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David Mitchell
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David Mitchell: Back Story Hardcover – 11 Oct. 2012

by David Mitchell (Author)
4.1 out of 5 stars 2,985 ratings

David Mitchell, who you may know for his inappropriate anger on every TV panel show except Never Mind the Buzzcocks, his look of permanent discomfort on C4 sex comedy Peep Show, his online commenter-baiting in The Observer or just for wearing a stick-on moustache in That Mitchell and Webb Look, has written a book about his life.

As well as giving a specific account of every single time he's scored some smack, this disgusting memoir also details:

  • the singular, pitbull-infested charm of the FRP (‘Flat Roofed Pub’)
  • the curious French habit of injecting everyone in the arse rather than the arm
  • why, by the time he got to Cambridge, he really, really needed a drink
  • the pain of being denied a childhood birthday party at McDonalds
  • the satisfaction of writing jokes about suicide
  • how doing quite a lot of walking around London helps with his sciatica
  • trying to pretend he isn’t a total **** at Robert Webb’s wedding
  • that he has fallen in love at LOT, but rarely done anything about it
  • why it would be worse to bump into Michael Palin than Hitler on holiday
  • that he’s not David Mitchell the novelist. Despite what David Miliband might think
Read more
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  1. Print length
    336 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    HarperCollins
  4. Publication date
    11 Oct. 2012
  5. Dimensions
    15.9 x 3.2 x 24 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    0007351720
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0007351725
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  1. These consumers are just passing through, waiting to get their head turned by something sparkly which, once tarnished by their gaze, they’ll turn away from. They like what’s cool because it’s cool and for no other reason, and I hate them for it.
    Highlighted by 160 Kindle readers
  2. The down side is the fear. The fear of something happening to her, the pressure of there being two bodies in the world that I want to keep from harm and only being able to watchfully inhabit one of them. I wonder if you know what I mean. I hope you do, for your sake.
    Highlighted by 109 Kindle readers
  3. We’re sliding into a society where the first thing you need to do to demonstrate that you’re any good at something is to say that you are.
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Product description

Review

‘One of the best celebrity memoirs of last year…his outsider geek personality translates just as well on the page as it does on TV.’ Metro

‘It livened up about half way through with the appearance of me. But enough of David's life. The book is wonderful from beginning to end.’ Robert Webb

'David Mitchell is an extremely funny man on screen, in person, in print and very probably underwater.' Sam Bain, co-writer of Peep Show

‘He can write’ Evening Standard

‘Fluent, discursive, intelligent.’ Evening Standard

‘If you like Mitchell on television, you will like him in this book.’ Shortlist

About the Author

David Mitchell is a comedian, actor and writer. He stars in Peep Show, writes for the Observer, co-hosts 10 O'Clock Live, has appeared in every TV or radio panel show except Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Quote Unquote and A League Of Their Own and has been in two films neither of which made a profit. He is married, childless and the polysyllabic member of the double-act 'Mitchell and Webb'. Soon he will do more.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 11 Oct. 2012
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0007351720
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0007351725
  • Item weight ‏ : ‎ 620 g
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15.9 x 3.2 x 24 cm
  • Customer reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 2,985 ratings

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David Mitchell

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Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
2,985 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this autobiography to be a good honest read with real laugh-out-loud moments and a lively account of Mitchell's life. The book is well-written, with one customer noting its incisive style, and customers appreciate the author's sly sense of fun and likeable personality. The narrative is interestingly set around a walk through London, and customers describe it as heartwarming. The pacing receives mixed reactions, with some finding it very moving while others find it tedious.

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HumorReadabilityStory qualityWriting qualityComedy talentHeartwarmingLorePacing
179 customers mention ‘Humor’146 positive33 negative

Customers enjoy the book's humor, finding it funny in an educated way with real laugh-out-loud moments and sly sense of fun.

"...Funny book from a funny guy." Read more

"...I thought the book was very well written, laugh-out-loud funny in many places and the chapter devoted to his gorgeous wife is very touching indeed." Read more

"...There's enough of a comedic touch to his writings to entertain, and just enough detail to give the reader a small window into the world of Mitchell...." Read more

"...(not the novelist) David Mitchell is suffused with his trademark lowbrow verbosity...." Read more

177 customers mention ‘Readability’158 positive19 negative

Customers find the book engaging and honest, with one customer particularly appreciating its style.

