And Another Thing: The World According to Clarkson Volume 2

The World According to Clarkson #2

by Jeremy Clarkson

Jeremy Clarkson finds the world a perplexing place. So much so, in fact, that he wrote a book about it. But despite the appearance of the bestselling "The World According To Clarkson", things don’t seem to have changed much. And so Jeremy’s having another go. In "And Another Thing", our exasperated hero discovers that: he inadvertently dropped a bomb on North Carolina; we’re all going to explode at the age of 62; Russians look bad in Speedos. But not as bad as Brits; no one should have to worry about being Bill Oddie’s long lost sister; cooking a Sunday Roast is one thing. Gravy is quite another; and, he should probably be nicer about David Beckham. But while these things play on his mind, the world remains Jeremy’s favourite place to be. On the whole, it’s brilliant. It’s just the idiots, meddlers and do-gooders who spoil it for the rest of us. Laugh-out-loud funny and as straight-talking as ever, Clarkson bursts their pointless little bubble, while celebrating the special things that we should hold dear. Sit back and enjoy as Jeremy puts the world to rights...

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, Comedy, Biography, British Literature, Journalism, Cars

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson (born April 11, 1960) is an English broadcaster and writer who specialises in motoring.

He writes weekly columns for The Sunday Times and The Sun, but is better known for his role on the BBC television programme Top Gear.

From a career as a local journalist in the north of England, he rose to public prominence as a presenter of the original format of Top Gear in 1988. Since the mid-1990s Clarkson has become a recognised public personality, regularly appearing on British television presenting his own shows and appearing as a guest on other shows. As well as motoring, Clarkson has produced programmes and books on subjects such as history and engineering. From 1998 to 2000 he also hosted his own chat show, Clarkson.

His opinionated but humorous tongue-in-cheek writing and presenting style has often generated much public reaction to his viewpoints. His actions both privately and as a Top Gear presenter have also sometimes resulted in criticism from the media, politicians, pressure groups and the public.

As well as the criticism levelled against him, Clarkson also generated a significant following in the public at large, being credited as a factor in the resurgence of Top Gear to the most popular show on BBC Two, and calls for him to be made Prime Minister. Clarkson himself was keen to downplay his perceived influence on the British public, stating he regularly contradicts himself, and would make a "rubbish" Prime Minister.

Reviews

[Michael Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adore this book. It has two things that make it a classic. One: there's a picture of a very friendly looking chicken on the cover. Chickens are nice animals. We keep chickens so it's nice to see Gallus gallus domesticus get some cover time on a book. Two: it's the perfect thickness for my hands free beer bottling operation. Plus, the cover has a matte plastic seal, so it resists spillages.

[Patrick Neylan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clarkson likes to play the oaf, usually for humorous purposes. He's a lot smarter than that, but his irritation with environmentalists (who despise him as much as he despises them) and officialdom is real enough. In print, he's prepared to argue his point rather than make the funny-but-shallow jibes that characterise his style on Top Gear, his image as an exasperated simple man who just wants to live his life comes across rather well because he does his research (or relies on personal experience). He's also a lot more liberal than one might think, and his early opposition to Tony Blair's military adventurism shows that he's also a man of principles.

Although the greens and the jobsworths get their share of ridicule, this collection of about 100 newspaper columns from 2004-5 covers a much wider range. When he does tackle the greens, his arguments aren't as entrenched as some people might expect. He has a reputation for intolerance, but he points out that his critics on the left are usually more intolerant (such as the Labour MP who said he wanted Clarkson dead and yet opposes the death penalty, suggesting that being an annoyance to environmentalists is a worse crime than child murder). Elsewhere, he argues that environmental laws are wrong because they actually cause more environmental damage than the problems they're trying to solve.

