From the bestselling author of The Pub Landlord’s Book of British Common Sense comes Think Yourself British by Al Murray, The Pub Landlord. This autumn help yourself to Britain’s best ‘help yourself’ book as AL MURRAY, THE PUB LANDLORD steps out from behind the taps once again to write (well, dictate, be reasonable) the follow-up to his Richard and Judy Book Club-winning literary debut - the most successful humour book of 2007/8, which sold over 300,000 copies and spent 21 weeks in the Sunday Times Bestsellers’ List.
THE GUV knows that you, like so many others in Broken Britain, need to help yourself: “Thinking yourself British is the key. Who knows more about keeping the backbone straight and the upper lip stiff than we British? Who is better at putting a brave face on things and repressing our real feelings than us? Who can meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two impostors just the same like we can (i.e., with the help of beautiful British beer, and perhaps with more cheering when it’s a triumph and more swearing and punching things when it’s a disaster)? Answer: no-one. The sooner we can get more people thinking more British the better it will be for everyone. And I’m not talking about some Jamie Oliver-style scheme where you get your mate to eat a courgette and then tell everyone about it in the hope that the population of Rotherham will start to shop at Sainsbury’s. I’m talking about something that actually might be some use.”
Think Yourself British by Al Murray, The Pub Landlord is a unique guide to helping yourself in everyday issues such as: Health, Nutrition, Dating, Health, Wealth, Success and Happiness, unlocking your brainSpace™ and increasing your brain’sPace*. It also includes case studies, flow charts, comprehensive diagrams, in addition to some of THE GUV’s Great British food recipes. Whatever your needs, make sure you help yourself to Think Yourself British by Al Murray, The Pub Landlord (remember to pay for it, though, don’t just help yourself).
A busy twelve months for THE GUV has seen him: extend his critically acclaimed 2009 national tour Al Murray - The Pub Landlord’s Beautiful British Tour three times, totaling over 80 shows and selling in excess of 220,000 tickets; record series two and three of his British Comedy Award-winning Al Murray’s Happy Hour (ITV1); headline BBC ONE’s flagship comedy show Live at the Apollo (BBC ONE); and return to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with a sell-out run of his four (1996-1999) Perrier Award nominated, and ultimately Perrier Award winning, shows. In addition to publishing Think Yourself British by Al Murray, The Pub Landlord, a packed autumn will also see him release a brand new live DVD, Al Murray - The Pub Landlord’s Beautiful British Tour Live at the O2, recorded at THE GUV’s biggest lock-in to date, and return to the road with the extension of Al Murray - The Pub Landlord’s Beautiful British Tour.
ends
Think Yourself British by Al Murray, The Pub Landlord is published by Hodder & Stoughton on 8th October, priced £19.99.
What the press said about the last book by The Pub Landlord:
In The Pub Landlord's Book of British Common Sense, Al Murray has broken several cardinal rules of the Christmas humour book. He is positively funny ("The Bible offers pretty strong proof that God is British, seeing as it's written in English")… And it appears that many of those words were written by Murray, in a field where "author" tends only to denote the recipient of the publisher's advance.
Andy Miller, Daily Telegraph
Al Murray, Pub landlord, is on our TV screens far too rarely, so his Pub Landlord's Book of Common Sense is like a cool pint of lager to a thirsty man. The "welcome" sign on the frontispiece bars Guardian readers, along with fat-tongued chefs, students and olives, but don't let that put you off. Sneak past and enjoy Murray's thoughts on Sartre: "Let's not forget that the French word for think is ponce.
Carrie O'Grady, The Guardian
For more information Tel: +44 (0)20 7598 7222; Email: lucyp@avalonuk.com / danl@avalonuk.com / joc@avalonuk.com
WHAT THE PRESS HAS SAID ABOUT:
AL MURRAY, THE PUB LANDLORD’S BEAUTIFUL BRITISH TOUR
After 15 years of refining his act, it's now in peak satirical condition. The Pub Landlord can pick out targets for his blinkered, chauvinist ire with the finesse of a master marksman. A woman in the stalls who says she's an events co-ordinator? He shakes his head: "Secretary with a calendar." "Pottery? That's for kids. Grow up!" he raves at another. He goes into an apoplexy at the mere mention of a "house-husband". "That's broken Britain right there. This country's ----ed!"…Few other acts reach quite so comfortably inside the confused, wounded mindset of the modern Brit. As our economy founders, here's one national treasure to cherish. * * * * *
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Yes, after 15 years as the Little Englander loudmouth, Al Murray is still playing his part with as much aplomb as any comedian currently working. And, for much of this enjoyably unacceptable two-hour set, he's beyond reproach. The way he integrates the crowd into the show is awe-inspiring: “Where's the money?” he screams at a woman who works for RBS, weaving her in and out of his tirade against “broken Britain”, a sad and sappy place with no sure sense of its own past or future. * * * *
Dominic Maxwell, The Times
AL MURRAY, THE PUB LANDLORD’S BEAUTIFUL BRITISH TOUR AT THE O2 ARENA
The secret of the Pub Landlord’s longevity has been his ability to move with the times… The show ends with a plea for liberal tolerance, which would set Garnett’s ashes glowing in their urn. And it’s a tribute to the persuasive force of the character Murray has created - and the skill with which he inhabits him - that the blatant contradiction between this ideological stance and the snug-bar xenophobia which is the Pub Landlord’s comic staple diet seems to go largely unnoticed. * * * *
Ben Thompson, The Sunday Telegraph
Murray certainly delivered. Strutting onto a stage surrounded by grand columns shaped like beer pumps he was soon is his bullet-headed, bantering element... No comedian is ever going to be as effective at the O2 as they would be in a theatre but Murray had a jolly good bash, working the entire stage, wading into the crowd and getting the sold-out audience to sing as one.
Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard
AL MURRAY, THE PUB LANDLORD AT THE 2009 EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FRINGE
His greatest talent is his interaction with the audience, and a room like this, where he can get in among us, is where that can be experienced in full effect. * * * *
Steve Bennett, Chortle
It is pretty much indisputable that Murray is a master comic. He hides his technical skill and preparation behind a comedy facade of off-the-cuff remarks and asides to the audience.
These have not changed, only matured. * * * *
Kate Copstick, The Scotsman