"Enjoyed this book, especially as I live around here and know most of the places David is referencing. Funny book from a funny guy." Read more

"...The book is great. It doesn't have a life lesson or a universal truth to it...." Read more

"...How did he end up stuck with that haircut? It's entertaining reading if you like his comedy or are intrigued by the man himself, but don't get your..." Read more

"...autobiography and this one is right up there with some of the best that I have read...." Read more

90 customers mention ‘Story quality’79 positive11 negative

Customers praise the autobiography's quality, describing it as an honest and lively account of Mitchell's life, filled with good anecdotes.

"...It does have a detailed and interesting story of a funny and intelligent man's life." Read more

"...be a staid plod through the various period of life, we get snapshots of detail and drama, followed by a remorseless analysis of the stupidity of his..." Read more

"...It talks about his early years, his thoughts as a young boy, family relationships and some typically David style observations. Quite sweet actually...." Read more

"...Mitchell shines through every page as an intelligent, caring, warm person with a really sly sense of fun coupled with a very real humility...." Read more

85 customers mention ‘Writing quality’68 positive17 negative

Customers find the book well written and easy to read, with one customer describing it as a smart quick read.

"...It does have a detailed and interesting story of a funny and intelligent man's life." Read more

"...I thought the book was very well written, laugh-out-loud funny in many places and the chapter devoted to his gorgeous wife is very touching indeed." Read more

"...enough of a comedic touch to his writings to entertain, and just enough detail to give the reader a small window into the world of Mitchell...." Read more

"...One to say how much i liked it. Easy read (mostly) and enjoyable to learn about David's early school days...." Read more

24 customers mention ‘Comedy talent’24 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate Mitchell's comedy talent, describing him as a brilliant and likeable chap who comes across as human.

"...you laugh in this book, and above all, David Mitchell is an interesting character to share a few pages with...." Read more

"The autobiography of popular sit-com and panel-show comedian (not the novelist) David Mitchell is suffused with his trademark lowbrow verbosity...." Read more

"...but the whole is so well organized that we get an excellent picture of his life, life style, personality, likes and dislikes and of course, what..." Read more

"...And he comes across as a real nice bloke as well. Well that's it - not a rave, adulatory review; he would be embarrassed if it were...." Read more

16 customers mention ‘Heartwarming’16 positive0 negative

Customers find the book heartwarming, with one customer noting it's a cheering read.

"...in many places and the chapter devoted to his gorgeous wife is very touching indeed." Read more

"...Quite sweet actually. It then moves through his life, schooling and experiences whilst growing up, going to university etc...." Read more

"...Outright laughter in places, nods to similar feelings in others. And he comes across as a real nice bloke as well...." Read more

"...That one chapter is a beautiful love essay, completely out of style with the remaining chapters in the book...." Read more

10 customers mention ‘Lore’10 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's narrative structure, with several mentioning the interesting walk through London that serves as the backdrop for the storytelling.

"...It's set up as a literal and metaphorical trip through London, and it works well as we accompany David through a memorable journey...." Read more

"...It's based on a stroll around London landmarks which give rise to memories of childhood onwards to pretty much the present day...." Read more

"...However the bad language spoilt it for me. I did enjoy the walk through London, it reminded me of my student days there." Read more

"Mitchell takes us on a long walk around London, linking in his life story...." Read more

26 customers mention ‘Pacing’11 positive15 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with some finding it very moving while others describe it as tedious.

"...It started well but somewhere in the middle it became slow going, name dropping and a little bit boring, maybe it's because David is a normal bloke..." Read more

"...It turns out that he, like myself, enjoys a good walk, in his case for differing reasons, partly because of the need to stay on top of his..." Read more

"Book started ok then became tedious rambling as if he needed to fill an agreed number of pages Disappointed after seeing him on numerous shows" Read more

"...of how Mr Mitchell got to where he is now, interspersed with his musings on all and everything...." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • S. P. Ogden
    5.0 out of 5 stars Funny tale from West Hampstead’s finest
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 May 2025
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Enjoyed this book, especially as I live around here and know most of the places David is referencing. Funny book from a funny guy.
    One person found this helpful
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  • muffin8or
    4.0 out of 5 stars David Mitchell the man, not an extension of his work
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 May 2013
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    People are approaching this book with a view that it is more David Mitchell humorous content. That it'll be like one massive observer column. Or a seemingly unending soapbox. Or a long peep show monologue. Or a giant written and performed sketch. People are wrong.