You won't agree with him all the time and the humour does flag a bit, but Clarkson is still one of the UK's more engaging columnists. But newspaper columns date quickly, so this book is a bit less essential now.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I vaguely remember some of these rants from the Sunday Times columns, but what is more surprising is the amount I can’t remember at all. Two or three at a time is all I can take to be honest, and if anything Clarkson is getting worse as he gets older. Are there any redeeming features out there in the wide world? Not for him. The whole place is being shagged by environmentalists, Johnny Foreigner, Uncle Sam and Piers Morgan. It’s all a man can do to sit for ten minutes on the bog for some peace. It’s observations like these, however, that ring true, or like the one extolling the joys of work and writing that make me keep reading Clarkson. Everyone has something to say, but he says it with more wit and insight than many others and it’s that which sets him apart.

[Louise Armstrong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of fun and some good ideas to think about. JC has no fear when it comes to tackling the sillier, double-thinking ideas that some people have about the world. What would you rather have? he enquires bluntly, teeth or a nice view? Let's be honest, we'd all say teeth. It's always other people who spoil the view or create problems! It's never us wanting teeth, or using our heating, is it? I love the way he's not afraid to point out these inconvenient facts.

He's also much more sensible about freedom, green issues and poverty than you might think from his media image - I loved his idea of each UK town twinning with, not a town in Europe (dull municipal jollies), but a town in the third world and taking a personal interest in eradicating poverty in it. I might even write to the council.

He writes jolly well, and makes it look easy, even accidental, but so much skill goes into those effortless pages! Here's a line on tattoos.

'You see these people, in Heat magazine usually, with half a yard of gothic symbolism plasterd all over their back and you think: Do you hang your curtains pattern-side out for the neighbours to admire?'

You, includes the reader and creates a warm feeling
Heat magazine deftly reminds us how very unimportant the minor celbs are
half a yard is hyperbole, it's funny because a tattoo does seem to take up more space than it does (like 2-year-olds)
Plastered is a nice verb - deftly reminds you that a lot of people are drunk when they get a tat, and also suggests the artwork is poor
And then the waspish comparison - deflating people who think tats are cool by pointing out how essentially suburban displaying them is.

[Leosya · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book 1CAnd Another Thing 1D was written by Jeremy Clarkson who as well as being a writer he is also a co-presenter of a car show called Top Gear and is the tallest person on British Television. I have read some of his books and I chose to read this one because I knew that Jeremy writes his comments on real life events. he always writes them in a humourous way and that is why I enjoy reading his books. This book was based off of his articles in newspapers.


I learned many things from this book and I also understood the authors point of view for example when he was talking about an event that happened for example a shark attack most people would say that it was a horrible thing and it means that we should stay away from the ocean in order to not be attacked. He on the other hand said that we should kill the sharks so they stop eating us and when people say that we are changing the world we should answer yes, we are making it better. I didn 19t really have a favorite part in this book because it was a mix of funny ideas and articles and I liked them all.


In conclusion I think that this book is really good and I rate it on a 9 out of ten. I would recommend it to most of the people that I know because they usually also enjoy reading humourous books. I think that this book is for people from about 10 or 12 to any age. I really enjoyed reading this book

[Justpassingby]

When Jeremy Clarkson published his first volumes it all seemed like rather innocent fun. Climbing on a soapbox for the right to despise vegetarians and to say cunt, nigger and mick is one thing; actually bashing specific people for their Irish descent, or even physically assaulting them when they fail to deliver a steak, is an altogether different one. It spoils the irony.

That and Brexit give the whole thing a bitter aftertaste.

[Owain Lloyd-williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

Old man yells at cloud

[Žydrūnas Jonušas · Rating 1 out of 5]

Vienintelis džiaugsmas, kad turėjau kantrybės nenumesti to niekalo perskaitęs pirmus 20psl. Vienintelis liūdesys, kad užlipau ant to paties grėblio antrąkart.
Niekinis popieriaus gadinimas apie nieką. Dar gal būtų kažkokios (nors gal ir tik įsivaizduojamos) vertės, jeigu būtum JK gyventojas. Tada kas antru žodžiu vietinės reikšmės įžymybėmis persmelkti rašinėliai GAL būtų bent jau kažkuom šmaikštūs. O dabar stebiuosi, kam išvis versti tokią šūdmalistiką į lietuvių kalbą. Beje, vertimas irgi tokio pat lygio, kaip ir tekstų prasmė: itin mėgėjiškas (sakinių konstrukcijos nenatūralios, terminai verčiami "generalinių motorų" principu ir dar korektūros klaidos...).
Tų knygų seriją matyt buvo nuspręsta Lietuvoje išleisti, nes ant viršelio Klarksonas, o tai jau tipo kažkokio sėkmės ar populiarumo garantija. My ass...
Nerekomenduoju niekam. 0/5

