Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #86991 in Books
• Published on: 2004-09-30
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Synopsis
From his standpoint behind the microphone, Mark Steel is in the perfect position to view all human existence. Which is why this book - like his act, his columns and his broadcasts - is opinionated, passionate, and extremely funny. It even explains the line (screamed at him by an eighties yuppy): "It's not a runner bean..." On first publication in 1997, It's Not A Runner Bean was acclaimed by readers and reviewers alike, and (almost inevitably) became a 'slightly' successful book.

From the Publisher
A truly funny and revealing book
Mark wrote 'It's Not A Runner Bean' before he started writing a newspaper column - in fact the book was almost certainly responsible for getting him the job. Unlike 'Reasons to be Cheerful', which concentrates on his political exploits, '…Runner Bean' mainly follows Mark Steel's progress to become (in his words) 'A slightly successful comedian'. From angry young poet to angry older left-wing comedian with his own Radio 4 programme, Mark Steel's rise was peppered with many revealing and very funny incidents. There is surprisingly little crossover between the two books (I spotted just two incidents, taking up less than a paragraph each) and so together these two magnificent volumes provide a well-rounded and indispensible portrait of Mark Steel, the man. I advise everyone whose name is not William Haigh to get both books, or at the very least 'It's Not A Runner Bean', if only because it's cheaper and because The Do-Not Press is a small independent publisher in South London, and Scribner are not. There are people who might say, 'Well, I would say that, wouldn't I?' And they'd be right. Press that button now and add this book to your shopping basket. You'll be glad you did.

Customer Reviews

Bite Sized Wisdom
I knew Mark through politics in the 80s, though I doubt he knew me. He just has the most fantastic ability to catch and then communicate ideas. I took this on holiday to read while the kids did their stuff in the pool. If you are (a) at all left wing and/or (b) at all interested in commedy this book is a must. Perfect holiday reading, but watch out if reading on the commute, you might be tempted to be a little to honest to the boss :-)

Honest, no-frills account of a stand-up comedian.
Really honest account of a stand-up comedian on
tour. Steel is a master of his craft and it shows in this book. He has some gems of stories
from his UK and Ireland tours. A great read.

Laughed out loud, even at the sad bits
They say you have to start out small, but not this small, surely. Steel joined the Foreign Legion of comedy, starting in Sierra Leone or Djibouti, whatever is the equivalent of pubs in the north where no one can hear your best lines, and even if they did, they wouldn't think they were funny. But he is amazingly funny. It might just be me, but the best bits are when he leaves the glam comedy stage to spend the night on some stranger's hard cold floor trying to avoid old discs of cat sick.
Now he's a giant of Brit journalism, which makes it even funnier, actually.