    The approach to almost all art forms governs a large part of your experience of them. Try to keep second guessing a film and even the greats will bore you. The same goes for books, and this book is a great demonstration of the importance of approach. 'Back Story' is for people interested in David Mitchell the person, not David Mitchell's body of work. That's not to say that if you like Mitchell's work, you won't like his book but rather you need to be interested in him as a person to like the book.
    People complain that the book wasn't funny. But looking at the text, you don't see Mitchell trying and failing to be funny. That isn't the point of the book. Where he tried to be funny he was, but on the whole this isn't meant to have you laughing throughout.

    The book is great. It doesn't have a life lesson or a universal truth to it. It does have a detailed and interesting story of a funny and intelligent man's life.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Al
    3.0 out of 5 stars Three books in one
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 November 2012
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    This book frames David Mitchell's autobiography and his trademark diatribes (some funny, some not) inside a walking tour of London from Kilburn to the BBC. What he sees along the way triggers his musings and reminiscences. But in the first half of the book, this structure does not seem to work - the links to his life story seem forced and his insights on London are often mundane. In one startling revelation he tells how those big white London houses would once have held a single family and their servants, and then makes an awkward link into the story of his childhood. On this evidence, David Mitchell should never work as a straight historical tour guide (not, luckily, that he would ever need to do so outside of Peep Show).

    Thankfully, the book gets better as it goes along and the walking tour element is gradually abandoned in favour of a more straightforward autobiography of Footlights and breaking into TV comedy. There is still plenty to make you laugh in this book, and above all, David Mitchell is an interesting character to share a few pages with. Is he really the lonely, awkward pub bore he portrays? How did he end up stuck with that haircut? It's entertaining reading if you like his comedy or are intrigued by the man himself, but don't get your hopes too high.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • E. A. Banks
    5.0 out of 5 stars I love David Mitchell even more now I've read this
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 November 2013
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    I do enjoy an autobiography and this one is right up there with some of the best that I have read. I have been an admirer of David Mitchell for a long time and am probably one of the few people on the planet who was not surprised when he married someone beautiful who appears to be every bit as witty and intelligent as he is. I like a smart funny man and David Mitchell is exactly that, as anyone who has watched his hilarious rants on TV panel shows will know.
    One of the most appealing things about this book is how strongly his own voice comes across; the mildly ranty way he explains to the reader in the introduction to the book that he is the David Mitchell off the telly and not the novelist is just like listening to him speak. We take a long slow walk through David's life (and his back pain) and even though parts of his early life are not so remarkable, there is still warmth and wit in the telling of his childhood escapades. He is only a few years younger than me so recollections regarding 70s and 80s television felt very familiar as did some of his social awkwardness.
    David Mitchell writes a regular column for The Observer and has written for both radio and television so the fact that his autobiography is an accomplished piece of writing should not be a surprise. I thought the book was very well written, laugh-out-loud funny in many places and the chapter devoted to his gorgeous wife is very touching indeed.
    6 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Migas
    5.0 out of 5 stars Rir a sério
    Reviewed in Spain on 31 August 2024
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Divertidíssimo
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  • Shivani
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in India on 13 September 2016
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    Hilarious on paper too.
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  • kez
    5.0 out of 5 stars What a walk!
    Reviewed in Australia on 5 July 2017
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    I found myself reading this at breakneck speed to emulate one of David's erudite explosions on QI or WILTY! Rarely have I read a book which has been written just exactly as the author speaks.
    David spoke to me.
    And I loved it.
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars LOVED IT
    Reviewed in Japan on 23 July 2018
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Such a talented comedian, writer and actor. His little anecdotes are hilarious, yet in a way extremely relatable. I'm glad I lived in the same era as him.
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  • Annie
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great book
    Reviewed in Germany on 4 October 2016
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    I usually don't like autobiographies, but I really like David Mitchell so I bought this book. And it is wonderful! I truly enjoyed his writing style. He has such a wonderful way with words.
    The "tour" in the book was so intriguing that I actually visited a few places that were described in the book when I visited London.
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