[Szymon Dudziński · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant set of columns from sir Jeremy Clarkson. I'm starting to feel like these books have recurring themes - the first one's was Concorde, for this one it's health and safety. Still, this lad is one of, if not the funniest man on Earth.

[Chris Jolliffe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok not his finest book

[Julia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I honestly think Jeremy Clarkson is hilarious. On Top Gear and other various British shows I've seen him on, I've been rolling on the floor laughing at his quick wit and plays on words. Unfortunately, this book was absolutely not up to the expectations I had for something written by such a funny man. In the three days it took me to read this I didn't crack a single smile at any of his jokes and, even worse, I often found myself completely disagreeing with that he was trying to sell to me as good, old fashioned, reasonable beliefs and views. Especially his opinions on gay marriage and terrorism has me shaking my head as I read.
Overall, I was thoroughly disappointed and I may think twice before picking up another of Clarkson's books again.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of his weekly columns in the UK's 'Sunday times' newspaper dating between January 2004 and December 2005, Jeremy passes his own unique judegement on a wide variety of topics.

If you're not a fan of his irreverant 'take-no-prisoners, call-it-as-he-sees-it' attitude and writing style, then there are plenty of other books out there that might suit you better... on quilting perhaps? Or even flower-arranging...

However, if you too find yourself continually frustrated by the boneheaded decisions made by small-minded busibodies who have made a career as fun-spoling bureaucrats and professional nay-sayers (or just if you're a fan of Top Gear) then this is the book for you.

[Mark Farley · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's something about Jeremy Clarkson that I can't quite put my finger on. Everything should suggest that I should hate him and not even want to pick up one of his books or watch one of his shows. But yet I do. His brand of tired misogyny and out of touch dad stupidity and his obsession with gas guzzling cars is everything that I hate. Yet I'm still drawn to him. Even some of his opinions I don't agree with. Yet I'm transfixed by his books, I laugh my balls off and sometimes even find myself agreeing with him. And I hate myself for it. His books are great though. There I go again. I mean, honestly...

[Barbra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I do find the man quite arrogant I do like his sense of humour and found some of this book quite funny.

Back Cover Blurb:
In And Another Thing the king of the exasperated quip discovers that:

* bombing North Carolina is bad for Yorkshire
* we can look forward to exploding at the age of 62
* Russians look bad in Speedos. But not as bad as we do
* wasps are the highest form of life

Funny and in your face, Jeremy Clarkson bursts the pointless little bubbles of the idiots while celebrating the special, the unique and the sheer bloody brilliant....

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

While decidedly British in nature,Jezzo has a multi-cultural world view of the human condition and that condition is pathetic. What books still make you laugh out loud? This one. It is outrageous, politically incorrect, ballsy and spot on. Be forewarned, do not attempt to read this book in a public library. Your snickering and guffaws will get you booted. Mr. Clarkson, after your years of pointing out our idiocy in newspaper columns, TV shows and books, is there no end to your well of sarcasm? I certainly hope not.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this a bit ago and put it down and then picked it up again. I'm not sure why I set it down the first time it is hysterical. But I suppose you have to be somewhat familiar with Jeremy Clarkson, ie: Top Gear host for it to really be awesome. While he rags on Americans almost as frequently as environmentalists as long as I hear his voice in my head I am laughing out loud and getting strange looks when I read in waiting rooms.

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clarkson is heaps of fun; refreshingly non-pc! Crude at times, yes. Offensive even, yes. But boy he knows how to hit the mark with his satire. Humour is the perfect pin to burst the bubbles of wacky environmentalists, puffed-up politicians, smile-less bureaucrats, and all others who suck lemons for breakfast before heading into the world wearing underwear that's three sizes too small.

