Customer Reviews
Funny But Sad - By: Chris Burnaby, 13 Aug 2008 
A collection of monologues, letters, essays, teleplays, sketches & photos by the late Graham Chapman, edited togetherin this nice hardback book by Jim Yoakum.
Yoakum isn't much of a writer, but we're not here to read what he has to say. Unfortunately, he isn't much of an editor either. He puts sketches & stories that have appeared earlierin the bookin againin a slightly different form & keeps repeating himself. And why he has picked what he has picked is a mystery.
Some of Chapman's stuff here is funny, some interesting, some weird & worrying. But what weighted it down for me was the constant reminder that the whole point to this book is that none of this was ever published or produced. Some of it wasn't meant to be -in which case, should we be reading it? But most of it was meant to be, only it never made it. So why not? Did Chapman fail? That's depressing. Did he think it was rubbish? Why do we have to read it? Did he die before he got the chance? That's depressing again.
So it is funny, although it could have been put together better, but it's all so melancholy.
Graham Chapman's breadth and depth in full - By: Mr. Stuart Bruce, 16 Feb 2008 
Graham Chapman is the most mysterious of the Monty Python team, what with him being dead & therefore unavailable for documentaries, interviews & Monty Python tribute nights on Channel 4. However this book redressed the balance- a very thorough collection of Chapman's sketches, speeches, serious essays, letters, & select extracts from his book "Liar's Autobiography", many of which you haven't seen before.
It really shows Chapman's breadth & depth. He was so intelligent, both broadly as a doctor & an observer of the human race & on specific issues such as homosexual rights, & with a scathing wit.
My sole criticism of the book would be that it is arranged by group- all the lettersin a group, then all the sketches, & so on. When I re-read this book, as I will, I'll probably read itin a random order to get the full contrast between comedy & tragedy.
A Weird Trip Through A Loony's Mind - By: kevin cream, 24 Aug 2005 
No doubt about it, Graham Chapman was a loony. But a wonderful & funny loony as this book clearly shows. What's most revealing about this book are the (fairly) serious essays on serious topics such as over-population. But being a Python he can't keep itstraight for too long & he ends up making some valid points whilst making you laugh--the best medicine from the good Doctor! I also enjoyed the foreword which acts as a brief life history of Chapman, giving the reader a good insight into how he ticked. Weird, funny & touching. Great book.
