Before I go with Laughter

856 Pages·2022·6.44 MB·English

by  jimmy carr or is it dale winton ressurrected

Jimmy Carr is an award-winning comedian, television host and
writer, goddamnit.
One of the biggest-selling comedy acts in the world, Jimmy
consistently does stand-up to sell-out crowds, performing his shows
at venues in over forty countries. That’s a lot of countries. In fact,
the only thing that’s been on a more extensive world tour in the
last �ve years is coronavirus.
Before making the move to streaming, Jimmy was one of the
bestselling acts in the comedy DVD market, selling over 2 million
copies. And to this day his DVDs continue to form the centrepiece of
many Oxfam Shop window displays.
Jimmy is a household name in UK television, well-known for
hosting Channel 4’s 8 Out Of 10 Cats, Cats Does Countdown and Big Fat
Quiz of the Year. He is a regular on all the top panel shows. Jimmy’s
hair has appeared in both The LEGO Movie (2014) and The LEGO Movie 2
(2019).
He was also the �rst UK comedian to sign a stand-up deal with
streaming behemoth Net�ix in 2015.
Before & Laughter is his �rst attempt at an autobiography. He might
even write another one. Depending on next year’s tax bill.

This ebook published in 2021 by

Quercus Editions Ltd
Carmelite House
50 Victoria Embankment
London EC4Y 0DZ

An Hachette UK company

Copyright © 2021 Jimmy Carr

The moral right of Jimmy Carr to
be identi�ed as the author of this work has been
asserted in accordance with the Copyright,
Designs and Patents Act, 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication
may be reproduced or transmitted in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopy, recording, or any
information storage and retrieval system,
without permission in writing from the publisher.

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available
from the British Library

HB ISBN 978 1 52941 307 6
TPB ISBN 978 1 52941 308 3
Ebook ISBN 978 1 52941 310 6

Every e�ort has been made to contact copyright holders.
However, the publishers will be glad to rectify in future
editions any inadvertent omissions brought to their attention.

Quercus Editions Ltd hereby exclude all liability to the extent
permitted by law for any errors or omissions in this book and for any loss,
damage or expense (whether direct or indirect) su�ered by a
third party relying on any information contained in this book.

Ebook by CC Book Production

www.quercusbooks.co.uk
For Karoline and Rockefeller
CONTENTS
Before & Laughter
About the Author
Title
Copyright
Dedication

A CARR IS BORN
SUPERPOWERS OF THE AVERAGE COMIC
WHAT DO YOU WANT?
VERY MUCH ON PURPOSE
DECEPTIVELY HONEST
RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERYTHING
FEEL THE FEAR AND SHIT YOUR PANTS
BREAKDOWN AND RECOVERY
THE FEAR
COMPROMISE, I INSIST
RISKY BUSINESS
HAPPY DISPOSITION
A PENIS . . . WAIT, NO . . . HAPPINESS
THE BEST MEDICINE
LAUGHTER LIFE
SAD CLOWN
TOUCHY-FEELY
SO, I GOT PUBLICLY SHAMED
CHAPTER ELEVEN
LIVING ON THE EDGE
A GENERAL THEORY OF SPECIALISATION
BE YOURSELF – EVERYONE ELSE IS ALREADY TAKEN
CREATIVITY/HACK
CREATIONISM
PATTERN RECOGNITION
EDINBURGH 101
TALKING POINTS
YOU CAN’T NOT COMMUNICATE
CONTROL THE NARRATIVE
WORK IS MORE FUN THAN FUN
10,000 HOURS OF WHAT?
BEST-LAID PLANS
TIMING . . . FINALLY
BREAK THE BANK
DON’T LEAVE LUCK TO CHANCE
TALENT + HARD WORK = YOUR LUCK
BROADCAST NEWS
START AND KEEP GOING
QUIT QUITTING
LOVE IS REVOLUTION FOR TWO
SENSITIVITY TRAINING
AFTERWORD
JUST THE TIP – TAKE IT FROM JIMMY CARR
A CARR IS BORN
INTRODUCTION TO THE CARR MANUAL
When I read an autobiography, my takeaway is always, ‘Wow, this
guy talks about himself a lot.’ So I thought we might mix things up
a bit. You might be a little interested in me but I’m damn sure
you’re a lot more interested in yourself. This book, then, is about
both of us.
I wanted to write something that changes Western culture
fundamentally and increases the sum of human happiness now and
for future generations. But that was a lot of work, so I did this
instead: I wrote about what I know. I know about me and I know
about comedy and I know how to help myself. Everything I needed
to be happy I learned from dick jokes.
You can’t be a Marvel superhero, you can’t be a Jedi knight, but
you can be funny. As funny as anyone. I’m making a case for
laughing your way through life – for seeing the funny side wherever
possible. If you could see the world through my eyes, well, let’s just
say I laugh my funny laugh a lot.
Of course, my map of the world is not accurate, my world view
isn’t the truth. But then again, neither is yours, neither is anyone’s.