Loved it.

[Tristan Ropa]

The world is a very bizarre place according to Jeremy Clarkson. This book includes things like why the black American Express card is worthless and a wast of time.Jeremy Clarkson tries to understand teenagers, Americans and the world in its self. With many jokes about the Americans and the french I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the show Top gear or just wants to read a hilarious book From the viewpoint of a middle aged British man.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Jeremy Clarkson's books; they're funny, insightful and 9/10 years later, still relevant to the world today. Sure, you won't agree on everything he says, but their his opinions and he's not afraid to say them and for that, he should get credit.

This is the second book of his that I've read, and I can promise you that I will be finishing the series and reading some of his other books as well.

[Kifflie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeremy's second collection of columns, from 2005.

I don't always agree with him on things, but he does have a way of making me take a hard look at what I really do believe, and I have enough of a libertarian streak in me that I can relate to quite a bit of what he writes about.

He's more than a bit of a curmudgeon at this point, and I'll be curious, as I keep reading this series, to see if and how he mellows over the years.

[Gus · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a compilation of Clarkson weekly colomn in the Sunday Times. These stories are

generally his views on current events. At times they are quite funny ­ laugh out loud at

other times his views are very bigoted. They are also very English and for an Aussie

reader you don’t know to whom he is referring and so the joke is lost. Only read half as it

is very segmented, hope to pick it up again and finish it off. I think it would be excellent

toilet reading!

[Sofia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny, but not as good as the first one. Clarkson is bitter and much more whiny in this book. I really hope that this is not a trend and this great writer and tv personality will not become increasingly worse as he ages. It was very difficult to read and took me much longer than my usual two weeks to finish.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeremy Clarkson's second collection of essays from his column is as brilliant as his first. While I disagree with him half the time, I always think he's amusing and well-written! Whether he's taking on patio heaters, charity auctions, or, his favorite, environmentalists, he'll have you laughing AND thinking. Love it.

[Gary Braham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just got into Top Gear a few years ago. And I'm not a car person, and I've never been to Europe so a lot of the cultural/political references went over my head. But the book was still very entertaining and enlightening. I find myself agreeing with Mr. Clarkson on a lot of his views. And even when I didn't, it was still a very good read.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

As his first book really. More of the same and I laughed from start to finish. I should add these are all taken from Clarkson's page that he writes for one of the Sunday papers - I forget which one so his subjects were always topical for the date they were written. As good as the first - perhaps better in fact.

[Bhavya · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 stars
So this book. It wasn't meant for me. In fact, it was meant only for a 40-something British living in Britain in 2004-05.
Sure, it had its quarks. And sure, there were parts that were pretty funny (hence the rating), but apart from that, I couldn't find any redeeming quality in this book when read by an Indian teenager in 2015.

[Nigel Street · Rating 3 out of 5]

Never short of an opinion and seldom shy of seeking to shock or insult someone, preferably both it is an easy read with some laugh out loud moments! An assuming distraction which is occasionally offensive and invariably smug would wear thin in time unless you're the loyalist of disciples which I am not.

[Alan Pursell · Rating 5 out of 5]

while he can be the grumpy middle-aged middle of the road conservative guy, I find myself identifying and enjoying it. Mostly because it's conservative in the way you'd quite like it to be and not the creepy Anne Coulter Fascism pretending to be compassionate way. It's also really funny.

[Dawn Bates · Rating 5 out of 5]

laugh out loud stuff this! had me laughing my head off on the tram, in the park, in the cafe and anywhere else that i could get to read it!! could not put it down. the guy is hilarious! great for anytime and anyone! even read it walking along the road! just could not put it down! :)

[Steve]

Love Jezza to bits when it comes to entertaining us with cars on a Sunday night, but otherwise can Mr Murdoch ask JC to leave this and the Sunday Times Review section alone.... please! Will people please stop buying me Jeremy Clarkson books.