Product Description

The publication of The World According to Clarkson in 2004 launched a multi-million-copy bestselling phenomenon. But to no avail. Jeremy's one-man war on crimes against common sense has not yet been won. And our hero's still scratching his head at the madness of it all. But it's not all bad. He's learned a little along the way, including: Why binge drinking is good for you The worst word in the English language The remarkable secret of eternal youth The pleasure and pain of middle-aged drumming The problem with America And how to dispose of a seal For anyone who's ever been driven to wonder just what is the matter with people these days, For Crying Out Loud is the perfect riposte. Surprising, fearless and always laugh-out-loud funny, Clarkson's back. And he's got a point . . .

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #430 in Books
• Published on: 2009-05-14
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
He’s difficult, argumentative but totally unafraid to express views guaranteed to tread on many people's toes -- that's Jeremy Clarkson. And it's for those very reasons why for everyone for whom his name is anathema, there are an equal number will avidly consume his every word. As For Crying Out Loud: The World According to Clarkson, Volume 3 forcefully reminds us, Clarkson’s must venomous hatreds are reserved for political correctness, and his conducting of a one-man war on ‘crimes against common sense’ has made him an unlikely hero for many, who husband their opinions with much greater care. Clarkson continues to be driven into a frenzy by a great variety of things that impinge on his consciousness, and his splenetic responses are immensely entertaining.

‘What is the matter with people these days?’ If you've ever wondered that, you’ll find a hundred answers in this book, along with a discussion of why binge drinking is good for you, the difficult task of drumming in middle age (and, allied to this, the secret of eternal youth). Oh yes -- and America. Don't get Jeremy Clarkson started on America (in fact, it's too late… you'll find some pithy observations on the States within these pages that are likely to make quite a few people's blood temperatures rise). Ironically, if we were to get stuck behind a taxi driver who harangued us like Jeremy Clarkson, we’d be praying for a short journey. So why is it that For Crying Out Loud is so disgracefully entertaining? Perhaps it is because Clarkson -- when he is away from his beloved (and slightly boring) cars -- is immensely articulate at voicing his enthusiasms and pet hatreds (more of the latter than the former, it has to be admitted). One warning should accompany the book, though -- if you give it as a present to a loved one, be prepared to have great chunks read out loud ad infinitum (and perhaps ad nauseam) along the lines of ‘Listen to what Clarkson says about X or Y! Boy, has he got this right!’ You might not want to share a taxi journey with Jeremy Clarkson, but reading his books are a whole different experience -- and, who knows, you might just end up agreeing with him. --Barry Forshaw

The Times
'On any page you'll find a blinder'

Evening Standard
'Very funny . . . I cracked up laughing on the Tube'

Customer Reviews

CLASSIC CLARKSON
As with everything Jeremy Clarkson does you will either find this book agreeable and amusing or utterly distasteful and rubbish!!I enjoyed this read, after all the man successfuly holds onto the job that little boys like me can only dream of.With his trademark dry wit Clarkson gives us his tainted view on lifes most important topics such as:Binge drinking,Conservation,Mobile phones and the most annoying word in the English language.But thats just for starters Clarkson "delicately" proceeds to broach the troublesome subjects of:Gypsies,The homeless, Americans and Religious fundamentalists.With that out of the way something we should all know "How to dipose of a dead seal" oh and a donkey too!What would London be like if this man was lord mayor? read this for the Clarkson perspective.

Clarkson fans will enjoy this book but if your easily offended,a religious fanatic, American or all of the above then steer clear.There are no prisoners taken in this abrasive collection of articles.Theres life in the old dog yet.........

Occasionally funny toilet reading
This is a collection of Clarkson's opinion column for the Sunday Times, over the years 2006 and 2007. Each one is about 3 pages in length, so it makes good reading whilst you're doing your number twos, although I read it cover-to-cover on a cross-channel ferry.

Some of the articles are quite funny. I particularly liked "Mother knows all the best games", "An Oscar-winning village hall bash", and my favourite, "Arrested just for looking weird" where American officials regard commonsense with much less gusto than the law.

Clarkson is certainly an erudite and engaging writer. As a fan of (new) Top Gear, I can imagine him speaking the text as I read it. Some of the articles were quite thought-provoking, such as "The lost people of outer Britain", "If you're ugly you've got to be funny", "It's lies that make TV interesting", and in particular, "Schools are trying to break children", featuring the (actually very serious) story of a student being discouraged from reading "difficult" Engineering subjects for the sake of minimising risk for the school's statistical league table position.

Clarkson's abrasive, amusing laments and parodies of people taking leave of commonsense is fair enough, although it soon develops into dreary "intolerant Tory" political overtones which become tedious about 2/3 of the way through the book (e.g. "Drip-drip-drip of a revolution"). Furthermore, I felt disturbed by articles auch as "Simon Cowell ate our strawberries" and "Save rural Britain - sell it to the rich"; Clarkson is showing signs of beginning to become a NIMBY, which would be a terrible shame if he goes further down that road.

Beetroot!
Clarkson has a delightful wit and uses the English language with brilliance. His vocabulary and delivery of punchlines is superb. This then is a well crafted book written by a man at the top of his game. As always do not expect to agree with him on everything, his dislike of Americans, Surrey and cats hits my buttons. So does his support of fox hunting a subject I could have a blazing row with him about! Some of his chapters are self mocking and this is his forgiveness moment. This is when the true depth of the man appears and you can forgive the views you disagree with.It is in these chapters that he proves he is as human as you or I, and that is a significant part of why you should read this book. I particularly liked the beetroot moment, haven't we all done that! The world would be a sad place if we did not hold different opinions.So if you are of a leftie inclination you will hate this book passionately as this book is far closer to how most of us feel about the leftie polices we have been forced to endure for some years now. Indeed Clarkson is able to send up anyone of a leftie persuasion with aplomb. Reading this book now, his comments from 2006 and 2007 are very poignant too. It is only at the end that "recession" is begining to loom. I found myself laughing out loud at most of the book, so I rate is one of the most enjoyable reads I have had for some time. In fact I devoured it in more or less one sitting so had to re read it. It was every bit as good second time round! Buy and enjoy, or give it to someone you know who will enjoy it! This kind of brilliance is not often found!