Born to Be Riled - Softcover

Clarkson, Jeremy

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0141028998 ISBN 13: 9780141028996

Publisher: Penguin, 2007

Synopsis

Born to be Riled is a collection of hilarious vintage journalism from Jeremy Clarkson.

Jeremy Clarkson, it has to said, sometimes finds the world a maddening place. And nowhere more so than from behind the wheel of a car, where you can see any number of people acting like lunatics while in control (or not) of a ton of metal.

In this collection of classic columns, first published in 1999, Jeremy takes a look at the world through his windscreen, shakes his head at what he sees - and then puts the boot in.

Among other things, he explains:

* Why Surrey is worse than Wales
* How crossing your legs in America can lead to arrest
* The reason cable TV salesmen must be punched
* That divorce can be blamed on the birth of Jesus

Raving politicians, pointless celebrities, ridiculous 'personalities' and the Germans all get it in the neck, together with the stupid, the daft and the ludicrous, in a tour de force of comic writing guaranteed to have Jeremy's postman wheezing under sackfuls of letters from the easily offended.

Praise for Jeremy Clarkson:

'Brilliant . . . laugh-out-loud' Daily Telegraph
'Outrageously funny . . . will have you in stitches' Time Out
'Very funny . . . I cracked up laughing on the tube' Evening Standard

About this title

Review:

Jeremy Clarkson, the opinionated motoring journalist, has something to say on just about everything, not just cars, in this collection of his columns from both Top Gear Magazine and The Sunday Times.

Whether you love or loathe him, Born to be Riled makes for an entertaining and lively read as Clarkson vents his anger and frustration at, among other things, Sunday drivers, caravans and politicians. Even places are not safe from his poisonous tongue, with Surrey, Birmingham and Norfolk being on the receiving end of some particularly venomous rants.

Clarkson's views on cars and motoring make for interesting reading but do tend to speak to the more initiated enthusiast than the casual driver and analogies and comparisons are often lost on all but the most technically minded car fanatic.

However, Clarkson writes with joyous wit and even when his arguments seem a little shaky, you can't help but find yourself nodding in agreement or realising that he is riled by all the things in life that you are--being stuck behind a caravan on a country back road or the drink-driving laws in this country. In much the same way as Bill Bryson chronicles life's daily woes and pitfalls with a scathing sense of humour, so Clarkson speaks for a silent majority who are secretly incensed by a million and one things everyday of their lives, but are just a little too British to say anything.

In this book, Clarkson has become the common man's champion and when he is fighting for the cause with this much humour and wit, long may he remain in that position. --Jonathan Weir

Review:

Brilliant...laugh-out-loud (Daily Telegraph)

Outrageously funny...will have you in stitches (Time Out)

Very funny...I cracked up laughing on the tube (Evening Standard)

About this edition

• Publisher: Penguin
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0141028998
• ISBN 13: 9780141028996
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 576