{"title":"Books by John O'Farrell","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"family-politics-by-john-ofarrell-paperback","title":"Family Politics","description":"\u003cp\u003e'The funniest book about politics I have ever read' Alastair Campbell\u003cbr\u003e'Blending sharp satire with wit... a comedic reflection on the divided world' \u003ci\u003eThe Scotsman\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'The perfect read for anyone hooked on politics and enjoys good plot laced with humour' \u003ci\u003eSunday Express\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e‘Hilarious…O’Farrell knows his stuff and, in an election year, his wry take on British politics at its most febrile is terrific value’\u003ci\u003e Mail on Sunday\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eAll across Britain, a generation of grown-up children are graduating from university, moving back in to their old bedrooms and showing their gratitude by berating their parents for their out-of-date politics.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAll across Britain, a generation of grown-up children are graduating from university, moving back in to their old bedrooms and showing their gratitude by berating their parents for their out-of-date politics. But for proud and high-profile left-wingers Emma and Eddie Hughes, the return of their only child is a far greater challenge than they ever could have anticipated. Young Dylan had warned them there was something personal he needed to tell them, but nothing could have prepared his right-on parents for the shocking revelation he delivers. Their son is a Conservative.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrom John O’Farrell, author of the bestselling political satire, \u003ci\u003eThings Can Only Get Better\u003c\/i\u003e, comes \u003ci\u003eFamily Politics\u003c\/i\u003e, an insightful, sharply funny and warm-hearted antidote to our divided times.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePraise for John O'Farrell\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'John O’Farrell couldn’t be unfunny if he tried’ Alan Johnson\u003cbr\u003e‘A joy to read but it is also highly relevant to the contemporary culture' John Boyne\u003cbr\u003e'More laugh-out-loud gags than the Tory Party has had recent leadership campaigns' \u003ci\u003eBig Issue\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e‘A touch of self-deprecation and a sense of humour… John O’Farrell has these qualities in spades’ \u003ci\u003eGuardian\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e‘If everyone read this book the country would be a far better place. I laughed, I cried, I loved it’ Jim Down\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":55185786732917,"sku":"9781804992968","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Hardback","offer_id":57685979922805,"sku":"9780857529770","price":20.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781804992968.jpg?v=1792599254"},{"product_id":"9780552771627","title":"May Contain Nuts","description":"\u003cp\u003eAlice never imagined that she would end up like this. Is she the only mother who feels so permanently panic-stricken at the terrors of the modern world - or is it normal to sit up in bed all night popping bubble wrap? She worries that too much gluten and dairy may be hindering her children's mental arithmetic. She frets that there are too many cars on the road to let them out of the 4x4. Finally she resolves to take control and tackle her biggest worry of all: her daughter is definitely not going to fail that crucial secondary school entrance exam. Because Alice has decided to take the test in her place...\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWith his trademark comic eye for detail, John O'Farrell has produced a funny and provocative book that will make you laugh, cry and vow never to become that sort of parent. And then you can pass it on to your seven-year-old, because she really ought to be reading grown-up novels by now...\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56291339534709,"sku":"9780552771627","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780552771627_c23c48c6-51f0-4b23-b2b4-ae60a85c6f3f.jpg?v=1786014182"},{"product_id":"9780552998444","title":"The Best A Man Can Get","description":"\u003cp\u003eMichael Adams shares a flat with three other men in their late twenties. Days are spent lying in bed, playing computer games and occasionally doing a bit of work. And then, when he feels like it, he crosses the river and goes back to his unsuspecting wife and children. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFor Michael is living a double life - he escapes from the exhausting misery of babies by telling his wife he has to work through the night or travel up north. And while she is valiantly coping on her own, he is just a few miles away in a secret flat, doing all the things that most men with small children can only dream about. He thinks he can have it all, until is deception is inevitably exposed...\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Best a Man Can Get is written with the hilarious eye for detail that sent John O'Farrell's first book, Things Can Only Get Better, to the top of the bestseller lists. It is a darkly comic confessional that is at once compelling, revealing and very, very funny.