Product Description

It's 1985, The Smiths are in the charts and Maggie Thatcher is in No10. Eddy Nugent's in Manchester, he's 16 and he's slowly going out of his mind with boredom. So what does he do? He joins the British Army.

Overnight, he leaves the relative sanity of civvie street and falls headlong into the lunatic parallel universe of basic training: a life of press ups, boot polish and drill.

Gradually, he finds his feet and settles down to life as a soldier. There's still plenty of press ups, boot polish and drill to occupy him, but he finds time for beer, girls and other bad behaviour.

Andy McNab he isn't.

Picking Up The Brass is a hilarious, riotous and FHM-approved look at life as a young recruit.

'Eddy Nugent' is the nom de plume of two soldiers, Ian Deacon and Charlie Bell. Closely based on their own experiences, it's a must-read for anyone who has served, anyone who is planning to join up or anyone who's ever thought, 'Surely not every soldier in the Army is trained to kill people with a toothpick?'

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8066 in Books
• Published on: 2008-07-31
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

About the Author
'Eddy Nugent' is the nom de plume of two soldiers, Ian Deacon and Charlie Bell.

Customer Reviews

An Enjoyable and Amusing Read
This book is great fun to read, not just for anyone who has been, is or soon to be in the Armed Forces, but for anyone who likes some light heared fun. Eddy Nugent has done a fantastic job of capturing the 'squaddie' sense of humour and the mindset of those who train young recruits right through to those day-to-day adventures on a tour of duty. A must read.

Never in the field of human conflict.....
...have so many been tickled pink by so few! Convoy and Rigger have produced a work of genius with this book, which is so absolutely evocative for any ex-squaddie, but also provides some amazing insights to "civvies". The detail is amazing and instantly recogniseable for who've "been there and done it"
Never mind Andy McKnob and Chris Ryebread, this is the pukka stuff!

Picking up a Classic
Not since reading Irvine Welsh's 'Trainspotting' ten years ago have I enjoyed the experience of enjoying another language, i.e 'Squaddie Speak'. I struggled at times but was guided always by the rich!! humour which pervades Eddie's story. His wit and observation are subtle but hilarious and I couldn't put it down! not even when I was 'Bellylaffin' on the train to the annoyance of others. Loved the 80's references. Top Notch!!.
Is their a sequel????