account of his life. From battling with alcohol to battling with his ex-girlfriend, Skinner reveals everthing in what often seems like a catharsis for the author. What I like most about this book is that the reader becomes a confidant, and trusted friend of Skinner's. You really feel like you know Frank by the end of this. His truthfulness throughout makes his jokes even funnier when they come and he clearly shows himself to be a true master of his craft.

Absolutley awesome. Skinner tells his life story as it was, no points left out, no stone left unturned as it were. A very honest account of the highs and lows in Skinners life. One of those books you can read over and over and over again.

I loved Frank before i even read his book but now i am besotted by him, this book had me in fits of laughter and it had me gripped from the 1st sentence. He portrays himself very well in this without leaving out any gory sad and pathetic bits. I've read it five times since i had it thats how good it is, it's nice to read a rags to riches story without wanting to throw up, Nice one Frank when are you doin' another one soon i hope....

FRANK SKINNER by FRANK SKINNER is a fantastic, funny read.

My girlfriend bought it me for christmas and by boxing day, I'd finished it. I wish I could just send him an email and let him know how much this book made me laugh. It's a real shame people can't write sequels to autobiographies!

Buy this book, it is by far the funiest thing I have read since Spike Milligans recolections of his encounters in the second world war.

There is a great contrast between comedy and tragedy in this book. Frank tells all about his previous alcohol problems and the break up of his relationship whilst he was writing this book. You actually get a feeling for the guy whilst reading this and I for one spent many a late night unable to put this down for fear of losing the ability to laugh out loud and have pain free ribs in the morning!

This book should be available on the NHS!!