SO ANYWAY...: THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY

The text is a humorous and insightful tale of John Cleese's journey from a tall, introverted youth in Weston-super-Mare to becoming a reputed entertainer. It captures moments like his first nerve-wracking public performance at St Peter's Preparatory School at almost nine years old, and his transient family life marked by frequent moves every half year. Cleese's early career saw him stepping into a teaching role, unprepared to educate on the subjects assigned to him, and sharing quirky anecdotes from his Cambridge days, including his time with pet hamsters. A pivotal moment in his life was meeting Graham Chapman, who would become his writing collaborator for more than 20 years. The narrative then follows Cleese's rise through the ranks of comedy, from writing scripts for icons such as Peter Sellers, David Frost, and Marty Feldman, leading up to his stardom with Monty Python. Throughout, Cleese interjects with reflections on various topics like comedy’s essence, the virtues of cricket versus waterskiing, and the significance of British monarchs' chronology. Overall, it's a compelling narrative delivered with the finesse of a former educator.