Product Description

Danny Wallace is about to turn thirty and his life has become a cliche. Recently married and living in a smart new area of town, he's swapped pints down the pub for lattes and brunch. For the first time in his life, he's feeling, well ...grown-up. But something's not right. Something's missing. Until he finds an old address book containing just twelve names. His best mates as a kid. Where are they now? Who are they now? And how are they coping with being grown-up too? And so begins a journey from A-Z, tracking down and meeting his old gang. He travels from Berlin to Tokyo, from Sydney to LA. He even goes to Loughborough. He meets Fijian chiefs. German rappers. Some ninjas. And a carvery manager who's managed to solve time travel. But how will they respond to a man they haven't seen in twenty years, turning up and asking if they're coming out to play? Part-comedy, part-travelogue, part-memoir, Friends Like These is the story of what can happen when you track down your past, and of where the friendships you thought you'd outgrown can take you today...

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10648 in Books
• Published on: 2009-07-02
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 416 pages

The Bookseller
Danny Wallace needs no introduction...another comedy masterpiece, sure to please fans of his previous books

From the Back Cover
Danny Wallace is about to turn thirty. Recently married and living in a smart new area of town, he’s swapped pints down the pub for lattes and brunch. For the first time in his life, he’s feeling, well … grown-up.
But something’s missing. Something he can't quite put his finger on. Until he finds an old address book, containing just twelve names. The names of his best mates as a kid. Where are they now? Who are they now? And how are they coping with being grown-up too?
And so begins an epic journey -- from Berlin to Tokyo, Los Angeles to Loughborough -- as Danny sets out to find and meet the old gang. He meets Fijian chiefs. German rappers. And a carvery manager who's managed to solve time travel. But how will they react to a long-lost friend turning up out of the blue to see if they’re coming out to play? Can you be friends forever?
Danny thinks he knows ... because he's got Friends Like These ...

About the Author
Danny Wallace is a writer and television presenter, who wears glasses and used to have a cat. His first solo book, Join Me, was described as a 'word-of-mouth phenomenon' by The Bookseller and 'one of the funniest stories you will ever read' by the Daily Mail. His second book, Yes Man - in which he decided to say 'Yes' to everything - is currently in production with Jim Carrey in the lead role. Both books were Sunday Times bestsellers. The film rights to his latest book, Friends Like These, have also been sold to Miramax. Find out more about Danny at www.dannywallace.com.

Customer Reviews

In which Danny Wallace's good bloke schtick starts to wear a little thin
I liked this book. I did, really. Danny Wallace is an engaging enough writer and his tale of finding his childhood address book and tracking down the 12 people in it (not including the Michael Jackson fan club, though that features too) is often amusing and sometimes touching. But....

The trouble is, after the wonderfully life-affimring 'Yes Man' and the equally well-received 'Join Me', which I haven't read, this whole thing of a faux-naif modern man making the world a better place in his own small way is getting a bit overdone. Wallace knows it too: hence the many pointless digressions and often forced humour of this tale - Japanese English is a bit hilarious, isn't it, eh? The book is also dreadfully repetitive at times.

The other trouble is, it's all a bit too easy at times. Anyone can track a fair proportion of their old mates down these days what with Facebook, the net in general and a BBC expense acccount to fund flights to America, Australia and Japan in the space of a few weeks. Never once does Wallace admit the perfectly obvious truth that he saw this as his next book-writing project from the start. Nor does the premise that he has to do it all before turning 30 and becoming a boring middle-aged man ring true. His wife is clearly far too nice to force that on him.

I'll admit to a bit of jealousy here. I come from a generation where you inevitably lost touch with most of those friends who weren't reliable letter-writers if and when you moved away from your roots. Now that email has made letter-writers of us all and social networking keeps us in touch with everyone, that need not happen any more. Plus Wallace is obviously such an amiable man that he can get in touch with more lost friends than I ever had to lose in the first place. And he's a bit of a jammy dodger too, not just for a job that pays him to go round the world at the drop of a hat - I mean staying friends with your ex, whoever heard of such of thing?

Overall, then, good for a light read but if you can read 'Yes Man' instead. Or just go online and hunt down your old mates intead. And please, Danny, don't mine this exhausted seam any more.

He's done it again!
This is a great book by a great author. Danny Wallace has delivered yet again another outstanding book. Danny sets out on another `boy project', this time to find some friends he hasn't seen in a while! The book documents Danny's journey, showing his communications with his old friends and pictures of their meetings. Danny undergoes another incredible journey through this book, just like in his previous work, and takes you along for the trip. This book is hilarious and on many occasions I felt stupid laughing out loud in a public place. The book is such a great read and takes you on a real emotional journey, every page is a pleasure to read. I strongly recommend this book and his previous books. You will not be disappointed!

Another classic from Mr. Wallace!
I have to say that I'm surprised that some people struggled to get through this book as I found it un-put-downable(!) and read it in well under 48 hours. However, I found it did make me produce involuntary sounds akin to that of a squealing Pig at some very inopportune moments (on public transport etc.) and so I strongly advise you enjoy this books' more hilarious moments in a more private space).

As always, Wallace makes the most unbelievable stories seem perfectly normal and his writing style still makes you imagine that he is telling you the story one to one in the Pub. I personally love this style of informal writing and there are obvious similarities in this vein with Bill Bryson and Stuart Maconie. (Indeed, Maconie's 'Pies and Prejudice' is born out of a similar age realisation as Friends like these).

I think it almost certainly helps if you are between the age of 25 - 35, because there will be greater resonance with some of the chronology but if you are outside this age group - still please read it - you will not be disappointed!