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56291437511029,"sku":"9780552998444","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780552998444_9a9501cc-84cf-4fcf-84ab-3da53766288c.jpg?v=1786013535"},{"product_id":"9780552771634","title":"The Man Who Forgot His Wife","description":"\u003cp\u003eLots of husbands forget things: they forget that their wife had an important meeting that morning; they forget to pick up the dry cleaning; some of them even forget their wedding anniversary.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut Vaughan has forgotten he even has a wife. Her name, her face, their history together, everything she has ever told him, everything he has said to her - it has all gone, mysteriously wiped in one catastrophic moment of memory loss. And now he has rediscovered her - only to find out that they are getting divorced. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Man Who Forgot His Wife\u003c\/i\u003e is the funny, moving and poignant story of a man who has done just that. And who will try anything to turn back the clock and have one last chance to reclaim his life.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56291780886901,"sku":"9780552771634","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780552771634_cf9982d0-e9a2-4d7c-a982-e9a554bbfeb1.jpg?v=1786014182"},{"product_id":"9780552775465","title":"An Utterly Exasperated History of Modern Britain","description":"\u003cp\u003eFollowing his hugely popular account of the previous 2000 years, John O'Farrell now comes bang up to date with a hilarious modern history asking \u003ci\u003e'How the hell did we end up here?' \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eAn Utterly Exasperated History of Modern Britain\u003c\/i\u003e informs, elucidates and laughs at all the bizarre events, ridiculous characters and stupid decisions that have shaped Britain's story since 1945; leaving the Twenty-First Century reader feeling fantastically smug for having the benefit of hindsight.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56291784950133,"sku":"9780552775465","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780552775465_e572051d-1914-4ca0-8231-28e4a015747e.jpg?v=1786013389"},{"product_id":"9780552773966","title":"An Utterly Impartial History of Britain","description":"\u003cp\u003eMany of us were put off history by the dry and dreary way it was taught at school. Back then 'The Origins of the Industrial Revolution' somehow seemed less compelling than the chance to test the bold claim on Timothy Johnson's 'Shatterproof' ruler.But here at last is a chance to have a good laugh \u003ci\u003eand\u003c\/i\u003e learn all that stuff you feel you really ought to know by now...\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn this 'Horrible History for Grown Ups' you can read how Anglo-Saxon liberals struggled to be positive about immigration; 'Look I think we have to try and respect the religious customs of our new Viking friends - oi, he's nicked my bloody ox!'Discover how England's peculiar class system was established by some snobby French nobles whose posh descendents still have wine cellars and second homes in the Dordogne today. And explore the complex socio-economic reasons why Britain's kings were the first in Europe to be brought to heel; (because the Stuarts were such a useless bunch of untalented, incompetent, arrogant, upper-class thickoes that Parliament didn't have much choice.)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA book about \u003ci\u003ethen\u003c\/i\u003e that is also incisive and illuminating about \u003ci\u003enow\u003c\/i\u003e, '2000 Years of Upper Class Idiots in Charge', is an hilarious, informative and cantankerous journey through Britain' fascinating and bizarre history.As entertaining as a witch burning, and a lot more laughs.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56292181606773,"sku":"9780552773966","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780552773966_cad52d2d-36ed-4e7d-ba54-9aec629c4b12.jpg?v=1786013363"},{"product_id":"9781784163211","title":"Things Can Only Get Better","description":"\u003cp\u003eLike bubonic plague and stone cladding, no-one took Margaret Thatcher seriously until it was too late. Her first act as leader was to appear before the cameras and do a V for Victory sign the wrong way round. She was smiling and telling the British people to f\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eoff at the same time. It was something we would have to get used to.'\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThings Can Only Get Better is the personal account of a Labour supporter who survived eighteen miserable years of Conservative government. It is the heartbreaking and hilarious confessions of someone who has been actively involved in helping the Labour party lose elections at every level: school candidate: door-to-door canvasser: working for a Labour MP in the House of Commons; standing as a council candidate; and eventually writing jokes for a shadow cabinet minister.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAlong the way he slowly came to realise that Michael Foot would never be Prime Minister, that vegetable quiche was not as tasty as chicken tikki masala and that the nuclear arms race was never going to be stopped by face painting alone.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56304037265781,"sku":"9781784163211","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781784163211_94518bf7-d065-4860-8b60-a2f167a331ff.jpg?v=1786026090"},{"product_id":"9781784161392","title":"There's Only Two David Beckhams","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eRe-live the glory and the heartache of England's greatest ever game - and THAT World Cup Final back in 2022.