David Jason: An Autobiography - Volume 1: My Life

EM: Can't wait to read it! Print is quite small.

United Kingdom on Jun 29, 2023

R E DOWNS: Memories of many great laughs in my life time produced by one of the greatest comedians.

United Kingdom on Apr 27, 2023

James Casey: Great read of a much loved British actor. Written in a funny yet informative manner. Tough early days but always moving on - despite Crewe station blues !

United Kingdom on Jan 10, 2023

denny hanley: Such an awesome, down to Earth guy. I had no idea when i first watched, Dangermouse, in the 80s, that David was the voice behind my favorite mouse/hero...seeing him in all his many varied roles over the years i grew to appreciate his talent. Now i've seen all there is to see, and i'm a huge fan. His book was very well written, poignant, funny, sad, deep and shows his gratitude for his chances to become what he did.

United States on Jul 08, 2019

Sascot: This man is an institution. I would even go so far as to suggest he's an integral part of many people's lives not as Sir David Jason but as the fictitious characters he has portrayed for decades on British television. And so it is that reading his autobiography brings us in touch with who this person really is. It is candid and witty with some startling revelations that somehow just don't fit - scuba diving ????? As we all have, life for Sir David has delved out many downs as well as the ups and he takes us there with him. Genuine affection seeps through the pages of this book which I would recommend for anyone.

United States on Dec 29, 2014

Carol S.: I am a huge fan of his and I knew I would like the book - and it lived up to its promise and much more! It is a thoroughly delightful read!! I was laughing out loud and got lost in his reminiscing - especially once he arrived at his experiences in my favorite tv shows. I had not realized his extensive stage work, so it was a work of discovery as well. He drops a myriad of famous names in English theater and tv and we get an unfettered view of the life and times.

This is one of the kindle books that I wish now for a hard copy.

United States on Oct 12, 2014

dervish: First let me say that my husband and I are huge fans of A Touch of Frost in which David Jason plays the detective, Inspector Jack Frost. We own the entire series and have enjoyed watching them (some more than once) over the years. So I decided to get the autobiography for a bit of insight into the 'real' man. Sir David does gives us little glimpses. His early childhood experiences are very clearly described along with his insecurities and adventures (and misadventures). Everything written has a humorous and self-deprecating touch to it and you learn that struggling actors are just regular people after all.
I found the middle of the book a bit slow going however. For whatever reasons, Sir David gets a bit bogged down in all his various parts, auditions, rejections, and job offers and the 'human' element gets a bit lost. I was most curious of course in the development of the Frost character (personal choice) and found that section more interesting. Many of the comedies he describes were not shown on Canadian Television so perhaps that was why the long and elaborate details surrounding them didn't resonate with me.
As for the later years of his personal life...I feel he...

Canada on Jul 18, 2014

Chris Thatcher: On the face of it a bog-standard autobiography.

So why could I not stop reading?

Well written - well constructed - yes all of that.

But in the end by a man at love with life. And it shines through.

The man IS Del Boy(and Frost, and Pa Larkin and.... and .....and) and we all want him to succeed - and he does - magnificently.

One of those people you wish you could meet.

The book gets you as near as you ever will be to that.

Great read - if you're a fan this will do it for you.

Well done (again) Sir David.

United States on Jun 24, 2014

Slim!: My Life by David Jason was an absolutely brilliant read. He told his story at a lovely pace and I particularly enjoyed the way he interspersed the little funny anecdotes in the narrative. I read for enjoyment and this book ticked all the boxes for me - a real life story told in an upbeat fashion. I loved the way he presented the information and felt he had answered all the things I ever wondered about. The book was a real page turner and I came away feeling I had been given a window into the life of a lovely, happy, caring man who worked hard all his life and enjoyed every minute of it - the hard graft as well as the great success.

United States on Feb 07, 2014

ExecBum: Well, this autobiography, by the great Sir David Jason, is mainly a great read. It made me laugh out loud in lots of places, is brilliantly-written and even made me shed a tear or three towards the end, when talking about the death of his long-term partner, Myfanwy, to cancer. His style is clear, fluid, easy to read and articulate to the point of amusement. He is also very diplomatic about people who treated him shabbily, which I found endearing. I found I liked him a lot for being the bigger man and not spouting bitterness and bile, but looking at things in a very matter-of-fact and humble way. He came across as very down-to-Earth.

The autobiography starts in early childhood and moves fairly comprehensively through his adult life and career. The middle part dragged a little in places for me as I am not much into theatre, so the endless tales about that weren't really for me. (They were still very well-written though. And there were still plenty of funny moments.) It takes a while for him to get onto the things I've always known him for, like: Open All Hours, Only Fools and Horses and Frost. All are given the same length as the earlier stuff and I'd have liked a bit more on...

United Kingdom on Nov 07, 2013