And Another Thing

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Good god, this man is GOOOD! - Rated
Even though Clarkson himself says so ("Good God I love being middle class") the truth is much more inspiring and it's nice to see how modest he is. Truth is, he's actually working class but has come into a lot of money using his talents over the years.

If you want to see where the magic is, check out this literaly goliath!

Excellent read for those quiet moments - Rated
Taken straight from The Sunday Times, this is a collection of articles written by Clarkson in 2004 and 2005. Herein lies a problem, these articles are already at least 3 years old, meaning that the topical subject matter is rarely that topical any more.

Having said that, it is recent enough for the average reader to recall the subject matter, and perhaps have a wry grin because (a) things have turned out exactly as JC said they would, or (b) things have turned out exactly the opposite of how JC said they would.

The style is classic Clarkson. Aggressive, unapologetic and sarcastic. Depending on your political or ethical standpoint, you may find some of this book offensive. In fact, Clarkson books should carry a warning: "Caution: if you don't like Clarkson on the TV, don't buy this book." I know what to expect from Clarkson, but I don't take him too seriously. Still I know that under it all, the message is that none of us should take ourselves too seriously, because that would make life very dull.

Funny and Clever - Rated
The thing about Mr. Clarkson is that people label him a yob because he is loud, aggressive and opinionated. So far, so yob. He is however, rather clever, and when you read his well crafted newspaper articles, of which this book is a collection, that's what comes across most clearly. He thinks about what he is saying. He may not say what you want to hear. He may not say what makes him popular, but he says what he thinks, and what he thinks, for the most part is articulate, clever and well put. He is funny, he is, and I think this is a term not often used to describe him, self-deprecating (at times) and he is always interesting. I picked this up because it was there. I read the first article while I was bathing the kids. I expected to put it down and never pick it up again. Instead I carried it from the bathroom to the bedside and finished reading it. I was surprised. More importantly, I was entertained.

More of the same - Rated
If you liked the first book, you're probably going to like this one too. Clarkson writes well, he is amusing and entertaining and provided you can see past his often boorish style, you have to acknowledge that a lot of what he says albeit often in an exaggerated and light-hearted style is actually very true. He is a bemused observer in a peculiar country at a peculiar moment in history, one in which we are no longer allowed to do certain things because some other people think it might be bad for us- a point he comes back to agian and again.

Once again, he wisely chooses to keep his references to cars to a minimum, a welcome recognition from him that many of his readers actually have a life. It is truly the second volume, it offers nothing which the first volume didn't and for people who care what he thinks or enjoy the way he writes, the book offered here at the time of writing for four quid, represents good value.

Tells it like it is - Rated
I loved the first of Clarkson's books and this is almost as good. As with his on screen persona he doesn't pull any punches and the plain speaking makes for a great read.

The style of the book makes it ideal for dipping in and out of and it's a perfect book to read on journeys when you don't have time to get into something longer.