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWell now it’s 2022 and the discussion is finally over, England have eleven players as good as any of them. The unbeatable national team have reached the final of the Qatar World Cup. But one journalist is convinced there is a scandalous secret behind England’s incredible form. His lifetime’s dream is to see the Three Lions win the World Cup. But if he pursues and exposes the shocking truth, his beloved England could be sent home in disgrace. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSuddenly this is much more than England vs Germany; it’s Love vs Duty, it’s Truth vs Happiness. \u003cbr\u003eThe pressure of the penalty shoot-out is nothing compared to this.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThere’s Only Two David Beckhams\u003c\/i\u003e is John O’Farrell’s love-letter to football; part-detective story, part-sports memoir, part-satire on the whole corrupt FIFA circus; it just made the final for the funniest football fiction ever written...\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56305152262517,"sku":"9781784161392","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781784161392_89f2e756-41bb-408b-b5f1-2bf9349a13cc.jpg?v=1786026011"},{"product_id":"9781784162634","title":"Things Can Only Get Worse?","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e'…as the Labour candidate I prepared for every possible question on the local radio Election Phone-In. What I had not prepared for was my mum ringing up to say that she agreed with John O’Farrell. On EVERYTHING.'\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eWhere Did We Go Right? \u003c\/i\u003eis the personal story of one political activist helping Labour progress from its 1997 landslide to the unassailable position it enjoys today. \u003cbr\u003eAlong the way, he stood for Parliament against Theresa May but failed to step into her shoes; he was dropped from Tony and Cherie’s Christmas card list after he revealed he always sent their card on to a friend from the SWP; and he campaigned for a new non-selective inner-city state school, then realised this meant he had to send his kids to a non-selective inner-city state school. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe long-awaited sequel to the best-selling \u003ci\u003eThings Can Only Get Better \u003c\/i\u003eis for everyone who could use a good laugh after Brexit, Boris and Trump. A roller-coaster ride through the last two decades via the very best political jokes (excluding the ones that keep getting elected).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56305183195509,"sku":"9781784162634","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781784162634_ae9ffbc1-dc2c-42bd-8242-143b61554e19.jpg?v=1786026067"},{"product_id":"this-is-your-life","title":"This Is Your Life","description":"\u003cp\u003eIt's a big night at the London Palladium. As Jimmy Conway steps out blinking into the spotlights live on national television, he can't help wondering whether he should have perhaps shared his little secret with someone by now. Jimmy has never done any performing of any sort ever before...\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJust as 'bogus doctors' are occasionally discovered working in hospitals, Jimmy Conway has become a 'bogus celebrity'; winning an award for something he never did, being photographed in Hello! in someone else's house, and ultimately making a fool of the entire mad and shallow celebrity merry-go-round.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57481656566133,"sku":"9780552998499","price":16.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780552998499.jpg?v=1786089941"},{"product_id":"john-ofarrell-book-2","title":"John O'Farrell Book 2","description":"‘Of course I’m starting my screenplay. I’m just going to Hoover the stairs first.’If you are at all interested in the nuts and bolts of story-telling and the curious workings of the entertainment industry, then this is the most informative, inspiring and funniest book on writing you will ever read, by someone who’s been nominated for every showbiz award going (and then lost them all).   Covering four decades in an ever-changing industry, John O’Farrell shares his writing journey from unsolicited radio sketches to huge Broadway musicals, crafting stories that have made people laugh, cry or sneak out to the pub in the interval. Here he reveals the inside secrets of every genre from sketches to sitcoms, novels to screenplays – as John kept swapping industries just before they noticed the missing Post-It Notes.   Maybe If I Changed The Font? is packed with invaluable advice on structure, character, theme as well as guidance on how to get your work read by professionals and produced to great acclaim from millions - or maybe just several members of your family – you never know which way it’s going to go. But you must read this book before you start - it’s the perfect avoidance.   ‘The most honest book about writing I have ever read’ William Shakespeare","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57502059299189,"sku":"9780857529947","price":20.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780857529947.jpg?v=1786780872"}],"url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/collections\/author-john-ofarrell.oembed","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}